Boneheaded Stark Decisions?

[Ser Ronan Storm]

On ‎7‎/‎23‎/‎2016 at 4:17 AM, Ser Tristan Flowers said:

There are actually plenty of schemers in the north. Lady Dustin, Roose, the Umbers, Robett Glover, Manderly, the Karstarks betraying Stannis etc.

It´s not like theres NO intrigue going on, I think it´s more like Ned was never the target because he was actually the best Lord anyone could ask for and his succession seemed very secure.

Also I think this pattern of honorable Stark stupidity is only very recently. The Kings of Winter were nothing like this and ruled with an iron grip. Even more recent examples shows that they´re not naive by nature. I don´t think Cregan Stark would put up with any of this crap and serve cold justice in court. The scheming would turn down rather quickly.

The one things the Starks never did was play the game of thrones. Now they were kind of forced into it and failed miserably.

 

Cregan Stark and Theon Stark seem to be the best that family had to offer the North. I don't really care for most of the surviving Starks, but if by some stroke of luck Sansa ends the series as Lady of Winterfell or Queen in the North, she would at least break the cycle of implicitly trusting and always giving the benefit of the doubt. She has learned from a string of betrayals and Littlefinger's tutelage how to survive in the great game.

[The Golden Wolf]

2 hours ago, Ser Ronan Storm said:

Cregan Stark and Theon Stark seem to be the best that family had to offer the North. I don't really care for most of the surviving Starks, but if by some stroke of luck Sansa ends the series as Lady of Winterfell or Queen in the North, she would at least break the cycle of implicitly trusting and always giving the benefit of the doubt. She has learned from a string of betrayals and Littlefinger's tutelage how to survive in the great game.

How do you get the notion that any of the current Stark generation are lesser than Cregan or Theon? Cregan's most notable thing was that he demanded a Targ wife in return for leading his men south. Theon sent a message to the andals by attacking Andalos. 

Ned never implicitly trusted anyone and was not as naive as people make him out to be and his children were children living pretty much in isolation. And even then his children had learned from him the right lessons.

People forget that the Game of Thrones is not the end all be all of life in westeros. And that while Littlefinger's or Tywin's methods seem to come out on top it is actually the lessons and values imparted by Ned that will see the Starks back on top. 

His children maybe receiving tutelage from others but the core of their beings is reinforced by what he and Cat taught them. 

There is a reason people wanted to be like the Starks and it wasn't just because they are a Great House. 

 

 

[house of dayne]

Ned and cat not arranging any marriages for their children..in westrosi noble circles, this is a grievous error

[The Golden Wolf]

6 hours ago, house of dayne said:

Ned and cat not arranging any marriages for their children..in westrosi noble circles, this is a grievous error

The only child who was even at age to be considered for an arrangement was Robb who was 14/15. Sansa was 11, Arya 9, Bran 7,  Rickon 3 in times of peace people do not look to arrange marriages with their children long before they have even hit puberty. 

The thing about the Starks is that they are a relatively young family when all this shit goes down compared to the Lannisters, Tyrells, Greyjoys, and Martells. All of those families are basically fully grown. Ned believed he had more time to raise his children in peace and find for them suitable matches. Unfortunately for him 2 people, Littlefinger and Varys, were very intent upon shitting on that notion.

So yeah outside of Robb, all the kids not being arranged in marriages is not a big deal.   

[Damsel in Distress]

On 7/25/2016 at 0:06 AM, Widowmaker 811 said:

(1) Robb beheading Karstark and then betraying his biggest supporter, Walder Frey.

(2) Sansa ratting out her father's escape plans to Cersei because she wanted the queen to force Ned to stay in KL, so she can be with Joffrey.

(3) Jon committing treason, sent Mance Rayder to rescue Arya.  Basically, Jon declared war on House Bolton.  He was about to make it worse by planning to ride out with an army of wildllings. 

(4) Rickard making those wedding arrangements for his children.  That was basically the equivalent of signalling the king that he wants to pick a fight.

(5) Brandon and his armed men riding to the Red Keep and threatening the royal family. 

1. Agree.  Robb also let Catelyn off the hook for letting Jaime go.  Robb doesn't deal out justice fairly.  Walder Frey paid up.  The old man fulfilled his end of the bargain and even lost his heir in Robb's service.  Robb was wrong to renege on his agreement. 
2. Agree. 
3. Agree.  Jon started that fight. 
4. This is true.   Rickard might be dumb but he had to know that the Targaryens would feel threatened by the alliances that he was building.  It's dumb to threaten the boss. 
5. Agree.  It is a long ride from Riverrun to King's Landing.  Brandon had plenty of time to cool off.  He's just not smart.

[devilish]

The rot started long before Eddard and GOT. 

a- their insistence in not having a fleet. That left them vulnerable to the iron islanders who could strike them at any time without suffering any consequences and it also left them heavily reliant on the Riverlands who must allow military access whenever the North needed it. A decent fleet would have given the North the ability to defend itself and to be able to trade within and outside Westeros without external help. It would also improve the Starks status since the Southern Lords would know, that the Northern forces wouldn't need ages to come to the rescue if need be

b- their insistence in not upgrading their infrastructure. Moat Cailin is in ruins, the wall is understaffed and some of their castles are glorified walled huts.  I understand that the North isn't rich. However they should have at least made sure that the Night's watch wouldnt end up a parody of its former self and that Moat Cailin is heavily fortified.