Goonmo

As far as I know you can always price match to Wal-Mart or Target though. So, even if you miss the regular prices you can still get them later for MSRP. That doesn't go for Toys R Us exclusives though, obviously.

I think this is the Clone it's supposed to be. The chest armor printing matches the action figure, it's off center where the Clone Wars gunner is symmetrical.

We know it's not a rehash, it's not a playset, "just because it's not a playset doesn't mean it's a vehicle" and the word "sphere" was a hint. So you tell me, what else could it be? Everyone "ran" with the idea because it's the most plausible once you narrow it down to the facts we have been given, that and none of the reliable sources on this forum have shut it down besides CM4Sci saying on Reddit that he didn't think a BB-8 direct to consumer set was coming, which isn't saying that he doesn't think a BB-8 set is coming in general.

Alright, so as far as I know: UCS Snowspeeder is basically confirmed as a set for an April release. A UCS set having to do with a sphere has been rumored (Some form of Death Star, Planet, but most likely BB-8), although CM4SCI has said on Reddit that he doesn't think that a D2C BB-8 is coming. So, maybe we're getting a non-D2C UCS set? or maybe it's not even a UCS. A UCS Millennium Falcon re-release has also been heavily rumored by multiple people (CM4SCI on Reddit has said that he thinks it is coming). The Last Jedi sets look very good according to Sir Von Lego. 2018 has some good stuff in store as well according to him. That is basically everything that has come out recently besides the summer wave (which some prelims have been leaked but I assume a full reveal of at least most of the sets at NY Toy Fair over the weekend of the 17-19th of February. Force Friday is rumored for September 1st. It seems to me like the Snowspeeder and the sphere are the set UCS sets for this year, and that the Millennium Falcon might be the one that may or may not happen. Although any of the insiders can feel free to correct that if they know anything.

I think this is actually way less likely. The word "sphere" was the hint, and as it has been repeatedly said that it is not a rehash, it's either a planet, or BB-8. The latter of which Sir Von Lego responded saying something along the lines of "so it seems logical then" which I take as confirming that it is BB-8 until he comes on here and tells us all we're wrong.

I still believe that they do take ideas that don't make the cut into consideration. Doesn't the rules even say that once you submit an idea it becomes the property of the Lego Group? So, while there are some coincidences I think they definitely are paying attention to everything submitted, that even goes for themes like Star Wars.

Seems like he is confirming that it is a UCS BB-8 and that he knows something about 2018 sets as well.

Ah, so BB-8 then?

A few reputable people on here have said that they think it's coming.

I typically don't mind rehashes. I just don't really care for UCS sets that are oversized, I prefer sets that a proper minifig scale such as the Slave I, or even the Ewok Village and Sandcrawler. Those are the sets I feel like you get your money's worth in both parts and figures. Then we get over-sized sets like the X-Wing, Jedi Starfighteer, Tie Fighter and now the Snowspeeder which come with one exclusive figure if any rather than a few in the other sets. I personally think that this UCS spot is more of a waste than 75098. If the Millenium Falcon rumors are true, I suppose that would make up for it and save me a bit of money this year. I just hope in the future we see more creative new places explored like Bespin or Geonosis as the next big UCS sets.

I think it is the tripod droid. The one in your picture as well as the one in the transformation seen itself has a yellow jar hanging off the front of it. The lego droid has a trans-yellow 1x1 round tile on the front. Also, if you look closely at the picture of the prototype set and the new picture it appears there is some sort of third leg. If it was a 2-1B I think they would reuse the same version from 8096. And it's definitely from the Vader transformation set, not Episode 8. I think it's built kinda like this, but we won't know for sure until an actual reveal.

I believe the droid is indeed from the Vader set. It appears in the prototype images. Weird that it's not labeled as a figure though.

I believe the Clone is based on this figure from Hasbro. I don't think it was ever shown in the movie, but it's an AT-TE Tank Gunner from Revenge of the Sith. The printing on the figure seems to match the pauldron in the action figure.

