Deathleech

Castle has had a pretty regular showing of non-licensed, original sets for the past several years. In fact I don't think it has ever had a license them take its spot before this year? I'm ok with it taking a small break. I mean the previous few Castle themes have pretty much been the exact same content as LotR anyways (thinking of the orc and dwarf themes which were extremely similar to LotR/Hobbit content). With that said, I do agree that it feels like there are a TON of licensed sets coming out this year.

Very nice! Like others have said, George Lucas bathing in the tub of gold really makes this MOc hilarious! One thing though, wouldn't Mickey technically now be Vader's fathers?

I dunno, I don't feel like they will do another keep Thranduil set for a couple reasons. First off we already are getting the Barrel Escape set which takes place in the cellar of his keep. Secondly we don't really see a lot going on with Thranduil at this point in the book. He questions Thorin but other than that we don't get any specifics about his home, we just hear of Bilbo sneaking around the palace looking for food and exploring but nothing more than that really. We hear of a celebration/feast going on the night they escape but that's about it. I would of thought a Rivendell set much more likely than Thranduil's palace, but we didn't get that Who knows though, if PJ put more emphasis on the rest of the palace a set could definitely be more likely.

Interesting that the guy who did the Mirkwood Spider set also did the other outdoor set... Attack of the Wargs! Not only that, the Mirkwood Spiders was his first ever official set! Pretty good first set if you ask me. You can probably find better deals, especially with the line being out for awhile now. TRU also has slightly higher than normal prices on their sets, at least here in the U.S., so it's not really 20% off. It's more like a 16-18% discount. Amazon has constant varying prices on the Helm's Deep set, but it's almost always 25% off. I think the best TRU deals are the buy 2, get 1 free or buy one get one half off. Both deals are around 25% off (22-23% when you figure in marked up original prices).

I know it's WAAAAY down the line, but I am also left wondering what sets we will get in the 2013 winter Hobbit wave. I would guess a Smaug and Beorn's lodgings sets are both givens, with the Smaug set being the big flagship set of the wave. I would assume it will be an attack on Lake Town set, but could also see it being in Erebor with Smaug on his piles of gold. We already got the Barrel Escape and Mirkwood spider sets which were both chapters that are appearing in the second film so that's two less book chapters to pull sets froms in the next wave. That means we "technically" only have 5 chapters to draw sets from (as opposed to the 9 the first wave took sets from). Not only that, a few of these chapters are just the dwarves sitting around plotting and planning (their stay in Lake Town and their trek to the Loney Mountains), which I don't think would make very good play sets. I assume Lego might go back and do a set or two based on the first film that they missed, such as Rivendell or the troll scene, but who knows. They also will have all the extra PJ added scenes from the appendices to draw material from. As for the summer LotR wave, this seems much easier to make predictions based on since we have seen all the films and know exactly what they can draw material and inspiration from. I assume the big flagship set will be a Minas Tirith inspired one in the 130-200 dollar price range. They might try to make a wall add-on/battle pack like with Helm's Deep again, but that doesn't seem like a for sure thing yet as we have only seen it done in the one and only wave. That puts us at 2 potential sets. Personally I think the last 4-6 sets would be a $20-30 Ent set with Merry and Pippin and a brick built Treebeard, a $40 Balrog set with way more minifigs than the guy supposedly leaked, and $80 Orthanc with Saruman. To me these just make the most sense and seem like givens.. we get super iconic characters and scenes while still giving us new material not really touched on at all in the first wave.

I'm not sure if that will help at first considering TRU is usually the first to get new sets and has them out a week or two before any other store. They can't price match if there is nothing else to match! By the time other stores DO start getting the sets in, I would rather just buy them there since they don't jack their prices up in the first place like TRU.

Something similar was talked about in this thread. It seems like this might be what's happening, as Etzel points out.

Ahh, I never even noticed that. I went and checked Brickset to see and you are right. I also noticed they show the brown sash legs for both Theoden and Eomer there.

What? Helm's Deep doesn't come with Eomer...?

That, and I assume the Eomer torso looks atrocious with a red chest and green arms? Like some sort of Christmas outfit I'd imagine, lol...

