Deathleech

Even with a little modding you don't think they would look good?

I never posted what I got so here goes... 2x Battle for Helm's Deep 2x Mines of Moria 2x Attack on Weathetop 3x Orc Forge 9x Uruk-Hai Army 2x Shelob Attacks 2x Gandalf Arrives 4x CMF I got the Helm's Deep, Mines of Moria, and Weathertop sets all at Barnes and Noble when they had 10% off, plus coupons for an additional 15% off. One of the Helm's Deep I got for 40% off because I had the 10% off and a 30% coupon. Both Attack on Weathertop sets had the 25% off (10% + 15% coupon), plus they were marked at $49.99 instead of $59.99. All in all wasn't too bad, I ended up saving almost 200 bucks. I wish I would of got the Uruk-Hai Armies there as well and I could of saved another 50 or so.. all well, I'm not complaining

Somewhat, it's just extremely scaled down, even compared to the minifigures. Like it's maybe 1/10 or even 1/20 the size it should be compared to the minifigures, but that's to be expected considering Helm's Deep is massive and to build it anywhere near scale (with the minifigs) would cost like 400 dollars for the set.

Well I doubt they are going to glorify him getting shot up by arrows when they are so adamant about keeping the violent to a minimum That's actually what I thought it was the first time someone posted a pic, before I saw it was Nori. It looks a lot like a smaller wizard cap or something.

Now you guys are sending ME the mixed signals, lol! On the one hand you are saying the Frodo polybag is fine because some kids may not be able to afford the more expensive sets so it's a super cheap alternative for them. It doesn't cater to anyone else but smaller children with extremely limited income. If that's the case, why not offer an exclusive figure from a higher end set? I mean if a kid is struggling to pull together 5 bucks for a polybag, there is no possible way they are going to get a Mines of Moria or a Helm's Deep! Maybe they could save a few weeks and get Gandalf Arrives and then a Legolas poly after that, for example, rather than just getting Gandalf Arrives and skipping the Frodo polybag completely. You say this would hurt the larger sets sales, because then AFOLs may not buy them if they can get an otherwise exclusive minifigure cheap? I don't agree with that for several reasons. First off every current set has a minimum of 2 exclusive figures, if not more. Helm's Deep for example has the Berserker Uruk-hai, Haldir, and Theoden. Not to mention I am sure lots of people also want the actual set/keep and bricks. Secondly, if someone was ONLY after King Theoden and that's all they cared about and it was in a polybag, so what? It's not like Lego missed any Helm's Deep sales there thanks to Bricklink. I mean most people would just go to BL and buy Theoden alone for 15-20 bucks if that's all they really wanted rather than waste 130 on a set they don't want. Lego makes no money off BL so offering Theoden in a poly would of actually netted them some cash where as BL gave them nothing. Plus they did just put Thor in a poly when the only set he was in was the $50 Breakout. I'm sorry if I see so argumentative, I just really don't see benefit to the way Lego did their Frodo polybag. It seems like a poorly thought out set. I mean I am sure the polybags aren't meant to be huge sellers and prolly make up an incredibly small portion of Lego's profits, but that's no reason to put so little effort into it. They could of just as easily put a Moria/Mordor Orc or Rohan soldier in there and I think they would of netted a lot more sales. As of right now it seems like the only ones that will be buying the Frodo poly will be small kids who will probably only buy one LotR set ever and only have like five bucks to spend. I can't imagine that's a very large demographic. Frodo is the main protagonist so that is the only reason I can imagine they chose him (AGAIN!).

Right, I get that and I already touched on it numerous times now. What I don't get is why they put Frodo in a polybag when he is already in the cheapest LotR boxed set at $13. If a kid can afford 5 bucks for a polybag surely they would rather spring for Gandalf Arrives at $13. That way they get more bang for their buck with the same Frodo minifig, exclusive Gandalf, and a new horse. I haven't got an allowance in a long time, but I assume nowadays most kids get at least 10 bucks a week so it's not exactly like we are talking about buying Shelob Attacks vs Helm's Deep here. Both Gandalf Arrives and the Frodo poly are in a similar price range. Can you honestly tell me that you think the way they set it up is a good decision? Do you think it optimizes sales/profit? Do you think kids will actually buy the Frodo polybag a ton and it will be a big hit?

Except for all the Fel Beast flying over Mordor, and the great eye always watching, it seems like a great plan! I agree about the Eagles though, I would LOVE to see a set include them. I totally dig all the fantasy creatures in LotR, which is one of the many reasons I enjoy it soo much.

