Misc. Questions - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Gurthang · 11-01-2005, 10:02 AM

That's an excellant question, Marky Lazer. Personally, I believe that Gandalf's staff, as well as the staves of the other wizards, were basically a tool. In the hands of the right person, it can be deadly, but with no skill to use it, it is useless. A wizard without a staff is not necessarily less powerful, but it is more difficult to transfer his power to reality(which would be called 'magic').

The staff is also a symbol, used to denote power and rank. The breaking of the staff is a way of saying someone has lost their rank or standing.

If you want to know more, try these:

Magic in Middle-Earth
Gandalf's Staff

Look especially at Essex's post (#27) in Gandalf's Staff. It's got a lot of good info.

11-01-2005, 10:02 AM	#25
Gurthang Sword of Spirit Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Oh, I'm around. Posts: 1,401	That's an excellant question, Marky Lazer. Personally, I believe that Gandalf's staff, as well as the staves of the other wizards, were basically a tool. In the hands of the right person, it can be deadly, but with no skill to use it, it is useless. A wizard without a staff is not necessarily less powerful, but it is more difficult to transfer his power to reality(which would be called 'magic'). The staff is also a symbol, used to denote power and rank. The breaking of the staff is a way of saying someone has lost their rank or standing. If you want to know more, try these: Magic in Middle-Earth Gandalf's Staff Look especially at Essex's post (#27) in Gandalf's Staff. It's got a lot of good info. __________________ I'm on a Mission from God.