LogFAQs > #961356251

Veedrock- posted...

The problem with a 90+ minute fight sequence is there's no satisfying natural conclusion. What changed after 90 minutes that suddenly let the heroes win? If it's just a tactic then people will ask why they didn't use it sooner. If it's a secret weapon you gotta establish what it is and why the heroes got it so late in the battle, meaning you're cutting away from the battle to tell a story.

Pretty much. In order to stay engaging for that long, you need some semblance of progression. Look at Helm's Deep and Pelennor Fields in the LotR movies: It's not just fighting continuously the whole time. As the battle progresses, new factors are introduced that shift the tide (the Hornburg being breached, Rohan's arrival at Pelennor, the Haradrim showing up...), creating a plausible progression toward the conclusion. In the case of Pelennor Fields, you have periodic breaks from the action to progress other plotlines. You can't just fight for an hour and a half. The fighting has to mean something and go somewhere.