Did Gandalf have a Plan "B"?

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Raynor

Did the Valar really lack the means to actually help Middle-Earth more though? They sent a few of their lesser order, and in a severely weakened form, and their mission was even more restrictive in what they could or could not do.

I certainly believe that were the Valar to show in the full might of their hosts, they would have trashed Sauron and all of his armies. Or take a fraction of that; scratch that, send one Vala, one is enough to get the job done.

Of course the Valar were capable of taking a more direct approach in dealing with Sauron. As Tolkien said in Letters #156 though, they wanted to avoid that.

Why [the Istari] should take such a form is bound up with the 'mythology' of the 'angelic' Powers of the world of this fable. At this point in the fabulous history the purpose was precisely to limit and hinder their exhibition of 'power' on the physical plane, and so that they should do what they were primarily sent for: train, advise, instruct, arouse the hearts and minds of those threatened by Sauron to a resistance with their own strengths; and not just to do the job for them.

The Children of Ilúvatar in Middle-earth were able on their own to deal with Sauron. They did it with the Last Alliance. Only a foolish decision to keep the Ring marred that victory over Sauron, which could and should have been final.
The Valar judged that all they really needed was some guidance.

Also, as said in the essay The Istari in UT, the Valar wanted to avoid mistakes they had made in the past.

And this the Valar did, desiring to amend the errors of old, especially that they had attempted to guard and seclude the Eldar by their own might and glory fully revealed.

Victory over Morgoth had eventually been achieved, but at a high price, and the Valar did not want to go that route a second time.