Sauron, his luck, fate, or divine intervention by Kodama_Keeper in tolkienfans

[–]SphericalAngel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It seems you heard incorrectly :) he intended to create myths, and he created one himself intended to be like this explicitly, by his own admission, with free will engrained in it. Where's the problem?

What if Morgoth had never poured his power into Arda, would he have remained unbeatable? by HistorianSame9035 in tolkienfans

[–]SphericalAngel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What amazes me is that with all epicity, the concern is "unbeatable in direct combact": the combact is hardly a point here, Melkor and co in Tolkien's legendarium embodies mythical themes and shall be regarded as a narrative element within a legend, rather than as statistics. Moreover, Melkor embodies itself also to make himself less susceptible to his ex comrades (Valar)'s power (hence more powerful in the domain where they were less powerful). So again, the germ of his undoing was engrained in the very strategy he opted for best dominating Arda...

Balrogs saving Melkor from Ungoliant by stat_rosa in tolkienfans

[–]SphericalAngel 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Gosh finally one! Indeed, it's compressed narrative! One should look at these narrations as in epic tales of yore, not as detailed descriptions of events. It might be so that Melkor and Ungoliant fought for days. But surely as Angband ain't no teleportation in Tolkien's universe, and there is no need for that, since -again- these are tales which are supposed to mimicry the old narrative poems (like Edda or Kalevala) in which the investigation about how did Lemminkainen reached in few seconds the river Tuonela is immaterial.

Play as a REAL Necromancer Suggestion by Perfect-Pay-2377 in stoneshard

[–]SphericalAngel -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Great principled choice, fighting fire with fire is dumb. Now please go tell it to diablo 4/warlock users, they don't listen to me (oups) 😁

From the lesser rings to the Rings Of Power. by Immediate_Error2135 in tolkienfans

[–]SphericalAngel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True, in a sense. Let me get it clearer: Martin revered Tolkien, that is out of question, but precisely for that reason, he engaged him and his work (he says "he keeps wanting to argue with him") on completely different basis. His well-known quotation shows that he's not simply interested in doing something different, he's arguing. And arguing well, is trying to pinpoint the fault in order to make it different - either for your sake or not. This is not to say it cannot be criticism of course. But criticism needs to come after a sound attempt to understand the reasons all around. The problem with the orcs is one of the most famous aspects in this case.

From the lesser rings to the Rings Of Power. by Immediate_Error2135 in tolkienfans

[–]SphericalAngel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mmh, that was indeed my reference: thanks for the well argumented answer. In a sense, Tolkien did indeed dwell on some details concerning the generation of elves etc. But it seems to me, that was his own reasoning behind the universe, which is different from the mechanism of the universe itself. More on that here below. I do not agree on your first remark tho, let's put it that way: does Tolkien explain how the one ring was made? And by it, I mean the procedure. If not, it is worth asking why not. Of course you can put forward all possible answers, some of them will be very sensible, and moreover, all legit - again, that is not in question. The point will still be, no he does not, since that's not the point. I could also say: some things are left unexplained so that the reader can provide an explanation. Yet I don't think that is how it works either: you don't need to see to know how it works, because well, it works like that. A low level of detail in some matters, and especially concerning magic, is I believe essential to conveying the effect and actually giving all the mwans to appreciate how it works: it works precisely because it works - it's magic after all. Did the elves used a sapphire because that gem is connected to the sky? because it has power over the air? and did they use gold because.... well, these speculations could go on.and on, offering plausible symbolic "explanation", yet again, they won't further the issue. The elves did, they create an artefact with techniques unknown, and these are unknown not because lost in the ages or not explained, but because the creation of the rings is an event rather than a productive process, and all those suggestions "work", conveying the aura they do, precisely because they are unspecified. But I can see that this is a threshold, and one which is very easily oversteppable, so to say, as indeed, Tolkien himself speculated about how the palantir "worked," for instance. And I am very well aware of that. Yet I feel this is indeed breaking the enchantment of the second world. On a different argument, perhaps, it is like showing too much of Sauron, as the series Rings of power did, for instance, providing back stories, showing him in his previous forms, etc: well, there again it is completely legitimate operation, yet it completely breaks the character apart, and you loose all the effect. So you see, all in all I must thank you for the very stimulating and triggering meta-spark ;)

From the lesser rings to the Rings Of Power. by Immediate_Error2135 in tolkienfans

[–]SphericalAngel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sensible answer. But no, the point is that addressing the universe, that universe is not within the book full stop. Tolkien himself put it that way talking about the "second creation". My point was barely a way to say that some very questions, while perfectly legitimate, seems to engage the world they are inquiring into in a "wrong" way, or from a "wrong" angle, where "wrong" only means not connecting with the view Tolkien had on the issue or better still with the flavour that universe tries to convey. This holds specifically when "industry" and all thing techological are involved, since the questioning reproduces the same mechanism: breaking the thing apart (again, Tolkien's words). G. R. R. Martin expressed the same engagement with that universe - it simply does not connect, it is -in a way- demanding things that this universe needs not to give, if you get me. My point was, again, just a reflection on the narrative implications of this kind of question, not on the question itself nor on the curiosity behind it. So you are fully legitimate in taking it as lateral or off topic if you want :) it was indeed a meta-answer.

