LEGO Hobbit 2014

[Hammerhand]

I wish we could have gotten this Azog. http://goo.gl/RL5Tav

Anybody notice that those are Uruk Hai on the left of Azog? I hope they just used them as a background, and they're not actually in the movie...

[Bycougars]

Anybody notice that those are Uruk Hai on the left of Azog? I hope they just used them as a background, and they're not actually in the movie...

Yeah, they sure look like Uruk Hai to me.

[bachamn]

Anybody notice that those are Uruk Hai on the left of Azog? I hope they just used them as a background, and they're not actually in the movie...

Why? The first appearance of Uruks in the lore was in T.A. 2475, almost 500 years before the events of The Hobbit take place. Tolkien himself didn't always make a strong distinctions between Uruks and Orcs, or even Goblins. In the book Azog is even referred to as "Azog the Goblin" at one point though Tolkien makes it pretty clear that he's an orc. It's totally plausible that Uruks would also be part of the "Goblin" army.

Just think of all the variants of orc/goblin/uruk as different races of the same creature, which was originally an elf.

[Blazej_Holen]

I guess I was hoping for more focus on armies and less focus on the tower. There have been plenty of sets with a wall/tower in this theme, I'm just not that excited about this one. My memory of the book is that the battle took place in the fields where the armies were camped, and not around some tower. A few more bad guys and another siege weapon would've been nice.

Yep but those sets are based on the movie not the book :) And Tower should represent some structure from Dale, and if you saw teaser trailer for BOFA you will know that battle will be around and in Dale and maybe in the surroundings as well but who knows..? :)

I can understand those choices to put there main characters, and even wen I dont agree with this, I assume that after all this set is quuite ok. But yes, they should put Thorin into the Lonely mountain set, and also not include Legolas, instead TLG should givve us regular Armored Elf or two and Dwarf warior. But what can we do, right? :)

[Kraby]

Bought all sets this morning, and built them during the day.

First thought:

- Lonely Mountain, I had my doubts about this set, but in the end I really like the set, I think it's my favorite. The build looks better if you actually don't attach the "throne" part to the "forge" part. And of course, was really impressed with Smaug.

- Witch King Battle, minifigs are spectacular, not much to say about the build.

- Lake Town, new orcs are nice, battle face Bard is really cool (I put it on his BOFA body), and the build is a really nice addition to the previous lake town set.

- BOFA, it's my biggest disappoinment. As I had finished building it, I thought to myself "is that it?" (keep in mind that it cost me 75€ in France, ie 95$ US...). Dain and Thorin are really cool, Azog is a nice variation, but the build... Feels really incomplete, even more for that price. Set is ok, but too expensive.

Edited October 15, 2014 by Kraby

[kevkipo]

Got all the sets (except Witch king). Love them all

But Lake-Town attack has a special place in my heart, it's just so fun

I could see armored azog as a shop at home promotion in December. I remember reading about getting an armored azog so we could maybe get him.

YES! I WOULD LOVE THAT!

[Hammerhand]

Why? The first appearance of Uruks in the lore was in T.A. 2475, almost 500 years before the events of The Hobbit take place. Tolkien himself didn't always make a strong distinctions between Uruks and Orcs, or even Goblins. In the book Azog is even referred to as "Azog the Goblin" at one point though Tolkien makes it pretty clear that he's an orc. It's totally plausible that Uruks would also be part of the "Goblin" army.

Just think of all the variants of orc/goblin/uruk as different races of the same creature, which was originally an elf.

I know about all that, I've read all of Tolkiens middle earth works, and I've been a big Tolkien-ist/ite for a while. My point is that they're wearing the Uruk Hai helmets from LOTR, which were created by Saruman and his Orc commanders. They were designed to distinguish his fighting uruk hai from the general populace of Orcs and Uruks (granted, it was created for the movies). It's not the Uruks in general that's a problem, it's the fact that they're armored like Saruman's Uruks, which is completely out of place. Those helmets are seen no where else in the LOTR, so they're not just a generic orcish helmet that is used, they're made specifically for those Uruks.

[Bycougars]

Bought all sets this morning, and built them during the day.

First thought:

- Lonely Mountain, I had my doubts about this set, but in the end I really like the set, I think it's my favorite. The build looks better if you actually don't attach the "throne" part to the "forge" part. And of course, was really impressed with Smaug.

- Witch King Battle, minifigs are spectacular, not much to say about the build.

- Lake Town, new orcs are nice, battle face Bard is really cool (I put it on his BOFA body), and the build is a really nice addition to the previous lake town set.

- BOFA, it's my biggest disappoinment. As I had finished building it, I thought to myself "is that it?" (keep in mind that it cost me 75€ in France, ie 95$ US...). Dain and Thorin are really cool, Azog is a nice variation, but the build... Feels really incomplete, even more for that price. Set is ok, but too expensive.

I haven't purchased the sets yet, but based off of images I was thinking the same thing. The BOFA sets just doesn't seem to have enough for the price that is paid. I would like to have multiples to build a larger city of dale, but the other problem is is there aren't any figures in the set worth getting multiples of. Over half the characters are main characters not army builders.

[cullmancreations]

Im thinking about getting a second attack of the wargs set since TRU.com has it. what do you guys think

[Blakstone]

I might have bought three of that set, but only one of those full price. Since you have one already, you know all the pieces.

Are you looking to army build? Two wargs in one set is great and I did not mind having multiple white wargs. I also could use all the brown and dark gray bits.

I think it depends on the color you need for MOCs and if another white warg is a problem. After all Mirkwood Army has a much more attractive (to me) Warg and tan bricks.

