Fives

I'm not sure what you mean by cog pieces. This is my recent solution for Azog's mace: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/legoman-1/LOTR/photo-3.jpg I think it is as accurate you could get.

For those who have seen DOS, I'm trying to figure out how to make a decent representation of Bolg's weapon. It has a very unique shape, and I can't quite figure out what pieces would represent it best.

Also, Azog/old Bolg had Conan Stevens (the Mountain from season one of Game of Thrones) cast in the role, but then they changed the design to be digital, and the new design is Lawrence Makoare (Lurtz, Gothmog, the Witch-King).

I think the final fight will be between the White Council and Radagast and Beorn against Sauron. The orcs will have already left, so it should be a battle of powers rather than swords and arrows. Bolg should regroup with Azog and the army while they head to Erebor, and Legolas should give up his chase when he realizes that Smaug is headed for Esgaroth and Tauriel is still in the city.

I'm pretty sure it was just Yazneg was Azog and the orange bearded orc was Bolg. Then when they changed Azog, they decided to make Bolg match his father in look and stature. It'll be cool to see how they do Bolg's bear hand shoulder armour in LEGO. Also, Beorn in his bear form will be really cool. I'd think something the same size as the triceratops from the most recent Dino theme would make sense.

The Beorn scene was short, but in the book its not that much different. He hosts them, gives them food and fresh supplies, and keeps the path safe up till the gate of Mirkwood. I think he'll have an expanded role in TABA, and they'll pay off the whole 'Azog and his orcs killed my family' story (which of course is in the book), but also maybe give him involvement even more. I'd love to see a scene with Beorn and Radagast, since both are very much in tune with nature and animals. They'd likely have an interesting friendship. Doubt that'll happen, though.

I think this new gun will come a pass like the light up lightsaber figs did in 2005. LEGO is just testing out something new and interesting. If you don't like the new guns, buy some of the current ones.

That is Dwalin, and while the armour is the same, the head is different - no armour plate screw to the forehead. Also, I stumbled across a short interview with PJ (I can't find the link anymore), and in it he states that form the beginning, he wanted Smaug to be huge, and they used the basis of his head being the size of a bus, and then make everything else proportion to that. So putting that into perspective, think of the size of a typical LEGO bus. Perhaps something like the green bus in this set: http://thecityfix.com/files/2010/09/LEGO-City-Transport-Station.jpg If that is the basis of the head of the dragon, LEGO will have a massive set on their hands.

Here is a pic of Yazneg fighting Thorin at the Battle of Azanulbizar: http://www.thelandofshadow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/YaznegAzog3.jpg They decided later to make Azog the Pale Orc, and Manu Bennet was brought in quite late to the project. Also, given that the bearded orc seen being beaten by Dwalin during the same fight looked like the original design for Bolg, but now Bolg is the way he looks in DOS, that bearded orc likely can just be considered as part of the group that slew Beorn's people (explaining the bear hands on the shoulders).

I think its less of a theory, and more of a logical assumption. Then again, the Yazneg design was originally Azog. So who knows.

When that scene happened, all I thought of was Ben Stiller saying "No one makes me bleed my own blood!" In Dodgeball. While it's kinda sad that we won't get the original Bolg design, I have no problems with the new one either. He's just as big and terrifying, just in a different way. And overall, the new design will be easier to represent as a LEGO piece.

I think the Arkenstone should be done by using the 1x1 round tile (recent piece), in trams clear, with a. No of bluish and copper colored printing to represent the glow of the stone. Then it could easily be held by a fig, or fit snug into the throne.

I bet they'll show some stuff during the Feast of Starlight. There was a whole other costume and crown designed for Thranduil that didn't make an appearance, so I bet it was for that scene. And I'd like to see Beorn address Bilbo directly. It'd be fun to hear his opinion on a Hobbit.

Went a saw it again tonight (thats two nights in a row). Better the second time around. Things that initially irked me the first time felt a lot more natural this time. It was the same with AUJ. At first, I felt like the whole movie up until Laketown was rushed, but I think it was just the excitement level making it feel faster.

Why did you suddenly get so up in arms about this? While there are distinctions between the various types, orcs are still just orcs. The Uruks from LOTR can easily be compared to the Gundabad orcs in stature, and while the Uruks seem more like regimented soldiers, almost like clones, the final Dol Guldur scene in DOS will change how you view the Gundabad orcs completely. As for Smaug, if he were two thirds the length of Orthanc, he'd be passable as 'to scale' with the dwarves.

