Str0ngbad

Oooo, you got me there, even if she's not exactly a heroine.

Galadriel's presence is accurate but it is not out of The Hobbit. The book doesn't mention a female even one time. Tauriel was created solely for the purpose of having a heroine and I am fine with that. I also enjoyed Shady's post. I do not have a very good understanding of LEGO scale so it was all very informative to me. I want multiple Rivendell's as I can find a purpose for just about every piece, including the Gimlis and Frodos. I haven't figured out what else i can use Elrond's hairpiece on though. On one hand, I'm really glad to have the elf hair with the circlet. On the other, the hair without the circlet would be so much more useful. Looking strictly at the usefulness of the parts, this has to be one of the nicest cheap sets to be released in quite a while.

Wow! This is such a polished looking project. Thank you for sharing and I look forward to seeing more pictures.

Agreed on the matter of obvious play functions but not all the drama there is overly dark. In fact, that is the setting for the sweetest scene at the end of the movie. I don't think LEGO will pass up doing the citadel/courtyard in some form or fashion; even if it is not its own set. As far as play functions go, I'm sure LEGO could find some place to stick a couple of those beloved flick-fire missiles for us.

I think we all would! I don't expect LEGO to give us any polybags that have new pieces in them though. New prints and new characters are one thing and still not common but I don't know that I've ever seen a regular polybag with a new piece. I'd be pretty happy with an orc (with hair) polybag if it were released over here I guess. That Uruk bag made me so sad... There aren't a lot of other things I could see them doing this summer that would be suitable for army building.

It's understandable that you don't want a 'dumbed-down' version because what makes the city distinct for you is different and comprehensive than it is for most people. You mentioned how Helmsdeep has all the 'important aspects' even though it is missing the mountain, the caves and more. For many of us, the important aspects of Minas Tirith are much less than they are for you; the courtyard, the gate, the basic shape and structure. The house of healing and the markets and the residential districts are all inside but for most people they are not iconic. I want LEGO to give me a Minas Tirith, even if it isn't complete, if for no other reason than to have a great starting place for my own version (I would have to put the house of healing in mine too). I don't blame you for not wanting to compromise what is important to you about the city but hopefully if one does come out, you'll be able to be happy for those of us that want one really badly. It's very likely that they will only do the gate or outer facade and then maybe the courtyard/citadel but I'll take as much of it as they'll give me. Where's that wonderful GRogall at? I'm dying to know when these will be released. I want a Rivendell set SO badly.

Hi, I'm also Tony! Welcome to the family.

I think Deathleech knew that. :)

I'm not sure but I think the problem is due to you and others thinking of the word 'difference' differently. In mathematics, it generally means what's left after you subtract which is the way Aanchir was using it; subtracting you get a 2 or 3 yr difference on the maximum and minimum respectively, thus him saying '3 years max'. You were using the word 'difference' to show how many ages the two didn't have in common thus adding the 2&3. You are both right in your own way and have masterfully presented why language sucks. Plus, I really think you agree on the whole more than not anyway. I agree that if LEGO is going to raise the bar for the detail of licensed sets, they should be (and probably are) prepared to do so for their generic themes. I think that the target market for this theme is a better reason for it's perceived simplicity than the fact that it is non-licensed. Big pieces/fewer details make for a set that is easier to assemble for beginners. I introduced a perfectly intelligent and detail oriented friend of mine to LEGO recently; he's 56 and it took him a good 15 minutes to assemble the Gandalf polybag. I guess we've all forgotten but following LEGO instructions can be slow and confusing for people who are new to them.

^Make it 275. They may use just those seven dwarves again this wave, seven making half plus Thorin. However, I highly doubt that Mirkwood Spiders and Barrel Escape will run for another year. If that was LEGO's plan, they'd have been better off waiting until the second movie to release them in the first place and just giving us a small wave the first time around; saving shelf space for other sets. The movie hitting the scenes those sets are based on might boost their sales some but it won't make them sell like they are new. Most people who would want them will already have them. This seems odd to me. I feel like there is far more to cover in LOTR than the Hobbit in the same amount of time. Also, (not much of a spoiler but I prefer to err on the side of caution) Granted, her scene with the mirror is among my favorite of the trilogy. I just think she will fit better into a Hobbit set and now that LEGO has made Arwen, they already have her hair mold so she will require no new pieces.

I sincerely hope you're right and yes, it was an in-game set design. I don't think that they will be covering every set from the games though and the only character it would add for us is Celeborn who is very marginal in the movies. (Assuming we get Galadriel from the Hobbit sets)

Shooting you a PM. :)

I think that's likely as well but Faramir is shown fighting Mumakil just not at Pelennor. I was talking about Faramir and his rangers when they ambush the Mumakil and capture Frodo, Sam and Gollum. I think that or the caves above the forbidden pool or maybe Osgiliath would be the best way to include Sam again while also hitting important new characters and bad guys. It will be hard for LEGO to pass up doing Legolas against the oliphant though. (I admit I hated that scene. It went from live action to very cartoony cgi) More than any other scene, I am SURE they won't pass up the Witchking and Eowyn. No way. Fives, I would LOVE four waves but I don't think it seems necessary. What essentials do you expect to be left untouched after one more wave? I'm not arguing there won't be sets left to make though; Lothlorien and the Grey Havens are probably my two favorite places in all of Middle Earth and I doubt they will get covered in the next wave. I just feel that if LEGO sees it through three fantastic waves, they'll have done the theme justice. I don't suppose I would ever be ready for them to stop though. Barad-dur, more of Rivendell, Edoras, The Prancing Pony. Minas Ithil would be stunning. Whenever they do end this line, there will still be some wonderful stuff left undone.

