Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 255617" data-attributes="member: 3146">I think this is in keeping with the genre and literary tradition though.Beowulf had a specially made shield to combat the dragon's fire and used a sword forged by giants to kill Grendel's mother (he borrowed a legendary sword for the fight but it wasn't up to the task).When Thorin and Gandalf fought the goblins under the misty mountains, it was as much the swords themselves that drove the goblins back as Gandalf and Thorin.Turin Turambar was a great warrior, but he depended upon his dwarf mask to defend him from the dragon's charms. He also depended upon his sword for a lot of his fighting prowess. Beren had to use a magical knife that cut iron like green wood in order to cut the silmarils from Morgroth's crown. For that matter, almost every one of Tolkein's heroes of the first age had a named weapon--Fingon even had some manner of magic helm.In LotR, Gandalf's power was partially tied to his staff but his sword came in quite handy as well. Sting, the phial of Galadriel, and the One Ring were what gave Sam the ability to defeat Shelob, the Silent Watchers, and the orcs in the tower of Gorgoroth. Merry needed a magic sword to harm the witch king.Leaving Tolkein, we'll find that, although he was as much wizard as fighter, Elric depended upon Stormbringer and his potions for effectiveness.In the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Krill and Thomas's ring were sources of power for fighter and wizard alike.In Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, King Prester John was known for his sword and Sir Camaris was known for Thorn. And in the end, it took the magic of the White Arrow to defeat the villain.King Arthur was warded by Excalibur's sheath and carried Excalibur. Galahad was given a holy shield after driving off a demon.Perseus used a flying horse and Zeus's shield on his journey to defeat Medusa. Jason used a number of magics including Dragon's Teeth in his search for the Golden Fleece.Throughout fantasy literature, myth and legend, warriors have depended upon the magic of their equipment as well as their innate skill in order to defeat their foes. (And the more magical the foe, the more magic seemed to be used in their defeat).</blockquote>

Verification