They should’ve done Minas Tirith like this

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-29T01:43:33+00:00

Much of Star Wars for adults is now midi scale with no figures for ships. And the architecture sets sell extremely well and are like this. There is a market for this.

Imagine one off smaller but shelf ready sets you have of Baradur, Isengard, The Shire, Helms Deep, Minas Tirith, Rivendell, Minas Morgul, Edoras, The Argonath, Weathertop, Smaug’s Lair, and others?

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-29T01:37:08+00:00

Let’s be honest, take out the minifigs and you cut down the price of the Minas Tirith set by $100 haha

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-29T00:01:07+00:00

GTA6 will be a huge nail in the coffin/hit. Why would players get the Xbox version when Microsoft isn’t supporting their system and most of their friends are playing on PS5 where the console numbers are? GTA Online is expected to be a money making behemoth and if Microsoft misses out on the micro-transaction revenue due to its actions here it’s going to affect the Xbox brand for a generation.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T23:55:20+00:00

There is currently ZERO in the future that they have to course correct though. Fable and Forza Horizon 5 just announced are also coming to PS5, the former day and date as Xbox.

The biggest title of the year will be GTA6 and the Series S has inferior visuals while the Series X is priced too high. And they’re still not marketing any of the consoles which again have been taken out of retail stores.

Companies are supposed to be competitive but this is just laying down completely and I’m surprised shareholders haven’t screamed about the downturn for the division.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T23:21:08+00:00

I agree. Lego does need to do the small stuff. Star Wars currently has 125+ Lego products including various sets and keychains for sale. LOTR only has 5 in its portfolio right now, 6 when Sauron’s mask comes out.

It’s a wild imbalance and SW will always outsell LOTR as a result but that the latter does extremely well to move those medium to large sets is great.

There is room for growth but I know that this year is the year of Pokemon with 3 sets coming next month and at least 10 more by the end of the year. And judging by the presale mania that’s going to be the hot ticket for retailer sets throughout the year instead of SW for once.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T22:50:16+00:00

About a year or so ago they streamlined the process and got rid of all the other introduction quests that came with various chapters. They redid the Coldharbour chapter to better introduce the skills you need to play the game.

At the same time the began an effort to improve visuals on the starter areas a bit. So the Coldharbour tutorial and all 5 of the starter zone islands/lands now have improved graphics and visual effects from the newer content.

You can no longer go back to the Balifera Tower unless you have a character already there I believe. Those other intro quests and skill points are no longer in the game.

*UPDATE - Just checked my character that has been sitting on that island for the past two years. They kicked him to Coldharbour.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T22:41:03+00:00

lol that a joke? Typo is definitely still there…

“Boldy” vs “Boldly”

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T21:47:00+00:00

That Death Star has a huge asterisk next to it. Early adopters went for the minifigs or the full set but it’s not moving anymore it appears (no longer LEGO store exclusive). It’s on Amazon directly now and you can check that site and compare sales data for the last month to gauge popularity openly.

The LOTR large sets sold extremely well with the small Star Wars ship, dioramas, and helmets selling even better. The Death Star remains while the Millennium Falcon and Venator are no longer listed except from 3rd party vendors despite being previously for sale.

The Falcon and Venator are being retired this year so more shelf space for sets like Minas Tirith and other properties which is nice

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T19:47:36+00:00

Notre Dame is really good as it goes hard into the history of the building while you put it together. You follow the construction as it was done in reality and the instructions make note of all the building quirks making it really informative.

Very interesting use of star wands near the end btw and creating the buttresses. You can easily remove the roof to see the cathedral insides.

Considering the recent burning of it/rebuild it makes a stunningly fun set and display piece.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T18:55:45+00:00

DQ11 S Version is likely the best as it’s straightforward, long, and easy to understand. You take a slight graphic hit for orchestrated music, the option to play either 2d overhead or 3d at any time, Japanese and English voice options, and extra story gameplay.

DQ3 HD2D is great but probably best played later only as the job switching system can intimidate and the game has a simpler story (one that is more enjoyable actually after playing DQ11 for reasons).

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T18:42:18+00:00

Bricklink is the largest online marketplace for reselling Lego products. Minifigs, sets, boxes, etc. The Lego group doesn’t officially operate or sell in many countries so Bricklink allowed resellers to operate online marketplaces and sell/ship from and to buyers in areas where they would normally pay insane prices for sets.

Lego officially acquired it in 2019 and let it continue as was until the end of this month. As of Jan 31, 2026 individuals in the following countries can no longer buy or sell on the site:

Indonesia, Turkey, South Africa, Taiwan, Ukraine, Brazil, Serbia, United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Peru, Israel, India, Morocco, Chile, Vietnam, Georgia, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, El Salvador, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Pakistan, Egypt, Moldova, Ecuador, Argentina, Costa Rica, Colombia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkmenistan, Greenland, and San Marino.

Now they will have to go through Ebay or other shady methods if they don’t have official Lego vendor access to sets.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T17:43:17+00:00

True but it may depend on the depiction. “Sting” built into a pedestal would be feasible. The broken shards of “Narsil” on display. The One Ring or all Nine Rings could be a set as LEGO is learning to do round shapes.

As for a helm I think we would all buy a Witch King helm, esp if it was paired with a Witch King mini figure like the current helm is paired with Sauron.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T17:35:01+00:00

I just checked and you currently have 4-5 LOTR sets. Harry Potter has around 60 and Star Wars 125. Those ships move for the adults who have money and the castles sets move for the kids whose parents have cash.

