From the Enemy's Eyes-Rohirrim Charge on Helm's Deep/Pellenor - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

WarBringer · 04-27-2005, 12:10 AM

yes, but the catapults do not need to be aimed, as you wouldnt be aiming at a specific target, both rather a mass of horseman. And trust me, as one who has studied such matter extensively, it doesnt take many catapults firing once to cause a whole lot of damage on pretty much anything they aim at.

mormegil · 04-27-2005, 08:46 AM

I guess what I mean is that the catapult, in this case, would have been facing helms deep or Gondor, and the Rohirrim charged from the opposite way that they were facing. So they would quickly need to change direction and get some sort of accuracy to have any effect.

WarBringer · 04-27-2005, 09:36 AM

That is a good point, but with a few dozen Uruk-Hai to move one, it shouldn't be a problem. If the orcs could react very quickly, they could plant several spears in the ground in a line, and then pick off stragglers with bows, but they would need to react very quickly.

mormegil · 04-29-2005, 08:28 PM

Agreed. In theory it could pull off but as stated it would need to be quick and accurate but if they responded quickly they could pull it off. They off course would need to be well disciplined. Now I believe that Uruks are a more disciplined fighting unit than regular orcs so with those it could be possible, however with just orcs I don't see the strict regiment to accomplish the feat.

I don't think it's a sure fire method to halt the attack but yes if all those conditions were met than I could say that it could be rather effective to fire a catapult into the chargers.

Kath · 04-30-2005, 04:52 AM

The orcs might not have been as well regimented as the Uruk Hai but they were still well ordered with leaders and sub leaders (e.g. orc who looks like foam as main leader and then orc with two head that says "Catapaults!"). Also when the camera angle was from above you could see that they were arranged in pretty organised rows and columns. Then you have their secret attack on Osgiliath - all of which gives the impression that they could have developed a counter-attack against the Rohirrim without too much trouble.

I think the problem was the sunlight, the Uruk Hai should really have been able to withstand that as that was a mahor thing in their design, but the normal orcs have always avoided sunlight and so it is understandable that they were overwhelmed by it.

WarBringer · 05-15-2005, 08:37 PM

I have not checked thoroughly, so perhaps someone may have said this, but again, if time allowed, the use of pitfalls would be effective. Also, although gruesome, a wall of human bodies (

would discourage an attack (imagine charging into a battle and seeing your closest friends headless and heaped up!) and provide an obvious barrier to the charge.

04-27-2005, 12:10 AM	#1
WarBringer Wight Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Wandering The North Posts: 184	yes, but the catapults do not need to be aimed, as you wouldnt be aiming at a specific target, both rather a mass of horseman. And trust me, as one who has studied such matter extensively, it doesnt take many catapults firing once to cause a whole lot of damage on pretty much anything they aim at. __________________ Fortune Favors the Bold...

04-27-2005, 08:46 AM	#2
mormegil Maundering Mage Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,651	I guess what I mean is that the catapult, in this case, would have been facing helms deep or Gondor, and the Rohirrim charged from the opposite way that they were facing. So they would quickly need to change direction and get some sort of accuracy to have any effect. __________________ “I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

04-27-2005, 09:36 AM	#3
WarBringer Wight Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Wandering The North Posts: 184	That is a good point, but with a few dozen Uruk-Hai to move one, it shouldn't be a problem. If the orcs could react very quickly, they could plant several spears in the ground in a line, and then pick off stragglers with bows, but they would need to react very quickly. __________________ Fortune Favors the Bold...

04-29-2005, 08:28 PM	#4
mormegil Maundering Mage Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,651	Agreed. In theory it could pull off but as stated it would need to be quick and accurate but if they responded quickly they could pull it off. They off course would need to be well disciplined. Now I believe that Uruks are a more disciplined fighting unit than regular orcs so with those it could be possible, however with just orcs I don't see the strict regiment to accomplish the feat. I don't think it's a sure fire method to halt the attack but yes if all those conditions were met than I could say that it could be rather effective to fire a catapult into the chargers. __________________ “I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

04-30-2005, 04:52 AM	#5
Kath Everlasting Whiteness Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perusing the laminated book of dreams Posts: 4,533	The orcs might not have been as well regimented as the Uruk Hai but they were still well ordered with leaders and sub leaders (e.g. orc who looks like foam as main leader and then orc with two head that says "Catapaults!"). Also when the camera angle was from above you could see that they were arranged in pretty organised rows and columns. Then you have their secret attack on Osgiliath - all of which gives the impression that they could have developed a counter-attack against the Rohirrim without too much trouble. I think the problem was the sunlight, the Uruk Hai should really have been able to withstand that as that was a mahor thing in their design, but the normal orcs have always avoided sunlight and so it is understandable that they were overwhelmed by it. __________________ “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

05-15-2005, 08:37 PM	#6
WarBringer Wight Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Wandering The North Posts: 184	I have not checked thoroughly, so perhaps someone may have said this, but again, if time allowed, the use of pitfalls would be effective. Also, although gruesome, a wall of human bodies ( would discourage an attack (imagine charging into a battle and seeing your closest friends headless and heaped up!) and provide an obvious barrier to the charge. __________________ Fortune Favors the Bold...