Good point. I also want to note though, that MMV is only 100 bucks and comes with 8 minifigs and 3 large animals (2 cows and a horse). Most other $100 sets struggle to include even 6 minifigs and a single horse, let alone what MMV has. To put it in perspective Helm's Deep only has 8 minifigs and 1 horse and is 30 dollars more. Most of the $100-120 Star Wars sets only have 5-6 minifigs. Even King's Castle has 8 minifigs, but only 1 horse! I agree, I don't think walls are necessarily needed. That picture looks pretty good with all the minifigs hustling and bustling about. The Helm's Deep/Uruk-Hai Army walls might work great though with a little modding if you are dying to have everything enclosed.

Ahh ok. Ya, that might not look too bad... I will have to check it out later!

Ya, I have no common sense. Silly me, wanting Lego to produce appealing sets that will sell really well! Why would a business want to EVER do that?!

I dunno, it's really hard to tell because the pictures are soo blurry and the sword is being held at a weird angle in them. It looks like Thorin's sword might have a slope like Orcist.. but then again it kind of looks like the gladius too, which all the hobbits except Frodo come with:

No, I am fine with having an extra. What I don't like is having 3 Frodos already, and then them putting him in ANOTHER set with the polybag (which polybags, unlike other sets, are mainly just bought for the figs). And not only that, he is already available in 2 of the cheapest LotR sets out right now so why make another cheap option for him? It seems redundant. I just don't see the Frodo polybag selling well at all. What's the point of making the polybag if it won't be a good seller? Not that Legolas or Theoden in a poly would have been a whole lot better, at least for me, as I already have all the LotR sets. The only reason I would prefer it is so we actually have some variety and options though, not 20 Frodos and only 1 of every other main character. I am sure a kid with say 20 bucks would of much rather bought a Legolas poly and Gandalf Returns. As it's set up now he is only going to buy Gandalf Returns and prolly skip over the Frodo polybag all together. It's not like he could of afforded Mines of Moria anyways so there is no lost sale there. The only thing Lego lost was selling a polybag the way they did it now. Ya, that would have been the best option imo and that's really what I would of preferred to of seen done. That way kids will still want it if they can't afford the more expensive set these figures come in (note they wouldn't have the money anyways to get the more expensive set so Lego isn't losing out on that sell), and AFOLs also benefit because they have an option to army build with these figs where there otherwise was no option.

Because of his hair, he can't wear the chest plate the other Uruk-hai come with. I guess I could put a helmet on him, but then he looks too similar to the rest of the Uruk-hai imo!

I know that, and I am sure I will buy at least 1 or 2 of each of the polybags when they get released. It's just a shame they weren't made into better options. If they would of made a Nazgul polybag I would of bought my Weathertop sets, plus 7 of those polybags. If they would of been Moria or Mordor Orcs, I would of bought 20 of each of the polybag if not more. If they were Rohan Soldiers I would of bought like 10. Keep in mind I would have bought all these extra polybags and it would of had NO effect on anything else I bought in the LotR line. I still would buy the exact amount of Weathertop sets I did regardless if there would of been a Nazgul polybag. Like I said before, each of the current sets has at least 2 exclusive minifigures so offering one of them in a polybag still leaves you needing the other in the bigger set.

Here is my Uruk-hai army (minus 2 Uruk-hai that were hiding on a ladder and one Berserker)! Uruk-hai, Cave Troll, and Moria Orcs Rhorrium Army (I use Eomer as a standard grunt since I have no other use for so many of him ) Rhorrium on horseback That's all! For now...

The price of MMV is also phenomenal. It clocks in at just over 6 cents per piece. That's ridiculous when most sets nowadays are 0.10+ cents a piece. I think that definitely helps the set out. I mean its a great deal and because of this they included a lot of pieces for all those details and such that really make it stand out.

I would of been fine with them just including 2 Rohan soldiers in the Uruk-Hai Army set instead of Eomer. Then Eomer could of replaced one of the orcs in the Helm's Deep set (not the zerker obviously). I'm not sure how useful it will be since Bag End already has the stove in it. I might throw the keg in the left corner though since it looks sort of empty. Who knows. That reminds me, I also don't really care for the accessory the Uruk-hai polybag came with. I would of much rather seen a ladder piece or something along those lines to assist in the siege of Helm's Deep. This is more nit picky than anything because with the bolt thrower I can at least understand where Lego was coming from. I am sure the kids eat the flick missiles up. To everyone else though, it doesn't really make any sense. You never see ANYTHING like that in the movie and plus you already get the larger bolt thrower with the Uruk-Hai Army set..

