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Originally Posted by davem
If the WK had the power to break the gates unaided then he would have done. He couldn't. Hence he had to use a battering ram.
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I don't see why breaking the gates with the ram implies that the WK couldn't do it by himself. He may very well be capable, but it may weaken him too much to be worth it, in such circumstances. What Tolkien said about the use of magic vs. use of slave and technology I believe applies here as well:
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Originally Posted by Letter #155
But the magia may not be easy to come by, and at any rate if you have command of abundant slave-labour or machinery (often only the same thing concealed), it may be as quick or quick enough to push mountains over, wreck forests, or build pyramids by such means.
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Even if using the ram would be more costly in troops casualties, it would not be something that would concern the WK, if it can better further his plans.