Lordhelmet

Day one purchase for me too. Would be disappointed if they do not ship enough sets but I’ll be at the store before it opens. Don’t want to wait for a future shipment. It might be nice if they limit purchases early as well. I am hoping they do a decent gwp though would make waiting all these years even nicer.

A dinner with the elves (hobbit Rivendell) might work well, two added elves with a small table build. Would fit Rivendell without a crazy add on. White council would also fit staying in the hobbit theme.

Brickheadz golumn but he is holding a ring instead of a fish is another front runner

I think Eiffel’s apartment piece count and inclusion of a minifig (or Lars homestead last year) are fair comparisons points. (Or the new bionicle one going for the $100 of sales price point). So I am good with hoping for either suggestion. I would even just take the witch king and fell beast. I remember talking about Tolkien’s writing room as an idea before @Balrogofmorgoth might have had that idea. sounds like we might find out if there is one as early as this weekend if they do the official announcement.

I am looking forward to the official release to se all the details (fingers crossed on an awesome narsil section). Also do we think there are one or two more minifigs we cannot see yet? Thinking extra elves or dwarves that might be hidden from the photo angle to round out the council scene?

I think minifig scale refers to things scaled to minifigs height. So for example the UCS AT AT is minifig scale. Orthanc would be gigantic at that scale. I would say that Orthanc is play scale (think Star Wars non UCS ATAT) which Can fit and be used with minifigs vs micro scale (like hogwarts or the Star Wars trench diorama set). I would think Barad dur would be similar in size and concept to Orthanc from the initial information of the armory, minifigs, and other rooms.

I have to say, I was not expecting this for Rivendell. I had more of a buildings (maybe a full building, or micro scale) picture in mind. I think most of the Mocs have been this way, and I was looking at it from that lens. (All the comparisons to date have been Rivendell Mocs, hogwarts microscale, diagon alley - all building focused). I have to say I really like the actual direction taken. It reminds me the most of the helms deep set but with the detail from orthanc (some lonely mountain set vibes too). What I mean by this is it really fits into the old lord of the rings theme but at a higher detail and scale than before. I am actually very happy with that direction because it maintains a certain vision for the theme - high display ability, definitely Lego (like if Lego did a LOTR movie), and some play feel to it as well. The focus is on the story and characters within a beautiful background. Not what I had expected regardless of scale, but am very excited about the direction. (let’s be honest it was a day one purchase for me regardless of how it looked). This also makes me think we will see more play scale sets in this same vein. And now it would be fun to speculate wildly on a GWP for this. My vote is for a Balrog.

I think the pictures are deceiving in regards to the size. There is a lot of open space/base to it which make it looks like there is a not a lot of pieces. (I thought it looked small at first glance, or not enough pieces). After looking at the old council of Elrond set on my shelf though, the new set's council area is significantly bigger, which to me would indicate this set is huge. Even the hobbits in the bottom left give some impression of the scale of the overall set. I just think with the open space it is a bit deceptive with the size. Also, I would guess that the roofline is about half the height as Orthanc (Just guessing based on the height of the mini figures in front of it) with the towers being higher. I just think the open space and overall size in it is deceptive.

Not sure where everyone else is seeing the photo, I saw a YouTube video with it just now though. They mentioned they saw the fellowship with Arwen, Bilbo, and two extra elves. That would be awesome with new hair moulds (as it would indicate future sets for them to create a new mold vs. using the old one). more investment cost on their part to design a new one. That combined with the Barad Dur rumor. Very happy it is not microscale, this is a huge set (I just glanced over at my council of Elrond set, and the council area in the new one has to be twice the size of that area if not bigger). That will be quite a large set which is excellent.

where are the pictures? I am not sure what the usual place is :)

I would not be disappointed with Barad Dur and Rivendell. (I doubt the second set this year though). If they stick to 18+ only then I am really hoping they get smart and do dioramas with some bigger D2C mixed in, a one hundred dollar diorama of a balrog and Gandalf would be awesome (among many others).

Good points, might be worth adding that if we get some molds (new or re-used from the original line) on Minifigures it would be a good sign for future LOTR sets as well. Bringing back the sting mold (brickheadz didn't) would be applicable, the elven hair pieces would be a good sign, Gimli's helmet and beard, among other molds that are specific to LOTR. It would be even more encouraging if there were some new molds thrown in (like Narsil) or some others. I like the Dragon Alley comparison, I am wondering where the comparison to Hogwarts came from (if it was leaked, or just speculated based on piece count). I am just hoping for something that is a nice display regardless of scale with a bunch of Minifigures. (I would take micro scale external with internal scenes with. minifgirues vs. the micro characters).

