TheWorldAhead

According to numerous sources, it is implied that LEGO Dimensions will remain compatible and not outmoded at least until 2018. Here's a sample article below: http://www.ibtimes.com/lego-dimensions-will-get-3-years-worth-add-support-2116061 I take this to mean that the current Starter Set will be available until then, after which a new one might be implemented. The LEGO LOTR fan and conspiracy theorist in me takes this to mean that the LOTR license for Dimensions might be expiring in three years, which would prompt TT Games to make a non-Gandalf Starter Set. Any thoughts?

Really? I honestly had no idea. Well, this gives hope for multiple "big set" releases; I'm thinking of not only Hoth, but also the almost-certain Ghostbusters HQ and the imaginary Minas Tirith that I've been dreaming of and will now go discuss in the other forum.

I wouldn't worry just yet, people! In the Chicago, USA, at least, it's only early-mid morning. Granted, the USA does not (or should not) control the world, but I guess what I'm saying is that I still trust amazingbricks. If it's false, it's false...but somehow I'm still optimistic.

Yeah, this would actually be a really good opportunity to reuse the new Vader helmet right away, because of that scene where he kind of uselessly walks through the base and fails to stop the Millennium Falcon.

I was just asking for that, wasn't I?

If what you say is true, I shall forever revere you. Seriously, I believe it, and I also believe that this could be the first and only Star Wars UCS set that I buy. It's about time to change my avatar to a Snowspeeder or something...

Thanks, everyone, for the replies! Robianco, that picture comparison was way beyond what I was expecting! I guess what I'm saying is that I hope TLG releases that particular helmet in the old style, because I'd hate to have Wes Janson (or any other pilot) look totally odd next to his fellows. It would almost be like yellow figs vs. fleshies again (okay, not quite). Anyway, it doesn't matter all that much. I have to remind myself, these are toys, not movie props.

Okay, so here's another link to the Hoth preview video from this past summer. Does anyone know who's the Rebel pilot in this video? (Is the helmet a design from the movie, perhaps Hobbie or Jansen?) I'd like to maintain my collection of every Rebel pilot helmet, but after the outstanding new visor design in Poe's X-wing Fighter, I fear that they will all be outmoded and redesigned... Thanks!

Another vote for the Pod Bucket. It's funny, and kind of embarrassing: I was so excited to get that set for my birthday years and years ago. I was browsing online in the early days of Amazon.com, and I ran out of the room so excited because I thought the original 7171 Mos Espa Podrace got its price slashed to $30. Oh, wait...

Fantastic work! You don't even have to buy the official Microfighters when you can build so well! I love all things Hoth, and this MOC simply doesn't disappoint, although I'm a bit envious, because I'm a terrible MOCer...I can't seem to come up with landscapes on my own, so I might have to imitate this for my personal use. One quick question: where did you get all those large quarter-circle dishes (not sure if that's the right word) for the shield generator?

Normally, I get frustrated when people advertise their Ideas sets here rather than just presenting creations as MOCs, but this thing is just staggering in its enormity, and I will support as soon as I can figure out my Ideas login information. We need to save LEGO LOTR, and I would love to see this behemoth next to my dearly bought Tower of Orthanc. The more LOTR projects people get to 10,000, the more TLG will have to acknowledge that we are all corrupted by the One Ring.

Holy crepes! Hope is kindled (yet again) That's definitely some food for thought, and I'm all of a sudden feeling optimistic once more. If there is a D2C set, I would bet heavily on Minas Tirith. It's easily and obviously the most-wished for set in the theme. Who knows, maybe this is all part of some master plan devised way back at the beginning of the license; I'm sure TLG would have been working on Dimensions back in 2012.

Now that LOTR has, to all appearances, ended for good, I may have to turn to the Dark Side start buying Star Wars sets again. And, interestingly enough, Hoth sets are the only Star Wars sets I buy anymore; I don't know why... I have a strange fascination with Snowspeeders, and 7666 Hoth Rebel Base is, for some reason, the set which I most regret not buying for retail price. Fingers crossed for some information about the UCS Hoth Base! I'm ready for those descriptions, CM4Sci! Thank you so much in advance.

Wow, that's fantastic! I just ordered the "Dol Guldur" sets and the exclusive Bain minifigure. In a few days, my Middle-earth collection will be more or less complete*! *I missed out on/skipped "Riddles for the Ring" and "The Goblin King Battle," but Bricklink'd the minifigures.

Not sure how we got on this topic, but seeing as I always found LEGO gender studies compelling....I think TLG's biggest problem is that all of their blockbuster licenses are geared toward boys, because Hollywood is, on the whole, problematically geared toward men. Women are definitely present, sometimes in strong roles, but often supporting, often romantic interests, occasionally sex appeal. When was the last time you saw a major movie franchise with a first-billed female? Actually, I take that back, The Hunger Games would have been a fantastic license! I don't even buy the "it's too dark" argument anymore, after sets like "Darth Vader Transformation," "Palpatine's Arrest," "Temple of Doom," "The Orc Forge," etc. Who wouldn't like some dystopian LEGO? Not to get even further off topic, of course...The Hobbit is a compelling and intricately constructed world that should appear to both boys and girls, but the character interactions are so decidedly male-focused that some girls do have difficulty relating. Besides, if all that girls have marketed to them is the pink-and-purple "Friends" and "Elves," then that is what they are going to find socially acceptable, until they can think for themselves (something which very few young people of any kind can do). I know many women who love LOTR and The Hobbit, but when I was in elementary school, I never knew any young girls interested in Jackson's "original trilogy."

