Ardelon

As Im mostly interested in parts useful in a regular castle theme, I would prefer soldiers or figs with easily reusable molds and prints: In order: Gondor soldier, Ithilien ranger (maybe Madril), Ranger faramir, Dernhelm Eowyn, Mordor/Morgul/Morannon Orc with new print and helmet, Haradrim soldier (this is a wish-list after all), Gamling or Háma (for new torso prints), Denethor, Easterling, Witch-King in armor (he is last since I find him least reusable as a generic fig). Maybe even civilian Eowyn, but I fear she would have a fleshie triangle on her torso. I would also consider Gondor Pippin and Rohan Merry relevant but these could be made with existing figs (if we got a Gondor soldier, that is). For the Hobbit, I would like Iron Hill & Erebor Dwarf soldiers, Dol Guldur Orcs, bear Beorn (a reprint of the City bear would do, though I wouldnt refuse a new mold), and maybe Dale soldiers (yeah, I can wish my head off). Maybe Thror and Thrain to finish the wish-list? Not really a fan of Gothmog, Bolg or the Elvish factions (though I would take a solder wiht the Elvish blade in a silver/bley color). For creatures, a Balrog (brick-built), Armored Troll (molded of course), Mumak (preferably molded, even if scaled down, but could also be a giant brick-built one) and fell beast (preferably molded) - in that order.

I used to think of "Classic Castle" as being parallel to "Classic Space" that is, sets of the 80s. It helped that I got into LEGO in the early 90s. The defining features would have been the long presence of the Crusader theme, and more importantly, exclusivey smiley faces. But I realized there was no natural divide, as in Classic space giving way to factionalized themes. So nowadays I guess Classic Castle fits best for the pre-1984 sets, with brick-built horses, old-style helmets, and sticker torsos. In short, I pretty much agree with mrcp6d above.

Im kinda glad this isnt "the" Castle theme for 2015. Im not really into elves, so I wasnt all that thrilled with the speculation and possibilities. What we do get will hopefully be more to my taste. (Im pretty sure we will get something in the summer, as we usually do.) As for this Elves theme, I wish it well, but Im not interested. Might check out the parts

But whatever the build, we would at least get much-needed prints, if not molds. Nuju Metrus Minas Tirith seems like the only slightly possible way to get them.

Not too thrilled with these sets. The Crook Shelter sounds interesting. Not really interested in construction sets. I groaned inwardly at more police sets, but at least the designers are trying fresh approaches. Forest Police turned out OK, so Water Police might too. Im looking forward to the prophesied fjord police. Or maybe alpine police, with the CMF Tyrolean hats. In the 90s, the racing theme was another big part of city, so back then I could justify the police presence by assuming they were busy investigating race match-fixing, racecar sabotage, rival team espionage, and the like. And speeding, of course. Nowadays, I can only assume that LEGO City is ruled by some "law & order"-obsessed regime where the police has first call on available resourses, with nothing left for the other sectors of society. So everybode enlists into the force so they can have some job security and a decent standard of living. Kudos to the crooks for facing such oveerwhelming odds...

I have to agree with the OP about the lack of buildings in City sets. Of course, Creator and the Modulars make up for it, but that means City isnt really City, but more like a "Police & Fire) theme. Thats not necessarily a complaint, though, since even these lines show a promise of getting better, with crooks hideouts and buildings on fire. The new construction set might give us more, the demolition set might include a building to actually demolish. Hopefully the golden era of City set diversity of the 80s and early 90s is returning. I personally could only work with the Creator houses, as the Modulars are too big for the "LEGO City" scale, which I adopted. So that cuts down on the avaiable sets right there. And while its a self-imposed constraint, I stand by the claim that the Modulars are not a substitute for "LEGO City" sets exactly because of the difference in scale and aesthetic. Not to mention the price, but I might be able to justify that as a parts investment. In the end, I end up building most of my houses/buildings, for better or worse.

I have to add my belated vote to picture reviews. What brought me to EB were the magnificent picture reviews, after all. I hardly ever watch video reviews (except for the official designer ones). I would prefer pictures even if the videos were more "professional", since for me its about the properties of the format/medium, not the quality. Of coure, a good video is better than bad pics, but in cases of all other things being equal... I much prefer the ability to skim picture reviews to read the parts important to me (figs, new parts, etc.), and decide which captions to read and re-read at my leisure. With video reviews, the videos will rebuffer whenever i want to skip ahead or re-watch something. Also, sometimes I want to download pics I find interesting, which i can do with a video review. I do see a advantage and purpose for video review in showing a dynamic action/play feature, like a flick-fire missile or a trap door. But it pretty much ends there. The video in the original post is nice, but I would still prefer a picture version of the same set. I really have to thank just2good not only for his minireviews as such, but also for including pics with them. Zblj, thats a nice concept, but I would still have to watch the whole segment. With picture reviews, I can skim over and take in the full review in a few seconds, then go back to the parts I want.

