# D & D on the Straight Dope setup thread. (In Middle Earth FA63) **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Tags:** middle-earth-game\ **Created:** [February 26, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276 "2008-02-26T20:17:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 65
**Author:** ![RogueRacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1281 "2008-10-21T21:32:55Z")
Either there or behind him. That’s a good spot for him though as he can provide some quick support for Ghan too if needed. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1282 "2008-10-21T22:47:03Z")
OK, I really thought Gorbo Marshsweeper was a cromulent Hobbit name especially ones that eeks out an existence in a marshy area and mostly on his own. I see everyone taking great delight in the name and it leaves me puzzled. What is the joke I didn’t mean to inject? Gorbo actually has a tie in to Middle Earth and Hobbits as Gorbo the Snerg is from an obscure book called ['The Marvellous Land of Snergs’](http://www.amazon.com/Marvellous-Land-Snergs-E-Wyke-Smith/dp/1882968042)that Tolkien read and probably was partially inspired by the book in making Hobbits. I doubt most of you knew this and outside of maybe **Qadgop the Mercotan** , I did not expect my joke to even be noticed. So what gives? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1283 "2008-10-21T23:09:15Z")
I was amused by ‘Marshsweeper’ actually. What sort of broom does he use? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1284 "2008-10-21T23:09:59Z")
> [@RogueRacer](#): > > Please keep in mind that Elfstan has Flower now, so he isn’t riding with Gil-Gandel. Elfstan doesn’t mind riding rear guard with Gil-Gandel. He would like to be able to watch out for Curunauth too. > > I was also going to suggest making one or both of the Hobbits invisible. As many as you like. Just let me know. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1285 "2008-10-21T23:36:31Z")
> [@glee](#): > > I was amused by ‘Marshsweeper’ actually. What sort of broom does he use? 😉 [I was thinking more along the lines of](http://www.answers.com/sweep): v.tr. 11. To pass quickly across, as when searching: His gaze swept the horizon. 12. To drag the bottom of (a body of water). v.intr. 7. To extend in a wide range: Searchlights swept across the sky. Even a little of: Nautical. A long oar used to propel a boat. I used a 9 foot sweep this weekend to rescue a laminated picture of a Tuckerton Bay Sailing Garvey from 1890 out of the reeds it blew into. The sweep was to a [1980s Tuckerton Bay Sailing Garvey](http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b127/jrfranchi/?action=view¤t=GarveyatClearwaterFestival.jpg)and I helped to build it by hand. ---
**Author:** ![RogueRacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1286 "2008-10-22T02:12:49Z")
Actually I was amused because it sounded like a perfect name for a gnarly old Hobbit in a swamp. I was wondering how long it took to come up with it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1287 "2008-10-22T02:16:07Z")
So did I whoosh myself here? Did my little bit of Hobbit humor work far better than I ever expected? Wow, that is so rare that it obviously confused me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1288 "2008-10-22T03:23:22Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > So did I whoosh myself here? Did my little bit of Hobbit humor work far better than I ever expected? Wow, that is so rare that it obviously confused me. 😃 Exactly. It is almost _too_ good. It’s positively Tolkienesque (in his more puckish moods). Well done! ---
**Author:** ![RogueRacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1289 "2008-10-25T15:47:26Z")
I just have to make a quick post to mention that the thought of big, tough Sir Thoroncir riding bitch behind Gilraen is cracking me up. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1290 "2008-10-26T20:55:03Z")
Laugh all you want. I guarantee he’s smiling. ---
**Author:** ![RogueRacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1291 "2008-10-28T19:32:21Z")
What are the maximum ranges of the party’s various missle weapons? Could we start taking pot shots at the wargs or are there too many trees in the way? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1292 "2008-10-28T19:41:08Z")
> [@RogueRacer](#): > > What are the maximum ranges of the party’s various missle weapons? Could we start taking pot shots at the wargs or are there too many trees in the way? Two many trees by far. The archers would have to try and sneak up on the wargs. Miron is best suited to this but Gil-Gandel and the two Hobbits would also have some chance, especially is directed by Deor. As Malacandra already pointed out though, wargs have those noses so it is not just about quiet and nearly invisible. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1293 "2008-10-28T20:19:19Z")
