jhc2nmfn

I agree with you about the bricks making one structure rather than multiples. That's the only think I dislike about some of the port/hobbit/HP sets. Some of them I understand would be almost impossible to make into one structure but its still frustrating. What are some of your favorite large builds like this because this is what im really interested. Although I do still like some figs that come in smaller sets. Which modular buildings are still available at a price less than 600$ lol the one I saw was like 650$ and i think ill pass on that even though it would be awesome to gave. I agree with you about the bricks making one structure rather than multiples. That's the only think I dislike about some of the port/hobbit/HP sets. Some of them I understand would be almost impossible to make into one structure but its still frustrating. What are some of your favorite large builds like this because this is what im really interested. Although I do still like some figs that come in smaller sets. Which modular buildings are still available at a price less than 600$ lol the one I saw was like 650$ and i think ill pass on that even though it would be awesome to gave.

While I agree with you guys that I should only get the sets that appeal to me, that is basically the problem. Almost every set I see appeals to me lol. If I had enough money id buy every set that ever came out lol. Iv been doing research bases off your guys recommendations though and I've come up with a few I plan on purchasing soon.the Haunted house/ mansion set from MG, arum asylum, battle of alamut and im at a crossroads with the other super hero sets. I have a couple different selections to get the figs. I also forgot about the winter village line and plan on getting those four to build my mom a winter village around christmas time. I really want the deathstar set. Im actually really pissed off at myself because last year around april or march I remember seeing the deathstar set on ebay for like 179.99 or within ten dollars of that and I didn't buy it. I know this sounds crazy but I swear it was on there. I think the guy had a little over a hundred of them and sold out in less than 24 hours. Now I can't find one cheaper than like 350$. Does anyone else know where the best place is to find one? Is there a robin hood theme? That would be cool. What's the best ship to buy? I plan on getting the corsair ship set but iv never built a ship so I was thinking about getting a potc ship before hand.

Thank you for all the tips. Yes im an adult spending my own money and I was actually looking at the modular buildings nut didn't know how expensive they were.. Iv looked at the superhero sets and really want the figs but didn't think the builds would be that satisfying besides some of the larger sets like arkum asylum. I like building the bigger structures but im also a big fan of the figs so its almost like im looking for the best large builds with the most figs (which im sure is what everyone wants lol) Which superhero sets are best?

I joined this website a few months after the last holiday season when I awoke from my "dark ages without lego". When I was a kid I always loved legos but never really owned a collection that was worth bragging about. After going through my old stock, I ended up selling all my old sets which were mostly half built sets and started from scratch. Since I am avery big harry potter fan I decided that was the best place for me to start. I acquired all 5 hogwarts castles with minifigs, the burrows, diagon ally, and a few other sets that I found entertaining. When I started to read these forums I found out that there wouldn't be any new HP sets created, which upset me alot but I went and started to research what other options I had as far as themes I could collect. This is when I heard of the LOTR/HOBBIT theme and couldn't believe it. I have always been a huge fan of Tolkien and couldn't wait to start on my lego middle earth. I have all lotr/hobbit sets that have been released so far and have plans to purchase any future set from this them. My problem is that my craving for building legos has increased and having to wait until march or even later for new sets seems too long. I started researching for another theme to collect or even just spectacular sets that would help satisfy my urge. The lone ranger definitely looks promising but I have come to respect the reviews and recommendations of alot of users of this website. So I ask of you all, what theme should I start buying? What awesome sets are must haves for a wanna be extreme lego collector? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I joined this website a few months after the last holiday season when I awoke from my "dark ages without lego". When I was a kid I always loved legos but never really owned a collection that was worth bragging about. After going through my old stock, I ended up selling all my old sets which were mostly half built sets and started from scratch. Since I am avery big harry potter fan I decided that was the best place for me to start. I acquired all 5 hogwarts castles with minifigs, the burrows, diagon ally, and a few other sets that I found entertaining. When I started to read these forums I found out that there wouldn't be any new HP sets created, which upset me alot but I went and started to research what other options I had as far as themes I could collect. This is when I heard of the LOTR/HOBBIT theme and couldn't believe it. I have always been a huge fan of Tolkien and couldn't wait to start on my lego middle earth. I have all lotr/hobbit sets that have been released so far and have plans to purchase any future set from this them. My problem is that my craving for building legos has increased and having to wait until march or even later for new sets seems too long. I started researching for another theme to collect or even just spectacular sets that would help satisfy my urge. The lone ranger definitely looks promising but I have come to respect the reviews and recommendations of alot of users of this website. So I ask of you all, what theme should I start buying? What awesome sets are must haves for a wanna be extreme lego collector? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I believe that is the mouth of sauron on the horse not a ringwraith

