Go with an LE. There are 3 versions available, LE, Smaug LE, and Black Arrow. Smaug's came out first, so are older. Make sure if you get one it has all the fixes. LE and Black arrow LE have all the newer fixes because they came out later. Only other differences are aesthetics. Different decals, different armor (gold, copper, and black) Smaug has gold dragon instead of red, and Black arrow has black flipper buttons and a black ball to react with the Newton ball. Both black arrow and Smaug have a different animation sequence as part of the attract mode. I bought an LE because I liked the side art the best, prefer the copper tone powder coated armor (didn't like the gold and Black is kinda plain) and prefer the red dragon. Didn't care for the black ball (hard to see). Love mine and have never had a problem other than replaced a broken spring and some switch adjustments. Not bad for over 1,000 games played. I have mine at 7.0 degrees and it plays fast. Hope this helps. Love mine and at the current used prices would jump on an LE (of your choice) especially since there is prediction of a big code update coming this summer. Don't do a standard. LE gets you the barrel pops,invisiglass (yes, it's great) and shaker. Buy the ring button mod from Flip n Out pinball, worth it.

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The main differences are cosmetic and the trim. Although, LE/Smaug/BA all have invisiglass and a shaker motor. Black Arrow edition does have new artwork on the cabinet. There is different playfield artwork for a couple editions. The color of the smaug toy can be red or gold, depending on the edition.

Standard: http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=6222

LE: http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=6223

Smaug gold: http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=6224

Black Arrow: http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=6456

I've heard a few people snag a hobbit for under $6k on the secondary market. If you want one, I'd say grab whichever one you can get for the best price.

I ironically the Black Arrow is gonna be the rarest of the bunch....it's my preference

I would buy used if you're looking at The Hobbit. There are good deals on HUO games, and you'll take a huge hit in value buying new right now. It's the weakest of the JJP family, so people are often dropping it to pick up Dialed In or get in early on Pirates.

If you have no experience with JJP, I wouldn't worry too much. It's pretty easy to work on them, and their documentation is excellent.

Before you zero in on The Hobbit, I would give Wizard of Oz and Dialed In a close look. Just make sure you actually want The Hobbit over the other two.

The least expensive one.

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Standard Hobbit is by far the rarest in terms of quantity made.

I agree, used is the way to go. I picked up a Smaug and really love it. The game just keeps growing on me as I understand more of the rules/modes and get better at completing them. Buy the cheapest nicest condition game you can find. No one has a crystal ball, but I don't see these games getting any cheaper, it's a good time to be buying.

If you look at the current JJP setup, Smaug is like the Collectors Edition, Le is the Le, standard is std and the black arrow is an unlimited premium which looks nice except stern made non glossy black armour look cheap to me. Also the problem with the le/std/ba is the cabs look to photoshoped to me.

To me Smaug looks the best, art is awesome and has the nicest powdercoat, and the painted gold smaug head looks better than red as well.

Any version is a great game

Agree with this statement!

(FYI) 2.01 just came out the other day http://www.jerseyjackpinball.com/support/

You sure? I know of 1 BA in the area and 3 standards. To bad they will probably never release the numbers

Standard is by far the rarest in quantity made; BA is next then Smaug and LE.

Source?

Get the one called WoZ.

I was going to say the same thing! I have Hobbit and really like it but I have to say WoZ is still my favorite JJP game

I prefer the LE as the Smauf edition feels like Smaug overload to me. The Hobbit films are about a bunch of different characters and the LE represents that perfectly while Smaug is still front and center in the middle of the playfield and has his own toy.

Yep. For a first JJP experience, WoZ will give the best bang for the buck.

the one that says Dialed in or Pirates on the backglass.

Please expand on the each issue please ?
Beast Pop ups mechs had an issue where the pinball would be stuck in mech as it lowered and caused playfield and mech damage . (I Think)
Would Like to confirm all issue and fixes?
Thanks

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Love Dialed In and looking forward to Pirates, but WoZ is an excellent choice, or maybe the best choice, for a first time JJP buyer. It's beautiful and has very mature and deep software that's fun from beginning to end.

The fixes, that are now included on all new games, are the beast mech inserts to prevent balls from getting stuck, stronger springs for the drop targets, post to prevent balls from falling off far left rail (or updated rail on newer games) and the updated ramp flaps.

