Re: warning
 

Does Nolendil say that, too? I thought it was just Michael Martinez.

Yes, it's different, but c'mon, they are definitely connected/related.


A bit of an understatement ... :D but yes, it IS directional.

Well, I might be able to trick him by using big words and saying "shall", and telling stories about the waters of Awakening, and the trip to Valinor, and by looking out the window, and saying "I used to live right there", and pointing to Formeos or something. But you're right, I'd get the boot soon enough.

Fire breath is a big problem, but usually some toothpaste and a toothbrush can get rid of it, or some listerine ;)

Yeah, but the BoLT version of Gondolin is a heck of a lot more Rockin' than the brief glimpse one gets in the Sil.

"3. Rate JRRT’s military operational and strategic sense, from how He describes the preliminaries to the battle, its approaches, and development"

It appears to me that he has a very solid grasp of strategy. The prelimaries and, approaches, and plans of the Noldor are clearly dictated by the geography and ground and by the exterior position. All I could add there is that a reserve (Turgons Host would fit) should advance to the north face of Dorthonian to protect against Morgoths obviously strategy of pushing the the Noldorin hosts apart. Morgoths strategy is equally dictated by his cirumstances of central position. With a discipline advance (rather than Fingon being drawn out into rapid pursuit uncoordinated with Maedhros) or with Maedhros not alowing hiself to be delayed, and with appropriate flank guards on both wings, Morgoth would have been readily defeated, even against Uldor's trechery and the other forces from the east.

The Wars of Beleriand illustrate the consequences of two serious mistakes, one by Feanor and one by the Valar. Feanor's was, of course, the kin slaying, without which there would not have been the Curse of Mandos (with its reference to treachery, negating the wfforts of the elves). The other error was bringing the elves to Aman. Valar assistance to elves staying in Middle-earth, or a united Noldor without the kinslaying and ship burning incidents would in either case have led to a resistance to Morgoth which could well have contained him, albeit not finally defeating him. Perhaps leading to his withdrawing to Eastern/Central Middle-earth. Therefore, Maedhros' tactical plans were sound and could well have worked, but were doomed by his daddy's rash actions, which is what ticked off Doriath to withhold support. (Feanor rather reminds you of observations of Sonny Corleone by Sollozzo in The Godfather I "You can't do business with that hothead.":D

Yeah, but dont you think that they were held too much by doom? All they would have to do is swallow their pride, and realise that they have a common enemy. Who cares if Feanor killed a bunch of Teleri in Aman a few hundred years ago? Maedhros is trying to rally everyone now, so put the kinslaying behind you for now and be a man (elf). The doom of Mandos just predicted the pride of the elves and men. He might not even have known for sure what was going to happen, he just had to know that they were stubborn and unwilling to change their course. A little cooperation is all that they needed.

i agree with the elves to Aman thing though. Foolish Valar. ;)

The Godfather, or maybe Tony Montana, that guy got fired up. (except Feanor didnt snort lines of Cocaine an inch thich and a foot long)(as far as I know)

I think that the error was not that, but what happened to the event that led to the Valar to feel that ME was not safe for the Elves.
From Morgoth's Ring: Converse of Manwë and Eru
In principle I agree with this but, regardless of everything, I think that Maedhros disregarded Sun Tzu: The Art of War most important principle:
It always seemed to me that Maedhros went to war with the hope of beating Morgoth's forces, while Morgoth planed ahead and won the war before actually fighting it with the aid of his cunning.

ROTFL! :D

I think there must have been some communication of Turgon and the world outside Gondolin. The Eagles could provide some info on troop movements and such but I don't think they carried messages. But I believe I read somewhere that at one point Turgon sent messengers to Cirdan, in that prospect he might have sent out some Elves to scout or gather intelligence as well.

I think there is very little that helps against mature dragons. One on one combat will probably end in a few Elf-kebabs. Either they would have had to use heavy war-engines (which they don't seem to use in their army at all) or trickery and traps. I'm thinking of luring the dragon in hidden pits from where it can't get out and then pelt it with steel and rock. Of course that depends on the terrain where you're fighting.


Now, now, I don't think that comparison is entirely fair. ;) When Turgon became High King there wasn't really much to be High King of. Most Elven realms -if they managed to maintain themselves- were hard pushed and scattered. Nearly every leader was dead. Gil-galad lived in an easier time IMO and the Elves were more united then. The constant threat of treachery from their own kin was gone after the re-imprisonment of Morgoth and Gil-galad had time to rebuild his realm before the war with Sauron.

You can say that again! I've just been re-reading most of Tuor's story and the Fall of Gondolin, and it's superb! :)

I wonder if Maedhros' actions had been different if Fëanor his father had told him of his foreknowledge at the hour of his death:

It probably would, but never did, because on the wars they were building their wealth and this why they did not want to participate in previous Wars.

And now, my friends, explain to me what the heck Maedhros promised to Dwarve's King to make them change their viewpoint?
Was it goodwill or some kind of agreement? Because the way they left the battlefield rase some questions.