Deathleech

I try to follow three simple rules. They are: 1) Buy at least two of every set 2) Stick to only one theme at a time 3) Try to get everything on sale or clearance for at least 20% off MSRP Rules one and three are pretty easy to follow. Amazon or TRU almost always has sets for 20% off within the first few months of them being released. As for getting two of every set, that's pretty easy to follow. It's after that and limiting myself which can be a bit hard. For instance I was only going to get 50 Uruk-hai from the LotR line, then I felt it wasn't enough and I soon after found I had over 150 (and still feel like I could use more...). Rule two is probably the most important in limiting my Lego spending. There have been multiple times I wanted to branch out into Star Wars or Super Heroes after seeing some cool new sets going to come out. I know if I start buying a few it will be a slippery slope and sooner or later I will be invested into those themes as well. I am a completionist so I would want to get every set in those themes.

I would be inclined to think BrickJagger is telling the truth. He has invested a lot of time and energy on these forums since posting the rumor. Usually people who post fake lists or info make a fake account or only post a few times before disappearing never to be heard from again. Plus there have been a few people saying they have heard the same thing. At any rate there isn't much use in speculating if he is telling the truth or lying, only he knows. We will all know in a few months when we hear more concrete info about next years releases.

I really wish Lego had the darker green 32x32 base plates in production. I hate they only have the lighter, older green ones now (and the price hike). As for the gray base plate, even being bigger the price is still not proportionate to the size. A 32x32 base plate has 1023 total studs but use to cost $4.99? A 48x48 has 2034, or basically double the studs, but cost $14.99? That's triple the price. I guess it's more in line now since they raised the price of the 32x32 plates to $7.99 though...

I keep seeing people mention the mold cost on large pieces... but not the actual plastic itself used. A cheese slope is going to count as 1 piece, the same as part of a ship haul, but the amount of plastic to make the slope vs the haul is no where near the same. Someone awhile back made a thread about the weight of sets and their price and it was amazing how close they all were. That is a much better indicator than price per piece. Price per piece can be so misleading because there is such a wide range of piece sizes.

Ehh, I would disagree. Between the three LotR films, the only time I really remember thinking what the hell with Legolas was when he "surfed" on the Mumakil. Other than that though, everything was at least somewhat plausible. In the Bo5A movie alone he is hang gliding from a bat, jumping up falling bricks, and doing acrobatics off enemies and collapsing buildings. In LotR he was just a really skilled archer, in the Hobbit he was some kind of super hero ninja who can defy gravity. Aye, I know LotR had a lot of differences as well. The thing is, it still seemed to stick to the main story. I remember characters being changed around and added or removed, but they were lesser characters that didn't have huge roles to begin with. In the Hobbit PJ totally changed the story. Azog is still alive throughout the whole film series chasing Thoin and company. Thorin chopped his arm off but in the book he was killed by Dain long before the Hobbit even takes place. Beorn is the one that kills Bolg, not Legolas or Tauriel or anyone else. Tauriel and Legolas are also not even in the Hobbit book. In my eyes, these changes are pretty major. It would be like having Sam throw the ring in Mount Doom instead of Gollum taking it from Frodo and falling to his death. Sure in the movie Frodo pushes him where as in the book he falls by himself, but it's still the same outcome with little variance. The LotR seemed to have a lot of stuff cut or changed to make it fit three films while the Hobbit had a lot added, and a lot changed, because PJ just wanted to make changes for the sake of making them and stretch it out. And just for the record, I hated the Undead change in the LotR films as well. I'm fine with the focus being mainly on the battle. As you said, that's the title of the movie after all. What bothered me was PJ seemed to stretch the battle out throughout most of the movie and then for everything else he cut short. We have a 30-45 minute scene where Thorin takes a few companions and heads to Ravenhill to fight fight Azog and a few of his soldiers. In the book this never happens so why add it all? Especially when you add it at the expense of other scenes. We see Beorn riding in on eagles and then jumping off and turning into his bear form and that's it. Why not show us more of Beorn fighting? THAT was actually in the book, and Beorn is the one who kills Bolg. For all we know though, based on the film, Beorn broke his leg falling and died several minutes later. We have absolutely no idea what happens to Thranduil and the elves or Dain and the dwarves based on the film. For all we know they started fighting each other again after the orcs were taken care of.