I wholly agree. I would personally add Sauron and Isildur (and Gil-Galad) to the list but I understand why they may not show up. Another non-essential baddy that I suspect we will get is Grishnahk. He would at least help provide some variety for those who can't stand having a uniform orc army. I'm very happy with where LEGO has us after just two waves. I don't think it would even require more than four sets to get all of the essential characters and repeats of the rest of the fellowship in. Eowyn, the Witchking and Merry in one. Faramir, Sam and Mumakil in another. I'd bet money Galadriel is in this Hobbit wave. Denethor, Pippin and Gothmog could even be in the same set. That's all the characters you mentioned in just three LOTR sets and only leaves Boromir without a repeat. Given the amount of wiggle room I feel like LEGO has for the next wave, I'm very optimistic about it. Maybe there will even be room for that prologue set I so desperately want.

Exactly. And it's not like they left anyone important out. If you want more uruks, there's a set for that. Minas Tirith could offer a much larger minifigure selection. Denethor, Gandalf, Squire Pippin, Faramir, Gondor Boromir, coronation Aragorn, Arwen, hobbits, etc. If TLG did it, they could go nuts. July can't get here soon enough.

To each his own. :) In my opinion the white tree, courtyard and great hall are more iconic than the gates. I certainly wouldn't complain about either. That idea for Minas Tirith is actually really good. I think they could do a superb rendition of half the city for ~$200 or a little more.

This is true but not many themes present as much material for them. I don't expect Minas Tirith just because it is SO huge but I'd be tickled pink if they surprised me with it. I dont take Orthanc as a sign that there are more of its kind coming but I don't think it has to be the only one either. If they don't do a massive Minas Tirith, I would hope they at least give us the citadel.

Not really. It's hit and miss; mostly miss. :/

I admit I thought it was an insider thing but I promise I'll get my butt in there tomorrow. Those builds are spectacular; thank you for bringing them to my attention!

@Alcarin: Does a set really have to be an 'army builder' for you to like it? Sets HAVE to have main characters to sell. The only exception would be battle packs and due to their conspicuous absence in this line, they may not be permitted. LEGO is cleverly including both the army of the dead and the Corsair in the same set so that they can cover more characters and leave more room for all the other sets we're crying for. Are you really complaining that we're getting a Corsair? And of course there are a couple orcs, you were already saying how there weren't enough and that makes the primary play function in this set. There are plenty of purist options for mixing your orc army up and there will be more options later. I agree it is unfortunate and strange that they aren't giving us hairpieces for them but I'm glad they are using their budget to give us new characters and gorgeous sets rather than new prints for nameless, faceless orcs (especially when we have only gotten four of them so far). I love the epic battles too but there is WAY more to LOTR than that and most of that is much more practically portrayed in LEGO sets. I don't understand how anyone can be this unhappy with some of the most fantastic sets that LEGO has made. Ultimately, I think you need to ask if what you are suggesting would sell better to kids who may or may not have any of the sets already. If the answer isn't 'definitely!' then you should probably adjust your expectations for this line. You're right DragonKnight, Bricklink and sometimes eBay are great ways to pad your ranks though that might be more difficult for people in some countries. I think Elves and maybe Wargs will come down in price a bit after more Hobbit sets are released. Also, Yazneg is a really cheap and effective means of mixing some diversity into your ranks.

The LDD file would be awesome but I'd also like to see where you are at in your project. :) I began to MOD my own Helmsdeep last year but tried for something that required far more pieces than I had; the towers being 30 studs high and the gate being 14 wide. Being very inexperienced at making my own stuff, seeing posts like yours and Eurolock's really helps me learn a lot.

I think some of their printing is glow-in-the-dark but I'm sure their helmets aren't. You're right about getting extras, not cheap at all. I'll be content with my three if I get the set.

It would be expensive or half the size; barely taller than the ent.

Most people seem to be down on it because it is taking the place of a set they would rather see (read 'Gondorian anything') or because the minifigure selection isn't ideal for them. I don't think many people are actually unhappy with the ship itself. I for one think it looks amazing and I hope it becomes my first ship but it will almost certainly be the last thing I get from this wave, for the exact same reason Lynx mentioned. It's just not as essential or iconic as the other sets. I do, however, want those army of the dead minifigures quite a bit. Does anyone know, are those shields on the ship supposed to be for the Corsairs? There are 14 or more on it!

I like what you did with it as the disjointedness of it was an issue but I still dislike the set. I don't fault LEGO for a poor design so much as I just really don't think it was great source material for a set. Ramshackle boards and rocks shoved together can only be so interesting. Regarding the minifigures, I hated the Goblin King in the movie so it's not LEGO's fault I hated the figure but he is probably the reason this set costs more than it looks and feels like it should. TLG did fall short on the goblins though, as I've mentioned before. The 'cap' not covering the face on the back (that really doesn't even need to be there) is just plain sloppy and I don't like the way it makes their foreheads bulge out like Brain from the Animaniacs. I understand why LEGO chose to do a set based on it as it is a very iconic and memorable part of the movie and books but the result is easily my least favorite set I've ever owned; fortunately not everyone feels that way. Now that I'm finished whining, I really have been unbelievably happy with this line and I don't expect everything that comes out to be according to my preference. LEGO has made the last year a little brighter with these children's toys and for that I am very grateful.