The Erebor set would have been significantly better for me if it included a dwarf helm instead of the standard helm - either Dains (but less gaudy, for regular troops) or Gimlis in a metallic color.

Why would you think that? I think TeufelHund is spot-on, Castle will be a summer theme, so we still have several months before we hear of anything. If anything, this year is the year without Castle, since all weve seen are battle packs (and Juniors sets). So next year Castle should be back in full force, moreso since the LotR/Hobbit license is winding down. And Pirates alone wont fill the gap.

Well, you can always MOC a wall or several different levels between the two sections. Yes, but the choice was more like between what we got and getting nothing.

Well, like the others, I say the roof technique was a success, just like everything else in the MOC.

Good designs all around. I personally prefer Michaelozzies designs, as rendered by Yooha, meaning the middle two guys in this pic: I think they have the 17th century "Dutch golden age" vibe, which is a nice goal to strive for. The designs by hjmediastudios, while great, look to be more from the 18th century, and doesnt really evoke the Dutch to me.

I had no idea there were so many colors of LEGO bricks - Thanks for opening my eyes! This is really a grandiose MOC, which manages to be choc-full of details (special mention goes to the golf clubs) - my favorite kind of MOC!

Great job avoiding the big grey wall syndrome. The old grey and discolored bricks work well here. And I love the addition of the bucket!

Good point as usual, but I would think that TLG would come out and say it, in an official e-mail or via a LEGO rep, if it was really not its call, to avoid the backlash from AFOLs. Is there a reason TLG (or WB or whoever is involved) would be so secretive?

Well, this is good news about the return of pirates. Hopefully it wont be as bad as all that. Though Im a bit disappointed that there is no soldier ship, but that makes it more likely there will be a 2nd wave, where we might see more. And I was also hoping a more substantial island, but based on the price, it seems we will be getting a pretty tiny one. And it looks like TLG went with the name „Brick Bounty“. Eh, I was hoping they would nix it for something more imaginative. I recall they werent bound to respect the poll.

You should have shown them interacting with your own sigfig, WhiteFang! I had no idea that coins stamped with numbers 1, 2 and 5 existed – when did this happen? I only knew of coins with values of 10, 20, 30 and 40. It seems LEGOLAND underwent monetary refrom, or even deflation, recently! Otherwise, it’s a shame the number of figs is being reduced, but its still great that this option of army-building is available.

Like the others I also love the nostagic classic vibe. And the fact that it is a substantial build, not just four thin walls around a square courtyard, like the official castles. And of course the yellow Guarded Inn is a brilliant addition. Though, based on the Wolfpack Tower, I would think the Wolfpack castle would have black walls...

Thats a great LEGO version of a Longship - I especially like it because of the scale - the previous Longships didnt seem scaled right to me. Either the designers combined two rowboats, which looked rather puny a and couldnt sit tow rowers side by side, or they used the big prefab parts also seen in the Fantasy line Troll Warship, which seemed oversized, since it rivaled the LEGO pirate ships in length. Your version look like a perfect middle road. But I worry that the airplane hull is too smooth for a Viking ship, with its clinker/lapstrake hull style. If TLG made this mold in with the texture of the Viking/Troll hull pieces, it would be perfect. One point of criticism, though - a distinctive feature of a longship was the raised bow and stern, which are missing in your version. Oh, and I also love the way you created the bick-built sails.

Nice vig, funny and smart, and congrats on being frontaged! I also wondered why nobody thought of this - no matter if the hammer or even the ground around it is enchanted, the must be a point where the enchantment wears off... And great choice for Lokis hair, that part never occured to me.

