Odin's son Fred

I'm ok with it not being there since I'll be using that minifig and gear as a generic Rohan horseman instead of Eomer. My Hobbits will be getting that Heroica short sword (along with moveable full length legs).

Excellent!!! I'm glad the ghost is coming in a cheaper set since the Ghost Train will probably be out of my budget for a while.

Thank you for posting the pictures. Does the ring fit around a minifig arm?

This is an easy one for me, I love them both just as much. Castle has always been my favorite Lego theme ever since that Christmas when I unwrapped the Yellow Castle. I see the LotR sets as an extension of the overall Castle theme that will add some diversity to the theme (much like Ninjas, Vikings and Fantasy Era have done in the past). My overall view of the Castle theme has been shaped by many things from the time I was a kid to today with influences including books (like Ivanhoe, Robin Hood, The Chronicles of Narnia and LotR), games (like D&D, Warcraft, Diablo, Sacred and Total Annihilation:Kingdoms) and TV/Movies (like Kingdom of Heaven, Game of Thrones, Dragonslayer, The 13th Warrior and King Arthur). So finding a place for LotR in my Castle collection is no problem. For me, this one is a little more complicated. While I would love to see the eventual return of the "traditional" Castle theme, I would also like to see what else Lego can do with the LotR and Hobbit sets (and I would like to see some battle packs...like I'm sure most would). I would not mind seeing some other historic themes as long as I could merge them in with the Castle theme as well (so Western is out for me). Some other historic ideas (and some that were already mentioned) would include Greeks/Persians (300), Romans (and other groups they fought building the Empire such as Celts, Gauls and Germani to name a few), Chinese, and Norse (although with better helmets than the Vikings line had). And if TLG wants to throw in some of the mythology from those groups, I'm cool with that.

I've been looking at the Log Cabin to start adding some small houses to my collection. Now you are just making me want it more. Good job with the combinations.

Sounds similar (and just as effective) as what I do. In my Castle world the fleshies are Half-Elves (like the ones from D&D) since they don't have the pointed ears like the upcoming LotR Elves. That way the bearded faces still work (for me at least). The PotC figs are a group of coastal Half-Elves that study science and sea exploration instead of holding to the "old ways" like their more inland cousins. The LotR sets and figs having a different look than the regular yellow fig castle sets fits in with this way of thinking perfectly (again, at least for me) and provides more figs to help diversify and expand the Half-Elf race. Come June the Human (yellow) factions will need to start uniting or the Half-Elves will grow large enough to over them individually....lol.

Sort of feel the same way. I will be picking up all the LotR sets and integrate them into my other Castle\Fantasy stuff. The Orcs will be one "bad guy" army along with my current Skeleton and Fright Knight army. I've been converting the last Kingdoms Dragon Knights to fleshies and they (along with my PotC Pirates) will be the allies of Rohan. My yellow Northlander-ish (including the Black Falcons, Wolf Pack and Woodsmen) and Japanese armies will each be their own factions as well. So while I'll be getting the LotR sets to be what they are, they will also be part of my larger Lego Castle\Fantasy world (and all available for Brikwars terrain).

I think this set will make a nice terrain piece for a Brikwars battlefield...and the figs included will help build my Orcish army.

Nice!! I think I'll be getting that set...Zombies and graveyard terrain. How can you pass that up?

Sorry, only officially released Lego pieces are allowed. Since those have not been officially released yet you'll have to leave them out. Just kidding...can't wait to see them in person.

I have a feeling the Goblins, Orcs and Uruk-hai will come in one battle pack since they all bad guys. Rohan, I'm pretty sure will eventually end up with a battle pack since their new helmets and shields are already made. Gondor and Elves could happen eventually but I wouldn't expect to see them anytime soon unless all the Elves in that battle pack have the new ears/hair piece instead of a helmet and come with just a bow and no shield. We'll probably have to wait until after Gondor and the Elves have gotten a big set or two before we see battle packs of them. One thing I hope they don't do is the "verses" battle packs like they do for Star Wars. Personally I would rather get 4-5 troops from one army per battle pack.