[Bycougars]

Im thinking about getting a second attack of the wargs set since TRU.com has it. what do you guys think

I might have bought three of that set, but only one of those full price. Since you have one already, you know all the pieces.

Are you looking to army build? Two wargs in one set is great and I did not mind having multiple white wargs. I also could use all the brown and dark gray bits.

I think it depends on the color you need for MOCs and if another white warg is a problem. After all Mirkwood Army has a much more attractive (to me) Warg and tan bricks.

I agree with Blakstone, I think that if you are army building you should go with the Mirkwood Army. However, if you are looking to build a forest or need lots of brown pieces I would get the Attack of the Wargs set.

Edited October 16, 2014 by Bycougars

[cullmancreations]

Yeah I am looking to build some sort of forrest and to add some more wargs and orcs to my army

[Blakstone]

Haunt the clearance aisles at Walmart and Target. You can likely find Attack of the Wargs reduced by $5-10. I did not need three of them but when prices are cut, it is hard to pass up on them. In a year, we won't be able to find any Middle Earth or even Castle sets anymore.

[Artanis I]

I got 3 Attack of the Wargs sets. Bits of tree & rock, extra orcs & wargs. Not very cost effective unless you get a bargain, as I did.

You end up with multiples of a few named characters and white wargs as a downside though. I am hoping to get my extra wargs to change colour in the sun to a more accurate tan-ish.

The other set will give you more army building, but less useful parts.

[Hypernova888]

YES! I WOULD LOVE THAT!

I'd rather Bolg. It's really out only chance at the character, and he'd be really great to have.

[Mr. Cube]

That army looks clearly like Saruman´s uruk-hai army from LotR. They even have those long pikes. That makes no sense to me. Nowhere in LotR (movie) was said that Saruman was inspired by Sauron (breeding uruks, design of weaponry)...in fact, he WAS inspired, because Sauron bred his uruks long time before the War of the Ring (books). PJ wanted to differentiate uruks from orcs, so in the films is Saruman pictured as their creator, they have special armor and weapons etc. So what the heck are they doing in the BoFA?

[AFOLguy1970]

Do they have a big problem with people spending all day on it

No, I work at a school. They block the site, because it has games on it. Of course, every student in the school has an electronic device with games already on it. Thankfully was able to order Lonely Mountain after the online shenanigans were over. Witch King will be next, followed by Laketown. Still dont know about getting the Battle of Five Armies.

[Darth Caedus]

That army looks clearly like Saruman´s uruk-hai army from LotR. They even have those long pikes. That makes no sense to me. Nowhere in LotR (movie) was said that Saruman was inspired by Sauron (breeding uruks, design of weaponry)...in fact, he WAS inspired, because Sauron bred his uruks long time before the War of the Ring (books). PJ wanted to differentiate uruks from orcs, so in the films is Saruman pictured as their creator, they have special armor and weapons etc. So what the heck are they doing in the BoFA?

It's a stock image, people. They reused a still of Uruks marching and thought nobody would notice. They were wrong. End of story.

[bachamn]

Those helmets are seen no where else in the LOTR, so they're not just a generic orcish helmet that is used, they're made specifically for those Uruks.

Got ya, I thought you were taking issue with uruks themselves being there obviously. I mean, I agree that they look similar to the White Hand helmets but it's just a silhouette; it could just have similar features. Still not really sure why that would bother someone though, maybe uruk fashion is more elitist than I was aware of? ;)

Also wasn't aware that there was some sort of exclusivity on the use of pikes too? When was this in the films and/or books? I'm not understanding the basis for the dissatisfaction on this one folks.

Also, picked up Witch King Battle last night from Target. They had only that one and Lake Town, crammed into a corner. TRU didn't even act like they knew there were new Hobbit sets coming out. I really love the extra effort they put into Galadriel, and now my 8 Nazgul finally have a leader in the display case :)

Edited October 16, 2014 by bachamn

[BrickBob Studpants]

Looks like Azog's upgrade includes a new fancy accessory for his left arm:

Introducing Orc pirate captain Arrzog Too bad we didn't get this version, but the change was probably made pretty late in the game, just as usual (remember the teaser where Azog had the same pose as here minus the armour and sword-arm)

[LegoLOTR]

Ordered WKB! It will be here tomorrow...Cant wait for Galadriel, I waited too long for her. So, my next buy is Lonely Mountain in December, and then i will see...Huh, I wonder how will Azog look with a "sword" instead of claw...They are really spamming us with banners and posters, I think the trailer is near.

[Hypernova888]

Looks like Azog's upgrade includes a new fancy accessory for his left arm:

Introducing Orc pirate captain Arrzog Too bad we didn't get this version, but the change was probably made pretty late in the game, just as usual (remember the teaser where Azog had the same pose as here minus the armour and sword-arm)

People'll need to do A LOT of Bricklinking to replicate THAT army...

[coolguy2323]

Just ordered Lonely Mountain! With the VIP points I'll probably grab Lake-town, then wait for the last movie to come out before I get the other 2 (may to BOFA via ebay, I really only want Thorin, Dain, and the structure).

[Dr.Cogg]

Here's my problems with the BoFA set, you have a set that cost $69.99 US, but the build and most of the minifigs make this set look like it should cost as much as the MEA set ($29.99) which to me has a better build and better characters.

P.S.If TLG does make an Armored Azog (I would prefer Bolg) I doubt he will have his sword arm because of it being a new mold.

[kevkipo]

Bummer you can't put a sword in an Arm socket