A couple weeks ago I placed an order for the last six Uruk-hai Army sets I wanted. They have been sitting around for awhile so today I finally decided to open them all and build them. After doing so I noticed there seem to be a few changes with this set. Most notable was the change to Eomer's legs. Here is a comparison of the old (left) to the new ones (right): As you can see the old one had a brown belt/sash and a very dark red, almost brown colored part hanging down on front. Now the sash is all one red color and matches the torso's red almost identically. At first I thought maybe this was a misprint, but I checked and all six of my newer Uruk-hai Army sets have the same bright red sash as opposed to the brown one before. All my old ones (all 14) have the same brown so that wasn't a misprint either. It seems Lego decided to change the coloring a bit... Personally I have mixed feeling about this. While I think the new colors work much better with the Eomer torso, I feel like it doesn't really work with the Rohan soldier torso anymore: As you can see the red really stands out now and doesn't really work with the Rohan soldier's body like the old legs did. This seems to be a double edged sword. We get a better looking Eomer configuration, but no more mixing and matching Eomer/Rohan torsos and legs now when making them all look like basic grunts. What do you guys think? Do you like the new colors mode or no? Also, there seems to be a change with the head pegs. For anyone who remembers my thread back in July, the head stud change seems to be effecting more figures than just the Uruk-hai in the LotR line now: Doesn't look much different at first... but then.... BAM! Every single one of the flesh colored figures I have gotten up to this point had the filled stud design but now my Eomers (all six of them) have the 3 bar design seen on the left. Oddly enough the Rohan Soldiers all still had the same filled stud design seen on the right. Personally I hate the older 3 bar design because I don't feel like it looks as sturdy or good as the solid design. I hate it so much in fact I have used Bricklink to replace every 3 bar studded head I have gotten in the LotR line. I know, extremely OCD, but it bugs me all the same. Back on topic this doesn't seem to be a specific change to new sets, it just seems to be affecting more figures than just the Uruk-hai now. Apparently the filled design is newer and comes from new machines while the 3 bar is from older machines. I assume in a few more years the 3 bar stud design will be totally phased out. I just found it odd NONE of the flesh colored figures had the 3 bar design on their heads but now we are starting to see it out of the blue. Btw, sorry for the poor pictures, they were taken with my phone

It looks like they mixed up the designer video. They have the product info up for the Escape from the Mirkwood Spiders set and the character profiles for Kili, Fili, Legolas, and Tauriel. The only thing they don't have is the designer video, which is the Barrel Escape one instead.

I really hope the actual Lego Balrog set looks as cool as that.

I'm not crazy about those ents. I can't place my finger on it exactly, but they just don't look complete. They look really rigid and square, which I know they ar emade from Lego bricks, but even still they need some curves (like the Balrog model). Also I agree, the faces and especially eyes need more detailing to make them pop more. It looked like giant spiders coming through the roof in the trailer.

Where is it stated that it's that book specifically? And even if it is, who is to say it has the story all written down already and isn't just a blank book waiting to be written in.. ?

Those were all gotten after the Gathering took place so it makes sense none of them are in the set. As is this set looks to have a ton of accessories! Lego sure didn't skimp out on them.

Well Mines of Moria was only 80 here in the U.S. If you are talking other countries everything goes out the door because prices get really out of whack. You really could say some waves had three or more sets for over $100 cause countries like Australia have ridiculous prices on Lego. Also Star Wars is a rare case.. other than Star Wars which themes have had a single wave with at least two or more sets that cost over 100 bucks this year? Friends didn't, City didn't, LotR didn't, Ninjago didn't, Dino didn't... the list goes on. Monster Fighters is the only one I can think of, and even that is iffy since the Haunted House set came out almost 4 months after the initial line was released and I wouldn't consider it part of the same wave. If Lego were to do Minas Tirith I assume the best way they could go about it would be like with Helm's Deep. but slightly larger. Instead of a $130 main set they could have it be in the 160-200 range, and then in the same wave have a wall expander/battle pack that you could buy multiples of to really beef up to look of Minas Tirith. Saruman the White and Wormtongue would be the only "exclusive" figures Lego could do there, unless they were to add a named orc or some of the Wildmen or something. And how can you say Orthanc would be more appealing to kids than Osgiliath? The plays features from Osgiliath alone would be triple that of Orthanc. I don't see how they could do anything really with the palantir other than making it glow maybe? And a throwing feature for the wizards? Really, that's it? Meanwhile with Osgiliath you could have parts of the buildings exploding, a swooping action for the Nazgul on Fel Beast, beats for the orcs to come in on, catapults, etc. I do think Orthanc could be a good set, but the way it's described by the guys rumor makes it sound terrible. It's supposedly the Betrayal at Isengard which is just the wizard fight before the orcs are shown. $100 set for a duel between two figures? At least put an eagle in the set. Really though, they could/should make it so much more and combine it with the Ents Last March. That would be ideal imo.. Orthanc with Saruman the White, Womrtongue, 2 orcs, Merry, Pippin, and then Treebeard. Offer another 20-30 dollar set with a small wall piece or an orc siege structure, 2 orcs and a common Ent you could add on to Orthanc with. I can't see Lego doing this. It would take three years before you have a "completed" Isengard. Lego isn't going to leave people hanging that long with only bits and pieces of the tower unfinished. If anything they would do the whole tower then add things later like the outer walls, trees, mill, orc forges, etc. Yes they would make good sets, if they are done right. My issue is their price point and minifigure selection. For instance Orthanc as the guy described it in the rumor sounded pretty lame. If it was done like I suggested I think it could be an amazing set.