I have been saving since February when I first learned the LotR Lego sets were coming out. Due to this and the fact none of the other Lego themes really interest me (not enough to buy them over extra LotR Lego stuff anyways), I managed to get pretty much everything I wanted right away when it was released. I might pick up several more Uruk-Hai Army sets, another Mines of Moria, and maybe even a Helm's Deep if I can get them for super cheap (doubtful). Now I am just eagerly awaiting the unveiling of all the Hobbit themed sets so I can plan out how many of each to get.

I guess so, but why even make a polybag like Frodo? I just don't see anyone buying it other than a few kids or parents. I know I would much rather just get Gandalf Arrives for 13 bucks. Why not instead make an actual useful polybag? I don't think I have seen ANYONE on the forums that are really buying multiple Mines of Moria sets to army build Moria Orcs, or buying multiple Weathertop sets to get 9 Nazgul. These sets are just too expensive to do that. You would have to buy 5 Weathertop sets to get a full 9 Nazgul (+1 extra), and who really is going to do that? Spend 300 bucks + tax for 9 Nazgul? Especially when you get all those extra Aragorn, Frodo, and Merry minifigures with them, plus all those bricks? Most people will buy at least 1 Attack of Weathertop too so they can get the exclusive Merry and the new black horses. No, that's not what I am saying at all! I am saying if someone buys Bag End they get the awesome set, all the dwarves and hobbit, AND they can get Gandalf. That way they can skip Gandalf Arrives and just get Bag Ends (which they would anyways since it has soo much to offer), and the Frodo polybag, and still have all the same minifigs they would want while saving approximately 10 bucks. It's like a bonus, you get all the same minifigs but can cut out buying a set so you save 10 bucks, all the while getting Shire Frodo cheaper and Gandalf in Bag End. I know people buy some sets for the actual building or scenery, but I doubt many people buy Gandalf Arrives just for the wagon (since it's the weakest selling point of that set, imo). Not necessarily. If they offered Legolas in a polybag you still would most likely get Mines of Moria for the exclusive Cave Troll, Moria Orcs, Pippin, and Boromir. And if they offered Theoden as a poly you would get Helm's Deep for Haldir, or vis versa if they offered Haldir in a poly. Plus I would get these sets regardless because I like the set and the minifigures in them (Helm's Deep much more so than Moria). I just don't understand the logic. I get not offering say a Legolas, for example, in a polybag if the only other way to get him is in an $80+ set and that set doesn't have any other exclusive minifigs. But that's the thing, every current set has at least TWO exclusive minifigs in it! I assume most people will want one of every character. And why even offer something like the Frodo polybag if it's most likely going to sell really poorly? It seems like such a waste. And even if they don't want exclusive figures in the polys so the expensive sets are more appealing, why not then at least offer army builder type options with the polybag? They did that with the Uruk-hai, but not Frodo. They could of easily made a Mordor or Moria Orc poly and I am sure people would of ate those up in gobs, since I don't see anyone buying multiple Mines of Moria or Orc Forges to army build, they are just buying one of those sets. I would of bought one Mines of Moria and like 20 Moria Orc polybags. As is though, I am only buying 1 Mines of Moria and 1 Frodo polybag (for complete collections sake).

I know they haven't been released yet, and I know they aren't suppose to be huge flagship sets with a wave, but I was really disappointed with the LotR polybags when I saw them. Specifically the Frodo one. What exactly was the reasoning for giving us another Frodo when he is already available in 3 different sets and he is available in the EXACT same form in one set that also happens to be the cheapest? The ONLY reason I could see that polybag being useful was if someone held out on buying the Gandalf Arrives set and instead got the Bag End for Gandalf and then got the polybag for the Shire attire Frodo. Of course that means waiting 6 more months for a Gandalf minifigure though. Totally not worth it when you can just get Gandalf Arrives right now for a measely $13. Why not, at the very least, include a figure from an expensive set that is only available in one set right now, like Boromir, Legolas, or one of the other hobbits like Pippin or Merry? Heck, even Haldir or Theoden would of been vastly better, despite them being lesser featured characters on screen. The Uruk-hai polybag isn't near as bad and actually has some decent use. I just feel like they could of given us a polybag for a figure not so readily or plentifully available. We already have the Helm's Deep set which comes with a decent amount of Uruk-hai, as well as the Uruk-Hai Army set that serves as a sort of army builder. For 30 bucks you get 4 Uruk-hai, a Rohan soldier, Eomer, horse, and a nice chunk of wall and bolt thrower. Unless you have no interest in anything but the Uruk-hai (which some actually might not), the Uruk-Hai Army builder is a much better deal than the 4 or 5 dollar polybag. Even if all you want are the orcs, it still gives you the sword and shields which the polybag doesn't, and the hair piece so it has more variety. Personally I would of LOVED to see a polybag with a Nazgul, a Moria Orc, or a Mordor Orc. If they made a Nazgul poly people could of easily gotten 9 of them without having to get several Weahtertop sets (not that I am anyways, I figure we will get better options in the future to get a full 9 Nazgul). The Moria Orcs are also in a pretty expensive set and you only get 2 so you really have no army building options with them right now. The Mordor Orcs aren't quite as bad since the Orc Forge is only 40 bucks and you get 2 Mordor Orcs in it, but still that's an incredibly inefficient way to army build anything (especially when one of the 4 figs is Lurtz and pretty much worthless beyond the first). What are your guys thoughts on the matter? Do you feel the LotR polybags are decent, or do you feel as I do and that Lego really missed the target here?

