What would you have done? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

samwise8504 · 09-30-2004, 07:13 AM

i would of prevented smaug from been slain and made more use of him e.g. promise him more gold or land and watch him destroy gondor and rohan with ease.

Essex · 09-30-2004, 09:48 AM

Sauron should have not been so single minded. He didn't believe anyone would want to destory the ring, he would never believe anyone would have the audacity and stupidity to creep into mordor, and, most importantly, he was too single mided when torturing Gollum. As stated in unfinished tales, the Hunt for the Ring section, Sauron assumed that te shire was an area near to where gollum lived. If he had put thought into it, and got more information out of Gollum, it would have been Game Over. As Tolkien states:

"This was a very small and natural error – but possibly the most important mistake that Sauron made in the whole affair. But for it, the Black Riders would have reached the Shire weeks sooner."

rutslegolas · 10-02-2004, 11:55 PM

Yes I agree ,but the Dark Lord had reason to believe that no would destroy the ring ,he thought no one in their right state of mind would destroy the ring which could give a man ultimate power.

I think the Dark Lord should have fortified Mount Doom ,as he fortified the Black Gate.

Imladris · 10-03-2004, 12:09 AM

From what I understand, Sauron was the Maia who served Melkor/Morgoth. As such (and this is pure speculation as I am only on Chapter Nine of the Silmarillion) he should have learned two things from Melkor:

1. Do not ever underestimate your enemy.

The Valar underestimated Melkor and Melkor understimated Ungoliant. They both almost died. As such, Sauron ought to have learned his lesson.

2. Pride is one's downfall.

Which to me goes hand in hand with number one.

If he had followed those two points, I'm sure he would have done much better. Not that we wanted him to do better. The pride of the evil ones are the blessing of the good guys.

Hopefully if I was Sauron I would have had an ickle bit of humility...

yavanna II · 10-10-2004, 01:14 AM

1. i would've given queen Beruthiel a ring.... and enslaved all her cats
2. I'd put a 100 ft wall round mt doom(hobbits aren't tall!!!!)

Wah.... I can't think of better things. I've a chemistry project going on....

I remember!
i would team up with Smaug & attack rivendell while Elrond and Galadriel still think I'm sleeping!

Isowen · 10-22-2004, 12:11 PM

I think saurons first mistake was not finding out about the hobbits and the shire. he saw them and thought they were capable of nothing, so he ignored them! even gandalf said "hobbits really are creatures, as I have said before. You can learn all there is to know about their ways in a month yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you at a pinch" Shadow of the past, page 61, Fellowship of the ring
So I would not have doubted the hobbits as it may be my downfall lol!
next, i would block up all entrances to Mordor and position uruk-hai or orc or even trolls there, leaving only the black gate.
Then, I should probably make more rings of power or maybe something to fall back on should the ring fail to get back to me!
I like boromir88's idea of blowing up mount doom! though i dont think sauron would like to destroy part of his own land. And as you also said, I would have used Saruman more! Like get him to make more orcs and uruk-hai and just go and destroy all peoples of middle earth who are unwilling to fight for him!

DarkRose · 10-23-2004, 07:48 AM

First of all, I'd probably change that whole 'the ring can be destroyed if you chuck it into Mt. Doom' thing. I'd totally make it indestructable. Don't ask me how. But I would. :P

10-02-2004, 11:55 PM	#3
rutslegolas Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In Elven Lands of India Posts: 533	Yes I agree ,but the Dark Lord had reason to believe that no would destroy the ring ,he thought no one in their right state of mind would destroy the ring which could give a man ultimate power. I think the Dark Lord should have fortified Mount Doom ,as he fortified the Black Gate. __________________ If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with the bull - The Phantom.

10-03-2004, 12:09 AM	#4
Imladris Tears of the Phoenix Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Putting dimes in the jukebox baby. Posts: 1,453	From what I understand, Sauron was the Maia who served Melkor/Morgoth. As such (and this is pure speculation as I am only on Chapter Nine of the Silmarillion) he should have learned two things from Melkor: 1. Do not ever underestimate your enemy. The Valar underestimated Melkor and Melkor understimated Ungoliant. They both almost died. As such, Sauron ought to have learned his lesson. 2. Pride is one's downfall. Which to me goes hand in hand with number one. If he had followed those two points, I'm sure he would have done much better. Not that we wanted him to do better. The pride of the evil ones are the blessing of the good guys. Hopefully if I was Sauron I would have had an ickle bit of humility... __________________ I'm sorry it wasn't a unicorn. It would have been nice to have unicorns. I'm your huckleberry.

10-22-2004, 12:11 PM	#6
Isowen Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The blackened depths Posts: 86	I think saurons first mistake was not finding out about the hobbits and the shire. he saw them and thought they were capable of nothing, so he ignored them! even gandalf said "hobbits really are creatures, as I have said before. You can learn all there is to know about their ways in a month yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you at a pinch" Shadow of the past, page 61, Fellowship of the ring So I would not have doubted the hobbits as it may be my downfall lol! next, i would block up all entrances to Mordor and position uruk-hai or orc or even trolls there, leaving only the black gate. Then, I should probably make more rings of power or maybe something to fall back on should the ring fail to get back to me! I like boromir88's idea of blowing up mount doom! though i dont think sauron would like to destroy part of his own land. And as you also said, I would have used Saruman more! Like get him to make more orcs and uruk-hai and just go and destroy all peoples of middle earth who are unwilling to fight for him! __________________ I hope Butterbur sends this promptly. A worthy man, but his memory is like a lumber -room: Thing wanted always burried, If he forgets, I shall roast him.

10-23-2004, 07:48 AM	#7
DarkRose Wight Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sauron's Garden Posts: 157	First of all, I'd probably change that whole 'the ring can be destroyed if you chuck it into Mt. Doom' thing. I'd totally make it indestructable. Don't ask me how. But I would. :P __________________ "All rivers go to the sea, yet never does the sea become full."

09-30-2004, 07:13 AM	#1
samwise8504 Animated Skeleton Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newcastle England Posts: 47	i would of prevented smaug from been slain and made more use of him e.g. promise him more gold or land and watch him destroy gondor and rohan with ease.

09-30-2004, 09:48 AM	#2
Essex Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Essex, England Posts: 886	Sauron should have not been so single minded. He didn't believe anyone would want to destory the ring, he would never believe anyone would have the audacity and stupidity to creep into mordor, and, most importantly, he was too single mided when torturing Gollum. As stated in unfinished tales, the Hunt for the Ring section, Sauron assumed that te shire was an area near to where gollum lived. If he had put thought into it, and got more information out of Gollum, it would have been Game Over. As Tolkien states: "This was a very small and natural error – but possibly the most important mistake that Sauron made in the whole affair. But for it, the Black Riders would have reached the Shire weeks sooner."

10-10-2004, 01:14 AM	#5
yavanna II Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: in my own little world Posts: 142	1. i would've given queen Beruthiel a ring.... and enslaved all her cats 2. I'd put a 100 ft wall round mt doom(hobbits aren't tall!!!!) Wah.... I can't think of better things. I've a chemistry project going on.... I remember! i would team up with Smaug & attack rivendell while Elrond and Galadriel still think I'm sleeping!