Before the Black Gate - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

***Sharkû*** · 06-25-2004, 08:00 AM

The terrain in front of the gate only provided very little cover, barely enough for three hobbits, not enough for Aragorn's army. At a point where the Black Gate is even less possible to assail because of Sauron's strength, I doubt he'd need to bother with the threat of 10 soldiers lying in wait of his storey-high fortress. As for spies, it's hard enough to hide a whole Haradrim army anyway, the enemy might as well see them and despair, an effect to which the landscape itself can contribute.
Moreover, the obstacles there seems to be at least somewhat recently formed, or at least that's possible with ash dunes, rocks (from eruptions?), and shallow pools. Such a frontyard would be hard to maintain, but maybe Sauron did do so at a time when he perceived himself as more vulnerable.

06-25-2004, 08:00 AM	#8
*Sharkû* Hungry Ghoul Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 1,719	The terrain in front of the gate only provided very little cover, barely enough for three hobbits, not enough for Aragorn's army. At a point where the Black Gate is even less possible to assail because of Sauron's strength, I doubt he'd need to bother with the threat of 10 soldiers lying in wait of his storey-high fortress. As for spies, it's hard enough to hide a whole Haradrim army anyway, the enemy might as well see them and despair, an effect to which the landscape itself can contribute. Moreover, the obstacles there seems to be at least somewhat recently formed, or at least that's possible with ash dunes, rocks (from eruptions?), and shallow pools. Such a frontyard would be hard to maintain, but maybe Sauron did do so at a time when he perceived himself as more vulnerable.