I've bought four, and not seen any serious problems. Maybe you just got a bad set? Sometimes LEGO slips up and misprints happen.

There is no doubt in my mind that LEGO will want to make a D2C Smaug set. After seeing him in the film (cuz I believe that had to wait just the same as us), they'll realize that there is no way to do the character justice in a normal scale set. And while some of the Hobbit and LOTR sets haven't sold as well as LEGO may have hoped, a huge dragon would be flying off shelves come next year's Xmas season. Kids and fans of the films would go wild over a huge, accurate Smaug that is also a challenging build, and older collectors always have various reasons to buy the big sets. Plus, Smaug is at the same level of iconic value as Bag End, and we all know how amazingly that set sold last year. My only worry with a big Smaug would be sturdiness and functionality. I wouldn't want a fragile dragon that's prone to break, but I also want to be able to pose him in a multitude of positions. His neck and tail would especially need to be moveable, long with a hinged jaw and foldable wings. I was originally prepared to be content with a system scale Smaug, but after seeing his stupendous enormity, I would feel disappointed f LEGO didn't seize this chance and create a set that could possibly go down in the LEGO hall of fame, like the UCS Millenium Falcon.

The reason we didn't get Smaug this wave is because PJ and Co. weren't allowing them to see him. That would be too much of a risk of the design being leaked before they want it to be.

Just saw the film. Holy Hobbits was it amazing! Here are my thoughts, broken down by major scenes: I loved the prologue in Bree. It was helpful because it explained why Thorin was on his mission in the first place. Plue, PJ's cameo was hilarious! Then we're back with the group, and its quick. Beorn was awesome. Perfect. The one problem: there wasn't enough of him. His scenes were really short. Hopefully they make up for this in TABA. Bolg's introduction was really cool. I like how Azog kinda seemed to hate him. I really hope their relationship gets expanded in TABA. Mirkwood was really cool. The whole hallucination bit was funny and clever, and the spiders sequence was very true to the book. Bilbo getting carried away against that creepy white spider was really cool, and started to develop the Ring's character. Very good. Then Leggy and Tauriel pop in and capture the dwarves. All the scenes involving Thranduil and stuff seemed way too rushed for some reason. I just feel like Thranduil got less screen time than he deserved, and the Tauriel/Kili romance, while cute at some parts, was given too much attention. Bad move on PJ's part. The barrel scene was stupendous! One of the most fast paced action sequences that I've seen in a while. So much stuff was going on, and while it required a serious suspension of disbelief, it was just so fun! And Bombur stole the scene! After that, we meet Bard. He is awesome. I really like the humanity they gave the character. being a widower, and a sort of Robin Hood of Laketown, made him the most relatable character, next to Bilbo. All the scenes in Laketown were great. The Master was perfect, I just wish we got to see more of him. Alfrid was also. Kinda felt like a toned down Grima. I felt like Laketown, its style and feel, could be from a Shakespeare play. It just had a very Shakespearean feel, which gave it a genuine sense of uniqueness when pinned against all the various cultures in Middle-Earth. When the dwarves headed to Erebor, I was bothered that some stayed behind. It was all just an excuse to get Tauriel and Kili back together. However, that being said, them being in Laketown when Smaug attacks will add something more to that whole scene in TABA, so thats a plus. Then we get to Erebor. All the stuff at the door was good (the moonlight felt like a nod to the Gates of Moria in FOTR), but its once we get inside that we get treated to the best bits of the whole trilogy so far. Smaug stole the show! He is now my favourite character in anything ever! His design was so perfect, and Cumberbatch's performance was amazing! He just gave this feeling like theres no way to relate to this huge creature, yet theres still a certain level of humanity in him. Very eerie. However, the action scene at the end with the Dwarves vs. Smaug felt... out of place. It almost didn't feel like Middle-Earth after a while. It almost felt like I was watching some random sic-fi/fantasy, and it ultimately took away from the film. But the cliffhanger ending... it left me speechless and at the verge of tears. Overall, amazing! Not flawless, but better than the first. My biggest worry: how the heck does LEGO plan on making Smaug! I knew he'd be big, but holy crap! He'd need to be the length of Orthanc!

