How would you have gone about more successfully toppling Sauron ? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

11-08-2006, 11:24 PM

What (serious or humorous) strategies would you have used (or would like to have seen used) to go about successfully toppling Sauron (either with or without the use of the Ring) that would've been different or superior (in your opinion) to what Mr. Tolkien used in his trilogy.

Kuruharan · 11-09-2006, 08:41 AM

Gandalf would really and truly have needed to start the process sooner rather than later (i.e. he would have needed to have been working on building up a base of operations for awhile and then have seized the Ring just as soon as Bilbo found it). Saruman wasn't on a bad track in the method he chose, although choosing Isengard as a base of operations was perhaps not the best idea. For Gandalf, perhaps Fornost and the area around Lake Evendim (the center of the old realm of Arnor) would probably have made a good center for a new kingdom.

Fordim Hedgethistle · 11-09-2006, 08:43 AM

Hello KL70, and welcome to the Downs.

Me, I would have asked the Eagles to fly me down to Mordor so I could drop the Ring in the fire right away rather than plodding all the way there. (The only concern I'd have had on the way, of course, would have been the balrog of Moria who might have easily used his fully functional wings to fly up and attack me.)

mormegil · 11-09-2006, 08:56 AM

I would have chosen Samwise as the ringbearer. He would not yield to the enticings of the ring, unlike Frodo the failure.

**The Saucepan Man** · 11-09-2006, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fordim Hedgethistle

Me, I would have asked the Eagles to fly me down to Mordor so I could drop the Ring in the fire right away rather than plodding all the way there. (The only concern I'd have had on the way, of course, would have been the balrog of Moria who might have easily used his fully functional wings to fly up and attack me.)

An alternative, but similar strategy, would be to ask the Balrog to fly the Ringbearer to Mount Doom, using his fully functioning wings.

The Balrog's incentive, of course, would be that there would be a vacancy for the position of Middle-earth resident Dark Lord once the Ring was destroyed.

Essex · 11-09-2006, 09:20 AM

Joking aside, the Eagles and the Balrogs could be trempted by the Ring. Give them access to it, they will be tempted just as Gandalf, Boromir etc were.

The plot of LOTR is SO TIGHT that even a small change has domino like ramifications. I remember a great thread on another site a few years back that asked what if Glorfindel replaced Pippin in the Fellowship? I ended up explaining that it would mean the end of Middle-earth as we know it.

I therefore put it to you that any other attempt to defeat Sauron and the Powers of Darkness would have ended in total failure

11-09-2006, 09:54 AM

If you tried to find reasons why the actual constellation could fail you certainly would also find them... every way depends on coincidences and actions of the involved persons or creatures which cannot be foreseen.
Tolkien's way is perfect, but that doesn't mean there could not be another one, I think, even though you had to change more than just a detail.

alatar · 11-09-2006, 09:56 AM

If Gandalf were paying attention, he would have realized immediately that Bilbo's Ring was the One. While Sauron was retreating from Dol Guldur, Gandalf would have, using Shadowfax's sire, raced him to Mordor. At that point it would be a sprint for the Sammath Naur. Gandalf, having legs, could easily outrun the Eye.

Sauron would be obviously motivated; Gandalf would be likewise, being foresighted, knowing that if he didn't destroy Sauron then and there, he would be cursed later to journey the better part of a year with Pippin.

Run, Gandalf, run!

Another strategy would be for the Eagles to take Bilbo aside and simply drop him into Mount Doom.

Sure, you'd still have fire and ruin in the north, and a Balrog loose in Moria, but it's not up to us to right all wrongs, but to give others clean earth to till (or something).

11-08-2006, 11:24 PM	#1
KL70 Guest Posts: n/a	How would you have gone about more successfully toppling Sauron ? What (serious or humorous) strategies would you have used (or would like to have seen used) to go about successfully toppling Sauron (either with or without the use of the Ring) that would've been different or superior (in your opinion) to what Mr. Tolkien used in his trilogy.

11-09-2006, 08:41 AM	#2
Kuruharan Regal Dwarven Shade Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: A Remote Dwarven Hold Posts: 3,593	Gandalf using the Ring Gandalf would really and truly have needed to start the process sooner rather than later (i.e. he would have needed to have been working on building up a base of operations for awhile and then have seized the Ring just as soon as Bilbo found it). Saruman wasn't on a bad track in the method he chose, although choosing Isengard as a base of operations was perhaps not the best idea. For Gandalf, perhaps Fornost and the area around Lake Evendim (the center of the old realm of Arnor) would probably have made a good center for a new kingdom. __________________ ...finding a path that cannot be found, walking a road that cannot be seen, climbing a ladder that was never placed, or reading a paragraph that has no... Last edited by Kuruharan; 11-09-2006 at 09:00 AM. Reason: I forgot to include my expository title...

11-09-2006, 08:43 AM	#3
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	Hello KL70, and welcome to the Downs. Me, I would have asked the Eagles to fly me down to Mordor so I could drop the Ring in the fire right away rather than plodding all the way there. (The only concern I'd have had on the way, of course, would have been the balrog of Moria who might have easily used his fully functional wings to fly up and attack me.) __________________ Scribbling scrabbling.

11-09-2006, 08:56 AM	#4
mormegil Maundering Mage Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,648	I would have chosen Samwise as the ringbearer. He would not yield to the enticings of the ring, unlike Frodo the failure. __________________ “I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

11-09-2006, 09:56 AM	#8
alatar Doubting Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Heaven's basement Posts: 2,466	If Gandalf were paying attention, he would have realized immediately that Bilbo's Ring was the One. While Sauron was retreating from Dol Guldur, Gandalf would have, using Shadowfax's sire, raced him to Mordor. At that point it would be a sprint for the Sammath Naur. Gandalf, having legs, could easily outrun the Eye. Sauron would be obviously motivated; Gandalf would be likewise, being foresighted, knowing that if he didn't destroy Sauron then and there, he would be cursed later to journey the better part of a year with Pippin. Run, Gandalf, run! Another strategy would be for the Eagles to take Bilbo aside and simply drop him into Mount Doom. Sure, you'd still have fire and ruin in the north, and a Balrog loose in Moria, but it's not up to us to right all wrongs, but to give others clean earth to till (or something). __________________ There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.

11-09-2006, 09:20 AM	#6
Essex Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Essex, England Posts: 886	Joking aside, the Eagles and the Balrogs could be trempted by the Ring. Give them access to it, they will be tempted just as Gandalf, Boromir etc were. The plot of LOTR is SO TIGHT that even a small change has domino like ramifications. I remember a great thread on another site a few years back that asked what if Glorfindel replaced Pippin in the Fellowship? I ended up explaining that it would mean the end of Middle-earth as we know it. I therefore put it to you that any other attempt to defeat Sauron and the Powers of Darkness would have ended in total failure

11-09-2006, 09:54 AM	#7
zeen Guest Posts: n/a	If you tried to find reasons why the actual constellation could fail you certainly would also find them... every way depends on coincidences and actions of the involved persons or creatures which cannot be foreseen. Tolkien's way is perfect, but that doesn't mean there could not be another one, I think, even though you had to change more than just a detail.