It sounded like Lego has plans to make bigger sets with more brick components that can be used with the game though. At least that was my understanding. I think that is what has people excited. A smaller $30-50 Balrog or Fel Beast set would be nice. If nothing else, hopefully we get some missing characters like Sauron, the Witch King, or Eowyn in the "fun packs". It looks like the license has been revised, at the very least. I am guessing they have something now that allows them to make game based sets. If that's the case, they don't have to base their sets on the movies and can base them on whatever appears in the game instead. We can already see that a little bit with Legolas and Gimli's small builds. Also the fact there are no Hobbit sets, or mention of the Hobbit theme, makes me think Lego just got the LotR one for use with their Dimension stuff. It seems like the license was revised quite a bit from the original agreement.

Oh, I agree the Lonely Mountain set, and especially the Attack on Lake-town one are accurate in terms of their builds. I guess my issue is the minifigures or scene depicted are off. The Attack on Lake-town set is trying to re-create when Smaug attacks the town. You have Tauriel in her green outfit in the boat, Bard and Bain with ashes, the bow and black arrow, etc. but then instead of including Smaug the set has orcs as seen in DoS. As for the Lonely Mountain, it has the entire forge scene depicted and includes Smaug, but then it has the dwarves in their armor as seen in the Bo5A film. Don't get me wrong, I am glad we got the new orcs and new printed dwarves rather than re-hashes, but I just wish the sets would have been put together a little better. That is Smaug in the Attack on Lake-town set and the Lonely Mountain one based on the Bo5A. It makes much more sense than what Lego did. They gave us sets that were a mix of DoS and Bo5A scenes in the third Hobbit wave.

Just because the LotR stuff is being released under the Dimensions property doesn't mean it was a failure. Dimensions also is including Ninjago and Lego Movie stuff and we know for a fact those were HUGE successes. If anything, wouldn't it be safe to say Lego included some of their more popular themes in the Dimensions theme? There could be a million reasons Lego is doing LotR dimensions products instead of just releasing a new LotR wave. Maybe that particular license expired or it was bundled with the Hobbit which Lego no longer wants to make sets based off of? Maybe Lego had planned the Dimensions stuff long ago? Maybe they don't want to make anymore entire waves based on LotR, but still want to get a few sets out here and there per year? There could be a million explanations.

I dunno, I just felt like Smaug would be a better fit in a Lake-town set. Not only could he be in a smaller, more affordable set for kids that way, but it's his final confrontation with Bard. In the books Smaug doesn't even really interact with the dwarves when they come back to Erebor so there is that too. The whole forge and trying to cover Smaug in gold was completely made up by Peter Jackson. Seeing as how the entire third movie centers around the Bo5A it seems fitting the flagship set and an army builder would be centered on it. Instead we get the Attack on Lake-town set minus Smaug which takes up like 15 minutes of screen time, the Witch King Battle which is another 15 minutes, and the Lonely Mountain which is based on a scene from DoS. That leaves the one Bo5A set in the wave, yet the movie featured over an hour of the battle during various points. You brought up that the movies were changed from two to three... well all the more reason Smaug should have been in the second wave based on the DoS film. I feel like Lego kind of held off on giving us Smaug because they didn't want to reveal too much and it allowed them to make a set that was more true to movie (compared to say Dol Guldur Ambush or Mirkwood Elf Army). I really liked Beorn in the book so I was super disappointed with how much PJ down played his importance. Honestly we could have probably done without the minifigure seeing as he hardly does anything in the films. That would of allowed for another new mold for a more important character or some soldiers.

