Doctor of Doctorates
Indeed, the same blog linked earlier that looked at the Dothraki also looked at LOTR and found the (admittedly fairly basic) logistics and strategy/tactics discussed in the book were actually fairly militarily sound, or at least where they were not this made sense as being poor choices by the characters.
"These 'no-nonsense' solutions of yours just don't hold water in a complex world of jet-powered apes and time travel."
That all you got?
In contrast to ASOIAF where for some reason Robb and the other Northern lords decided to not tell Edmure "Hey can you retreat from the Trident fords so that we can trap Tywin in the Riverlands and use him being away to fuck things over in the Westerlands?" and then treated him not knowing like it was his fault.
That is the face of a man who just ate a kitten. Raw.
Wasn't it the opposite? Tywin was already in the riverlands, the fords were his way out.
Worldbuilding is fun, writing is a chore
The Polisci Majoris
Yeah, Robb wanted to draw Tywin into the Westerlands so that the Riverlands would get some relief from Lannister foraging, and also because he then planned to go around Tywin and block him from getting back to the Crownlands long enough for Stannis to take King's Landing.
Roll a Constitution saving throw to make it through the year.
That all you got?
Either way, nobody told Edmure the plan and then acted like it was his fault for not knowing about it.
That is the face of a man who just ate a kitten. Raw.
To be honest, plan or not, it was pretty dumb of Edmure to keep him trapped there where he'll keep ravaging his lands.
Worldbuilding is fun, writing is a chore
Yeah, but Edmure is stupid. It's like his only character trait. Expecting him to make sound military decisions unprompted is something the characters know won't happen. Telling him 'this is what we need you to do' is general-ing 101.
Absolutely no relation to NLK
My biggest gripe with regards to the ASOIAF and realism topic is Martin's claim that all of the various atrocities and massacres and such fun stuff that goes on in his books is based off of similar events in medieval history (if not toned down). Because it leaves out the fact that many of the referenced events took place throughout centuries of history in many different contexts and locations, as opposed to being concentrated in a couple of ridiculously bloody decades (and centered around a handful of noble families).
Dopants: He meant what he said and he said what he meant, a Ninety is faithful 100%.
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
Yeah, it pretty much relates to what Bret Devereaux (the historian whose blog was linked earlier) stated regarding the Dothraki.
ASOAIF has a very undeserved reputation for realism, a reputation that has been perpeatuated by its author.
This is something that understandably annoys people.
Welcome to Estalia, gentlemen.
IIRC, Edmure was ordered by Robb to retreat/withdraw. He didn’t do so, because he felt he was winning.
He’s being blamed for disobeying orders. An individual military commander doesn’t need to know the entire strategy.
Edited by Galadriel on Feb 28th 2021 at 11:04:09 AM
That all you got?
He's still a Lord Paramount and a vital ally of Robb.
And yeah, ASOIAF has sparked a trend of dark and subversive fantasy where "realistic" means "pointlessly edgy".
That is the face of a man who just ate a kitten. Raw.
Powerful Watchman energy from that.
Edmure was not just any commander. He was Robb's most important and highest ranking ally. Someone who was by rights second only to his king. If there is one person who needed to be told of Robb's plan, it was him. Robb gravely insulted Edmure's honour, which other men might have taken as a reason to defect.
Would that it were so simple.
The problem is that "hold Riverrun" could mean a defense-in-depth strategy where Edmure rides out to prevent Tywin from encircling the castle. This is one of those situations that only looks bad because of the outcome and not because it was stupid or illogical intrinsically.
Robb just sounds pissy because his subordinates didn't put their complete faith in his unstated genius strategy and vague orders. If he had said, "Hold Riverrun, but do not engage with Lord Tywin in the field" that literally would have been enough.
Edited by CrimsonZephyr on Mar 3rd 2021 at 9:38:50 AM
"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
Oh, bother.
So I am apparently Brienne of Tarth.
I am okay with this.
Edited by M84 on Mar 3rd 2021 at 11:33:51 PM
Disgusted, but not surprised
Absolutely no relation to NLK
I'm Daenerys. Fuck.
Dopants: He meant what he said and he said what he meant, a Ninety is faithful 100%.
I'm Theon.
I need to buy a metal codpiece, just in case.
State of Mind
Hi five, I also got Arya!
"What a century this week has been." - Seung Min Kim
Brienne for me.
Makes sense, because she is one of my favorites.
I’m Dany, and I DO sign change.org petitions :((
That quiz reminded me off how heartwarming I found the dynamic between Satin and Jon.
I got Sansa Stark. My fake answer to possibly add to the quiz (wasn't clear on that point), was Martin will finish all the novels in the next two weeks.
Edited by jjjj2 on Mar 5th 2021 at 1:00:32 PM
You can only write so much in your forum signature. It's not fair that I want to write a piece of writing yet it will cut me off in the mid
Tolkien also had a better grasp on the broad army movements and tactics, but that is probably because of his background as a soldier.
"All you Fascists bound to lose."