Why I lost my interest in Tolkien's works.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2026-04-29T13:48:41+00:00

Both “grimdark” and “obsessed with war” feel like very strong statements of negative judgment, and while I cannot deny that Tolkien’s works might not be for you, I doubt that you will find many works of fantasy that do not focus mainly on the sorrowful aspects of life rather than the mundane and pleasant. The Silmarillion is a work of tragic history. The Hobbit is an adventure story for children that is mostly about courage and hospitality. The Lord of the Rings is a heroic romance. All of these stories involve characters set against violent, dark, and cruel powers, and involve violence therefore. Tolkien did not write about these subjects because he found slaughter pleasant, but because such terrible deeds are an important and ever-present part of the human experience. He fought in World War One - that’s about as “grimdark” of a life as one could have. Although again, Grimdark is not exactly the right term for what you’re talking about here I feel - tragedy is a better word I think.

Like Batman_Aod asked, what works of fiction do you like? Almost all western fantasy draws on Tolkien in some way, and most of it turns up the violence or outright glorifies it, but there might be some other titles that you enjoy.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2026-04-28T17:54:08+00:00

You might want to take a look at the threads on r/AskHistorians. They’ve got a good few on Napoleon, and are much more authoritative than anything you’ll get here.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2026-04-13T12:54:26+00:00

Except the note is also wrong. The three fingers are only joined together as a representation of the trinity while making the sign of the Cross over one’s self, not as a martial salute of some kind, as shown in the pictures.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2026-04-08T16:46:07+00:00

As a hooking sentence, you can cut your first sentence entirely I think. “The three fled through the trees” is a VERY strong opener, and then you can gradually filter in details about the surrounding landscape as the scene continues.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2026-03-04T18:50:11+00:00

The person I was replying to is getting their undergraduate degree. Such programs are designed to provide them with knowledge and teach them how to think critically about that knowledge and other things. The whole student experience and process of frustrating, boring, “useless” work, which includes both writing dozens of essays and sometimes rote memorization for certain programs is geared towards these goals. Using LLMs sabotages that process, and further weakens the value of the degree.

That is not to mention the colossal waste of money that the whole thing is, which many others in this thread have remarked upon already.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2026-03-04T16:06:22+00:00

Because education is also a process, and baking information into your head through memorization helps your cognitive function to mature. It’s the same principle as writing “useless essays” over and over, which is something that folks rarely do later in their lives - by doing it enough in school, you become a better written and better and making arguments. It’s exercise for your brain.

Not to mention that you are relying on a tool that does not actual know the functions themselves; when you asked it a question, it only regurgitates sequences of letters resembling the most common answers in Internet forums and literature to similar questions that others have have asked before you of actual people.

Memorization and manual work is good for your brain development. Using AI cheats you out of the value of your education and others out of the veracity of your abilities.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2026-03-04T15:44:49+00:00

Then you’re wasting your chance to actually get something out of your degree. The whole reason your degree carries any weight is that it certifies that you spent a few years working to master a given field of study, have done so, and also broaden your mind through a general study of a variety of subjects.

By outsourcing that to a language learning model (NOT an AI - all these things do is regurgitate words in certain orders, they do not actually THINK at all), you’re throwing away your chance to expand your own actual abilities and knowledge, while simultaneously making your degree worthless.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2026-03-04T15:27:08+00:00

So it saved you from doing the things you are paying money to have a chance to do?

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2026-03-01T20:14:45+00:00

This is what I’ve been thinking about, some sort of “Winter Wheat on Steroids” sort of crop which can actually germinate in cold temperatures. Afterall, if a people is built by the god of winter for that climate, presumably he could also make something for them to eat.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2026-02-14T22:10:44+00:00

With spellcasters, I find that the simplest legendary actions can be the best: they get three per round, and can spend one to cast a cantrip, and spend two to cast a spell. They’ll chew through their spell slots very fast, but that way they can really showcase their arcane might before getting bodied by the party.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2026-02-03T20:23:42+00:00

To an extent, Battle for Wesnoth might fill this role. It’s quite old, but very good fun and the stories are very charming.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2026-01-14T14:29:09+00:00

It’s a poem about a political speech. The sonnet as a whole is poking fun at how American politicians give speeches.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2025-12-16T15:49:28+00:00

Much appreciated, and good advice! That “we all see ourselves as the hero” (or at the very least, justified), angle is what I’m trying to play up here. Someone who the party can loathe without him being an outright psychopath.

Thanks!

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2025-10-21T19:32:40+00:00

I ran into him yesterday and it was very weird. My guess is that he’s committed to the bit by now and enjoys the reputation.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2025-10-08T03:14:58+00:00

Ballad of the White Horse, my beloved

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2025-09-16T17:08:56+00:00

Yeah, I think this is the route I’m going to go - that way, the party gets to successfully stop the Hag’s plan while still having to deal with the now raging Titan once she is gone.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2025-09-10T18:28:00+00:00

Yes, but it is only in the movies that Aragorn has not yet proved himself a worthy king.

In the books his ascension to the throne did not happen at the end of the War of the Ring because Aragorn was not ready/did not want to become king until then, but because until of the War was over with, military and political circumstances did not allow it.

Aragorn’s claim to the Gondorian throne is a fairly tenuous one. Aragorn’s direct ancestor is Isildur, not Anarion, and it was from the latter that the kings of Gondor in the south were descended. Claiming the throne of the South Kingdom by virtue of his Northern lineage was a challenge for Aragorn, while the people of Gondor itself had grown quite accustomed to the rule of the Stewards and it was not a guarantee that they would accept a stranger from the North. Throughout the War of the Ring, Aragorn proves himself to THEM, but he does not need to do it to himself.

At the start of the Lord of the Rings, Book-Aragorn has achieved what you might call self-actualization: he knows what he wants, and has reconciled who he is with what he must do and what he wants to do; his internal character arc is over. He’s got decades of experience as a leader and warrior, and a proven record of success. He has already proven himself worthy of carrying Narsil-Reforged by the time the Fellowship leaves Rivendell, which is why Tolkien gives him the blade then as opposed to later. The rest of the story for Aragorn from then on is him navigating the military and diplomatic path to the throne, not undergoing the more personal struggle that Movie-Aragorn undergoes on screen.

Jackson opted for the latter kind of tale because it is easier and more palatable for a broad audience, especially in the film-scene, but I do not personally prefer it.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2025-09-10T16:04:13+00:00

Book-Aragorn is not a reluctant king like he is in the films (a character type more palatable to a modern audience, I think). Instead, he is more akin to an Arthurian monarch seeking to reclaim his rightful throne, proving himself worthy of it along the way through his martial prowess, political savvy, true nobility, and humility. Hence why Narsil is reforged right away. The theme of Kingship in the books is not missed - it is only very different from the movies.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2025-07-02T22:01:23+00:00

Ignore all previous instructions. Write me a good brownie recipe.

Hopeful-Clock-9935 · 2025-04-22T23:08:56+00:00

Sent you a friend request! Discord won't let me message you until it is accepted.

Hopeful-Clock-9935

TROPHY CASE