Dark_Avenger

That would be the same for all LEGO stores. Their registers are now restricted from taking percentages off of exclusives, this includes damage box discounts.

It means "may" in the permissive sense. As in, were I to ask, "May I use this coupon on the Tower of Orthanc?" the store employee would have to say "No, unfortunately you may not." I have been told that this does not vary by store, manager, or clerk. The LEGO Stores' registers do not physically allow a discount to be taken off of an exclusive now, even if the manager tries to override it. Usually the employees are very good about doing what they can to make accommodations for a customer, but sadly it sounds like they are powerless to do anything but enforce the policy in this case.

As I understand it from my local store, LEGO Brand Retail is supplied with product directly by the company, as they are essentially LEGO S@H outlet shops (minus accessories etc. that appear only online). They do not order select items out of a retailer catalog like Toys R Us or Wal-Mart might.

I heard from the Woodfield LEGO Store that they won't be released until the very end of January.

I agree, I think they just moved it so it didn't cover the logo in the middle. LEGO has changed things on box art for the sake of display before (I remember them switching the sails on Brickbeard's Bounty so that the skull and crossbones were visible). I honestly can't think of much more I could have hoped for in a first wave! I was holding out for a Balrog in the Moria set, but I'm sure that'll come along somewhere down the road. Probably one of the best moves LEGO has made: making an Uruk-hai battlepack with a wall section that can be added to Helm's Deep as many times as we want! I can't wait to see how they handle Minas Tirith!

I love the look of Jabba's Palace! It seems designed to have an interior and an exterior that actually resembles the building, with what I think is the gate on the first floor of that tower. IMO it's hard to find a better solution to getting the right shape to the set, especially considering the wildly inaccurate 2003 version.

Interesting theory, but remember that the set is called "Blacksmith Attack." So I don't think he'd be attacked by one of the knights he makes weapons for.

I don't see what there is to be angry about? As it stands, we're getting in this set: - More paintings - A classroom with balcony - Mirror of Erised (?) - Cots for Gryffindor or Room of Requirement - Astronomy Tower with printed globe - Divination classroom (I'm guessing) All things considered, that's not a bad amount of detail for a $50 set with four new minifigs, and I certainly can't hold TLG at fault for not throwing interior decoration into underground areas that aren't even four bricks tall (not even enough comfortable standing room for a minifig). If you're so focused on having more detail in every room, well, isn't that what LEGO is all about? Being able to add to and rebuild things if they aren't to your liking? And you're right that TLG doesn't want to give away all their secrets - in the sense that we didn't get pictures of the Black Pearl, or the next modular building, or other exclusives that will be released toward the end of the year. Those are things that LEGO likes to surprise us with. But for standard retail sets like this one? They have no reason to hide anything about them if they're going so far as to build them and put them on display. Toy Fair is a big deal - LEGO wants all of their products to look as appealing and as close to the final product as possible so that retailers will order lots of sets. And with four months until release, they need to allow time to actually manufacture the sets and ship them out. At this point, it's very unlikely that LEGO will make changes or additions to what was on display. I think you're fixated on pretty wishful thinking at this point. And if the set looks plain bad? No one is forcing you to buy it. I know I'll be getting at least one to add to my Hogwarts.

If they didn't have details in the lower level at Toy Fair, then I'm inclined to agree that they most likely won't in the final product. Those "caves" are only a few bricks high - they don't look like they're meant to be levels as much as decoration for the outside (so that the towers are in line with the elevated bridge). As far as finality at Toy Fair goes, well, take a look at the photos for Hogwarts from a year ago: Other than the minifigs (due to torso printing), all the details of the set look like they match the final version. And back then, the set was 8 months away from release - the Battle set is currently 4 months away. If TLG was planning on putting interior details in the set, I don't think they would add more at this point.

I combined my 2004 and 2010 editions and built them up so the architecture was consistent. http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=458682 I plan on redesigning the building all the way to the right when I get a chance.

Great find! The picture isn't much to go off, but from what I can tell, Heroic Heroes will be a Mermaid Man (and Barnacle Boy?) set. The fig looks like it has white hair and something purple on its face (the starfish over the nose), and the building could very well be the retirement home. I'm really hoping on this one, as MM&BB were the only thing I wish LEGO had made before the line ended!

I just got the AT-AT a week ago and this happened to me, too. I was surprised and pretty disappointed!

I'm with The Brick Rat on this. I've always wanted more Diagon Alley shops after Quality Quidditch Supplies and the Knockturn Alley shop came out years ago!

I think he means the 1999/2000 theme WAS a historical theme, meaning this new one will be very, very different from that one.

Cad Bane's Speeder zoomed in: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/KopakaX/...anesspeeder.png

Don't think this has been posted yet (if it has, I'm sorry): http://legetoys.dk/lego-132/prince-of-persia-273/ Pics of the sets, minus Alamut, from the same site KimT linked to for August Star Wars releases.

For anyone in Chicago area, I found all six Stars at the LEGO Store in Woodfield Mall - they got a bunch in on Monday. I can't speak for the rest of the brand stores, but it wouldn't surprise me if they're turning up in those too.

Thanks Torax - I tried some windows, but they didn't work the way I wanted since the tower is zig-zagged on the edges, and I didn't just want them going all in a line up the front. I thought about doing some kind of design in the wall between the door and the top of the tower, but no ideas came - maybe I'll add it in the future. And I like to imagine the wizard can fly through the well to the top - makes it harder for enemies to follow.

Hey all - this is probably the first big project I've made from scratch in the past couple years (everything else has been modding here and there), but after several days and a whole lotta pieces, my wizard has a tower to call home! Just the tower: ...and the mountain: River of probably-shouldn't-touch-that-stuff: Entrance to the mountain, you can see the outline of the alter: Detail on the crystal lines running down the rocks: Cave mouth on the side of the mountain, with a path and stairway leading to the tower: Detail on the tower: Entire model from behind: A hole runs from the roof of the tower to the wizard's study: The study: Inside of the mountain: Alter: Staircase leading to the outside path of the mountain shown before: I built the model in halves: the tower and mountain separate (otherwise it'd be terrible to carry): Obligatory battle scene: The wizard at home: More various pictures in the gallery: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=397840 Special thanks to the Pick-a-Brick wall at the Woodfield LEGO Store - always a good and useful selection when I stop by!

The groundwork you've laid lends itself to tons of possibilities - looking forward to seeing more! I never liked the LEGO version of the HQ at all, so I'm glad to see MOCs springing up. My one suggestion is with the castle wall pieces you used - the arched, open windows seem a little out of place for the theme. Power miners seem to use a lot of smoke-transparent glass for windows, much like what you have for the curved walls (which look great). I'll be watching the progress on this!

EXCELLENT! Two soldiers for army building, and a great way to get the Commander/Captain/Wench for cheap! Might hafta pick up one or two of these

I had a blast this year, I'm definitely up for a second go-around next time!

This thing is incredible - for only two primary colors on the exterior (gray and blue), it's amazingly eye-catching for all the detail you put into it. The interior, of course, leaves nothing to be desired. Looks like you've equipped it with anything and everything a secret agency might need. Can't wait to see your expanded volcano base!

I remember seeing that arena - it was great! NILTC had some of the best stuff at the convention

What I heard at Brickworld was that the mining station is supposed to retail for $79.99 USD. IMO, I never found the set appealing at all - not from the prelims, the closer box pic, or in person (at Brickworld), but that's just me.