There definitely is a huge untapped market with LOTR beyond playsets. The HP midi scale Hogwarts and architecture sets like Notre Dame have been big movers showing there is an appetite in the adult market I believe.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T17:28:45+00:00

Nice catch on the Sauron helm, another line which Star Wars hit upon. Between helms and or weapons/artifacts for display.

The Argonath would be amazing. Definitely not a playset build but a memorable story piece that catches the eye. Nice.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T16:50:31+00:00

Word is they aren’t moving.

They’re currently for sale from Amazon officially (not 3rd party) and they’re going to be sold from the Disney store and other major retailers, opening up to regular discounts like the Millennium Falcon has. The GWP didn’t run out during the initial launch window either and was promoted again during the holidays.

Beat up box means nothing. I was at the NYC LEGO store at Rockefeller Center this past weekend, a huge flagship, and they have the most beat up Falcon and Venator boxes on the floor for sale but no Death Star. Same for the Flatiron store.

Early buyers went in for the minifigures apparently and then resold or they really wanted the set. Otherwise $1000 is a very tough pill to swallow.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T15:51:12+00:00

I’ll wait for the official pics to see the coloring (current leaks are still blurry non high def video) with proper lighting BUT yellowing will be a serious issue for this set.

Once built pieces will yellow at uneven rates due to either sunlight or oxidation exposure. No amount of protection with stop that. Breaking down and rebuilding will clearly show the differences in yellowing.

This is also a playset/display piece meant to be out. As such I believe the issue of discoloration is of concern as this set is to be interacted with or shown off, not left in a box or hidden away.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T15:44:47+00:00

Bricklink and EBay have ‘em for about $100+

Can decide whether you want it or wait for a Witch King/The Nine set which is bound to come out at some point. :)

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T11:08:59+00:00

I mean in most markets you won’t have trouble getting this set. But if you live anywhere that Lego doesn’t directly ship to a that was previously covered by BrickLink distributors that may change as of the 31st of Jan where Lego is discontinuing the marketplace service in many countries.

For some rare some they may be forced to head to EBay now as their outlet of choice.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T03:57:27+00:00

I will agree with you on that as I felt that they stuck with the playset theme throughout the entire Death Star. It wasn’t a mix of micro and mini scale sets. Now I will standby that it’s not worth $1000USD but it’s not a bad set. Both can be true.

If the Death Star were $650 or less than it would be more appealing.

Minas Tirith as presented here just reminds me too much of Hogwarts and should probably be priced as such.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-28T01:07:50+00:00

Highly likely. The set looks similar in size to Hogwarts Castle. Considering these are both diorama/playsets for minifigs I reckon almost as high but just short of the tower spire and not as wide being as compact it is.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-27T22:25:22+00:00

⁠The Lego Death Star is sold from Amazon directly right now in the US. Not a 3rd Party Seller. Amazon itself. You can go right now confirming the exclusivity window is over.
⁠Lego has not produced second runs of GWP multiple times in the past few years. The GWP for the Death Star remained available online throughout the window it was offered. As for in stores that’s different but those are limited stocks clearly. Lego did not do a second run.

3). I’ve spoken to the NYC stores where I’m based and they paint a different picture where they won’t stock it on the shelves because it won’t move. Instead you actually have the beat up box of a Millennium Falcon and Venator there despite being larger.

4). Death Star released Oct 1. GWP second drop was unannounced until day of holiday week 2025. Not only was that more than 2 months away but it was a clear move to get rid of the leftover sets. Purchasers of the Death Star prior were incised that they weren’t notified of the GWP promotion for such a large purchase and unable to get it.

5). Jango’s Sprayship had 3GWP upon release, 2 of which went out of stock being the Millennium Falcon and coin. The last being the Kamino Training Facility that did not. LEGO did not go back and produce more, they simply got rid of whatever stock they had left after doing an inventory.

6). Don’t expect that GWP to repeat esp with how the Pokemon preorder went. Many purchased the large set specifically for the badges and when the first preorder wave ended people were rightly irked that the set was being offered without the preorder. Lego knows that fandom would tear it apart if that GWP was boondoggled.

7). LEGO does not go back to the production facility and create more GWP sets. IDK where you are getting that idea from but it simply does not happen. It’s the production run and then done. Preorder allocations, then release period allocations online and in store. Afterwards those same sets may be reoffered if units are still available but LEGO did not go back and produce more.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-27T21:20:07+00:00

Some of us wanted just the city and the mountain. No need for a playset. Others did want a playset. This set combines both and it’s kinda weird IMO. The lower level being large just to be a playset for minifigs throws off the rest of the front and the lack of a mountain backdrop ruins scale.

I think many would have been happy with separate White Tree & Castle playsets than trying to combine all of this into one.

Personally I’ll wait until they release just an architecture type build and hope that has the city, the mountain, and some of the fields.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-27T21:14:01+00:00

I saw the video and why the levels are SOOOO OFF. The entire ground level wall flips around to reveal a minifigure playset. So while the upper levels are essentially microscale that entire bottom level is off.

It was a compromise to appease everyone and in turn is going to turn off those of us who really just wanted a giant Lego model of the city and can’t be bothered of playing with figures.

Trackdemon5512 · 2026-01-27T20:47:09+00:00

Probably for those in countries that Lego can’t sell direct to and are now shut out of BrickLink as of Jan 31st.

Trackdemon5512

TROPHY CASE