With you, would be nice to get some leaks or real information.

Could you imagine how upset people would be if the did an eye of Sauron set (specifically D2C) on the wrong tower or out of scale to the eye tower (like a giant eye on the tower from the black gate set). especially after waiting so long for more LOTR lego sets

I mean the eye on top of the tower is super iconic for the movies, probably the most iconic part of the movies as people who have never seen the movies might even recognize it due to parodies or other media (it was in the Lego Batman movie as a character). I would say Barad Dur is right there (recognizable) with some of the characters like Gandalf. I would love a set even if it is like orthanc but would be just as happy with other sets mentioned throughout the thread. I just think the giant eye on top of the tower makes it one of the most recognizable and iconic locations in the movies specifically to casual fans or some who haven’t seen the movie but watched other media where Barad dur still shows up.

I would say my top five big sets (250+ D2C) would be (in no particular order). Barad Dur, Minis Tirith (only one I think micro scale works best), meduseld, Loth Lorien, and Rivendell. Runners up for me would be Bilbos party (we already have a decent bag end set), Argonath, Moria gates and watcher, Minis Morgul, helms deep (already have a decent one, I combined two of these sets to make it way better) I would prefer smaller sets or dioramas for all of the later list (and tons of other sets) to capture the best scenes. sounds like they need to do minis tirith (brings me back ten years saying that)

Does anyone know how long before release Icons sets have been announced by Lego? I think the discussion ten or so pages ago was that it would be unlikely to see a lot of leaks for a D2C set, just wondering what the precedence for ICON set pictures being leaked (or actually released by lego). I am getting a bit impatient with all the other leaked information for other themes. Also hoping for a decent side gift with this set, still hoping for a brick built Balrog or a Sauron but I figure they wouldn't do those without new molds so it is highly unlikely. I remember we talked about a Tolkien one, Old Bilbo as an option, Do all of the expensive Icons sets have precedence here as well? (thinking Eiffel Tower with Eiffel apartment)

I would love play scale as well, I’d even go for micro scale exterior with internal buildings at play scale with scenes like narsil, Frodo meeting bilbo etc. might be a nice way to blend the scales and make a nice scene but still get mini figs. So take a page out of Bespin and Death Star sets where there are scenes but then hide it within a micro scale model to get the scenery right. (In this case the buildings could hide the scenes as you pointed out). The Harry Potter castle would have been ten times better with this approach (captured exterior as they did in micro scale but with an interior with a few mini fog scenes and a bunch of mini figures).

I love the diorama idea as well, the Star Wars ones are very nice and would be fitting for LOTR, my only added want them would be a CMF series (or two) and/or a few battle packs. Four dioramas and a battle pack each year (plus a UCS level D2C) would make an awesome theme and would not be overly expensive compared to a full line of play sets plus the D2C.

Seconded, I would love Barad-Dur (movie version). It is probably the most iconic part of the LOTR movies (lots of parodies with the eye, it was in the Batman Lego movie, etc.). People who have not watched LOTR would probably at least recognize Barad-Dur in passing (not by name but the eye is pretty iconic). Plus it would be a sweet set and an excuse to get a Sauron Minifig. It also bookends the two towers pretty nicely (movie versions). I was hoping this upcoming set was going to be Barad Dur, (or Minis Tirith). I am happy with Rivendell and understand it is one of the only places outside of Moria to get the full fellowship together which makes sense for a reboot, but was hoping for something completely new. I would also prefer new places in general, but do not mind repeats from the original run. I think they will need to come out with actual sets to make the license agreement worthwhile (I have lost hope in this year, but am hoping for next year or a very late year small theme like Avatar got last year). It would be nice to see some cheaper d2c sets too, like Dioramas, or things in the $200 range (like Orthanc was (I know inflation but as a reference)).