I know I am really late to the party, but I finally got around to watching the Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies film. I was trying to withhold judgement on the last Lego Hobbit wave (after my initial impressions when it was first unveiled), until I had seen the movie. I must say I am even more disappointed with Lego's offerings now than I first was. I felt like two of the four sets didn't even belong in the third wave. The Attack on Lake-town and Lonely Mountain sets both really should have been in wave two. Other than the bow/black arrow and Bard for firing it, and the dwarves in their armor, these sets have NOTHING depicted in the third film. The sets are obviously inspired heavily by the Desolation of Smaug material. That is the dwarves in the forge trying make Smaug into a gold statue and the orcs attacking Lake-town. As for the Battle of Five Armies set, this is probably the worst of the bunch. It doesn't seem to be based on much from the film. The build looks nothing like the architecture in Dale and I don't remember there being many/any bridges. I don't recall seeing a large tower or orc bolt thrower (both featured in the set) in the movie either. As for the minifigures, Azog is totally wrong. Lego could have at least made him white, or gave him an armor print seeing as that is how he appears throughout the entire third film. I am not sure why Gwaihir was included in the set other than for Lego to get their money's worth out of the eagle mold. In the movie the eagles are seen less than a minute. The orcs in the film were mostly armored, or the unarmored ones were white and ghastly looking. They weren't orange-ish brown in nothing but loin clothes and bone. About the only thing good in the set is Dain. Bard and Legolas kind of make sense too. Why is Thorin in it with his crown though? He is never seen outside Erebor this way? Also Dain is never seen with his red axe, though I can't really complain about that. It's a nice nod to the books. About the only set that is any good, and makes sense in the third Lego Hobbit wave, is the Witch King Battle. Personally I would have liked to have seen Sauron instead of the Witch King, but I can understand why they included him instead. It makes for much more multi purchase appeal. Really though, I feel like Lego could have structured their last two Hobbit waves SOO much better. They still could have included tons of named characters, tons of play features, been true to film, and all the while been appealing to kids and AFOLs alike. I feel like a few changes would of made the sets vastly better. Take Smaug out of the Lonely Mountain set and put him in a Lake-town themed one. Maybe combine the two Lake-town sets into one. This would make more sense and allow Smaug to be slightly cheaper and more accesible to kids. Make the Lonely Mountain set based on the Bo5A with a bridge from the front of the mountain, exploding walls, and dwarven statues. Get rid of the Mirkwood Elf Army and give us a proper Bo5A army builder with armored dwarves, orcs, and elves. Make the build a few different Dale buildings so when you buy multiples you can combine them into a nice city. Tada! The third wave just went from a 2 star to a 4 with minimal new molds or prints than what we got.

They keep dragging it on and on...? We have only gotten 2 LotR waves, and now the Dimension stuff coming out over the course of 3 years. Sure there has been some Hobbit stuff as well, but I would hardly consider 1-2 waves a year, over a few years, with only 4 sets per most waves as "dragging it out". If anything Lego really went light. They could have easily had 2 LotR waves per year, and 5-7 sets per wave like they do other themes (Chima, Star Wars, etc.). I understand it's your opinion and that you aren't a fan of the LotR stuff and I respect that, but I think your letting it make you a little bias.

I just focus on one theme. Albeit I army builder, and am a completionist with said theme, and buy two of every set so that doesn't make matters much easier. When Lego only releases a few waves per theme a year though, it's not too bad.

Don't forget that packing materials and gas to get to a shipping place are also be factored in. I had a guy complain one time because I charged him a dollar more than what the shipping label said. My response was the box, tape, peanuts, and gas to drive to the post office are not free. It's pretty hard to get all the packaging materials and gas for under 2 bucks.

The reason they don't release more Dark Knight stuff kind of makes sense though. Why release the darker, more adult oriented Dark Knight Batman sets when they already have tons of Batman sets based on the cartoons? The colors are brighter, the sets are more whimsical in nature, and kids are more likely to have seen them.

Just a quick update, I am down to 20 Lake-town Guard polybags now.

I understand what the fuss is about. I have seen new members post fake lists or information many times before, across many different hobbies just to stir up trouble. What I meant was who cares in this case though? Even if Brickjagger made up every single thing he posted and never talked to anyone, it most likely will still turn out to be true just because it's something so general and expected. It would be like me making a thread about Star Wars having new battle packs in 2016, or another new wave based on the Force Awakens. Of course it's true, it's a given considering Lego's history. I don't need to hear anything to know this is coming. Now if he were posting specific lists, set names, set builds, etc., now that would be something more concrete and worth getting upset about if he were lying. As is he could be lying but it most likely will turn out to be true one way or another. But Lego can put it in a new video game and make several sets based off it? I would have agreed with you a few months ago, but seeing the Dimensions game has made me question things. I doubt we will get a new LotR wave, but I am hopeful we get at least a few missing LotR sets under the Dimensions theme.

Sounds like an amazing deal. You paid for all of them what others are selling a single brick for! Yours also look to be in better condition. Excellent score!

Now that all of my Lake-town Guard polybags are gone, I have a new updated list of things for sale/trade and things I am looking for. I am currently looking for: Uruk-hai Undead Soldiers (from Pirate Ship Ambush) Pirates of Umbar/Corsairs (from Pirate Ship Ambush) Mordor Orcs (any kind will do, hair or bald) Moria Orcs Orc Hunters (ponytail version from Lake-town Attack Complete Witch King Battle For trade I have: Hulk bigfig (tan pants) Green Goblin bigfig 3x Rancor 3x Wampa Tantaun Newer Jabba the Hutt Older Jabba the Hutt Rotta 4x 1x bigfig tan Troll (from Fantasy Era) The Lonely Mountain (no minifigures or Smaug, just the bricks.. great for getting pearl gold and sand green pieces cheap (less than 7 cents per piece)) Some of the stuff I have for trade is new and still sealed in the plastic baggies (Rancor and Trolls). I am also willing to sell anything I have for trade, just make me an offer. Thanks for reading.

