Ha, I just realized even the spooky Roose is dead, and he was a well good commander. Same too to Doran, though of the armchair variety (no pun intended) That probably leaves in order of skill:
- Brawly Tarly
- Euron (when he's not being poorly written)
- Kevan Lannister
- Jon Snow
- Mace Toplel
- Berric Dondarrion (basically Robin Hood Jesus)
- Blackfish the Frey remover
- Tormund Bearbane
- Littlefinger's hostage commander
- Jaime Lannister
- Dolorous Edd
- Lord Frey
- Davos, unless he's at sea where he's the second best naval commander in Westeros after Euron
- Yara Greyjoy, unless she's at sea where she's the third best naval commander (might not currently be in Westeros) after Davos
- Loras Tyrell. In his current state though... Sheesh.
- Lancel Lannister, both quite young and inexperienced, Loras and Lancel make up for it with zealous desire for glory/gods and inspirational leadership
- That one Lannister lieutenant who's seen some shit
- Ramsay Bolton, unless he has his +20GOODMEN passive ability at which point he becomes #1
- Theon Greyjoy, lacks self confidence
- Littlefinger, cannot lead armies at all relying on his lieutenants, at least still gets grand strategy and funding gud
- Tommen "Baratheon," is a diplomat and not a warrior, completely relying on his council
Not sure if the Night King counts as in Westeros, but if he does we haven't really seen him properly command a great big battle. Mostly just troll the warmbloods, though given his generations of experience in warfare that predates many of the civilizations alive in the show - he's probably pretty all right. Brienne might also get her chance to marshal an army soon. I wonder where the people in Essos would fit into this, namely Daario, Danaerys, Tyrion, Jorah and Greyworm. I'm sure Dany still has... Or had her bloodriders? I mean, she had 3 bloodriders but either they've been quietly shuffled out or they're getting a promotion since the whole damn khalasar are bloodriders now. Dothraki aint get no love :<
Tarly doesn't seem like the kind who'd ally with the forces of good until it's too late.
I'd like to say there are no forces of good in AGOT but yeah, we've reached that point, there are good guys with infinite plot armour and there have always been those good guys with infinite plot armor
He's too far south that even if Jon or somebody else on the Wall could get a hold of him, he wouldn't take them seriously—that sword is better off with Sam, in whose hands it might eventually get back to the Wall and fight some White Walkers.
The Tarlys serve the Tyrell, and Lord Tarly is a loyal soldier. All you'd need is Mace Tyrell's decision, and for that all you'd need is Lady Olenna Tyrell's approval - Mace will do whatever she thinks is prudent, and off Lord Tarly goes to fightan WW. That's a question of who could get the Reach to go North, given that Mannis is blammed then that pretty much just leaves Jon... This will all most likely be irrelevant when Dany shows up with living toasty lizards of mass destruction
Hell, if anything, Tarly would probably get along with the Boltons as opposed to the Starks & co.; he might appreciate their vicious streak, if not the outright sadism.
Tarly would get along with Roose Bolton, not Ramsay Bolton. Roose Bolton was a ruthless and cunning strategician (a fact oft overlooked is that a lot of Rob's victories are the result of spooki Roose Bolton, such as the capture of Jaime Lannister or the
outmaneuvering of Tywin Lannister). Similarly Tarly offers sound advice to Renly and when the Reach switches to the Lannisters, begins rekin the Northlanders.
Tarly respects soldiers, respects ruthlessness, but is no fond of sadists - executing them without much deliberance. Given that Ramsay killed the one person who could've earned Tarly's respect, Ramsay would be a bit fucked. The way Tarly operates is that he doesn't care what you've done, whether you're a saint or a ruthless murderer - as long as you're capable of earning his respect. That's why of both his sons, who morally are possessed of the same duty and honour, he favours the youngest (more martial, fierce and commanding) over his eldest (who just wants to be a maester).
Stealing the Valyrian Greatsword Heartsbane is an incredibly foolish decision. If Samwell left with just his sister's dress and some food and just never returned to Horn Hill, Randyll Tarly would still be salty as fuck, but he'd be content in the Reach. By stealing Heartsbane, Samwell is stealing the 500 year old ancestral relic of House Tarly that should be going to Dickon, is Randyll's personal greatsword he wields in battle, and Lord Tarly will try to hunt and kill Samwell to retrieve it, and even if he retrieves it will likely still kill Samwell anyways out of anger.
The greatest issue of course being that Randyll Tarly knows where Sam is going to be, he's going to be at Oldtown. Even if Sam manages to evade Tarly's men all that time, and Gilly and her son too, Tarly knows Sam will have to go back to the wall and so he only has to be at Oldtown or the Wall to get back Heartsbane and kill Sam. This is after his Father nonetheless offered to raise Sam's child as his own grandson and give a working place for Gilly - with the consequence of course being they will live prosperous and stable futures (and the best possible future for their son)... Yet most likely never to see Sam again. Or they could just leave Horn Hill to visit him but whatever, it's important for the drama.
Anyways, what is Sam's mission? To find the weaknesses of the WW, something that can completely stop them. Obsidian is good, but there's not enough. Valyrian steel is good, but there's not enough in the world even if they managed to get all the owners to fight at the North - the production method is lost, and all that remains are ancient heirlooms.
Simply put one more greatsword is not much help at all for the Northern cause, one barely noticeable. Yet if Sam is able to find the information he needs, the kryptonite of the WW - the war is won. Yet by taking the heirloom just to spite his father, he puts his life at risk, his family at risk and the entire world at risk. His father will not believe any word Sam says about being important against a threat he considers a fairy tale, so if he gets killed over such a petty issue, the North may never find this magic bullet or critical piece of information (perhaps even a way to negotiate or undo the magic), thus dooming everyone.
Though obviously this is noblebright thrones so Sam's gonna win, get the girl and save the day whilst espousing the values of studying hard and friendship
tbh I'd r8 the show 8/8 if everyone died because of Sam's daddy issues. If they planned this from the start with Gilly and Samwell's daddy issues combining into one multi-season spanning daddy issues series I'd rate it gr8/8
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Topic: A Game of Thrones: Every time somebody uses the spoiler tags take a shot. (Read 205732 times)