Significance of Steelhearts Ability To Turn Objects To Steel, Why?

[Theorymaker]

Steelheart has a steel city and Words of Radiance has a Bronze Palace... well at least we know where to find some mistings.

 

(Yes I know Steelheart isn't in the Cosmere)

[bridgerald]

Side note about moving around Newcago- I always assumed it was a literal transformation to steel, meaning that all surfaces maintained their textures (much like soulcast wood). This would have some effect on friction and such, but it's not just slick roads and sidewalks.

[Bow Tie Bandit]

Now I have not read Steelheart since November but since I recruited a friend into Brandon's works (he started with Steelheart) I have been thinking a lot about the story and I was wondering about this power of Steelheart's. He can turn objects to steel and he turned the whole city to steel. What is the point of this power? Steelheart is super strong, fast, durable, OP, basically he is an evil version of Clark Kent aka Superman. He can do all of those things and look, he can also turn things to steel. Is it just me or does that power seem really random and pointless? Does it seem to really not fit in with Steelheart's other powers? Does it seem pointless to the story? Why would Brandon just put this detail into the story? This whole concept seems meaningless but this leads to my theory. I believe that Steelheart's ability to change things to steel will serve a great purpose in the two sequels, specifically Calamity the final book. I believe this detail actually will be very significant to the storyline because why else would Brandon just come up with the idea of this antagonist turning everything into steel? I don't know why he would do this although my guess is that perhaps he wasn't yet 100% evil when he did this (and similar to Lord Ruler from Mistborn, he knew something other people didn't). I think in his last moment of decency he turned the city to steel knowing it somehow would do something good or help protect something. Overall I do think Newcago being steel will have significance because it seems so random if it was just turned to steel for no reason. If I am correct, as I said my guess as to why Steelheart did this was some secret final good intention before he succumbed to corruption. Since I have not read Steelheart in a bit, please let me know if there are things I missed and it is explained why Steelheart made Newcago into steel.

I personally like your theory.  It would be very interesting to find out that the only way to destroy Calamity would be using the powers that it gifted to the Epics.  It know that this is its weakness so it also makes the epics uberevil when they do use their powers.  This would mean that the Epics would have to band together and fight it while fighting their amplified inner evils.  Seems like a plausible ending to me.  Steelheart made the city Steel while angry at himself for being so evil.  and this is just an ingredient needed to destroy calamity.  Just a thought.  

[EddyRed]

My personal theory is that there are something like "ranks" of Epics, as in you have your specialists like deathpoint or the illusionist whose illusions flicker (been a while, forgot her name).

Then there are the gifters, who are able to empower a large number if mere mortals.

Then there are your big guns, like steelheart and nightwielder. These ones are what started me on this line of thought. They have a mobility power, an offensive power, some form of prime invincibility and, here is where it links in with OP, a power that directly manipulates te battlefield. In nightwielder's case, he makes it night, allowing himself free reign. Steelheart may have his steel shout because with super strength, who wants to fight in a world of cardboard.

Sorry for wordy post, will try and make it neater when I get to a proper computer.

Thoughts? Opinions? Outright criticisms?

[Andrew C]

I also expect book 3 to reveal that there was much more behind the 'turn ALL the things to steel' power.