I think Bricklink would actually be a little bit cheaper and you could get more variety there. Right now the fully armored minifigs are going for $3.75 while the ones with the helmet or hair only are about $3.15. For 15 full armored and 15 of the hair/helmet only figs you are looking to spend $103.50 on BL. The halberds are only 0.10 cents a pop so that's another 3 bucks for 30 of them (that's what you get in the poly, no sword or shield). That puts the total at $106.50. If you wanted nothing but fully armored Uruk-hai you could get 30 for $115.50 off BL. Add in 5-10 bucks for shipping. To put that in perspective 30 Uruk polybags are gonna run you at least $120 to $150 +tax depending if you get them for 4 or 5 bucks. Of course you get some brick pieces as well to build the bolt thrower with the polybag, but I doubt many people really care about that. Of course the best deal is the Uruk-Hai Army set, but unfortunately after a couple you don't really need or want the walls/catapult anymore and those both really drive up the price, as does the horse, Rohan soldier, and Eomer (who you might not be interested in).

Two problems here. First off, Lego doesn't own the figure license with LotR, they own the building/construction license so even if they offered the full Fellowship they would also need to include a piece of scenery or a building. Second of all, the full Fellowship is made up of 9 minifigs. There is no way Lego is gonna do 9 minifigs for 20 bucks, especially if they have to include some bricks to make a scene. At the very cheapest the set would be like $30-$40 and it wouldn't include much more than a small rock out cropping or something, which Lego wouldn't make. They would make a proper set and try to recreate some scene. As for a Hobbiton set, I don't see Lego doing that for a long, long time (if ever). There still are so many more big action scenes Lego needs to do it's not even funny. The Balrog attack, Warg ambush, Ents, Fel Beast, Minas Tirith, Osgiliath, Smaug, Five Armies battle, etc. Plus we are getting a Bag End set very soon so the chances of them doing another Shire inspired set are that much more distant. If they were going to do the Fellowship in one set they should do a $130 Rivendell set where the Fellowship first forms.

It's a nice little house. My only criticism would to be make it a smidgen bigger! Right now the horse is almost as big as the house, lol. Other than that though it looks like a great start. Btw, some of your links go to the same picture. For instance your attack of the Uruk-hai pic is the same as the armed to the tooth one with the Rohan soldier in all his armor and with weapons and shield.

Hehe, ya I guess so. It's the only Lego theme I am currently collecting though so I figure it's all good. Rather than buy sets from other theme that don't interest me near as much, I figure I can just stick to the LotR theme and buy multiples of them instead. I am quickly getting sucked in though, I am kind of interest in the Batman sets now after seeing the new Comic Con pics...

Here are the pics I promised yesterday of the wall with extra height next to Helm's Deep, as well as the rest of my Helm's Deep display (again sorry for the quality and mess, this is a temporary display till we get into our new place and I have a proper display to put them all in). Double high wall in row with rest Double wall close up Double high wall next to front of keep Back of Helm's Deep looking out Side of Helm's Deep Top down of main keep area Angle shot of back of Helm's Deep Front of Helm's Deep and battlefield As of right now I have 1 Helm's Deep, 1 Orc Forge, and 8 Uruk-Hai Army sets open. I only have 3 walls connected currently and probably won't connect the rest till I get to my new place with more space (and even then will only connect 1-2 more before possibly building everything up). I also have 2 more Orc Forge, 2 Helm's Deep, and 1 Uruk-Hai army unopened. I would like to get at least 1 more Uruk-Hai Army set, unless I can find them cheap on sale in which case I would pick up another 4-8 depending on the price. I also want to get several of the Uruk-Hai polybag.