Dol Guldur was never in the book. That whole storyline was added in by PJ. But when it comes to name of the set, I really believe it was just a way to differentiate between the two Dol Guldur sets. Also, I just saw the movie, and now have a genuine worry: how will the make Smaug? His sheer size baffled me. I know we can't expect a minifig scale one, but even one that could plausibly be in a set would still be the biggest creature LEGO has ever made. I'm very excited and fearful for how LEGO will proceed now that Smaug is out there for everyone to see.

My current Middle-Earth Armies: The Servants of Sauron: Grunts - 14 Uruk Pikes, 8 Uruk Swords, 11 Uruk Scouts, 1 Berserker, 6 Gundabad Swords, 6 Elite Gundabad Orcs, 10 Orcs Crossbows, 8 Orc Swords, 6 Orcs Axes, 3 Goblin Town Orcs, 2 Moria Orcs, 1 Cave Troll. Total = 76 Leaders - Azog, Lurtz, The Great Goblin, Yazneg. Other (not in picture) - The Necromancer, Saruman, Grima Wormtongue, The Mouth of Sauron, 2 Nazgul on Horse, 4 Haradrim (custom), 5 Corsairs (4 custom), Daisy the White Warg, 1 Grey Warg, 4 Brown Wargs, two Mirkwood Spiders, Shelob. http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/legoman-1/LOTR/orc_army1.jpg http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/legoman-1/LOTR/orc_army2.jpg The Free Peoples of Middle-Earth: Grunts - 8 Mirkwood Archers, 4 Mirkwood Swords, 4 Rohan Archers, 3 Rohan Swords, 6 Rohirrim, 2 Mirkwood Wine Cellar Guards, 2 Soldiers of the Dead, 1 Laketown Guard. Total = 30 Leaders - Gandalf the Grey/White, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Boromir, Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Bilbo, Thorin, Balin, Dwalin, Oin, Gloin, Fili, Kili, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Dori, Ori, Nori, Elrond (both Second and Third Ages), Arwen, Thranduil, Tauriel, Haldir, Theoden, Eomer, Eowyn (custom), The Master of Laketown, Radagast, Beorn, Bard, the King of the Dead. Other (not in picture) - 2 Great Eagles, Treebeard. http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/legoman-1/LOTR/photo_1-2.jpg http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/legoman-1/LOTR/photo_2-2.jpg Hopefully LEGO gives us a good Gondor army builder next year, as well as more Elves, Lake-men and Dwarf warriors for the BO5A.

I would include LOTR Mordor orcs in my army as well, since they look generic enough to fill the ranks. And having bought all sets including them, and also making the wise choice to buy 16 orc keychains and just cut the chain off, I have a total of 25 Mordor orcs alone. Add two Moria orcs, three Goblin Town orcs, 12 Gundabad orcs (thanks to DGB. DGA and 4 MEAs), plus 35 Uruks (that includes Lurtz and the Berserker), along with Yazneg, Azog, The Great Goblin and the cave troll, thats roughly 80 evil warriors (not including Wargs, since those are steeds). Pose that against 13 Dwarves, 12 Elven scouts, Thranduil, Tauriel, Legolas, The Master of Laketown, one Laketown Guard, Bard, Bilbo and Gandalf, which adds to a total 33 good warriors (and that is only from the current sets that I have purchased). I think that, depending on how people bulk up their forces, we should be given more Elves, Men and Dwarves, because it is easier to pretend Mordor orcs or other LOTR baddies are in the evil army than using Rohan soldiers for good.

Perhaps, but If LEGO made Smaug with a molded body/head/tail and brick built foldable wings (like past Ninjago dragons, but with sail-like material to make them look 'full'), then it wouldn't be too much of an issue. Just big molded pieces that would hike up the price.

Yeah, I tend to sometimes go over by one or two figs when I'm making wish lists. But seven figs and an animal per army builder, if maybe put at a $45 price point rather than $30, would be fair. Either they do three army builders, or one big Dale set with the named characters like Thranduil, Dain and Bard, along with a man and a Dwarf and two orcs and a warg, make it $80. Then make a $30-$40 extension of Erebor with two orcs, two elves, and a man and a dwarf, and another warg. That is more realistic to me.

It seems like Dol Guldur Battle is an amalgamation of Radagast's visit in AUJ and Gandalf's duel with Azog in DOS. Makes a lot of sense now.