Different Types of Plate?

[Rybal]

Forgive me if this has already been discussed (some of the topics have so much information, it is difficult to catch up fully). Also, I do not have my copy on hand, so I do not have the references.

Re-reading, I noticed a lot of similarities in how Dalinar's Plate works to the way that Windrunning works. Specifically in comparing the descriptions in the chapter with the Hunt (for Dalinar's Plate) with the chapter where Kaladin is just figuring out what he can do and drops down from the bridge and Szeth's chapters. (I am sorry if this isn't entirely clear, but I am just typing as I think)

So I was wondering if, just as there are 10 different orders of Radiants, are there multiple types of Plate as well? So far, we have really only had descriptions of how Dalinar's works but I seriously doubt that it is a coincidence that Plate functions in a similar fashion to Windrunning (reorientation, expulsion of Stormlight on landing, etc).

Furthermore, it stands to reason, since the Radiants were recognized for utilizing Plate, that Plate would have been created to amplify the abilities of the Radiants or, at the very least, work in conjunction with said abilities.

We know that Dalinar has stated that he will pass on his Plate to Renarin and that Szeth has stated that Lashings don't work on Plate very effectively, but what if he doesn't understand it properly? What if the lashings would work from within Plate, but only if you were using Plate that had been properly attuned to your particular abilities? What would happen if Kaladin were to attempt to use Dalinar's Plate?

Let me know what you think (or if this theory's already out there).

[Cayden]

I dont think the plate is really that specific. The puffs of stormlight coming from the plate is most likely, the plate abosorbing the impact of the drop and repairing/strengthening it to make sure there is no lingering damage. Windrunning/Lashing's alter the gravity itself, the plate absorbs the impact which would shatter the legs of a normal man.

The Plate gives greater strength, speed and suprisingly good dexterity for what is in all intensive purposes a battlesuit which ways 100 stone weights. Probably as much as if you were wearing nothing at all. Assuming however that it is not damaged too far.

I think that the main problems with Surgebinding and wearing plate is that no one has grown their own set of plate since the Radiants abdicated. I am pretty sure that someone else's plate cannot work as well as one that is the byproduct of the union between surgebinder and spren.

My reasons for thinking this come from Dalinar's visions. The Radiants in those can remove their helms with a thought and replace them the same way.. Just like Shardblades, but unlike Shardblades, Plate requires Stormlight to function so that the current variants around use infused gemstones places inside the chest piece, and because of this it is not attached to its wielder and cannot allow surgebinding through it.

[Alonin he/him]

It is possible for there to be different kinds of plates. In one of Szeth's viewpoints, he thinks about how having a shardplate would interfere with his surgebinding. So, if the Knights Radiant had some surgebinders, there had to be some sort of plate that didn't interfere with surgebinding.

[Cheese Ninja he/him]

I think that Plate and Blades haven't actually changed since their initial creation.

I don't think that each order has a particular type of Plate, but that Plate is interchangeable until it is attuned to a particular Surgebinder. But I think that Radiants had to develop their Nahel Bond to the at least the 3rd Ideal before they could use Plate. Once they had advanced in their training to a far enough degree, I think they picked out their own Plate and Blade from a storage in Urithiru. Then they probably added whatever glyphs were needed so that the Shardplate wouldn't interfere with their various forms of Surgebinding. ex)Windrunners needed glyphs that still allowed them to use Lashings. The glyphs probably lasted as long the Plate was bound to a particular Radiant, until death or abdication.

Basically I think that the Nahel Bond affected the state of the Plate and Blade as they were wielded by the Knight Radiant.

What I'm not sure about is if there were Plates and Blades before the Knights Radiants were created by Nohadon. I think we're told that they were granted by the Heralds, but was that before the first Desolations happened, or only after the formation of the Radiant Orders? Dalinar's vision with Nohadon didn't actually feature Blade or Plate in it. There were dead Thunderclasts, but the destruction wasn't described very much.

[Cayden]

I think that Plate and Blades haven't actually changed since their initial creation.

I don't think that each order has a particular type of Plate, but that Plate is interchangeable until it is attuned to a particular Surgebinder. But I think that Radiants had to develop their Nahel Bond to the at least the 3rd Ideal before they could use Plate. Once they had advanced in their training to a far enough degree, I think they picked out their own Plate and Blade from a storage in Urithiru. Then they probably added whatever glyphs were needed so that the Shardplate wouldn't interfere with their various forms of Surgebinding. ex)Windrunners needed glyphs that still allowed them to use Lashings. The glyphs probably lasted as long the Plate was bound to a particular Radiant, until death or abdication.

Basically I think that the Nahel Bond affected the state of the Plate and Blade as they were wielded by the Knight Radiant.

What I'm not sure about is if there were Plates and Blades before the Knights Radiants were created by Nohadon. I think we're told that they were granted by the Heralds, but was that before the first Desolations happened, or only after the formation of the Radiant Orders? Dalinar's vision with Nohadon didn't actually feature Blade or Plate in it. There were dead Thunderclasts, but the destruction wasn't described very much.

The only references about the plate is from Dalinar's visions of the radiants. Where he comments about it glowing, the glyphs and the helms appearing/dissapearing at a glance. These are all oddities to him which is why they stood out so much.

Im still of the mindset that the 5th Oath of the Radiants endows them with the Plate/Blade, in a similar fashion to the Heralds Oaths being tied to their Honor Blades. By Discarding their Blades they ended the Pact. The Heralds did this, as did the Radiants. So there has to be a greater meaning to it.

My reasoning for this is that I dont think Shardblades are not from the physical realm. I think they are from Shadesmar, and that to an extent so is Shardplate, except that the Plate remain in the physical realm if it is not linked with someone who can surgebind to feed it Stormlight.

[Windrunner he/him]

Thought I'd pop in here to say that Shardblades are stored in the Spiritual Realm when not in use.

[Cheese Ninja he/him]

Fair enough, but if a Shardblade isn't even claimed by someone, then it could just be lying around anywhere. Only after a Shardblade is bonded to someone could it be sent away to the Spiritual Realm. Also, when and where did we get confirmation that they're stored in the Spirtual Realm? Where is the Brandonothology most up to date?

[Windrunner he/him]

It's an older fact that I can't find the reference for at the minute. I'm certain it's true though. I'll post as soon as I figure out where it's gone.

The Brandonothology is no longer being updated. We've partnered with theoryland, the WoT fansite, on their interview database, which now contains interviews by both Robert Jordan and Brandon. It's pretty sweet, you can check it out here.