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	Gandalf & Durandal
	Posted By: William Spencer	Date: 5/20/01 6:54 a.m.
	Rereading "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings", and then I recalled the stuff on the story page about the slight Marathon connection, with the level "Foe Hammer" - one of the names of one of the Gondolin blades... It struck me that Gandalf bears similarities to Durandal, at least in behavior. Not in the same exact ways - Gandalf's much friendlier - but there are similarities: While Gandalf has a habit of popping up just when he's most needed, he also has a habit of being out of contact "just when a wizard would have been most useful." Kinda like Durandal and terminals - just when you want to be teleported away, he "can't teleport you from this location." (And whenever he pops up again, he "had pressing matters" elsewhere.) Gandalf has a habit of manipulating other people to achieve his own ends - Bilbo was fast-talked, drafted into going on the adventure in "The Hobbit", for instance. He doesn't resort to teleporting Bilbo away or threatening to make him drink vacuum, but still... Gandalf likes fireworks. So does Durandal. Gandalf carries a magic sword. Durandal IS a magic sword. Gandalf's sense of humor, while friendlier than Durandal's, has some of the same puckish sarcasm about it. He seems to delight in the saying "Whatever you say, say nothing clearly" - although when he does say something straight, it's a lot to think about. The whole he-was-thought-destroyed-but-then-comes-back-changed-and-more-powerful-than-ever bit. 'Course, that's archetypes in action there, but still. Gandalf's great power - what defines him as a Wizard - is not the ability to cast magic spells or anything, but his great knowledge. What better defines an AI? He often functions as a guide, providing maps and information, then running off to let the heroes figure out what to do. One big _difference_ is that Gandalf's a lot less self-centered than Durandal is. That and he's organic, rather than digital electronic. But the association struck me.

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Replies:

	Gandalf & Durandal	William Spencer	5/20/01 6:54 a.m.
	Yeah but....	Grasshopper	5/20/01 9:35 a.m.
	No, more like...	EUPFHORIC BOB	5/20/01 12:44 p.m.
	Re: Gandalf & Durandal	Anarchie	5/21/01 12:37 p.m.
	Re: Gandalf & Durandal	William Spencer	5/21/01 8:19 p.m.
	Re: Gandalf & Durandal	EUPFHORIC BOB ->Andre Kopp	5/22/01 1:14 p.m.
	Sauron = Wchtnghter (How is it spelt?)	Smeeisqualityfootrot	5/22/01 1:25 p.m.
	Re: Sauron = Wchtnghter (How is it spelt?)	EUPFHORIC BOB	5/23/01 9:26 a.m.
	Re: Sauron = Wchtnghter (How is it spelt?)	Smeeisqualityfootrot	5/23/01 2:27 p.m.
	Re: Sauron = Wchtnghter (How is it spelt?)	EUPFHORIC BOB -> Andre Kopp	5/24/01 8:45 a.m.
	Re: Gandalf & Durandal	Bogeyman	5/29/01 5:41 a.m.
	Re: Gandalf & Durandal	Tiff	5/29/01 2:39 p.m.
	Re: Gandalf & Durandal	Bogeyman	5/29/01 9:55 p.m.

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