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Tuor of Gondolin · 08-11-2004, 10:38 AM

Originally posted by Kuruharan
"conventionally speaking, the West had probably bought itself a respite of several weeks or even months by their victory at Pelennor."
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Exactly. I think Gandalf somewhat underestimated the relative strength of the West after the Pelennor Fields. Given some weeks a) Cair Andros would be cleared b) significant reinforcements would come from Rohan (remember the rushed mobilization and forces left in Rohan for protection) c) South Gondor forces would have arrived. Despite Tolkien's views that the Western forces could not have ultimately prevailed, assuming the Ring was still thought lost, sunk in the ocean by The Council, etc. was at least a "balance of power" all that impossible to conceive, given the defeat of the Corsairs, and repulse and/or standoffs in Eriador and Rhovannion? Gandalf pretty much cancels out the intimidation of the remaining nazgul, and the oliphaunts are pretty much shot as a new force (apparently handled in much the way Alexander the Great did with Darius's chariots).

Plus the concept of an at least limited offensive, somewhat stonger and more cautious and creative then that necessitated to help Frodo would seem to have been possible, given the significant cavalry advantage of the Western forces, perhaps even a semi-blockade of Mordor. (Echoes of Noldor First Age strategy, but without a curse hampering the good guys)?

08-11-2004, 10:38 AM	#16
Tuor of Gondolin Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, WtR, passed Sarn Gebir: Above the rapids (1239 miles) BtR, passed Black Rider Stopping Place (31 miles) Posts: 1,548	Originally posted by Kuruharan "conventionally speaking, the West had probably bought itself a respite of several weeks or even months by their victory at Pelennor." --------------------- Exactly. I think Gandalf somewhat underestimated the relative strength of the West after the Pelennor Fields. Given some weeks a) Cair Andros would be cleared b) significant reinforcements would come from Rohan (remember the rushed mobilization and forces left in Rohan for protection) c) South Gondor forces would have arrived. Despite Tolkien's views that the Western forces could not have ultimately prevailed, assuming the Ring was still thought lost, sunk in the ocean by The Council, etc. was at least a "balance of power" all that impossible to conceive, given the defeat of the Corsairs, and repulse and/or standoffs in Eriador and Rhovannion? Gandalf pretty much cancels out the intimidation of the remaining nazgul, and the oliphaunts are pretty much shot as a new force (apparently handled in much the way Alexander the Great did with Darius's chariots). Plus the concept of an at least limited offensive, somewhat stonger and more cautious and creative then that necessitated to help Frodo would seem to have been possible, given the significant cavalry advantage of the Western forces, perhaps even a semi-blockade of Mordor. (Echoes of Noldor First Age strategy, but without a curse hampering the good guys)? __________________ Aure Entuluva!