LotR Sets Released!

[NapalmKing]

I really like the urukai I am hoping for an orthanc set but the urukai army packs look pretty nice.

[The Black Rabbit]

I'm too much of a cheap ass to pay for the LOTR Sets at full price. I'm probably just going to wait until they go on sale at london drugs or the people at zellars damage another box.

[Zupponn]

I'm not sure how much I like the sets.  They almost lack some flavor to me.

[The Black Rabbit]

I'm not sure how much I like the sets.  They almost lack some flavor to me.

What do you mean by flavour?
Other than gandalf arrives and the orc forge they all look really dreary and lifeless which in some cases isn't a bad thing but too much gets boring.

[Zupponn]

I'm not sure how much I like the sets.  They almost lack some flavor to me.

What do you mean by flavour?
Other than gandalf arrives and the orc forge they all look really dreary and lifeless which in some cases isn't a bad thing but too much gets boring.

Flavor:

You see this?  This is a Lego set.  It is meant to be played with and kids are supposed to enjoy it.

Lack of Flavor:

Now you see this?  This is a model, created for people to display and fanboys to buy.

When I say flavor, I mean something that drives the imagination.  The ability to let kids use their imagination to create stories and battles that are wacky and bounce off the wall.  There are only so many ways you can fight the battle of Helm's Deep, but there's an infinite number of things you can do with the pirate set.  There also is a certain charm that the pirate set has that the Helm's Deep one lacks.

Still, I'm not saying that the LOTR sets are not cool, I'm just saying that they feel dull to me.

[aoffan23]

1) "Charm" is completely subjective.
2) The only thing limiting one's imagination is their lack of imagination.
3) Just because it's from a movie, doesn't mean you have to follow the plot of the movie. This is the current castle line, so parents might get it for their kids because they're castle sets. You don't have to have seen the movies/read the books to enjoy the sets.

[Gungnir]

6) "Charm" is completely subjective.
7) The only thing limiting one's imagination is their lack of imagination.
8) Just because it's from a movie, doesn't mean you have to follow the plot of the movie. This is the current castle line, so parents might get it for their kids because they're castle sets. You don't have to have seen the movies/read the books to enjoy the sets.

Fix'd.

[IVhorseman]

Besides, it's a lego set, so you can build shit on top of it. Who knows how the battle of Helm's Deep would have gone if they had point-defense lasers and lots of mortars? Maybe Gandalf shows up and the Uruks are already reduced to scattered and smoldering limbs, so he just lights his pipe and says "Damn."

[Zupponn]

Okay, but I will say that whenever my friends had castles, they never played with them and just displayed them, whereas if they got something like the pirate set, then it saw lots of play.  I would use myself as an example, but I never got any castles.

[The Black Rabbit]

I agree with you Zupponn but it isn't fair to use pirates as an example. Classic pirate sets have always been the most fun to play with as they had a sense of adventure, battle, and hilarity. I do not like to say it but AFOLs are part of the reason for sets lacking flavour. The sets need to be detailed enough to cater to AFOLs but also playable and fun for younger kids. In the end, not everyone can be happy.
I looked at a review for helms deep, it does seem to have many nooks, and crannies to it so other than the grey facade it looks rather fun.

[jmatthew]

Flavor or no flavor, they have some pretty sweet bits and pieces. My girlfriend bought me the Shelob set (as well as Risk Legacy) for my birthday. I won't lie--I'm looking forward to sticking Lego Smeagol in a giant steampunk exoskeleton and have him get revenge on those pesky hobbits for leaving him to the flames.

[Ben-Jammin]

Flavor or no flavor, they have some pretty sweet bits and pieces. My girlfriend bought me the Shelob set (as well as Risk Legacy) for my birthday. I won't lie--I'm looking forward to sticking Lego Smeagol in a giant steampunk exoskeleton and have him get revenge on those pesky hobbits for leaving him to the flames.

[aoffan23]

Picked up the Shelob set, too. They actually managed to make her look freaky, which is tough for an animal made out of Lego. Also, it comes with THREE rings. Yes, they give you two extras. Yes please.

[Whiteagle]

Picked up the Shelob set, too. They actually managed to make her look freaky, which is tough for an animal made out of Lego. Also, it comes with THREE rings. Yes, they give you two extras. Yes please.

Ah, so you've found the Elves rings then?

[Zupponn]

Rings?  But minifigs don't have fingers!