I can see them doing 2 sets over 100 bucks in a single wave if it's a D2C kind of deal. Other than that though I don't really see it happening. I mean how many times do we see a single wave released with multiple sets over $100? Not many.

Ehh, the "flagship" set for the Hobbit is the goblin King Battle, which is suppose to only be $100. I can't really see them making 2 sets in a single wave that are both over 100 bucks. That's really expensive, especially for kids who the line is aimed at. That doesn't seem like a very likely set until much further down the line. Not when we still haven't seen so many other iconic scenes and creatures from the LotR trilogy.

Very nice first attempt. I would say maybe make it less tall and that way you would have more pieces to use for details? And I agree, the landscaping could use a little more detail but other than that it's very good.

Very doubtful. The first LotR wave already had 2 Rohan sets and 0 Gondor ones. I don't see them making 2 more Rohan inspired sets in the next wave and leaving Gondor totally left out again. If anything the next wave should have a mix from the three films and lean more towards RotK material since the first wave was mostly FotR and TTT. I'm expecting Minas Tirith, Osgiliath, etc. I am sure they will pepper in some iconic scenes from all movies that they couldn't fit in the first wave though, like the Balrog, Saruman, and maybe Treebeard somewhere. Exactly what I was talking about. Now people are claiming those rumored sets are confirmed

Exactly! Minas Tirith is the most logical set to use as a flagship set for Lego's next LotR wave. Most of the RotK film takes place in or around Minas Tirith. The city is amazing looking and screams to be the center piece for the second wave. It seems like a no brainer. The only thing I could see preventing it being made is the sheer size. Even if Lego made it way smaller than minifigure proportions like they did with Helm's Deep, the set would still be massive. Easily a $160+ set. It could still be done, it would just be difficult to get the scale down while also keeping the price reasonable. I have faith in Lego though.. bring on the massive Minas Tirith with a nice wall/army pack add on please!!!

If you read Stiel's Kingdom Chess Set review, you will notice a number of misprints and quality control issues with the set. Delta 38 also posted a couple LotR misprints he had. Most notable Merry's face. Hi Aragorn also has his colors swapped on his torso. His Ringwraith is missing the silver metallic belt buckle (I have this as well on one of my Ringwraiths, though it is hard to notice since it's such a tony printing and the dull gray looks very similar).

The thing is though, most people seem to be taking this guys info as if it came from Lego themselves. They aren't talking about these as "possible" sets, but rather as "actual" sets. For all we know it's just some random guy coming on and telling us what he thinks might come out and acting like it's legit info. Anyone can do that. I could just as easily make an alt account and come post 4 of the 6 wave 2013 LotR sets with made up piece counts, minifigures, and the set theme. The fact he has very few posts and gave NO indication as to where he got his information makes me all the more skeptical. I realize his info could be legit, and I know if he is leaking it early he probably has to be careful... but it just doesn't seem likely. His sets seem especially off. Who knows though. I would tend to disagree with you on this. Bigger sets don't always mean better, and I am sure the sales for bigger and smaller ones about even out in the end (you sell fewer big sets but make more profit, you sell many more smaller ones but make less per sale). I mean if they didn't, why wouldn't Lego just focus on making nothing but huge $100+ sets? The 40 dollar price range seems to be a good one for an iconic set such as the Balrog as it still allows younger kids to get this set as a birthday present, or buy it for themselves. I think when you move up to the $60 price relatives and friends start to shy away from getting it and little kids won't be buying that set themselves when they could save their money for something else. More importantly I don't see how they could really make the Balrog a $60 set without adding unnecessary elements. I mean we already have Mines of Moria and the Balrog is really the only other iconic scene that takes place in the Moria setting (watcher in the water is more outside...). Sure they could do a third set with some stairs, pillars, and a bridge, but it would be bland and generic and not really have anything going for it (would make a great army builder/battle pack though!). All they need for the Balrog set is the Balrog, Gandalf, maybe an orc or two, the bridge, and then some stairs or a pillar (last three totally optional). To me this seems like a $40 set with Balrog being slightly bigger than Shelob I would imagine. I do agree that the minifigure counts seem to be WAY off though. One minifigure in a $40 set, and only 3 in a $60 set? The most likely set seems to be the Isengard, but even that seems iffy. Why would it include 5 orcs when the set is modeled after a scene that has no orcs shown in it at all? And like you said, why make a $100 set out of a duel between 2 wizards? If anything it should be when the Ents attack, or they should of made the big flagship set Minas Tirith since we have next to nothing for sets from RotK as of yet.

Did you click the link to the 25% off? If you just go to the Lego brand section you will see all the sets they have in stock.