All the speculation about the witch king set is strictly speculation. However if there is one, I highly doubt that the fell beast is molded. With a molded fell beast there would really be nothing to build and it would almost be impossible to hit a building brick:minifigs ratio that lego seems to have to hit. I could see this set being similar to shelob attacks with maybe a little bit more of a pricetag because of the extra minifig (theoden, witchking, eowen, pippin. Although I really can't understand what the post says I don't see any 'black rider' in the black gate set but that would be awesome. I see a black horse but I think that is the mouth of saurons horse. I really wish they would give some horses to the good guys though considering they are all on horseback when they meet.

That new glow in the dark plastic would be awesome for those swords especially as new molds. Im fairly certain were going to atleast get a different sword for andruil, id be happy with the sword of gryfindor from hp hogwarts set. Just as long as its different. As far as orcist goes and even the oaken shield, if lego only made the sets based off of book knowledge and set pictures and stuff then maybe they never really saw what orcist was going to look like so they didn't want to attempt one. This would easily be proved false if TLG did in fact see the movie prior to making the sets but I doubt it. I mean you would think that they would have atleast given him a shield instead of another axe if they had the knowledge from the movie. Maybe now that the movie is released and they see the weapons better some new molds will be released. Just a thought. I remember the discussion on whether or not the 'bonus level' structures

I dont really think im disappointed in the council of elrond set, because i figured TLG wasnt going to be able to create a huge rivendell set just because of the way rivendell is designed in the movies. my thinking is that maybe TLG will release thier council of elrond to go along with the LOTR movies and include its major scenes that take place in Rivendell. These scenes mainly involving the council, maybe a bedchamber where frodo wakes up, and the room with the shards of narsil. They could also release a Hobbit version of Rivendell and include major scenes from this movie. These scenes would include the gazebo looking chamber where the white council is held, and any other scene depicted from any future hobbit movies. Im sure this is just me being hopeful but it could definitely build up to a bigger rivendell that covers more scenes from the movies. As far as the battle pack discussions, I understand the points each of you are trying to make, and dont think im against battlepacks, because i would love to stock up on tons of 10-30$ army builder sets along with both of you guys. My point was just looking at it from a standpoint of lego. They have to plan thier sets so that each set has a bonus and a purpose of buying it. If they release of a certain set, and that set takes away purchases from other sets, it makes practical and business sense to avoid selling that set for as long as possible until people stop buying the other set. Of course we would stock up on 4-5 army builder sets, i could have figured that just from the fact that were discussing it on a lego website. If were on here were obviously hardcore enough to spend some money on sets and TLG already knows they have our business. Im also not saying that it doesnt make sense to release battle packs, i just think it makes sense to release them after the other sets lose thier initial appeal and sales start to drop. Anyway, i would love for you guys to be right and to get a cool battle pack this wave, i need to fill out my sets with more bad guys to give the heros the 4 vs 1 and 5 vs 1 scenes from the movies.

I agree that most people can't buy two or more big sets. But even if people would buy 4-5 battlepacks at 10$ a pop, im sure TLG makes a bigger profit of the sale of just one of the larger sets $100 sets. I mean, im sure there are alot of fans that just want the figs, so if TLG released the best figs in small sets then those fans wouldn't even have to mess with anything high dollar. I have no proof but im sure its cheaper for lego to make normal one colored building bricks than it is for them to make minifigs, especially licensed. Just because certain people buy more cheaper sets doesn't mean it would be more profitable because it would definitely cut inti the amount of big sets being sold.

I just went though my holiday tradition of lego building and built the 6 sets from the hobbit and was extremely impressed. Normally my favorite things to build are castles or larger structures but each one of these sets had major bonuses and im extremely glad that i bought the wave. LOTR/The Hobbit is by far my favorite theme, i find myself obsessed thinking of future sets and how to display them in a "map of middle earth" type style on a large table or something. I really hope this set is long one and think TLG had a wonderful game plan of releasing them along with the hobbit movies to get some free advertising. Ive actually been reading rumors also of "re-releases of the LOTR trilogy" in 3D. If this were to happen im sure it would get more "younger fans" that liked the hobbit but were too young when the orignal release of the trilogy happened to become fans.

