Straight from the Designer: What You Need to Know About LEGO’s Minas Tirith

Where was Gondor? Well, it’s finally here (after we speculated about it some years ago)! Minas Tirth, LEGO’s epic addition to its Lord of the Rings line has been available for the past month , and the reviews have been as welcoming as ringing silver trumpets from the White Tower of Ecthelion as they call her denizens homeward. Even with a price point that leans more toward high-end collectors, this first Gondorian offering has received accolades for balancing a grand scale with memorable micro scenes; exclusive mini-figures like Faramir, Denethor, and Shadowfax; and for the mathematically minded, even a price per its 8,278 pieces that is remarkably good for a licensed set at this scale. Plus some of us had to wait a month to receive this masterwork as our birthday present, my precious. No murder was involved. We also received the gift of some deeper insight into how the Tower of the Guard moved from concept to our ever more crowded shelves. Read on to find out more, in our interview with LEGO designer François Zapf.