> [@Middle Earth FA63 D&D Game. Fourth Adventure. Journey to Rivendell](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-fourth-adventure-journey-to-rivendell/464375/667): > > Just how smart are Tolkien’s wargs, to the extent our PCs would understand it? I guess I always assumed they were about as smart as a wolf today (and are these the big, mean wolves of the books, incidentally, or the lizardlike critters of the movies?). These wargs seem very smart indeed, to be maintaining a continuous watch on the party for many hours, and having what appears to be a well-organized watch-and-sleep cycle. I have to wonder if some unseen evil mage is guiding them. These are the wargs of the Hobbit. They talk, they are organized. Those lizard Hyenas were one of the things I hated most about the movies. It is worth noting that for my game the Books ALWAYS OVERRULE anything PJ did. Sorry, thanks for letting me get that out. 😃 These Wargs are far brighter than any dogs in the party. Think back to the Hobbit for your answer. So both Hobbits and all the Elves and Ghân and Gwaelur and Gilraen and Lorli would be able to tell you they are pretty much near human intelligence. ---
**Author:** ![RogueRacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1294 "2008-10-28T20:38:23Z")
Hmmm… it seems that it’s been too long since I read The Hobbit. I thought I remembered the wargs having help from goblins. This last post from **What Exit?** makes a PM I sent to Malacandra pretty unnecesary. Sorry about that. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1295 "2008-10-28T20:58:42Z")
> [@RogueRacer](#): > > Hmmm… it seems that it’s been too long since I read The Hobbit. I thought I remembered the wargs having help from goblins. This last post from **What Exit?** makes a PM I sent to Malacandra pretty unnecesary. Sorry about that. The wargs did have help from the Goblins, but Gandalf heard the wargs talking among themselves about what to do until the goblins arrived to help. They were capable of organizing but Gandalf’s pine cone firebombs had panicked them quite a bit. Now that I went ahead and mentioned that, you should probably bring that up as the future keeper of the Redbook of Westmarch. > [@](#): > > They left guards at the foot of the tree in which Dori and Bilbo were, and then went sniffling about till they had smelt out every tree that had anyone in it. These they guarded too, > … > He spoke to them in the dreadful language of the Wargs. Gandalf understood it. > … > So the Wargs had no intention of going away and letting the people up the trees escape, at any rate not until morning. And long before that, they said, goblin soldiers would be coming down from the mountains; and goblins can climb trees, or cut them down. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1296 "2008-10-28T22:09:29Z")
I’d forgotten that portion of the warg encounter from _The Hobbit_. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![RogueRacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1297 "2008-10-31T12:54:32Z")
> [@glee](#): > > That’s some woods there, friend. > The trees are close enough together conceal an armoured Knight mounted on a heavy Warhorse, yet far enough apart that he can gallop forward and spear opponents with his lance. It’s a very precise kind of woods! Maybe we can camouflage him kind of like a tank? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1298 "2008-10-31T15:32:31Z")
> [@RogueRacer](#): > > It’s a very precise kind of woods! Maybe we can camouflage him kind of like a tank? 😃 See the game thread, ya jokers. :rolleyes: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1299 "2008-10-31T15:42:43Z")
I think the problem is the plan does not exist yet. Thoroncir and Deor were hiding in trees that would (possibly) work if the party is not moving. However, Gil-Gandel seemed to indicate the party would be in motion. As to the invisibility. Gilraen really does not need it. The wargs will attack almost everyone else first. If you only face four wargs than Deor will hopefully not need any spells. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1300 "2008-11-01T00:03:13Z")
I posted a link to one of the Professor’s more pungent zingers here: [Who were the Aryans? - Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=490428) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276.md?page=64) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276.md?page=66)