Words of the Wise questions

[Rich H]

I'm not sure if I would lean toward option of this raid being launched from Fenbridge Castle. You mentioned Mogdred who joins folk moot at Rhosgobel in 2948 (DoM). He demands tribute and a seat in the councils of the Woodmen and in exchange offers protection from orcs residing in Fenbridge. He says: 'You (...) would be long dead if it were not for our protection. Darkness returns to the forest, had you but eyes to see it (...)'. I imagine most LMs (like me) launches Words of the Wise as introductory scenario, so in most cases this is before running DoM (my case). If so, then this terrible battle for Woodland Hall (or Rhosgobel if it fits better) would happen prior the events of 2948. Then Mogdred's visit would be completely nonsesne as Woodmen have already experienced his 'protection' - they would simply deride him at best (just imagine him on folk moot emptying his two sacks full of orcs' heads and soon after Woodmen laughing and saying 'you brought us some dozens of orc heads, but look we cut them hundreds already while under your 'protection' Begone!

That ones an easy one to deal with; Mogdred slew many of the attacking orcs before they reached their destination. If he hadn't, the woodmen would have faced a far larger force and been defeated.

[Meoring]

That ones an easy one to deal with; Mogdred slew many of the attacking orcs before they reached their destination. If he hadn't, the woodmen would have faced a far larger force and been defeated.

All right, but that would be just Mogdred's words - why Woodmen should believe him? Nobody saw him reducing orc threat that eventually hit them.

[Rich H]

That ones an easy one to deal with; Mogdred slew many of the attacking orcs before they reached their destination. If he hadn't, the woodmen would have faced a far larger force and been defeated.

All right, but that would be just Mogdred's words - why Woodmen should believe him? Nobody saw him reducing orc threat that eventually hit them.

Taking two large sacks, his men throw over two-score* Orc heads on the ground before those gathered at the Moot; "... these are but a fraction of those we slew!"

* Or whatever amount you think would carry weight. In my game, two-score heads would be fine because the woodmen didn't slay hundreds in the Battle for Woodland Hall like you state in a previous post. The point is, Mogdred was there protecting the woodmen and without his aid such a victory would have seriously been in doubt - likely resulting in defeat. I ran it exactly like this, Words of the Wise occurring just the year before the folk moot, and it went fine. Mogdred's words carried weight and cast doubt over the previous hard-fought, and paid for, victory.

[Deadmanwalking]

That's why they need a strong leader to push them do such things: either Ghor or the Gibbet King. That's what a good leader does, overcome the fears of the troops and organize them into an attacking force.

Well, sure.

But such a leader is also likely wise enough to avoid a direct assault on the seat of a Wizard's power. Or so I'd expect, anyway. Which provides an excellent reason for attacking somewhere other than Rhosgobel.

[Glorelendil]

While I think deadmanwalking has a valid point in terms of strategic optimization, I would tend to look at it from a narrative standpoint: does attacking Rhosgobel make for a better story? If so, then think up a reason why that would happen. As a bonus, the exercise of thinking up that reason may give your story even more depth.

If everybody in Middle Earth made logical, strategically optimal decisions, the entire history would have been rather boring.

[Deadmanwalking]

While I think deadmanwalking has a valid point in terms of strategic optimization, I would tend to look at it from a narrative standpoint: does attacking Rhosgobel make for a better story? If so, then think up a reason why that would happen. As a bonus, the exercise of thinking up that reason may give your story even more depth.

If everybody in Middle Earth made logical, strategically optimal decisions, the entire history would have been rather boring.

Oh, totally. I'm just pointing out that not attacking Rhosgobel also makes sense.

Attacking Rhosgobel would also potentially make sense (it'd be a bad idea, but it'd make sense that someone might try it), but I was responding to people asking why that wasn't how the adventure was written.

[Falenthal]

That's why they need a strong leader to push them do such things: either Ghor or the Gibbet King. That's what a good leader does, overcome the fears of the troops and organize them into an attacking force.

Well, sure.

But such a leader is also likely wise enough to avoid a direct assault on the seat of a Wizard's power. Or so I'd expect, anyway. Which provides an excellent reason for attacking somewhere other than Rhosgobel.

Maybe that's also what Sauron expected from Ghor... and the reason why He had to put a Nazgûl in charge of the North after the Orc's Leader defeat.
Or Ghor wanted to hit a "big target" to earn the trust of Sauron... and failed.
Or he didn't know about Radagast. Or Radagast was understimated (Saruman, who knew him well, did understimate him) as a "wizard of birds and rabbits".
Or Ghor counted on a backup force that was destroyed by Mogdred. Or Mogdred was the backup force that didn't show up for the attack (I'd avoid this two option, as Mogdred seems to keep back from alliating or deceiving either the Woodmen or the Dark Forces, until he mades up his mind which side to support).
Or Ghor knew of Radagast and his powers, but thought that the Peace the North was enjoying would make them weak. So he wanted to use the first surprise attack on a Free People's settlement to take out one of their main leaders and conselours.
Or the unbalancing factor in favor of the Woodmen is the appearence of Thranduil and his soldiers, which Ghor hadn't foreseen?

As Glorendil said, considering things like options, not problems, can lead to interesting motivations...

On the other hand, my main concern with the attack was: Why is there first a skirmish near Rhosgobel, during the hunt, and then an attack on another settlement weeks after? The Woodmen will we forewarned and, why the change of target? And how do the Woodmen know the big attack will be on Woodland Hall (or was it Woodman Town?)?

Also, lots of different options here:
The first skirmishes where explorers sent north to scout the surroundings of Woodland Hall. The orcs didn't know the Woodmen were having a massive hunting in the woods and it was a coincidence that this two forces met.
The first skirmishers/explorers were sent to scout Rhosgobel. As they were discovered, the target had to be changed.
The first skirmishers were not related to the main attack force: they were orcs and goblins driven out of the Mountains of Mirkwood by the rebirth of the Werewolf, who attacked every living creature that dwelled in the Mountains. Two forces of Orcs in the Woodmen lands was just a coincidence.

Pick up the idea that suits you best, or disregard them all at will!