MovieChat Forums > Game of Thrones (2011) Discussion > Could Robb's Plan Have Worked??

Could Robb's Plan Have Worked??

posted 5 years ago by Sandman81 (1502)
9 replies | jump to latest

Had he not screwed up with the Karstark's, and the Bolton's not betrayed him, could Robb's plan of drawing out Tywin by taking Casterly Rock have worked? Did he have enough strength to even take the Rock? And could Tywin look at it from a pragmatic view and realize that it held no significant military value, or would his pride get in the way and he would fear damaging his family name if they lost their ancestral home?

And would Robb have discovered that the Lannister Gold Mines are empty, and would that have changed the political landscape in King's Landing? Maybe that would be the reason Tywin would leave King's Landing in pursuit of the Northern Army.

[–] brux (14666) 5 years ago

No .... Robb, like his father was just plain stupid, over and over.

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

Neither Robb nor Ned were completely stupid, but of course being politically stupid was enough to get them killed. Robb was actually written as a young tactical genius, who surprised everyone by pulling out victory after victory against Tywin Lannister, who was the most all-around brilliant man in Westeros. But of course Lannister was a brilliant politician and neither Ned nor Robb was, in fact they were both complete idiots when it came to playing the clan politics of Westeros.

And Ned was such a dolt when it came to politics, that even Cersei would play with him and dance rings around him.

[–] bohemianroxie (2471) 5 years ago

I don't see either as stupid but naive about the cesspool surrounding them.
Ned had stayed aloof from the politics of Kings Landing for many years because it wasn't his forte. He knew that it wasn't his thing. He actually believed that principles (rigid though it may be) and rule of law had meaning and clout and he should have caught on to the complete corruption long before he did..
It wasn't Robb's thing either. The death of Ned is what compelled him to do what he really didn't want to be involved in and didn't understand.
Neither were motivated or hungry for power or absent of scruples so they had no understanding of it and it got them both killed.

[–] Alerra (244) 5 years ago

I don't think Ned was stupid. Blind or naive, and completely out of his element, yes. But not stupid.

I don't believe anyone is COMPLETELY stupid. We all do dumb stuff from time to time.

[–] tightspotkilo (7) 5 years ago

Ned wasn't stupid. He was loyal to a fault.

[–] brux (14666) 5 years ago

He was stupid .... way too trusting. Misplaced loyalty is stupid.
Maybe not always, but Ned knew what to expect. Also, he was
kind of a phony, eh, from what Bran saw in his vision. One wonders
how he could have been a king and stayed a king and been so stupid.

The series opens with him wrongfully executing a man, no?

[–] McQualude (4231) 5 years ago

Hard to say but yes I think he would have defeated the Lannisters if he had been more politically savvy.

The Stark men's, including Jon, undoing were their fierce individualism. Robb was a great tactician and leader but disregarded the politics of alliances. Ned had an obsession with truth and honor at all cost. Jon is great at getting lots of people moving in the same direction but sucks as a leader and general and would make a terrible ruler. Without a cause, Jon wouldn't know what to do.

[–] Volley (3374) 5 years ago

Yep. If Robb had stayed true to Walder Frey, didn't lob off Karstark's head, say Theon would not have attacked Winterfell, and Roose Bolton would not have betrayed--Robb would have successfully taken Casterly Rock.

Unfortunately, no one knows except for Tywin Lannister and possibly Uncle Kevan, that Casterly Rock is actually Worthless Rock. The mines had not been outputting any gold for some time, and all the gold Tywin had was what he held in reserve--and with his army. Tywin would have pulled his forces to King's Landing while Robb's army took the Westerlands and found it kinda worthless.

Ravens would have flown to all corners of Westeros and even the Free Cities, announcing that Tywin Lannister was bankrupt. The Iron Bank of Braavos then proceeds to hire the Golden Company to take King's Landing assets that amount to the gold that is owed. Caught between Robb's 30,000 man army (with Frey bolstered forces) and Stannis' off the coast as well as the Golden Company, King's Landing falls out of Lannister control, and it is likely given to the rightful heir--Stannis Baratheon. Tywin is captured/killed, Cersei dies, Mountain dies, Tyrion & Varys escape to Pentos, Sansa is freed and meets Catelyn and Robb forces at the King's gate.

Robb's army goes back north, and along the way Robb marries the beautiful Frey girl who went to Uncle Edmure in the original timeline. Hearing the good news, Arya heads up to Winterfell, along with Catelyn, Sansa, and Robb and all is well.

Then the White Walkers attack and no one is prepared.

[–] TexasJack (12515) 5 years ago

I think the case could be made that they would have been in a better position to deal with the White Walkers threat.

Jon's timeline doesn't really change as a result of that scenario. He would still have become Lord Commander of the Night's Watch and he would still have had the experience of fighting the White Walkers. He would have warned everyone and requested massive reinforcements.

Robb and Stannis would not have flinched from their duty to protect the realm against an invasion. The Night's Watch would have been reinforced and all of the castles along the Wall would have been manned and prepared to fight.

The wildcard there is how would Dany have responded? If she and her dragons could be brought in as allies rather than launching an invasion of Westeros, then everyone would have been in the best possible position to withstand the Night King.