Do you think Westrosi knights are as good at horsemanship and mounted combat as Dothraki? Knights spend a great deal of time practicing the art; they even travel the kingdom going to tournaments to display this skill. Does that put them close?

As good is hard to say. They learn a completely different kind of mounted combat from the Dothraki and depending on a number of factors (terrain, coordination with infantry, skill of leadership, etc.) it might match up horribly or well with the Dothraki model. 

To use some real world examples: the Mongols beat the shit out of European knights when they first came in contact with them. The Mongols also beat the living hell out of the Arabs and the Turks who often used the same kind of feigned retreat, highly mobile, all-cavalry, horse-archer-based tactics that the Mongols did. Is the reason that the Mongols beat the Europeans is that horse archers are better than knights full-stop, or because Genghis Khan’s armies were some of the best-trained and best-led soldiers in world history?

To further extend my argument: Hulagu Khan, grandson of Genghis, who had sacked Baghdad and brought the Abbasid Caliphate to an end, two years later got completely demolished by the Mamluks of Egypt at Ain Jalut and the First Battle of the Horns. Sixty years after the first and successful Mongol invasion of Europe, the Mongols invaded Poland and Hungary again and were beaten badly. 

So is that technology or the other myriad factors (leadership, numbers, terrain, logistics, weather, pure blind luck) that can determine victory or defeat? I lean to the latter. 

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion XIII, ACOK

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion XIII, ACOK

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“They say I’m half a man…what does that make the lot of you?” Synopsis: Tyrion observes his works and doesn’t quite despair before rushing off to the defense of the King’s Gate, where Sandor is refusing to lead another sortie against Stannis’ landing parties. Tyrion steps into the breach. SPOILER WARNING: This chapter analysis, and all following, will contain spoilers for all Song of Ice and Fire…

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Do you think it would be possible to reshape King’s Landing into a grid plan?

Well, you could something if the city burned to the ground…

I don’t know if a strict grid would be a good idea, though. You’ve got those three hills that make grids difficult, and the main diagonal avenues have important purposes, so I wouldn’t want to get rid of them:

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If I was redesigning the city, I’d focus more on a spoke-and-hub model. The unnamed square near the Great Sept should be moved and/or expanded a bit to the east where the exact center of the city is, so that it connects directly with the Muddy Way and is more in line with the rest of the gates. Moreover, the city at present lacks a main central plaza for public events and that location would do nicely.

Next, the King’s Gate, the Lion Gate, and the Old Gate lack a major avenue connecting them with the heart of the city, which is bad planning since each connects with a major road and you want traffic to move more smoothly. So I would extend the Muddy Way up to the Old Gate, connect the Rosby Road to the Gold Road, build a new road from the King’s Gate up to that central square past the Great Sept, and extend the Street of SIsters past the Dragonpit to the Dragon Gate. (Honestly, I’m shocked that the East Barracks of the City Watch isn’t directly connected to any major thoroughfares – how do they expect to respond to any crises over int he west of the city? And why isn’t there a Central Barracks?) 

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Sansa V, ACOK

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Sansa V, ACOK

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 “The Mother’s altar and the Warrior’s swam in light, but Smith and Crone and Maid and Father had their worshipers as well, and there were even a few flames dancing below the Stranger’s half-human face…for what was Stannis Baratheon, if not the Stranger come to judge them?” Synopsis: Sansa is trapped in Maegor’s Holdfast with Cersei, who’s not looking very stable. SPOILER WARNING: This chapter…

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Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion XII, ACOK

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion XII, ACOK

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“Cersei set a tasty table, that could not be denied…Tyrion was exceedingly courteous; he offered his sister the choice portions of every dish, and made certain he ate only what she did. Not that he truly thought she’d poison him, but it never hurt to be careful.” Synopsis: Tyrion has dinner with Cersei. It doesn’t go well. SPOILER WARNING: This chapter analysis, and all following, will contain…

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Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Sansa IV, ACOK

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Sansa IV, ACOK

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“Wordless, she fled. She was afraid of Sandor Clegane…and yet, some part of her wished that Ser Dontos had a little of the Hound’s ferocity. There are gods, she told herself, and there are true knights too. All the stories can’t be lies.” Synopsis: Sansa argues with Ser Dontos about travel, has a conversation with Sandor Clegane about the joys of murder, and then has to talk to Cersei about…

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Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion XI, ACOK

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion XI, ACOK

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“Them as own all this won’t like that much.” “I never imagined they would. So be it; they’ll have something else to curse the evil monkey demon for.” Synopsis: as Stannis‘ army nears King’s Landing, Tyrion organizes the defenses of the city. SPOILER WARNING: This chapter analysis, and all following, will contain spoilers for all Song of Ice and Fire novels and Game of Thrones episodes. Caveat…

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Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Jon VII, ACOK

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Jon VII, ACOK

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“Eagles have sharper eyes than men. We are seen. So now we run.” Synopsis: Jon and Qhorin have a significant conversation, Jon talks to Bran in his dreams, and then an eagle forces the ranging into a headlong retreat. Squire Dalbridge stays behind. SPOILER WARNING: This chapter analysis, and all following, will contain spoilers for all Song of Ice and Fire novels and Game of Thrones episodes.…

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