The Military uses of the Palantiri.

[Andsigil]

I'd like to again point out that, while they have shortcomings as intelligence gathering devices (the ME equivalent of spy satellites) the Palantiri would be invaluable communication devices (the ME equivalent of a cell phone).

Imagine how much better coordination and response time would be between two allied kingdoms, each with a Palantir in the throne room. Mutual support would not depend on horsemen, carrying messages days or weeks old (the Red Arrow) or upon semaphore beacons, hours old which only give generic calls for aid instead of specific messages (the Beacons of Gondor).

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Andsigil

I'd like to again point out that, while they have shortcomings as intelligence gathering devices (the ME equivalent of spy satellites) the Palantiri would be invaluable communication devices (the ME equivalent of a cell phone).

Imagine how much better coordination and response time would be between two allied kingdoms, each with a Palantir in the throne room. Mutual support would not depend on horsemen, carrying messages days or weeks old (the Red Arrow) or upon semaphore beacons, hours old which only give generic calls for aid instead of specific messages (the Beacons of Gondor).

That's true, however still I believe that except for really urgent cases, one would still use the good old-fashioned way. "Hello my dear cousin, I hope everything's going fine in your land, we have produced five hundred tons of grain this year" is not necessary to transmit via the Palantír, and as it's been pointed out, the strain of using it, even by a king who had the right to it, would not be worth it in such simple cases.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

That's true, however still I believe that except for really urgent cases, one would still use the good old-fashioned way. "Hello my dear cousin, I hope everything's going fine in your land, we have produced five hundred tons of grain this year" is not necessary to transmit via the Palantír, and as it's been pointed out, the strain of using it, even by a king who had the right to it, would not be worth it in such simple cases.

I would think the Palantíri would have been certainly much used even in matters of routine discussion between Gondor and Arnor, considering the great distance seperating the two kingdoms.
The 'strain' of using the Stones was much greater when one used them as viewing devices. In mere comunication between two Stone, especially when both were in 'accord', I think the tax on the surveyors' minds would have been less.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I would think the Palantíri would have been certainly much used even in matters of routine discussion between Gondor and Arnor, considering the great distance seperating the two kingdoms.
The 'strain' of using the Stones was much greater when one used them as viewing devices. In mere comunication between two Stone, especially when both were in 'accord', I think the tax on the surveyors' minds would have been less.

Was it possible to use the Palantíri just without visual contact? No video, just sound? That sounds weird to me.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

Was it possible to use the Palantíri just without visual contact? No video, just sound? That sounds weird to me.

I think the UT essay says that they could not transmit sound under any circumstances.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I think the UT essay says that they could not transmit sound under any circumstances.

Ah, okay! Now I understand what you meant by your last post. I thought that by putting emphasis on "viewing", you meant "viewing the other fellow", i.e. that you meant that they'd just make telephones out of the Palantíri. That's why I wondered, okay.

But still, see - for example Aragorn was not viewing anything, he was just "talking" to Sauron, and still it was enough for him. Okay, of course Sauron is Sauron, but I think it was not only his presence or the struggle that ruined Aragorn so much. Does it say anywhere explicitely that there would not be much strain by using them? (Even some strain is enough, though, for you to think it over twice whether to call your cousin in Gondor to just show him how nice lunch you just made for yourself.)

[garm]

Apropos nothing much: In 1995, Alex Lewis read a paper at a Tolkien Society Seminar, called 'The Palantiri: A Study'. Part of this paper was taken up with the possible use of the Palantiri as a sort of ship-to-ship communications system; but the basis of Lewis' argument is flawed - the question he asked was basd on a mis-reading of the rhyme of lore called 'Tall ships and Tall Kings' which gandalf chants to Pippin on their way to Minas Tirith. But instead of the correct reading:

'What brought _they_ from the foundered land?'

Lewis has:

'What brought _them_?'

- and so jumped to a spurious conclusion.

This paper was published in the Tolkien Society booklet 'Travels and Communication in Tolkien's Worlds' ed. Richard Crawshaw, 1996. pp.9-18. I've never actually got round to finish reading it, myself.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

But still, see - for example Aragorn was not viewing anything, he was just "talking" to Sauron, and still it was enough for him. Okay, of course Sauron is Sauron, but I think it was not only his presence or the struggle that ruined Aragorn so much. Does it say anywhere explicitely that there would not be much strain by using them? (Even some strain is enough, though, for you to think it over twice whether to call your cousin in Gondor to just show him how nice lunch you just made for yourself.)

As usual concerning the Palantíri, the best resource seems to be the UT essay.

From Footnote 5:

But when another mind occupied a Stone in accord, thought could be "transferred" (received as "speech"), and visions of the things in the mind of the surveyor of one Stone could be seen by the other surveyor. These powers were originally used mainly in consultation, for the purpose of exchanging news necessary to government, or advice and opinions; less often in simple friendship and pleasure or in greetings and condolance.

So the Stones' primary use was for 'official' purposes, but communicating thoughts of relatively trivial matters with them was not unknown.

As for the general 'strain' of using them, I haven't been able to find a reference specifically for the communications aspect. It does say that the Stones were most easily used by 'Heirs of Isildur', and to a lesser extent, those with legitimate inherited authority in the Realms in Exile.