JJP sent fix kits out to owners, if they requested it, so if buying an earlier game just make sure these have been done. If the fixes have not been done they take a couple hours to do do minus the ramp flaps (rivets) which JJP will swap out for free (send in ramp).

or the the game that features one of the deepest objective based rulesets ever created with excellent use of licensed assets including actor audio, actor video, licensed music and over 30 custom tracks by the group Two Steps from Hell which also does work for major Hollywood movies?

but have to trade that for confusing rules and shitty layout. Gameplay and rules trump all.

Will disagree with ya there. Layout is great / unique and the rules are easy to understand considering there's a mini LCD that tells you exactly what to hit, in addition to callouts, plus provides time remaining for modes.

Every modern layout doesn't need to be the same. Keiths brillant code work takes advantage of the layout and mechs in very unique ways. Plus the game is still getting codes.

WOZ owners do......

having deep rules is pointless, if the player isn't having fun or know what's going on. LOTR is so much more superior because it's good and letting the player (new or veteran to pinball) know what's happening and can see a progression to something. Things are easily laid out and in a way that is understandable. But has rules written so the casual player can do cool stuff, and plenty for the vets to experience for the long haul. Layout is pretty cookie cutter fan pattern, which is nothing too exciting, but at least the rules are written so a person can see objectives and is having enough fun to explore those objectives. This is where hobbit falls very flat. You can have the deepest rules in the world, but once you confuse the player, they are no longer invested or care about the journey.

they all are good, woz, th, and dialed in. 5 yrs later and we're still getting updates on woz, can't say that about stern.

I opted for the LE as we preferred the art of all the characters on the machine. All models are stunning and play the same. Can't go wrong, only cosmetic preference.

Smaug; best armor, extra video stuff - game kicks ass

It’s all cosmetic differences, so get whatever looks best to you. I personally like the SE best, then BA, then LE in that order because...who likes looking at a nutsack chin on their game?

100% False. LEs and SEs were manufactured at the exact same time frame. While the BA version did come out later with the fixes from the factory, ALL versions were shipped the “fix” kits free and ALL versions SHOULD have them installed at this point.

Get the one you think looks best.

Having the beast popup fix kits installed already is a major plus. Those are a PAIN to install. That playfield is SUPER packed underneath.

Agreed.

It should...mine does.

Not all of them - the left wireform was slightly redesigned - some games needed it, some didn't (mine didn't). The right wireform almost ALWAYS needs to be tweaked a bit but was not redesigned (takes about 3 seconds to adjust if needed to avoid outlane drains off the wireform). The beast mechs were upgraded during the initial run of Smaug SE, but as was pointed out above, are MUST-haves. And a huge pain to install. There's a white plastic insert/spacer that is added. that's the main change - get one with those, you will never want to install those damn things.

Jack made a video about the upgrades, but the main thing is those mechs - it keeps balls from getting trapped under the mech, which is very important to avoid.

so anyway, you have to check the specific game you're buying. most should have it by now -

I got my Smaug in July 2016 - had all the updates. They didn't do all Smaug's first - and then the LEs. They built them in the order purchased. But they stopped making the Smaug's at the end of last year as far as I know.

I have the new ramp flaps, beast gap fixes, left ramp, etc. All good. So all the hobbits have all the updates after built in July 16, regardless if it is STD, LE, or SE.

The sequel...

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Good pin

I have the le really like it especially the characters on the cabinet.

Next choice for me would be black arrow. Anyway this is a great pin. Probably my favorite.

I sold my TH a few months ago after getting through all the modes (we only have space for 3 pins, otherwise I'd never sell!!) . I bought a LOTR and have spent a lot of time perfecting it - scrubbing it down like crazy, adding Cliffys, the Pinbits protectors and ensuring the PF doesn't get jacked up, replacing plastics, everything. Anyway, but I've spent a while playing it, and I swear I think TH is more fun. LOTR is a very thorough game, the modes are hard, and it will take quite a while to master... but you can say the same thing about TH, and I think TH is a bit easier to have a quick game on. I always had fun even when I wiped out quickly.

I was just making a fun poke. No derail intended.

Pass, trust me. It’s no where near as good as the other JJP pins

Mine has a post on the siderail with the original wireform. It works pretty good but I have the odd ball jump out of the wireform into the outlanes. How important is it to actually get the new wireform instead? It's some serious coin to buy.

Hard to say - it's $90 or something, right? I am not aware of an adjustment you can make (like the right wirefoem) so if it happens frequently, it's worth considering. I can tell you mine was not upgraded and it almost never happened, but every game is different...