Inheritance Cycle Battles Tactical Analysis Part 1 - The Battle of Farthen Dûr

[kris_norge]

Greetings everyone! I'm Kris Norge and a new antishurtugal member. Instead of doing the standard chapter by chapter sporking, I decided to use my fascination with warfare. In an effort to bring to the light the child prodigy author's absence of knowledge in warfare, I put my extensive studies of both Roman and medieval strategy and tactics to good

Comments

[with_rainfall]

I'm a little confused here: why would letting the Urgals out into the valley be a bad thing? These are interesting posts, and you make a lot of good points. Thanks for sharing!

[kris_norge]

You are most welcome! Thank YOU for enjoying my posts! And as for why letting the Urgals out into the valley is a bad thing, it's because when your enemies outnumber you, it is much easier/safer to hold them in a bottleneck where you can concentrate your attacks. By letting them out into the valley, they're allowing the Urgals the possibility to manoeuvre, perhaps move around, flank them or take them from behind.

[darth_gojira]

Very well done! I love military history, and so picking apart Paolini's bad tactics is a good idea.

Wouldn't the dwarves have the advantage in underground warfare against the urgals? And why collapse the tunnels when you can block them, or trap them?

I agree that it's silly to block off the chokepoint and not the main gate-an outnumbered force should always try to neutralize enemy numbers.

I don't remember much of the book, but I do recall Arya and the archers in the film mixed in with the other infantry, which is just a bad idea.

If I were the Varden, I'd put only the most minimal armor on Saphira-I'm assuming she's not THAT fragile, and have Eragon shoot from the saddle. If the Dragon is being ridden and the rider can't attack from the air, then the dragon rider is just dead weight.

Leading from the front sometimes works if you're armored and extremely lucky like Alexander, but it's a terrible idea when said commanders are an extremely old man, a woman, and a teenage boy.

[anonymous]

I'm sorry if this comes off as rude, but have you ever heard of magic? Or, for that matter, fiction? Or how about THE AUTHOR CAN DO WHAT HE WANTS LET HIM OFF FOR HALF A SECOND?!?!?!?