No one knows exact sales figures, because TLG doesn't release them to the public. All I know is: -U.S. Target stores never even stocked The Lonely Mountain" -Amazon.com was sold of all the sets for a period of a few weeks -There was plenty of everything on the shelf at my local Meijer the other day It doesn't look all that encouraging, to be honest, but personally, I'm just thankful that we ever got Hobbit LEGO in the first place. Hope this helps.

The Chicago downtown Target (Loop, State Street) normally has inflated prices, but yesterday I saw that Star Wars Utapau Troopers were marked at $5.49 instead of $13. It wasn't even a sale, just a mistake; there were about five left on the shelf and none in the back room. I hadn't really wanted the set, to be honest, but at about 60% off, I couldn't deny myself one. There were some Ultra Agents and other stuff on sale, like Vorkosigan posted above, but for me, the error of the Utapau Troopers was wonderful!

I agree that we don't need more Snowspeeders, Probe Droids, or God forbid, E-Web Cannons. I hadn't considered the ion cannon or shield generator...they would be two UCS-able, iconic landmarks. Good point! Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this! I didn't doubt the rumor, I just have some trepidation as to whether or not it will be a good use of a UCS set...and whether or not I can afford it. I suppose it does make sense, considering this year is the 35th anniversary of ESB.

This is incredible, well done! I always thought the Lamda Shuttle was one of the coolest and most original designs from the OT. From what I can tell, your MOC matches the "Death Star scale" well, and it sure beats the $4 Target polybag Imperial Shuttle that I have. Also, I don't have a Death Star, and never will, unless you count the globe from the Planet Set...

That...is pretty awesome! Anyway, I just ordered the Hoth Planet Set from a third-party seller on Amazon ("Series 4 Planets: Or, the Only Time the U.S. Got a Bad Deal"). Also, just got back from Target, where I bought the Microfighters Snowspeeder. What can I say? I love Snowspeeders! I was going to buy the Microfighters AT-AT, too, but decided that Valentine's Day gifts for my family were more important (conscience for the win!). These purchases seem somewhat fitting, considering that my local weather is currently very Hoth-like.

How reliable are the rumors of a UCS Echo Base this fall? I know LEGO Star Wars rumors usually turn out to be true, but I find it so hard to believe that TLG would put out another Hoth-themed set on the heels of 2014's Snowspeeder and AT-AT, not to mention the Microfighters and the endless barrage of Hoth sets of recent years. As much as I love the Battle of Hoth, Echo Base hasn't made very good sets, in my opinion, because it is essentially an ice cave that functions as a hangar. Most Echo Base sets have had either a tauntaun or a Snowspeeder as a draw, but both have now become run-of-the-mill. What I wonder is, [AND I HAVE NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER, PURELY SPECULATION!] whether the UCS set this fall could actually be an AT-AT. I personally have always found that vehicle boring, but I know many have been clamoring for a UCS release. With one just having been rejected on LEGO Ideas, I feel sure that we'll get one at some point, anyway.

So true. As bizarre as this may sound, I'm already feeling nervous about this project, because even if it gets the green-light, I would probably have a window of only a few weeks to buy it. If TLG could make such a drastic production mistake on "Research Institute," or a former licensed set like 7666 "Hoth Rebel Base," I fear that they would miscalculate terribly on a project such as "Minas Tirith." That being said, your point also stands that they would probably not even want to take that risk; such a gamble could prove disastrous. Then again, as others have said, they have sales figures for Orthanc and the other sets; we don't. All of this is mere speculation, obviously. I love LEGO, and LOTR, and any combination, and I think NujuMetru's project is just a fantastic "new hope," if you will, for this seemingly dying line. I will gladly support it, tout it, and buy I ever can, no matter what roadblocks there may appear to be between here and there.

^ Thank you for the response, and you're right, I was probably over-thinking it. At this point, however, "their game" doesn't seem to include LOTR anywhere in the playbook. After all, they knew we wanted a Minas Tirith for two years and yet they chose to not release one. Maybe I should just move on.

I have three questions about NujuMetru's "Minas Tirith" project, and LEGO Ideas in general: 1. When is the Review Board decision released? I'm assuming around May, when the second review starts, but I don't know... 2. Has LEGO Ideas started green-lighting more than one set per review? (I thought this happened with "Birds" and "Big Bang Theory." Could they potentially release as many as they want to (including "Minas Tirith," fingers crossed). 3. If "Minas Tirith" is NOT chosen for this review, how long can they hold it as a potential design/idea for later? Isn't this what happened with "Dr. Who"? This is what worries me the most, because I assume it's now or never for LEGO LOTR. Eventually the license will expire (if it hasn't already), and TLG probably wouldn't think it worthwhile to pay for it again after the way they abandoned the line last year.

^ Thanks for the answer, or at least suggestion. Luckily I got all the current wave already, and I'll probably pick up the "Ambush" set this week at the LEGO Store, if they match the online price (assuming that they even have it in stock).