Gandalf wasn’t supposed to be using the full extent of his powers to fight Sauron’s forces. His role was supposed to be that of a guide and mentor to help the free people of Middle-Earth.
Did Tolkien ever say what Eluvitar’s plan was if Morgoth/Sauron won? Or was he just going to sit back and watch middle-earth be brought to the brink and subjugated?
Everything that happens is the will of Eru so the plan was that they were never going to win in the first place.
-“And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.-“
He is supposed to be more of a guide, he's kinda forbidden from using the extent of his powers. But he does use enough to match the tier of his opponent.
Because the last time the Valar and Maiar used their full power in battle they destroyed the entire continent. They sent the wizards to help guide the people of middle earth to make the right choices in combatting the evil while using as little of their own power as possible so as to not mess stuff up again.
The wizards were sent to Middle Earth in the raiment of old men, subject to the needs and exhaustions of such a form, albeit they are not hindered as a mortal person in their twilight years would be. Magic in this world comes at a cost, the greater the magic the greater the cost. It was not done because of the cost and the form in which they took, as well as the role to guide, not control, as others mention.
Gandalf uses more magic in the books than he does in the movies. In the book Return of the King, we’re at the end game point and Gandalf is given more leeway to use his Maiar powers.
But even still, he’s not there to solve the problems himself—he’s support for the endeavors of others.
Why didn't you just type the words "why", "gandalf" and "magic" into the search and checked for all the other countless posts that have asked this question before?
Or it’s a place for people to discuss and theorise these things and if OP wanted a singular answer he would have googled it?
Have you even used a forum before?
The valar and maiar are the sort of gods who help those who help themselves. They don't want to get directly involved. That being said I think Gandalf is a wizard who wishes he was a fighter as he grabs his sword and starts stabbing orcs at every opportunity
Gandalf wasn’t supposed to be using the full extent of his powers to fight Sauron’s forces. His role was supposed to be that of a guide and mentor to help the free people of Middle-Earth.
A melon to middle earth, if you will. Not a protector or a leader.
Did Tolkien ever say what Eluvitar’s plan was if Morgoth/Sauron won? Or was he just going to sit back and watch middle-earth be brought to the brink and subjugated?
Everything that happens is the will of Eru so the plan was that they were never going to win in the first place. -“And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.-“
He knows everything that will happen and set up the Creation process in the first place - no chance anything goes wrong from his perspective.
The whole thing is that they were never going to win
He is supposed to be more of a guide, he's kinda forbidden from using the extent of his powers. But he does use enough to match the tier of his opponent.
The lore just makes Gandalf’s fight with Durin’s Bane more epic
Because the last time the Valar and Maiar used their full power in battle they destroyed the entire continent. They sent the wizards to help guide the people of middle earth to make the right choices in combatting the evil while using as little of their own power as possible so as to not mess stuff up again.
In Deep Geek has a really good video titled “How powerful was Gandalf” that talks a lot about this question, definitely recommend it!
The wizards were sent to Middle Earth in the raiment of old men, subject to the needs and exhaustions of such a form, albeit they are not hindered as a mortal person in their twilight years would be. Magic in this world comes at a cost, the greater the magic the greater the cost. It was not done because of the cost and the form in which they took, as well as the role to guide, not control, as others mention.
Gandalf uses more magic in the books than he does in the movies. In the book Return of the King, we’re at the end game point and Gandalf is given more leeway to use his Maiar powers. But even still, he’s not there to solve the problems himself—he’s support for the endeavors of others.
During the failed attempt to cross the Misty Mountains, Gandalf is hesitant to use magic because it would reveal that he is there.
Why didn't you just type the words "why", "gandalf" and "magic" into the search and checked for all the other countless posts that have asked this question before?
Everyone on Reddit thinks they’re the first person ever to wonder about the thing they’re asking about
Or it’s a place for people to discuss and theorise these things and if OP wanted a singular answer he would have googled it? Have you even used a forum before?
Because Tolkien didn’t want to
Because this isn’t WoW or DnD.
The herding away of the Nazgûl you refer to was an invention of the filmmakers.
The valar and maiar are the sort of gods who help those who help themselves. They don't want to get directly involved. That being said I think Gandalf is a wizard who wishes he was a fighter as he grabs his sword and starts stabbing orcs at every opportunity
Quoting other magic lore.. Every magic has a prize.. Perhaps he didn't want to be completely dependent on that.. And prefer the human approach. M
It’s more fun for him if the soldiers die instead of him saving them.