Agreed, same old Rey we've always had. You can tell the belt printing matches up even in the blurry photo. It's a TFA set. Plus everything from Ep. 8 will be released on or after Force Friday in September.

Maybe he could be included in this years advent calendar as young Boba Fett and U-3PO were in past years? although I suppose he would be on the box as he's pretty important. Or, Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter is another misleading name for an entirely different set? 75135 was originally on rumor lists as Anakin's Podracer and even some stores had it named as such on price labels, so maybe what we think is a retail exclusive Jedi Starfighter is a Cloud City set instead. Maybe a Cloud Car or Dining Room scene. Or it's a fake and we'll never get another Cloud City set ever.

5. 75135: Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter This was a long, overdue set. I was really excited about this set when it was announced and it met all expectations. My only issue is that the minor differences between this set and Anakin's Jedi Starfighter are subtle, but enough to bother me because I feel like they should be identical. Maybe they should have been released together in one set as they were in 7283 Ultimate Space Battle. The set also could've included some Buzz Droids to put it over the top but it doesn't take away from the set that they aren't included. 4. 75151: Clone Turbo Tank I am one of the few that really, really enjoys Revenge of the Sith. It was the first Star Wars movie I saw in theaters and as a kid I had most of the original movie line of sets from 2005-2006 including the original Clone Turbo Tank. Sadly, that set has been long dismantled and is in a large bucket of parts. The 2016 version, however, was able to remind me of the joy I had with those sets years ago. Gree, Luminara, the Clone Scout, and Vos are great figures, although the addition of a few more unnamed clones would not of hurt. I can't help but feel like the set is a bit empty with only four figures. Also, the spring-loaded shooters are not well placed. Other than those few things I really enjoyed this set. 3. 75140: Resistance Troop Transporter When I first saw this set I hated it, but I needed it for the figures so I got it on sale. It won me over as I built it. It might overuse stickers a bit, but the ship is large and chunky and feels like it was thrown together from scrap like the actual transporter is. I love the design of the engines and the guns on the end. I like that they put in a lever to open the cockpit. The inclusion of Leia and Ackbar are very nice, however it could've included maybe one more named character in order to place higher. 2.75155: Rebel U-Wing Fighter Fell in love with this set when the original pictures were leaked. I just enjoy the design of the ship and I think it fits right in with the other Rebel ships. The functionality works well and I think this set has the best use of hidden spring-loaded shooters so far. It comes with a good choice of figures as well. 1. 75136: Droid Escape As a kid I always wanted the original but never got it. This was the first 2016 set I picked up and I enjoyed every aspect of it. It comes with great figures at a great price point, an easy way to get Jawas as well as R2 and C-3P0. The build is fantastic and detailed like the model from the movie. The stickers actually add to the set as well, showing a viewport on the interior of the ship. So the Price, figures, and ship itself come together to make this the best set of 2016 for me.

Lego is for kids, I don't expect most kid would have enough money to buy 75140 ($70), 10236 ($250), or 75159 ($500) which are the only sets currently that have her in an updated form (and one is pretty much retired). Even before, the Shuttle Tydyrium and Jabba's Sail Barge were quite expensive as well. The cheapest you could get her in a set was 2012's Y-Wing and even that was $50. I just think that any kid should be able to have at least one version of the main characters if they want, and Leia is nearly impossible to get nowadays unless you're willing to spend a decent amount. I, like you, also have quite a few Leias, but if I could get any version of her in a $25 set like I can Luke or Han it makes my life as a collector much easier and makes her character much more accessible to kids.

A swamp variant of R2 would be nice with mud and dirt printing

It seems that the walkers in the Rogue One trailer are confirmed to not be AT-ATs, so the rumored AT-ACT could very well be this "prototype" version. https://stormtrooperlarry.com/2016/04/19/the-rogue-one-atat-is-actually-new/

Mostly all of the figs in the advent calendar have some sort of relation to the mini builds (Snow Trooper and the Hoth Turret, Bespin Guard and Slave 1, etc...), so the protocol droid might be something related to the Blockade Runner. Perhaps U-3PO, although the colors don't really match up.