Essence Marks and Allomantic Gold

[Claincy he/him]

Awww man! Why didn't we think of that!

Well, the whole "father figure" thing?

 

 

Balance is boring (English translation at the bottom of the article).

I know. Though my point is still an entirely valid observation. Anyway, the real problem isn't strict balance it is dominant strategies, and unfortunately the MAG has a number of them.

 

(oh, and yes I did read the link )

 

I'm happy with the way the thread has gone.

All good then

[Oudeis he/him]

Except why do I feel like I read somewhere that, the way only those with a tie to Arelon can become Elantrians, only those born in MaiPon can be Forgers? It was some WoB that spoke of four-dimensional Punnett squares. I really like your idea, and I still want to find a way to make it work. Perhaps an allomancer worldhopped, and bore the child of a MaiPonese? Except such a child happening to be born with such an incredibly useful power strains credulity.

 

I suppose it could be a child of two worlds, whose first Essence Mark is "what if I'd been born an Augur"? Still feels like cheating the system to me... There comes a time when you have to say of a theory, "that's too overpowered".

[Kurkistan he/him]

Here are some quotes for fun and profit:

 

Source:

NEPENE ()

In The Emperor's Soul and Elantris the magic systems have very different methods and powers, though both work through symbols. Assuming they adapted the symbols to their local geography could they use each other's methods? Could an Elantrian forge a soulstamp say?

 

BRANDON SANDERSON

Birth in a certain location on Sel gives a certain affinity for the local symbols, and their usage. To use the magic of another region, one would need to have a rewritten connection to that area instead.

 

Source:

Chaos: I tweeted Brandon vaguely about the genetics of it. This is what he said:

In the Cosmere, a person has three sets of genetic material. Biological DNA, Personality/Cognative self, Spiritual Soul. All are influenced by heritage and parents. All all are also influenced by the land you are born in. A Punnett square wouldn't cover it. Think of a 4-dimensional Punnett square.

 

-8/2/2010

[Oudeis he/him]

Hrm... so there is a tiny bit of wiggle-room. Although... that's actually interesting. I suppose you don't need the parents, you merely have to have been born there. So if two Scadrians world-hopped to Sel, they could settle and have a number of children, making it less of a coincidence that one of them would happen to be an Augur. There's still the idea of, how many of them are likely to suffer an experience so traumatic that the Snap? What do you think, guys? Would any of you read a story that contrived? Can anyone help me think of a way to make it more organic? I could make the progenitor a powerful Allomancer, making her genetic legacy more likely, and have the Augur be a grand-child. If her spouse were full-blooded skaa, the Balance would indicate that they'd have lots of children, giving us a few more rolls of the die.

 

It'd amuse me if the child's light connection to Sel (and therefore MaiPon) makes his forgeries weak and poor, yet his gold-cheat makes his Essence Marks beyond compare...