The WK Battle is indeed the odd man out. Like you suggested, maybe TLG got away with it because all three figs are named characters? If so there are similar set options that could have given us most if not all the missing named characters, while still having some army-building potential, like: - armored WK, Eowyn, Rohan Merry; with a small catapult or rock+bush or some similar inconsequential build - ranger Faramir, Madril, Gothmog; with some Osgiliath ruins - armored Faramir, Denethor, Gondor Pippin; with some White Tower interior - decrepit Theoden, Gríma, Gandalf the White; with some Meduseld interior Maybe even redo some older characters, like a set with Boromir (angry and sad/dying/regretful faces), Lurtz (with thorin hair to accomodate a quiver), Aragorn (correct colors on torso, unlike the inverted ones we got); and add some forest scenery.

Hun warrior for me as well, ss Im mostly into historical minifigs. I wondered whether the designers would tackle a steppe nomad fig, as its not really stereotypical medieval/fantasy fare, and I was worried political correctness would prevent them from doing so. Im glad my worries were unfounded.

Here are my opinions on the three leaked sets. I cant Im eager to buy them. I liked many of the ideas in this thread suggesting alternate fig placements that would have kept the amount of molds and prints, but here we are. Im kind of counting on official pictures to bring put more of the positives of the sets. Witch-king Battle: OK set. Not too keen on elves, which dampens my enthusiasm for Elrond and Galadriel. The WK himself looks cool though. And a few nice masonry bricks. Disappointed that the elvish sword is still golden. Attack on Lake Town: a nice add-on to LTC, or a great parts pack, but not that exciting as a set (maybe Smaug would have helped). I dont mind a second old Bard, the print is useful for a generic civilian. And Tauriel is also understandable, since she last appeared in the first wave. At least she is a new variant. Bains hair is weird, I wonder whether the skywalker hair is retired or why they didnt use that. Not to mention a darker color. I hope his torso is nice (the one reason Im not calling for his replacement or exclusion). The Orc hairpieces are nice too, it will be easier to make Narzug. I cant help thinking Bolg would fit right in this set instead of one of the Orcs. TBot5A: Well.. at least we get all five armies as PJ defined them (I insist the wargs are the fifth army in the book). What we see of the structure is underwhelming, but Ill reserve final judgement until we see all of it - we might still be looking at a nice ruined house. The ballista looks like a weird and nonsensical addition at this point, but if it is in the movie, I wont complain. As for the figs, Im as disappointed as anybody about not getting any generic soldiers. That said, Thorin looks great and Dain looks OK so far, though Im not keen on his trans-red axe and I hope the plume is detachable from his helmet. His hair at least appears to be lighter than Dwalins dark brown. I think the addition of Legolas is kind of undestandable, as he wasnt in the 2nd wave of Hobbit sets, and it makes sets to put him in this wave as one of the main heroes. Shame he couldnt have another print though. Azog is also understandable, to make him available in a cheaper set than DGB. And he has to have his showdown with Thorin, though i would have put them both into the Erebor set, canon or not. At least he has an alt face. Orcs could have had hair, but i guess thats to draw the buyers to the lake town set. I dont think theres another creature in the set, though there still might be something brick-built, like a spider or a giant bat or whatever creature PJ will add to the Orc army. But I think the rest of the box just has Bard and Legolas aiming their bow in a kooky action pose, or running to Thorins and Dains aid or falling through a trap door or something.

Hmm... Isnt there a "buildable action figure" or "constraction figure" license that TLG could try for that wouldnt be the same as various "normal" action figures? And while I hardly doubt the Dwarf is Dain, whats this about a signature red axe? Is it canon, or at least PJ-canon, or is it from some non-canon computer game?

If we get polybags, my money is on: 1) a Gundabad Orc (since one poly a generic bad guy), and... 2) Thorin – he is the deuteragonist of the whole trilogy, only second to Bilbo himself. And while we didnt get a Bilbo polybag, we got at least two (iirc) exclusive Bilbos with games and whatnot. Thorin would also follow the pattern of all the polybag good guys appearing in all the Hobbit films (Gandalf, Legolas, so also Thorin) – Im basing this argument on Legolas appearing in both films while the Hobbit was still a duology, and TLG having released his poly with this in mind. I assume the first film would have finished after the Barrel scene, but before Bard showed up to take them to Lake-Town. Even if Bard would have appeared in the last scene of the first film, he would still be a „part two hero“. As for what variant, its either the one we see in the BO5A set, or if TLG would want to keep him exclusive, maybe they would give him the BO5A torso, but his plain hair – like he appears in the teaser when the other Dwarves are parading in full armor in front of him. Of course, we might get Bard, I just think Thorin is more likely. I strongly doubt we would get Bain before Bard in a poly; and I dont think boys would really like a Tauriel polybag over a male hero they can identify with more closely.