Lynx

I just noticed that the Jor-El minifig head works pretty well for Anborn. So I will get some use out of it, after all! Now I just need to get some random Gondor ranger figures next year to create Faramir's buddies Anborn, Damrod and Mablung. http://www.freewebs.com/captain_gamling/Anborn.JPG

It says 'in progress' for my order. Really looking forward to this set. It's my first direct to customer model.

I'd really like to hear the opinion from anybody who voted 'average' or even 'below average' on this set!

That would be perfectly fine to me! It still comes up when you search for the set name http://search2.lego.com/?q=tower+of+orthanc〈=2057&cc=AU but clicking the link takes you back to the shop's main page. Strange.

I still don't understand the negative aspect about this. Having one extra Saruman can't hurt for anybody purchasing both sets. And with casual fans or people with budget restrictions in mind, I can only see advantages in making an important figure available in the same year. What does the addition of one 'off minifig' add to the set? Why should I care if the same minifg is available in other sets?

Great review, Rufus! The one thing I do not understand is your criticism of the availability of Saruman in a cheap set. I think it's always good to make important figures available to as many fans as possible and don't consider the future monetary value of my toys collectibles.

That fellbeast is simply amazing! I won't support it since I'd prefer a molded one similar to the video game, but wow - fantastic design!

I am assuming that the country you live in has an average household income three times higher than in the USA.

I'd be happy with that. Seriously, though: I think Galadriel is essential, too, and so is Durin's Bane, the Witch-King and Eowyn and (although not to me) Treebeard. The only solution that would make all us fans happy would be to have a large (7-8 sets) wave in 2014 or another one in 2015. I doubt that's going to happen.

I certainly hope for a wave featuring some Gondor sets. In fact, Faramir is my most-wanted minifig, and a set of him (exactly as in the video game), one Ithilien Ranger, one Gondorian Soldier and three orcs in the ruins of Osgiliath would be a dream. However, I am concerned that we might be disappointed since... ... every LEGO LotR set (with the exception of The Wizard Battle) was in the video game: The Council of Elrond 1:1, The Black Gate 1:1, The Corsair Ship 1:1 minus shield prints, Helm's Deep 1:1, the ballista in Uruk-hai army 1:1,.... you get the idea. There is absolutely nothing brick-build resembling Gondor aside from a microscale Minas Tirith. ... Gondorian architecture is beautiful but difficult to capture in a reasonably sized set. I won't even mention whole cities, but even sets within Minas Tirith will be difficult to design. ... Key scenes in Gondor lack LEGO- typical play features. The throne room? The courtyard with the White Tree? I'd love those (particularly the second one with a Beregond mini fig) but what play features could be included? Flick-fire missiles from the tree? A platform from where you can push Denethor to his death? ... other key scenes are yet to be released. I think we all expect a Balrog battle, Witch-King battle and possibly Treebeard. Assuming the 2014 wave will be the last (based on sales data for Star Wars that dropped significantly in non-movie years), there's not much space left to put Gondor on the shelf. I hope to be wrong, and a LEGO designer is reading this, thinking "If this guy knew that I hold that Faramir minifig as I read his post....", but I don't want to keep my hopes up only to be disappointed.

The average AFOL spends 20 times more money on LEGO than the average family*. Given that children are not the primary targets for LotR (compare it to the ads, tv spots etc of Star Wars, Legends of Chima), I expect that there is indeed a market for sets like Lothlorien. If you are market researcher and have credible data to support your point-of-view, I could certainly be convinced. If you do not, your 'thesis of majority' is nothing more than your opinion - and thus as valuable as my own. * Source: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-23/life-size-x-wing-fighter-worlds-biggest-lego-model-lands-in-new-york#r=rss

By that same logic a casual viewer or kid would see an action-filled scene with sword fighting, ghosts and a screaming Frodo (certainly a character kids identify with) and might take this over a scene in which three people walk in the darkness before talking to one ghost. As for Galadriel, I suppose we are forgetting about the ladies. My mother, who has no idea about Tolkien, remembered Frodo, the 'handsome ranger' and the 'white lady in the trees'. My niece is the same as she prefers Arwen, Eowyn and Galadriel over any ghosts with scary laughter.

