Post by Lord Mercat on Oct 16, 2014 21:02:47 GMT -8
Having been a bit out of the Lego loop for a while, I only recently discovered that the new hobbit sets had been released. Normally, I don't buy sets, but one of them caught my eye- the small set of the line, the Witch King battle. Now, I as likely everyone else who collects Lotr have been wanting a witch king since before Lego even had a LOTR line, so I was seriously excited for this set. Upon looking up pictures I was dissapointed that the witch king was in his "ghost" form versus the awesome cloaked form in the movies, but these are hobbit sets as sadly LOTR as a line is finished, so better this than nothing, I thought, and immediately went out and after toys r us let me down, target came to the rescue and I picked up the set. Excited as I've been for a set since uruk hai army a year or so before, I went home and put together the set immediately.
I must say, that not only am I extremely impressed with the set, but I would go as far as to place it in the top 3 sets of the entire LOTR/Hobbit line. Why? Simple, parts and price point. Now, 101 parts for $15 may seem like a bit less than ideal value per piece, but we must stop to consider what these pieces actually are first! Starting off with the basic pieces in the set, we have a lot of always useful dbg pieces of various types, some reddish brown, a red leaf, and even an entire skeleton- not to mention this set has quite a few dbg masonry bricks!
Moving on to the real prize of this set however, we end up with what everyone will actually buy this set for- the figs. Oh and what magnificent figs they are. You not only get 3 figs (and a skeleton) but you get 3 figures that are entirely exclusive to this set! And they aren't dumb figs either, they are all seriously awesome. Let's start with galadriel, a figure that many have wanted for quite some time! She has some beautiful white and silver printing, gold (yes gold, not blond) elf hair, an exclusive shimmering white cape (in fact, EVERY cape in this set is as of now, exclusive to this set, and all three figs have a cape!). And of course she has back printing as well (which is nice because I'm not a fleshy fan, so the back printing enables me to use her torso, as its actually pretty nice.) In addition she's got a double sided face, with one side having her freak mode face with the creepy eyes.
Moving on to the next figure we have what is the main draw for this set, the witch king himself. He is magnificent! Even though he is in his ghost form, he is still absolutely fantastic. He has the best looking "ethereal" type printing I've ever seen on a mini fig (double sided) the face is an exquisite printing with a wisened, dangerous character to it, and he's even got a ringwraith cape in white! (Garhims, that cape's got northern ranger cloak written all over it, just saying). Perhaps the best part of all though is the exclusive crown mold that he's got! It is not only the coolest crown mold ive even seen out of Lego, but the potential for it is immense! Finally we don't have to rely on the lame old Lego armored crown (never been a fan of that mold, too clunky!) The new crown piece has just seriously got this awesome regal quality to it, and I am a fan in a big way.
And last we have what in my opinion is the real star of this set, the Elrond mini fig. That's right, the best fig in the set isn't the witch king! What makes Elrond the best you ask? Could it be that awesome olive green cape he is sporting? (First time its been made in full length in that color) Nope, its the printing! What magnificent printing he's got! If you thought 2nd age Elrond was awesome, take a look at this guy! Luxurious gold armor with back and front printing with NO FLESH on it over gorgeous olive green he might just be the most nicely printed medieval figure Lego has ever put out, he just looks absolutely amazing! Perfect for army building! (Im thinking, elite Lenfel Troops, already started collecting multiples) Move aside, mirkwood elves because Elrond is coming through!
Anyway, that's my two cents, anyone else have this set? If you don't, you should!
I must say, that not only am I extremely impressed with the set, but I would go as far as to place it in the top 3 sets of the entire LOTR/Hobbit line. Why? Simple, parts and price point. Now, 101 parts for $15 may seem like a bit less than ideal value per piece, but we must stop to consider what these pieces actually are first! Starting off with the basic pieces in the set, we have a lot of always useful dbg pieces of various types, some reddish brown, a red leaf, and even an entire skeleton- not to mention this set has quite a few dbg masonry bricks!
Moving on to the real prize of this set however, we end up with what everyone will actually buy this set for- the figs. Oh and what magnificent figs they are. You not only get 3 figs (and a skeleton) but you get 3 figures that are entirely exclusive to this set! And they aren't dumb figs either, they are all seriously awesome. Let's start with galadriel, a figure that many have wanted for quite some time! She has some beautiful white and silver printing, gold (yes gold, not blond) elf hair, an exclusive shimmering white cape (in fact, EVERY cape in this set is as of now, exclusive to this set, and all three figs have a cape!). And of course she has back printing as well (which is nice because I'm not a fleshy fan, so the back printing enables me to use her torso, as its actually pretty nice.) In addition she's got a double sided face, with one side having her freak mode face with the creepy eyes.
Moving on to the next figure we have what is the main draw for this set, the witch king himself. He is magnificent! Even though he is in his ghost form, he is still absolutely fantastic. He has the best looking "ethereal" type printing I've ever seen on a mini fig (double sided) the face is an exquisite printing with a wisened, dangerous character to it, and he's even got a ringwraith cape in white! (Garhims, that cape's got northern ranger cloak written all over it, just saying). Perhaps the best part of all though is the exclusive crown mold that he's got! It is not only the coolest crown mold ive even seen out of Lego, but the potential for it is immense! Finally we don't have to rely on the lame old Lego armored crown (never been a fan of that mold, too clunky!) The new crown piece has just seriously got this awesome regal quality to it, and I am a fan in a big way.
And last we have what in my opinion is the real star of this set, the Elrond mini fig. That's right, the best fig in the set isn't the witch king! What makes Elrond the best you ask? Could it be that awesome olive green cape he is sporting? (First time its been made in full length in that color) Nope, its the printing! What magnificent printing he's got! If you thought 2nd age Elrond was awesome, take a look at this guy! Luxurious gold armor with back and front printing with NO FLESH on it over gorgeous olive green he might just be the most nicely printed medieval figure Lego has ever put out, he just looks absolutely amazing! Perfect for army building! (Im thinking, elite Lenfel Troops, already started collecting multiples) Move aside, mirkwood elves because Elrond is coming through!
Anyway, that's my two cents, anyone else have this set? If you don't, you should!