Post by Stormrider on Jan 23, 2009 6:57:07 GMT -6
From: Lord_Algamesh (Original Message) Sent: 11/6/2002 8:21 PM
I'd like to do something fun here. Let me present you with a scenario:
You are the wizard in Orthanc. You have just learned that the King of Rohan and the entire host of the Rohirrim are riding towards Helm's Deep to fortify it against an assault. You have at your disposal a troop of approximately 10,000 orcs and a few thousand footmen from Dunland. How would you marshall your forces more efficiently than Saruman and possibly change the outcome of the battle?
You may wish to use information already compiled by our very own Merlin the Mad to get a better feel for the numbers, terrain, conditions, etc. The link to his excellent battle page for Helm's Deep is tolkienbattles.bravepages.com/helmsdeep.html.
Anyone want to have a go at this?
* * *
From: Nosmada Sent: 11/12/2002 1:34 AM
I think I would command the battle something like this:
First of all I would have all the orcs put out their torches as they approach Helm's Dike so that its not so easy for Gamling's archers to shoot them. Then I would have a large mass of orcs rush and quickly overwhelm Gamling's force until they are all dead or have fled back to Helm's Deep.
After crossing Helm's Dike, I would have all the archers pummel the Deeping Wall with a constant stream of arrows, while hand to hand fighters stand in front of them with their shields up, protecting them from the arrows coming from the wall. I would not have any hand to hand fighters approach the wall or the gate at this time.
Eventually, my orcish archers would begin to run out of arrows or the men defending the wall would begin to run out. Hopefully, by this time many of the men will have been killed by the onslaught of arrows.
I would then have a small force, maybe about 20 or so, of orcs run up to the wall or the gate and quickly light the fire of Orthanc and blow it open. I would not waste time and troops trying to break down the gate with a battering ram.
Once theres a good size whole in the wall, or where the gate used to be, I would have every last fighting orc and Dunlander (which should still be close to 10,000 troops) rush through the opening and overwhelm the enemy, taking no prisoners, as quickly as possible, giving them little or no chance to retreat into the caves(a bit of a blitzkrieg if you will).
Most of the defense of Helm's Deep would hopefully be crushed by this time. The remainder of the forces, which I would estimate to be around 7,000 - 8,000 troops, could then use Helm's Deep as a defense against Gandalf and Erkenbrand's troops when they arrive. Although there is a big whole in the wall, they could still put the remaining archers up on the walls to fire down on enemy troops as they fight with the orcs. I would hope that they would be able to defeat Gandalf and Erkenbrand's forces, however we all know how resourceful Gandalf can be when hes cornered.
After this battle I would of course keep my remaining forces far away from that forest of hurons.
So there you have it. Thats what my strategy would be for fighting this battle. I have no way of knowing if it would work or not, but I think it might be a bit more successful than how Saruman handled it.
I'd like to do something fun here. Let me present you with a scenario:
You are the wizard in Orthanc. You have just learned that the King of Rohan and the entire host of the Rohirrim are riding towards Helm's Deep to fortify it against an assault. You have at your disposal a troop of approximately 10,000 orcs and a few thousand footmen from Dunland. How would you marshall your forces more efficiently than Saruman and possibly change the outcome of the battle?
You may wish to use information already compiled by our very own Merlin the Mad to get a better feel for the numbers, terrain, conditions, etc. The link to his excellent battle page for Helm's Deep is tolkienbattles.bravepages.com/helmsdeep.html.
Anyone want to have a go at this?
* * *
From: Nosmada Sent: 11/12/2002 1:34 AM
I think I would command the battle something like this:
First of all I would have all the orcs put out their torches as they approach Helm's Dike so that its not so easy for Gamling's archers to shoot them. Then I would have a large mass of orcs rush and quickly overwhelm Gamling's force until they are all dead or have fled back to Helm's Deep.
After crossing Helm's Dike, I would have all the archers pummel the Deeping Wall with a constant stream of arrows, while hand to hand fighters stand in front of them with their shields up, protecting them from the arrows coming from the wall. I would not have any hand to hand fighters approach the wall or the gate at this time.
Eventually, my orcish archers would begin to run out of arrows or the men defending the wall would begin to run out. Hopefully, by this time many of the men will have been killed by the onslaught of arrows.
I would then have a small force, maybe about 20 or so, of orcs run up to the wall or the gate and quickly light the fire of Orthanc and blow it open. I would not waste time and troops trying to break down the gate with a battering ram.
Once theres a good size whole in the wall, or where the gate used to be, I would have every last fighting orc and Dunlander (which should still be close to 10,000 troops) rush through the opening and overwhelm the enemy, taking no prisoners, as quickly as possible, giving them little or no chance to retreat into the caves(a bit of a blitzkrieg if you will).
Most of the defense of Helm's Deep would hopefully be crushed by this time. The remainder of the forces, which I would estimate to be around 7,000 - 8,000 troops, could then use Helm's Deep as a defense against Gandalf and Erkenbrand's troops when they arrive. Although there is a big whole in the wall, they could still put the remaining archers up on the walls to fire down on enemy troops as they fight with the orcs. I would hope that they would be able to defeat Gandalf and Erkenbrand's forces, however we all know how resourceful Gandalf can be when hes cornered.
After this battle I would of course keep my remaining forces far away from that forest of hurons.
So there you have it. Thats what my strategy would be for fighting this battle. I have no way of knowing if it would work or not, but I think it might be a bit more successful than how Saruman handled it.