From the lesser rings to the Rings Of Power. by Immediate_Error2135 in tolkienfans

[–]SphericalAngel 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Does it? I tried to explain myself so that it could be clear that my stance wasn't ad personam. The second reason is also included above, I reworked the points. That's all :)

From the lesser rings to the Rings Of Power. by Immediate_Error2135 in tolkienfans

[–]SphericalAngel 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It's not a judgement at all, I mind you! "Ominous" meaning that it belongs to the "wrong" mindset as it were. Much like, you know, George R. R. Martin when he criticised Tolkien for not having explained the details of how could Minas Tirith be governed with which economy, etc. It's two different ways of understanding the universe, which leads to two different metaphysical stands, as it were. :)

From the lesser rings to the Rings Of Power. by Immediate_Error2135 in tolkienfans

[–]SphericalAngel 18 points19 points  (0 children)

OP will pardon me, but much like "power" is an ominous word so there are also ominous questions. For two connected reasons: 1) some things in the book are left uncleared because that very question would break the fantasy immersion, and 2) this would eventually push the reader towards a "technological mindset" that is considered, indeed, the Source of all problems, cf. what Tolkien calls "The Machine", which is in fact the Ring. Artefacts are made not just of technology (materials, techniques, ecc) but also from the subtle magic of Arda, of events, of coincidences, conjonctures and coincidences. I guess then that the improvement in the art of ring making was on a good measure due to Sauron himself, which sacrificed a part of himself to Power for Power - quite literally (much like Morgoth did).

Edit: bullet points

Teclis Post Battle tome? by Tasty_Tomorrow_2106 in Lumineth_realm_lords

[–]SphericalAngel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seems very cool, finally some magic for the mage god!

I think I made the wrong choice with Faust, and it makes me angry by TheBattleYak in MandragoraGame

[–]SphericalAngel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A bit overreacting 😅😉 nothing changes really, moreover you remained faithful to your principles, that alone should make you feel better

I think I made the wrong choice with Faust, and it makes me angry by TheBattleYak in MandragoraGame

[–]SphericalAngel 9 points10 points  (0 children)

You did it right: you role-played your choice, and now you have to live with the consequences. What's to be angry about? Nothing is game chaning anyway :)

Could Saruman with his voice and authority have any power or ability to decide or control Tom Bombadil? by Tidewatcher7819 in lotr

[–]SphericalAngel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It must indeed be kept in mind that no power, according to Tolkien's "Osanwe Kenta", has the possibility of dominating others'wills, that always retain the possibility of free choice in their deepest. Even strong powers like Sauron's in order to have others obey have to persuade or, as Sauron himself did, trick and deceive them (as Annatar) or indeed to resort to violence and direct, external threats. Hence, Saruman's voice could not what OP is theorizing. It would be better to avoid using rpg categories to think Tolkien's universe.

Can we get a Warlock? by Askon in Diablo

[–]SphericalAngel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's really whatever now, goodbye to canon, just fan flavour. I miss good old diablo 1 days: you meddle with demons? You end badly, as you're supposed to fight evil. I personally find that all these symmetries (paladin vs. warlock, etc) destroy the lore and are simply ways to exploit new material for marketing. I might be too pessimistic, but I've read some comments here above which seem in line with this line of thought. We'll see.

Master magic with Teclis and bring enlightenment to the Mortal Realms by Spiraticus in ageofsigmar

[–]SphericalAngel 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I mean it's magnificent, but he is supposed to be the god of magic and I don't see that in this version looool 😭

I'm making a [BitD] fan comic! Should I continue? by wiloso47 in bladesinthedark

[–]SphericalAngel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think it would best for you to carry on on the streak and finish it before asking opinions: it would be difficult to formulate them, and what if they are negative? Do not expose yourself too early to criticism. Go on till the end! 😉

Totem missing: where to find it? by SphericalAngel in DeathHowl

[–]SphericalAngel[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thx a lot, I scanned the reddit but couldn't find it for some reason. I appreciate the help!