Finally ateast preliminary pictures. besides the wizard battle one, the rest seem pretty much what were expected. I really thought there would be an orthanc set released with this but there is still hope. The council of rivendell looks extremely similiar to the bonus level rivendell structure. The only thing i dont see is the rail that is on the opposite side of the pitched roof. I love the eagle (or what i can see of it) in the battle of the black gates sets. I think thats definitely the best place to include one but also think its strange they only gave the Mouth a horse. (again just from what i can see but it shows gandalf and aragorn fighting from the ground). I am definitely not dissappointed with these sets although i think i will be a little dissappointed if there are only 4 sets released though. I think there is definitely still hope for a balrog set, treebeard set, and maybe something else to be released at the same time though. If i change my thinking to "Business perspective thinking" and i were TLG, i wouldnt release any battlepacks until people stopped buying the original sets. I would think that the people that are going to 'army build' are doing it still regardless of specific battle packs being released. Whether they are doing it from purchasing multiples of the sets that have thier favorite soldiers in it or buying the figs off of bricklink or ebay, TLG is still making the money off of it. If they buy multiples of the sets, they are contributing to TLG directly and if they are just purchasing the figs then there was still a person who bought the set to resell in the first place. If they hold off on the battlepacks, people are going to continue to do this and TLG is still getting the money. Once people stop buying the original sets im sure TLG will come out with some battle packs to respark interest and im sure people will buy large quantities of those to finish up their armies. For an example with the Corsair ship set. If lego released a "Dead army" battle pack at the same time, people would only need to buy one of the ships and then they could load up on the battle packs and build a huge army of undead soldiers. by holding the release of any battle pack, they are forcing the person building the army to buy additional corsair ships to get the soldiers or buy the soldiers from someone who bought the set. Either way they are forcing people to spend money on the bigger set. Does Gandalfs staff look different in the picture or is it just me? I cant tell if its just the distortion of the image or it looks like a different mold.

It'd be cool but I don't see it happening. I thought I remember a post saying the black gate is only supposed to have 5-6 minifigs or something like that. I think the first five you named are highly likely but I don't see them throwing in alot of nameless soldiers although it would be awesome having all of those. Although im all for having the mouth of sauron fig, I do think its strange that we would get him before some other bigger characters in the movies. Galadriel, faramir, denethor, gandalf the white(even though he will probably be released in the same wave) the witching of angmar, and im sure there are others.

Yea radagast was the one to explore it in the movie but I think gandalf will be in dol guldar by the end of the trilogy and im sure that's what this set represents as I think it'd highly unlikely we get an actual dol guldar set.

I was actually thinking the same thing. Unless I missed it, i couldn't find anything on the bag or instructions saying dol guldar and when I looked on the internet I couldn't find any official TLG name for the set anywhere. All I saw was what's on bricklimk I believe that said dol guldar.

Does anybody remember when we found out the specific sets of the first wave of lotr last year? I know we got the final confirmation announcement in december I believe but I don't think we actually saw set specifics and pictures until after whichever toyfair is in january. New York toy fair maybe? Again I haven't looked at posts or anything for proof of this, im just speculating on when I remember finding out. Personally these are the sets I hope for. I think there will be 7-8. These aren't in any order Betrayal of isengard-$ 60-100$- tower, palantir, with eagle (I know this will most likely not happen but if I picked a set to put one in it would be this one) , saruman, gandalf and some orcs. I wish we could get a grima but as this would mainly depict the scene of gandalf and sarumans battle and gandalfs escape I don't see grima fitting in. Bridge of kazad dum (sp? ) - 30$-50$ gandalf, and a brixkbuilt balriog. I don't really know if this will have any great scenery or not but a breaking bridge would be cool. Treebeard encounter - 30$-40$- merry, pippin, the orc that chases them into fangorn (i cant remember his name but it may be a generic orc also) and a brick built treebeard. Not sure if anything else will be included. Battle at the black gate 60$-100$- gandalf the white, aragorn in gondorian armor, mouth of sauron, one mordor orc, one gondor soldier, one roman soldier and hopefully some horses. Im thinking the gate will be something like the size of the doors of the moria set with towers on each size. I really hope they make the wall big enough so that it has two doors that open and the ability to place figs on the tops of the doors like the movies. Corsair ship ambush- 100$-150$ sweet pirate ship with aragorn, gimili, legolas, king of the dead, 2x or 3x oathbreakers, 2-3 corsairs, some sort of captain or leader of the corsair or orcs Rivendell - 40$-80$- im not sure exactly what this will come out as. Now these are the sets I want, I understand the prices I mentioned are large ranges but on most of them it depends on what scenery is included with them. Im not sure exactly what legos pricepoints they try to hit. I really hope we see some pictures soon though. Alright im done. #end rant