This is just brilliant!

Thanks for another photo review! A minor suggestion would be to increase your camera's aperture to increase sharpness of anything not directly in focus. As for the set, it's the only Middle Earth one that I have not purchased and have no intention to do so. Even if I would find it at half price (70 $), I would leave it on the shelf. I like the 'army' of the Dead, but without Minas Tirith (or the Paths of the Dead) I wouldn't have anything to display them with, anyway. The ship is space-consuming and doesn't scream "Lord of the Rings" to the casual observer. The designer, Jordan Scott, commented that this ship was designed since "kids like pirate ships, and these are always popular", so I certainly understand why it was included, and I think Jordan has done a great job in its design. I hope you're right! At the moment, they sell for 17 USD (king) and 13 USD (each soldier) which is just too much (especially if you're living outside the US). Here you go: http://thelordoftherings.lego.com/en-us/Products/79008.aspx

I'd be shocked and disappointed not to see Lothlorien. Galadriel is not only one of the most powerful beings in Middle Earth but the most important female character in the story. On top of it, LEGO already has a design for it (see the video game). I think you are undervaluing Weathertop in that list. It's the first time all the ring wraith are shown in force, and the atmosphere of dread creeping upon our defenceless hobbits is captured perfectly. We see the true ghostly nature of the wraiths and we first witness Aragorn's fighting prowess. I'd put it well ahead of Paths of the Dead.

Nice review, thanks! One thing I utterly disliked about this set since I first saw pictures are the light grey 'door knobs' on the outer wall. I replaced them with two spare black cheese slopes which look MUCH better in my opinion.

I couldn't agree more! The only play feature left standing is the Gimli catapult in Imladris, but I will take it out as soon as I have a second set to combine. And Faramir is certainly among my top 3 most wanted minifigs now!

He was shown smiling at Minas Tirith after Arwen and Aragorn were united. Hugo Weaving plays him more relaxed in the Hobbit, which is of course a reflection of the mood of both movies. Don't forget, however, that movie Elrond differed a lot from Tolkien's Elrond who I thought was very warm and understanding.

Thanks for the review. This is my favourite Middle Earth set so far, and I already convinced my wife of the necessity of buying a second set. :) Lego-Freak, you should really grab the phone and call LEGO about your blue Elrond cape. I finally did it a few weeks ago, and they send it to me from Denmark (took less than two weeks). The long cape is an improvement over that short abomination that words can hardly express! I still prefer the T.A. Elrond, though. Just a fantastic head piece, perfect facial expression and beautiful cape. The only thing I dislike about the new hair pieces of Elrond, Arwen and Gandalf/ Saruman is that you can't fit a caped minifig on a horse and the cape tends to get damaged immediately after application.

Having finished building the new sets, I am really impressed by the quality and level of detail. The Council of Elrond may be my favourite set to date. I just love the integrated natural feel through foliage and the architectural style of the small building. I purchased a second 'Bag 1 & 2' of the Black Gate, so I kept the regular size of the gate but have one tower on either side. I love the look and solid feel of the gate. The secret entrance made me cringe but was easily taken out. No sneaking into my Morannon! I think about using an additional technic connector on both towers (further up) to enhance stability. The Wizard Battle is by far the best small set in my opinion, clearly leaving behind Gandalf arrives and Riddles of the Ring. I replaced the 'throw Saruman of his throne' brick with a solid black brick for visual appeal.

I wish that some of those 2x2 bricks (maps etc) would be printed. That is a large amount of stickers, probably as many as in the Mines of Moria.

Thanks for posting this! Seems like a lot of effort went into this. How long did it take you?

Picked up The Council of Elrond and the Black Gate at Myer Miranda. No other LotR sets!

I had the same thought but think I will mix again. When I was a kid, I had most of the fun playing with the minifigures. Now it's building the models, so the longer it takes, the better.

At which Big W did you spot the new LotR, lightningtiger? Edit: Nevermind. I'm assuming Adelaide as it says to on your profile. I think that's where last year's wave was first released, too.