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Interesting thread. Why would Sauron want to conquer all of Middle Earth - would this end his game? Did he need to conquer all?

I think that Sauron, first of all, had the need to conquer all. He must have squirmed under Morgoth's "rule," though I think that he was given pretty much free reign and maybe in time would have contested even Morgoth for the rule of all. In the mean time, Sauron may have just been going along with Morgoth's game as it fit his own ends. It's been said about him that he was only 'second' only because Morgoth was first.

So Sauron may have felt the need to conquer all - to put down any chance of any possible source of resistance. But then what would this mean he would have to prepare for the coming invasion. If Sauron would have put down all - which would have kept him entertained for some time - he also would have had all of the newly enslaved building what might be called "Fortress Middle Earth." Even if the Valar would have left Middle Earth to its own problems, Sauron still would have feared an invasion.

After the breaking of Angband, would Sauron even believe that he could withstand an attack? Would he then temper his destruction and mayhem, think that if he only enslaved and not completely destroyed, that the Valar would just ignore him?

What would he do if he had reclaimed the One?