I don’t disagree that some collectors could inflate demand prices. This is an assumption though that only collectors drive prices up, perhaps a new LOTR show announced a few years ago could have also driven interest up raising prices (lots of variables). I agree that Lego should have someone crunching the numbers and determining what the real demand is. Perhaps brickheadz (something not appealing to most 18+ collectors is a way to gauge demand for the IP). None of us know why they are using this strategy which most people agree is not what LOTR fans wanted. My only thought is there is demand out there, Lego should do a limited test of it with some sets. Release 4 sets and a battle pack, that will show true demand across the board. I think we give Lego too much credit for understanding the market. I know the hulk buster comes up a lot but there have been quite a few misses and missteps in reading the customers by Lego group. To their credit they have a ton of lines though which overcomes their misses. At the end of the day they have more data than we do but they still make mistakes frequently. ultimately this is a pointless argument though. At the end of the day we want them to release minifigure play scale sets (and maybe some 18+ UCS or Diorama sets). Unless/until they do we will not know the true demand and can only guess. Hopefully they do and we can chat here regardless of outcome and just be happy we got some new sets :) .

Probably not Star Wars but maybe the others in the first wave, that does not seem too far fetched. Over the lifespan of all of them probably not, but an initial wave has a good shot at the non Star Wars ones. Lets look at demand (I saw earlier someone made a comment about supply and demand, but supply and demand affects prices). Lego LOTR is in the top 3-4 in value for mini figure resale prices. Star Wars runs away with number one by a long shot (based on the most figures in top 100), superheros is second (includes DC+Marvel), and LOTR and HP come in behind that. Yes supply is low for LOTR (way less supply due to only two years), but the Demand is there for people to spend lots of money on Minifigures driving up prices. So if that demonstrates there is demand for LOTR lego, the same logic could be applied to Brickheadz, while not as popular as minifigs, brickheadz will never be as popular as minifigs regardless of IP. So the logic applied is that with low supply of LOTR material (three Brickheadz sets) with demonstrated demand for the IP would indicate that it can compete with HP, Disney and there other media out there (Star Wars could still win this year, but LOTR might win out for one year). This is also demonstrated that two of the three LOTR sets are backordered, the only Brickheadz to be backordered (Not even the new Star Wars ones are - granted only tusken raider came out). So I believe in the short term (this year) LOTR could outsell every IP Brickheadz due to lower overall supply (only one years worth) and the overall high demand for LOTR in the aftermarket for sets showing demand for the IP. Long term it is very unlikely that LOTR Brickheadz would beat out those other Franchises, but I would argue sitting behind Star Wars, HP, Marvel, and Disney is still a worthy spot for a licensed theme given how well those all sell for Lego. LOTR being a top 5 licensed theme would justify more sets (not just Brickheadz).

This thinking (insanity as described above) would only really be that way if we kept doing it wave after wave, year after year. Demonstrating to Lego that there is demand for this IP (even if not in the same format as what people want) is still important. I would agree with the assessment if we don’t get any LOTR sets and next year they release more brickheadz and we all try to buy them again to get them to make actual sets (that would be insane and Lego clearly would have misread the demand -tangent - which also shows up in LOTR Lego ideas, letter writing (that I do) , and other channels besides here - good companies get a pulse of what their costumers want by listening to them not just sales). However sending them a signal that this IP is popular regardless of format is a win for the LOTR Lego fans in general. Hopefully between letter writing, demonstrated IP demand, product reviews, other media, demand for old sets driving up costs on their own website (bricklink) etc. Lego will recognize the opportunity to create actual sets (if they are smart they could make that deduction from those activities and sources). LOTR Lego fans aren’t going to just buy a bunch of waves of brickheadz every year without some real sets down the road. Worth noting In my case I will buy every LOTR set anyway just to keep the collection at 100% (that might be the truly insane part).

I think a giant the one ring would be cool with two aspects, gold (like the little rings with the sets) and with the printing of the words of the ring. That would be pretty cool as an add on to Rivendell (or a future big set like hopefully a Barad Dur set). Also I really need some good LOTR leaks, I am still disappointed we have not seen any with all the summer stuff leaked (and a few fall things leaked). It would be nice to hear about future sets, or more about Rivendell. Not sure what Lego is thinking with delaying leaks on things like this (a new series). It is more likely I would save money for Lego sets knowing something was coming out vs. spending it elsewhere without knowing (then being upset when they announce sets without a heads up).

I would be happy with that, would be pretty cool. Other cool options would be the inklings discussing manuscripts (include C.S. Lewis, Tolkien and one other). or beren and Luthien (but probably don't have the rights to that).