Yea but having the spiders talking to Bilbo like that wouldn't be too bad. Especially if it played in with the ring similar to the way your explaining. Concerning the corsair ship set, if I remember correctly the 'rumor' said something like 10-12 minifigs. I don't remember the exact amount but if it had that many I would think its the most expensive set and a decent size ship. Although its not in the movie alot there are several scenes characters it can use. The initial seen from the special edition ROTK where aragorn gimili and legolas take the ship with the help of the unread army. They can also include a dock or something similar and play off osgiliath. In osgiliath they could include the two headed orc, plus middle orcs and everyone mentioned above. My thinking is that if they include osgiliath they could include faramir or something also sense he plays a major part in osgiliath scenes in the movie (although he's not in the corsair ship/osgiliath scene.) This is me just rambling out ideas so im sure im stretching the limits of this set immensely but oh well. As far as cars having 18 released sets its first year, between lotr and the hobbit there's been 13 plus 4 polybags. This is a pretty good start in my opinion and they seem to be selling really quickly around my area. Every store I've been in has had depletes shelves when it comes to this theme ( luckily I ordered mine online). With s spring wave of LOTR and a winter wave of hobbit we could be over 25 sets and 8 bags by this time next year. Theres plenty of ideas, sets, and figures that havent even been touched so im still really hopeful.

I agree that the 'talking of animals' was handled correctly. There are still a few more animals that talk in the book, spiders I believe, the birds at erebor, and the eagles. Im glad none of the animals actually spoke the common tongue,

Id like to see this piece on the staff because I just don't see how it makes it look more like his staff from the movies. Im sure it looks pretty cool but as far as being more realistic to the movies I just don't see it. I've messed with a couple different options to get the "twisted roots" look and couldn't get anything too great. I actually cut a portion off the top of a brown broom and that didn't look that bad but I went back to the normal brown staff. I wish I had the flower stem part in brown (the one I have is green and they came in the burrows and weathertop sets). If the stems were a little shorter and you put a trans-yellow or similar bulb in the middle then it might look ok.

have they said how many peices they used?

i wonder what they will do with sarumans, if i remember correctly its a white stafff with a black jewel at the top but i may be mistaken. For those that have seen the movie, are there any swords already released that are a closer fit to orcsist? The movie has it with only one side having the handguard part (i guess thats what they are called).

Did anybody think that they would find a way to make a better staff for gandalf or is that kind of being picky? I ve been trying to come up with a way to make the top of it look like the twisted roots but i havent yet. Are there any other lego themes where characters have a customized stafff rather than just the simple one used for flags. On a similiar note are Tauriels daggers from the mirwood set new molds/colors or have they been in previous sets?

Wow that is pretty sweet. THoser are built out of larger legos right? did they make it themselves or was this in cooperation with TLG? very cool

What exactly is the battle of Dol Guldar? is this referring to the white council or gandalf driving the necormancer from the fortress dol guldar? Is this explained in a book soemwhere? i would love to read about it but wow that would make an awesome set. I could only imagine the the cool figs that could be a part of it and i dont even now who is involved lol. Spoiler (i dont now how to make it so it doesnt show unless you push the button) If were assuming TLG is going to release sets in chronological order, then it doesnt look very promising for a beorn set. The company leaves boern's house to enter mirkwood and we have already seen the two main events of Mirkwood occur in set form, the spiders and barrel escape, although they could probably still expand on the wood elves. If were going chronologically then i would assume the next set would be a laketown set, lonely mountain hidden doorway set (im betting this ends up being one), something with sneaking into the mountain with bilbo maybe, something with smaug although i dont see it being released prior to the movie. Im really interested to see the movie storyline since legolas and Taureil are included in the mirkwood spiders set. One of the biggest aspects of this scene in the book, is bilbo proving himself or atleast beginning to prove himself to the dwarfs by rescueing them, if legolas and tauriel do alot of the rescueing in this part in the movie, then that could be why PJ added the part at the end of the the first hobbit movie with bilbo rescueing Thorin from Azog and Thorin thanking him after the eagles drop them off. I also think the eagles nest set is very unlikely considering when the eagles rescue the company they dont even take them to thier nest. Why would TLG release something thats not even in the movie unless PJ is planning to cross it back in somewhere down the line, but i hope the eagles dont talk. I do hope we see some eagles in sets though,

your right, but really there isnt much playability with a fellowship council set either. a breaking axe? or a rock table that has a place to set the ring ? I could really see the rivendell set looking very similiar to the bonus level council rivendel structure from the LOTR videogame. I think any rivendell set that is released will be less for playability and more just to hit an iconic scene of the movie. Although i understand thats probably not what TLG will be shooting for.