An alternative First Age timeline inspired by Huinesoron

[Arvegil145]

Originally Posted by Mithadan

I struggle with Tolkien's numerous draft timelines because (a) they are not consistent and (b) they are dependent upon factors outside of the chronologies. For example, one cannot adopt a tale of years without also choosing among Tolkien's (similarly inconsistent) views on the maturing and aging of the Elves, the awakening of Men and Dwarves, and even the origin of the Orcs, etc.

For example, any timeline must take into account the tales of the Elves who were born during the wars in Beleriand and were mature and in some cases married and bearing children before the end of the First Age. JRRT's mussing on Elvish development are entirely inconsistent with the tome the Noldor were in exile during the First Age. Did Men awaken at the first rising of the sun (or was there a first rising of the sun) and then rush over to the west within a matter of a few hundred years? If Orcs are corrupted Men instead of corrupted Elves, how was there time to breed the apparently vast armies of Morgoth? To me, it is not simply a matter of choosing and smoothing out a chronology. One must choose an entire cosmology out of disparate elements. There may be simply fixes that Tolkien simply avoided. For example, make the timespan of the Beleriandic wars longer. Then Valinor Years and sun years can be whatever you want. Men can arise whenever you want. Orcs can be of Mannish or Elvish ancestry. Just create enough time for all of your events. But Tolkien didn't do this.

All this said, please have at it!

I'm well aware of all the stuff you're warning me about - since Huinesoron and I discussed these things in painful detail.

The main reason why I prefer this 4,056 years First Age figure is because it's the most logical of them all.