... just how much actual brain work do you think that takes? Hufflepuff =/= stupid.
*snicker* 'Aim more accurately'...
A True Lady's Quest - A Jojo is You!On a somewhat unrelated topic, is there a shortage of snipers in the conflicts we see in the books? I think there might be.
(and aiming accurately is damn important, as we know from all the death eaters that repeatedly miss our heroes from just feet away with avada kedavra)
edited 7th Jul '11 12:30:58 AM by PDown
At first I didn't realize I needed all this stuff...Well, duh. Snipers aren't useful in every conflict. Besides, it's a bitch to write scenes like that interestingly and Rowling can barely handle Quidditch.
Yes, aiming accurately is important. But it has next to nothing to do with native intelligence. By your logic a clever person who's never touched a console controller in their life has an advantage over a likewise-inexperienced but less-intelligent person with excellent kinesthetic learning potential.
edited 7th Jul '11 12:35:10 AM by FurikoMaru
A True Lady's Quest - A Jojo is You!That's another theory I've heard regarding the 7th book, actually, and why we never see a Slytherin in the last battle.
The theory proposed that the Slytherins were hidden in the towers/behind cover, and were attacking from hidden positions where there was minimal risk of being hit themselves.
It would explain why Harry never saw them, being hidden; and it would explain why they were never lauded for it- after all, if a Slytherin waltzed up to you and said "I sniped three Death Eaters who were going to kill you", would you believe them?
There are too many toasters in my chimney!So would they put ironsights on their wands or something? Or a scope?
Support Gravitaz on Kickstarter!Snipers actually have a higher casualty rate than common foot soldiers.
Consider what forces are at play in the Battle of Hogwarts. You have the Acromantulas, the Giants, Death Eaters who can Apparate...
Not to mention, if everyone's sniping, then who's there to actually hold them back from entering the castle?
There are too many toasters in my chimney!![]()
Unfortunately, these wouldn't work because Rowling didn't want to taint her castle with petty mugliness. Besides, it'd look ridiculous.
Anti-Apparition was on that night, right? And they could just lock the gates and aim for the easy to hit giants. Don't see how the Death Eaters could enter then.
(Assuming that sniping is possible, all that.)
As for causality rate, I'd think that most snipers don't defend castles. But then again, I know absolutely nothing about them, so nevermind.
edited 7th Jul '11 7:11:06 AM by Dealan
Lock the gates? That's... a really great defence. There is certainly no way they have Unlocking charms, or broomsticks to fly into the gates, or an alternate means of entry through the various passageways in and out of Hogwars or the Forbidden Forest.
The most major defences of the school are magical. Unfortunately, they are also under the control of the Headmaster.
Giants are also resistant to magic. Like Dragons. Ridiculously difficult to affect at all.
There are too many toasters in my chimney!If the Death Eaters can unlock the gates, the defenders can lock them back, or use some of their genius teachers to make then not open by using simple spells that first year Hermione knew. (We know such spells exist because the ministry doors didn't open.)
The half giant woman whose name escapes me blinded (or something) two giants just with two spells, if I recall correctly. Then you've got dozens of spells being fired every second at the giants.
Whoever said that about the Headmaster?
And... fly into the gates?
(EDIT: In any case, protecting the castle from inside seems to be a better option than running out to meet them.)
edited 7th Jul '11 7:15:40 AM by Dealan
There is a lot more than simply unlocking them they can do. Not much they can do about the gates being blasted open in the middle of a fight.
You can blind the giants, yes. That's about all you can do to them, though- consider the way Hagrid shrugged off the Ministry's Stunners in Book 5, and he's only half-giant. That's not going to stop them from punching holes through the walls and otherwise demolishing the castle, though- contrary to popular belief, it is not that hard to hit the broad side of a barn (Or, in this case, a castle.)
Essentially, it boils down to; if you're in the castle, you're on the defence. And that's not a good idea when they have large enemies, resistant to your weapons, that are able to knock holes in your castle. Compare the Giants to siege weapons; you need to disable them, because they will knock holes in your walls- but it's not going to be easy, and in the meantime, there's an army of foot soldiers advancing.
That's why they run outside to meet them. Because going on the offense is, while riskier, a whole lot more likely to result in a win than holing up inside a giant stone block.
Let us also not forget.
They were not fighting to defeat the Death Eaters. They were fighting to buy Harry time.
There are too many toasters in my chimney!

Would a Ravenclaw not be able to use their intelligence to aim more accurately, select a position to fire from such that they can get away with minimal trouble, etc?
At first I didn't realize I needed all this stuff...