I finally got around to watching the Battle of Five Armies yesterday. I had put it off because I honestly wasn't expecting much from the film. I simply wasn't that excited to see it after being so disappointed with the Desolation of Smaug and An Unexpected Journey. I have to say, after seeing the third film I feel like I made the right choice. What a colossal disappointment. I absolutely loved the LotR films so I am not sure how or why Peter Jackson decided to deviate so much from that formula. I felt as if the Hobbit movies were more slapstick comedy, Saturday morning style cartoons than they were high budget, fantasy novel adaptations. The stuff with Legolas was probably the worst, which is ironic considering Legolas isn't even mentioned in the Hobbit books. Him hang gliding from a bat, jumping stone to stone from falling bricks, etc. was gut wrenching horrible. Here I thought the Mumakil surfing was bad. And don't even get me started on the ridiculous ogre/troll thing with maces for legs and arms. Ugh. To make it worse why did PJ feel the need to change the movies so much from the book? I can understand minor changes here and there, but Bolg being killed by Legolas instead of Beorn? Beorn barely even in the film at all? Azog/Tauriel/Legolas being added? The Battle of Five Armies going NOTHING like it did in the book? Why was a second army from Gundabad added? Why the worms? Why did Thorin, Fili, and Kili break off from the main army to engage Azog rather than have them all fighting alongside their armies? If that all weren't bad enough, I felt like there was way to much focus on the battle. Pretty much the whole movie, other than 15 minutes of Smaug and another 15 of dialogue/end was just the ridiculous CGI battles. If PJ really wanted to stretch the book into 3 movies I think he could of had some valuable scenes added to the end of the Bo5A. Why not show us the orcs all fleeing and aftermath with Dain becoming the new king? How about Dale being rebuilt and Bard becoming the leader there? Instead we see Beorn jumping 50 feet off an eagle to fight, a closing scene with Thorin dying, and then Bilbo talking to Gandalf and the dwarves before going back home. The end! It felt like the entire battle was dragged out then the end was super rushed. I'm not sure if PJ was trying to cater more towards younger kids with these films, if he just couldn't help himself with the CGI, if he was too influenced by all the recent super hero movies, or what his deal was. At any rate I really wish he would of stuck closer to the book and left out a lot of the stuff he made up. It really didn't add much to the films, if anything, and infact detracted from them. He could have easily kept it two films had he not had silly things like the orcs attacking during the barrel escape, the dwarves trying to make Smaug into a gold statue, Kili being poisoned and his love affair with Tauriel, anything Legolas, the whole Azog side story, etc. The stuff he did add, or took from the appendices that could have been cool, like the Battle of Dol Guldur, felt like he barely touched on and just glossed over. I would have much rather seen more character development with people like Dain and Beorn than all the lame CGI action scenes.

I could be wrong, but I think it also depends if your country has Sainsbury stores or not. I know here in the U.S., it's a Target exclusive and not available anywhere else (except directly through Lego via online or their stores). I'm assuming it's the same for countries with Sainsbury's. Ryodi said he only seen it at his Sainsbury and not online at Amazon so that must be the case wherever he lives.

If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay for the set?

It is. In the U.S. it's a Target exclusive.

I don't see what all the fuss is about. It's not like anyone has claimed specifics. All the info we have gotten so far is pretty general and what everyone expects anyways (a 2016 Castle theme). Some have said it looks to be fantasy style, but that's about it. As for the wish lists and everything else.. sure they can be a bit redundant, but at least some have decent ideas and add SOMETHING to this thread unlike the people complaining about the wish lists who literally add NOTHING to it. Look on the bright side, it's not as bad as the LotR thread was for awhile there where literally every other post was a wish list, and they all said almost the exact same thing.

Ya, that's what I was afraid of. I know the torso and legs are around $5, and the helmets alone another $3.40 so that right there is nearly 10 bucks. Then add in the shields, heads, shoulder armor, and weapons... and it gets pretty pricey. I heard rumors that one of the bigger third party accessory companies was looking into doing Gondor-style helmets and possibly armor. I am still holding out hope for that if nothing comes of the Ideas and Dimensions projects. Not perfect but they should be decent quality and cheaper.

Those look pretty good! I know where most of the pieces come from as I have seen them before (the torsos and legs on eBay, the helmets from the BL seller who makes them, etc.), but how much would you say each minifigure cost you to construct?