Really it was a time issue. Even if you assume the hobbits of the Shire had both the technological capacity to create a functional guided rocket and the industrial capacity to manufacture it ready to go, it takes around about a decade to bring a rocket development program from conception through to completion, even optimistically. Factor in the fact that there’s a single unique and irreplaceable payload and if you fail to hit the target you’ve basically delivered the ring to Sauron, given it’s apparent indestructibility, the reliability requirements would push the development time back a lot. It might take 20 or 30 years for the rocket to truly be ready for that mission. They were only able to confirm that what they’ve found actually is the one ring less than a couple years from when Sauron would have invaded everyone, so even with the most optimistic possible appraisal of the military industrial complex of the free peoples of Middle Earth there simply wasn’t time. It’s one of those projects where throwing more bodies at it just slows things down.
Perhaps need more lore information before we can understand how well the Elvish guidance systems would work under the full effects of Sauron’s eye, which, considering the perceived threat and opportunity (in case destabilisation of the rocket is successful), on top of the ease of application (it would be in-air, easier to pick, as compared to little ground targets moving among other landscape objects), I’d say Sauron would put full attention onto the missile.
Much easier to just find a way to build a better furnace.
Easy solution, send a rocket or two to take out the Eye of Sauron before launching the one with the ring. Perhaps launch a flurry of them to overwhelm any remaining air defenses, which won’t know which one has it.
Much easier to just find a way to build a better furnace.
Nope. It’s not about the heat at mount doom, but the magic bound in the ring.
That shouldn’t be the case, sure you can find some other volcano on the planet, no?
Oh right, perhaps there were no Geologists among the Elves/Dwarves. Were they not?
Really it was a time issue. Even if you assume the hobbits of the Shire had both the technological capacity to create a functional guided rocket and the industrial capacity to manufacture it ready to go, it takes around about a decade to bring a rocket development program from conception through to completion, even optimistically. Factor in the fact that there’s a single unique and irreplaceable payload and if you fail to hit the target you’ve basically delivered the ring to Sauron, given it’s apparent indestructibility, the reliability requirements would push the development time back a lot. It might take 20 or 30 years for the rocket to truly be ready for that mission. They were only able to confirm that what they’ve found actually is the one ring less than a couple years from when Sauron would have invaded everyone, so even with the most optimistic possible appraisal of the military industrial complex of the free peoples of Middle Earth there simply wasn’t time. It’s one of those projects where throwing more bodies at it just slows things down.
Yeah, but what if you’re working with dwarves? And using elvish technology for a guidance system?
Perhaps need more lore information before we can understand how well the Elvish guidance systems would work under the full effects of Sauron’s eye, which, considering the perceived threat and opportunity (in case destabilisation of the rocket is successful), on top of the ease of application (it would be in-air, easier to pick, as compared to little ground targets moving among other landscape objects), I’d say Sauron would put full attention onto the missile.
Much easier to just find a way to build a better furnace.
Easy solution, send a rocket or two to take out the Eye of Sauron before launching the one with the ring. Perhaps launch a flurry of them to overwhelm any remaining air defenses, which won’t know which one has it.
Nope. It’s not about the heat at mount doom, but the magic bound in the ring.
You have the maker of the ring[1]!
Just make a magic furnace.
Shadow of Mordor ↩︎
Okay, but you need materials that can only be sourced from mount doom
That shouldn’t be the case, sure you can find some other volcano on the planet, no?
Oh right, perhaps there were no Geologists among the Elves/Dwarves. Were they not?
But if the furnace isn’t constructed at mount doom, then it wouldn’t be able to withstand the magical flames required to destroy the ring.
What if you get the furnace to be puked out of Eru Ilúvatar’s mouth?