The Fellowship of the Fourth Age (Part 1): A New Beginning Discussion Thread

[Durelin]

Well, I don't think any of us are quite as knowledgable as our characters, so the actual plan is probably going to remain pretty vague. If I can, I'll try and find some things, but I actually searched for some info recently, and found it too difficult to find for my tastes.

So, essentially we're setting up a number of traps, probably both defensive and offensive ones. (Defensive being things like holes the enemy can fall into, and offensive being like logs rolled down a hill, which of course we couldn't do - 'tis just an example.)

Vror was thinking that rather than actually digging holes, they could make collapsing tunnels. Now, I have no idea if this is plausible at all, but he's a Dwarf, and knows, so...if he says so, and no one objects... I imagine they could find some things to use as tunnel support while they're building it, but he will carefully remove them himself when they make their way back out of the tunnel. So, basically, he would do a straight(ish) tunnel across wherever they are somehow going to have to lead the slavers into attack. Which isn't too hard...have people waiting for them, perhaps have a fake camp set up - the slavers run in, feeling cocky, the slaves who are acting as sort of 'bait' will take off (and go around or, if they can, jump over the tunnels), the slavers run into the fake camp and after them, and the tunnels are somewhere to 'swallow them up'...really they'll only slow them down and confuse them (unless we want to put some spikes in the tunnels? too ambitious, I'd think).

And ooh, I just had an idea for an offensive trap - taking the fire idea, we could use the dry vegetation stuffs, put it all over the ground, and then have those few people with bows shoot fire arrows (fire arrows...egh, that sounds so...not smart) into the dry brush. Most likely the slavers won't notice some vegetation on the ground? Or they might not notice something odd about the concentration of it until it's too late sorta deal?

What does everyone think of some of that as part of a vague plan?

Edit: Woops, cross-posted with Child!

I think simply posting what you have in mind for your individual character to do will work out fine, and we'll just all play it by ear with each other. If anyone objects to anything suggested in someone's post...well, the discussion thread is here for anyone to post about the problem.

Also, I have forgotten what exactly the fire suggestion was originally, sorry...I will go back and read again! I also forgot to take the wind into account in my fire idea. Probably not the best idea to just set a bunch of stuff on fire, however tempting it might be...

Editx2: Okay, so, lighting the ground on fire...yeah, been there, done that, not doing it. And fireballs...they might work better, though, as Child said...before the wind storm.

I still like the idea of lighting the ground on fire...ME had coffee...might it have lighter fluid? Or might anyone happen to have brought alcohol with them into Mordor?

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Durelin

Also, I have forgotten what exactly the fire suggestion was originally, sorry...I will go back and read again! I also forgot to take the wind into account in my fire idea. Probably not the best idea to just set a bunch of stuff on fire, however tempting it might be...

I need to go to bed now (3.30AM here and work tomorrow), but Joshwan's idea was a bit more elaborated than that...

The "dwarven tunnels" sound right to me - better than open holes that can not be disguised as there is no wood around to spend.

But yes, it's better we all just come in with any choises we come up with, using the suggestions of others and maybe coming up with new ones? We'll see how it turns out then.

In that case, please leave saves to minimum, or describe what there will be in your save with some detail, because otherwise it will tie the hands of the others too much and stall the posible new ideas to come forwards.

I'm looking forwards to the clash.

[Durelin]

I need to go to bed now (3.30AM here and work tomorrow), but Joshwan's idea was a bit more elaborated than that...

I'm sorry, I was trying to keep my post from being too much longer. I didn't mean to belittle it or anything.

But yes, bed sounds good at 3:30 am!

In that case, please leave saves to minimum

Yes, and there seems to be a rush of saves - but when someone puts up a save, they have to understand that the game goes on without them, so just post away, and people will have to write their saves or adjust their saves accordingly. At least, that's how I view it.

[Folwren]

Originally Posted by Durelin

Editx2: Okay, so, lighting the ground on fire...yeah, been there, done that, not doing it. And fireballs...they might work better, though, as Child said...before the wind storm.

I still like the idea of lighting the ground on fire...ME had coffee...might it have lighter fluid? Or might anyone happen to have brought alcohol with them into Mordor?

I would strongly advise against burning the ground. Besides my opinion, you don't need acohol or lighter fluid to start dry grass and plant life on fire. Besides that, grass fire is too small to do any great damage to a group of people. As soon as you pass the ring, your beyond danger, it's not like a forest fire that will continue to burn behind the fire line. Also, if you start a fire and do not control it, how long does it last? It goes on until it reaches some water, or bareness, or it rains...fires are horrible.

Sorry. Mom's started several "controlled" burns, and those having gotten out of hand to the point of nearly setting our woods on fire, I'm rather prejudice against them.

But you all decide. I am so glad that neither of my characters have anything to do with the planning. . .

-- Folwren