greenalfonzo

MAybe that refers to how adding a 3rd Hobbit movie messed up the release schedule. As some speculated, it is possible that a 6 wave set was intended to go with the seond (and last) Hobbit movie, but then when a 3rd movie was added, 2 of those sets were pushed back to 2014. (To hopefully be paired with new, additional sets.) The same seems possible for the LOTR sets. We only received 4 in 2013. Perhaps Lego had prepared 6, but then held 2 back to be released in 2014, now that their license was extended until then? That could possibly explain the odd wording. Hopefully we still might see at least a 4 set wave next year to pair with the last Hobbit wave.

Prelim pictures of the Pirates of Umbar set box showed (in small drawing of figs included at the bottom of the box front) the 2 orks with new helmet and armor that looked a lot like the armor worn by moria orcs. I expect they dropped those to keep mold costs down (but also lost sales to me!). I think the same is true with MEA. They only had money for new Thranduil hair, and added hood because the polybag was so popular. Since by making a elf helmet for MEA, they could have also reused it for Hobbit 3rd wave/BO5A sets to spread out expense, it makes me fear we'll get none at all. It is similar to the Black gate set like Darth Caedus said Putting not just Rohan soldier in it, but also Gondor soldier with new helmet, and that set sells much stronger (I know, too many good guys!), and have the helmet ready for a $30 army builder later. .

No Galadriel please. There is no good set for her with only one wave left (maybe) for LOTR. Put her in a Hobbit set if you want her, she supposedly does some fighting with the White Council in those movies.

I believe they could, and should include a breastplate for the Gondor soldier. It doesn't need a new mold, they could just use the same old one that was used on Theoden/Uruk Hai, but with different printing. I think the shield from the Roman soldier in CMF line would be a better shape, though the tree wouldn't print as nice with the stud in the center.

I'm just hoping we get an armored Elf in the last wave. The lack of an armored elf with helmet in the Mirkwood Battle set was a big disappointment to me. The hooded guys don't look very elven, and it seems like it mostly done as a money-saver by lego instead of making a new mold. The elves we see in the trailer are so cool looking that I'm sure they'd make a set like that a huge seller. I'm only buying one of the Mirkwood Army set, mostly just for Thranduil. If they would have come with a new helmet and printed breastplate, I would have bought 6 at least.

It seems to me that a $30 "wall" set (like Uruk Hai Army or Mirkwood Elf Army) based on either Osgiliath or Minas Tirith battles, and featuring 2 Gondor soldiers (new helmet, old breastplate armor) and 1 Gondor ranger (Faramir) along with 3 orcs would be a huge seller. Be a real shame if we missed out on that one. A second set with the Witchking/Fellbeast & Eowyn and I'm very satisfied. The other figure I'd really like is an armored elf (with helmet!), but I'm hoping that will show up in the next Hobbit wave. Different looking armor, but good enough.

I posted a quick pic of mine over in classic-castle.com's forum.