If you even slightly feel you might want to build them in the future you should buy the sets you like the most now.  I would personally favor the modulars.

Hm. Forgive me for thinking a little outside the box, but for Investing purposes, I'd go with the Super Star Destroyer.

Building wise, I think the modulars offer a bit more, but it is always nice to learn how to build in a circular shape - something that I personally struggle with.

Collecting wise, I'd still go with the modulars. To me, they offer more bang for your buck.

Death star, hands down. I thought it was an epic build and it definitely pulled me out of the dark ages..  The modulars are cool as well, but they get very repetitive. You wont have that problem with 10188.  

Thanks for the replys. It's a tough call. Still have time to decide though, planning on getting them at LEGO Shop at Home for double points. I'm leaning towards the modulars since as cool as Star Wars is, I might be stuck with a bunch of gray bricks if I decide to tear them down if I get tired of it.

@comicblast: thanks for the SSD suggestion, I actually got that set used for half off

I'd say any of the modular houses all around. Nice to look at, challenging fun build, and they add to each other and continue to do so with every new release. They are easily habit forming in the collecting department and that is where the value adds up. You have people deciding whether to obtain the seperate parts over time to build the retired modulars like Market Street themselves or just buy the whole thing from the secondary market.

I wouldn't dismiss the Death Star though simply because it will need to retire one of these days and when it does you'll want to have at least a couple stashed away. I'm not sure about build experience on that one though. It seems well enough with different venues in there. However, if you don't like open playsets, chances are you won't like this either especially on display. It does have an insane amount of minifigures.

Death Star. Its a cod-piece. I don't think anyone will walk into the room and look at the modulars like they look at the death star.

I suppose opinion may vary from person to person on that one. Personally, I prefer the modulars as display pieces also, because of the creativity and variation in the design.

Are you looking to buy primarily for your own collection or to invest? Or a bit of both? In the last case you could consider buying three modulars and only build one or two.

Have to warn you though: building them is addictive! You may want to buy two of the same just to resist the temptation of opening that box.

As far as being iconic and drawing attention that would be the death star, besdies most people who enjoy lego also are familiar with star wars.

 

As for investment and over all experience of building i would say modular hands down. Plus you have the added bonus of new modulars every year, death star is pretty much a one and done thing unless you start getting all of the SW UCS.

Thanks for the replies! I was actually thinking of getting them just to keep, then decide later on whether to build or sell. It's a tough choice. Excellent points for both sides. Might just flip a coin for it haha

For investment, I think 3 modulars is better.   If one of the 3 sets flops, at least you still have the other two to make it up.    :-)

The modulars will provide more "fun" when building and if you don't zip through them, they'll take slightly longer. The Death Star is a more challenging build - a few of the zones are quite neat. You can't beat the minifigs that come with the DS either. Those that come with the modulars aren't always super flashy like the Emperor with the lightning bolts!

 

You won't be disappointed no matter what you choose from a build it perspective. If later on you decide to sell rather than build, IMO there is less risk with the modulars.

 

We've got both... I recommend BUILD!

For building I would pick up 3 modulars. My recommendation would be the Fire Brigade and Grand Emporium just in case they retire soon. As for the third modular whichever you prefer and think would fit well next to the FB and GE.

Hey guys, at the moment, I don't have space nor time to build the sets but I do have the capital to pony it up. I just wanted to get some of these now since I may have the itch to build them in the future and not want to pay they high premium. I know there is a 50 dollar difference but is not to be considered since I'm just looking for the best value for build experience. (Or I could toss in a Jabba's Palace with the Death Star to lessen the price difference.) So here goes: 

 

If I was to get into one theme which one should I get: 3 $150 (undecided) Modular sets or 1 $400 Death Star?

 

1. Building experience wise?

2. Collecting wise?

3. Investing wise?

 

Thanks!

For building experience, I would go with the Death Star. For collecting I would go with the modulars, and for investing, I would go towards the modulars. The Death Star has been on the market for so long that it may take a while to see some profit from it.

You can add rooms and floors to the modular s.  I don't think the Death Star or SSD have much you can customize. I have some modular sets that I plan on making look like a town near my home.  Not sure how many extra pieces to need to buy, but the ability to make them personal is a good aspect for me. 

 

For investing, I have do idea.  They both seem like great investments.  

Online only:

http://www.intertoys.nl/speelgoed/lego-10188-lego-star-wars-death-star-589487.html

Is that Cookie Monster in the ad giving us the finger?

In NL sites must warn you they use cookies... Intertoys has their own approach ;-)

Is that Cookie Monster in the ad giving us the finger?

I think it is. Anyways, I am not sure about this deal. I do not live in the Netherlands, so I do not know the retail value of the set. I know for sure that the retail is over $400+. That being said, this deal is about 25% off an exclusive set. That is a good deal to me. Too bad I do not live in the Netherlands.

Do it, do it now.

You may as well get it from LEGO Shop at Home for

In their listing it mentions it may ship in its original box and if this is a gift its contents maybe disclosed.

Anybody know how this ships?

I don't want shipping labels slapped on the outside of the box

Sounds like they may just put the label on the box and ship it out to you! Although it depends on how they define original box? If they were case packed separately, they may mean they will ship it in the box Lego sent it to them in. So they won't debox it, only to put it in another box. However, I do not know for sure. I would be interested in hearing what others say about this for future reference.

This is what the tru site says

Gift givers, please note that this item may be shipped in the manufacturer's original packaging, which may reveal what's inside.

TRU will ship the 399.00 sets in the original lego shipping box. The only BB store I have ever heard of them shipping with just a packing slip slapped on the box is walmart. I hate TRU but I will give to them that they will never pulled a walmart when shipping lego.

Yeah I have bought a couple of big sets from them and never seen them not use an outer box. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

After basically telling myself I wouldn't spend full retail on it I found a new sealed for 310... I couldn't resist.

I'm going to open it and put it together. So those that have put it together, thoughts? Opinions? Complaints? Etc...