A Stab At How That Other Continent Uses Magic (Spoilers?)

[Phantom Monstrosity]

It *could* just be properly applying electricity, but that seems a little boring.

Edited May 28, 2013 by Phantom Monstrosity

[SwiftSteel he/him]

Does the size of a spike have any affect on Hemalurgy? (wiki scan didn't turn up anything)

If so, I could see that being a downside of using a small spike like a syringe.

 

It would stand to reason, as the amount of metal has a clear correlation to power in Allomancy and Feruchemy.

 

I believe that it was mentioned somewhere (probably in a discussion stating that Wax's earring was a Hemalguric spike) that the smaller the spike, the less power it had.  I think one of the characters in the first trilogy mentioned it, saying that the Inquisitors would have had smaller spikes otherwise.

So yeah, the bigger the spike, the more power it takes or something like that

[Tarontos he/him]

I believe that it was mentioned somewhere (probably in a discussion stating that Wax's earring was a Hemalguric spike) that the smaller the spike, the less power it had.  I think one of the characters in the first trilogy mentioned it, saying that the Inquisitors would have had smaller spikes otherwise.

So yeah, the bigger the spike, the more power it takes or something like that

The size only matters if the spike is not in a person. If the spike is outside of a person, it loses charge faster the smaller it is. Marsh says/thinks this when spiking Penrod.

[skaa he/him]

It *could* just be properly applying electricity, but that seems a little boring.

 

The northern continent already has electricity. Assuming that they're using copper wires as IRL, there'd have been plenty of reports regarding mysterious invisible Smokers that hang around electronic devices.

Edited May 28, 2013 by skaa

[Pechvarry]

The northern continent already has electricity. Assuming that they're using copper wires as IRL, there'd have been tons of reports regarding mysterious invisible Smokers that hang around electronic devices.

Ehh, if anything, the copper wire could have undetectable allomancy (inheriting the effect, not the power), which wouldn't get noticed for obvious reasons. With electricity just discovered, it stands to reason they haven't stumbled across something amazing yet.

On a related note: electromagnetism. The Well was at the magnetic north pole. When Rashek moved the well, it dragged magnetic north with it. This means it's pretty feasible that allomancy in general is somehow reactive to electromagnetism.

Edited May 28, 2013 by Pechvarry

[Phantom Monstrosity]

The size only matters if the spike is not in a person. If the spike is outside of a person, it loses charge faster the smaller it is. Marsh says/thinks this when spiking Penrod.

Size also matters in terms of 'how much Ruin can influence you'. 

 

Combined with spikes having a maximum capacity, it seems quite sensible to assume that size actually does matter, but you aren't going to get enough power just by killing a single person to fill any sensibly sized spike.

[Pechvarry]

It's mentioned in either books or annotations that the Steel Inquisitors use such large spikes for the intimidation factor.  Sorry that I don't remember which.  

 

I mean, I'm guessing size is a factor to a certain extent, but a pitcher holds a cup of Kool-Aid just as well as a glass does.  I imagine a human's entire Investiture could fit in a reasonably small spike, with larger ones just having redundant space (the Pitcher).  Meanwhile, really tiny ones (Marsh's Smoker spike, The Bronze earring) probably discard excess strength.  Or.... even leave it behind (if the donor actually lived).

[Tarontos he/him]

Hero of Ages

The spikes size was, in this case, immaterial. Just as a pinch of metal dust could fuel Allomancy for a time, or a small ring could hold a small Feruchemical charge, a rather small bit of metal could work for Hemalurgy. Inquisitor spikes were made large to be intimidating, but a small pin could, in many instances, be just as effective as a massive spike. It depended on how long one wanted to leave the spike outside of a person's body after using it to kill someone.

So yes a larger spike can hold a larger charge, but apparently the size is for intimidation,in inquisitors, not for Allomantic strength. if you want say some one with enough pewter Allomancy to bench two tons, your gonna need a large spike but a smaller spike will hold a full persons Hemurlogic charge.

 

Edit: Didn't check the new post, but I found the quote.

Edited May 28, 2013 by Tarontos

[Phantom Monstrosity]

You can actually split spikes up as well, but you lose some power in the process.