Space-age Roshar: protected by planetary Shardplate?

[Ripheus23]

Granting that we have been informed that Roshar at large doesn't have a singular gemheart to its name, yet I'm having a vision/expectation of Roshar being compassed about by Shardplate, to protect it from anti-planet/continent weapons in the space age. But where would the source of this be? Kaladin unites his windspren with the Wind to make the global barricade? The Sibling unites itself with the spren of the Dawncities to make its own magic-shield system span the stone of the dominant continent? Jasnah unites her type of Shardplate with other types of Shardplate in some massive spren cascade, to the defend the host of Roshar?

"Unite them," indeed!

*Stops cooking the theory in a cracked pot*

[RedBlue]

I’m not sure how well that would work as a global defensive system. A force that can destroy a continent or planet shouldn’t have much difficulty breaking through a layer of Plate.

[Nitpicking]

7 hours ago, Ripheus23 said:

Granting that we have been informed that Roshar at large doesn't have a singular gemheart to its name, yet I'm having a vision/expectation of Roshar being compassed about by Shardplate, to protect it from anti-planet/continent weapons in the space age. But where would the source of this be? Kaladin unites his windspren with the Wind to make the global barricade? The Sibling unites itself with the spren of the Dawncities to make its own magic-shield system span the stone of the dominant continent? Jasnah unites her type of Shardplate with other types of Shardplate in some massive spren cascade, to the defend the host of Roshar?

"Unite them," indeed!

*Stops cooking the theory in a cracked pot*

You're describing Komashi and the Shroud, you realize?

[Ripheus23]

8 hours ago, Nitpicking said:

You're describing Komashi and the Shroud, you realize?

They've got that book in the library where I live, I'mma have to check it out

[Eliana Keylocke she/her]

I think Brandon mentioned at some point that Roshar has a magnetic field, so maybe if there are some magnetic-space spren they could unite and form a shield? I think Kaladin or other Heralds might also be able to do something, since they are Connected to Roshar in a way that others aren't. And it really depends on what's going on with Retribution at the time.

*Adds more ingredients to cracked pot* 

[Returned he/him]

I think that the orbital bombardment idea is too real-world and not Cosmeric enough to be an issue. Orbital bombardment is a big deal with real physical limitations but with Cosmere magic it doesn't seem especially worthwhile. The destruction of Ashyn is strong evidence that you don't need a ton of people or conventional military action/ordinance to destroy a planet, if that's even a goal you want to pursue. And that super-powered individuals issue seems likely to become more acute as knowledge of Investiture becomes more advanced and Investiture itself becomes more commoditized and practical.

Don't bring a tungsten rod to a magic fight!

[Eliana Keylocke she/her]

22 hours ago, Returned said:

Don't bring a tungsten rod to a magic fight!

Unless you can allomantically burn it...

[dezaS Hᴇ/Hɪᴍ]

Just now, Eliana Keylocke said:

Unless you can allomantically burn it...

We're pretty sure you cant allomantically burn tungsten

[bmcclure7]

On 3/14/2025 at 12:34 PM, dezaS said:

We're pretty sure you cant allomantically burn tungsten

For now 

[Nitpicking]

@bmcclure7, I'm actually quite sure that I can't burn any metals at all, being a non-Allomancer.

[bmcclure7]

15 minutes ago, Nitpicking said:

@bmcclure7, I'm actually quite sure that I can't burn any metals at all, being a non-Allomancer.

Have you tried?

[Nitpicking]

1 hour ago, bmcclure7 said:

Have you tried?

Of course. Haven't you?

I don't like the taste of cadmium at all.

[Ripheus23]

34 minutes ago, Nitpicking said:

Of course. Haven't you?

I don't like the taste of cadmium at all.

While we're at it... uranium's a metal. Is there anything in the WoB's about uranium being a possible element of the Intended Metallic Arts? Seems weird that Ruin wouldn't have been interested in something so easily usable as a superpowerful weapon...