My feelings exactly.

Unless I'm mistaken, they should be released in June...not sure the exact date.

I so cannot wait for this summer.

I'll probably be swapping out the cybernetic stuff for regular limbs myself (and possibly re-work a couple of the vehicles to get a more 1930's-40's look) but the idea of new villains and monsters sounds good. A Headless Horseman type character on a motorcycle instead of a horse might be cool (hmmmm) or an evil Magician.

Just curious if anyone else is planning on adding their own custom Monster Fighters to the team? As a fan of the Arkham Horror board game series, one of my side projects has been to make some minifigs based on and inspired by the Investigator from that game and its expansions and those minifigs will be joining my Monster Fighters team. The latest member (sorry no picture yet) I think will especially fit in well. The parts are Lex Luthor's body with light grey hands, a Kai (the one with the scare over the left eye) head and the Two-Face hair. What are some of your ideas for extra team members?

Finders Keepers Brick Shop on ebay has a wide selection of custom capes and other cloth goods.

It's a shame that Lego Universe didn't make it as I always thought sets from that "world" would make great action/adventure sets (and it covers several themes). A Lovecraftian theme would be great, especially if they did something along the lines of the Arkham Horror Boardgame (it's worth your time to look it up on Google) where a team of investigators, set in 1930/40, try to stop the summoning of some elder god. Granted TLG would have to change some names and kids it up a bit (and since we live in a real world where plushie Cthulhus actually exist I'm pretty sure it is possible to kids up this line some without it getting too bad) but the basic premise would still be the same. You could also slip in some steampunkish stuff in there even though it is past the Victorian age. Could be the future of the steampunk idea and some are rebelling against science with magic and trying to raise an ancient evil to destroy the science. Here is someones MOC that does a great Cthulhu rising scene (see if you can spot The Doctor and Rose in the scene). It would also be easy to put a Holmes like detective with the investigators. Lots of potential there to build some fun sets that I think kids and adults could like.

To be honest, in my opinion, I think it would be a better idea (and the way I would prefer) if they did Minas Tirith like they are doing Helm's Deep. One large set and then some smaller sets that can attach to it but unlike Helm's Deep, do a variety of wall sections with some troops to represent the various armies that were at that battle. That way it could be a general release instead of just a Lego store release and folks can built it as big or small as they want (a.k.a. can afford).

Haldir looks great. Now he just needs some Elf soldiers to command. Fingers crossed for an all Elf battle pack.

Ninjago is ok and has some good minifigs and parts but still isn't up to what the old Ninja line was. I would love to see the Ninja (/Samurai) line return without spinners, modern vehicles and such. A Pirates vs Ninja line would be fun and entertaining as would a Viking vs Ninja theme. Count me in as signed on this even though I doubt Lego will do it...but that is where MOCs come in.

I probably didn't say what I meant correctly. Older building used to have 3 walls (or at least as I remember them) so they were open backed where as newer sets seem to just be a one wall facade. And it does make sense to make them that way for playsets as long as some action features are included.

From what I've noticed in recent years, it seems Lego is getting away from doing large, enclosed structures (examples: the recent Harry Potter sets, Ninjago, PotC and Atlantis). I can understand why they may be doing it as it gives more playability and action features to the sets for kids to enjoy. I think a bat-a-rang looks better in that hair clip and would fit with the line. A Steampunk and Ghost ship would be great for this line....those would be a couple of sets I would pick up for sure. Here is a really cool Steampunk/Fantasy ship that was done for Historica: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=65745 Does anyone know if the Ghost Train will fit on Lego Train tracks? If so, that could open up some real cross theme fun.

The Hagrid/Jack Stone body type should be big enough to pull off the Sauron figure but it would need a lot painted detail and/or some extra pieces to pull off the look of the armor.

Secrecy is my middle name (yes, I had odd parents). As long as your packages will fit on the ship we'll pick them up from and take them to any port you need.