So if I were an aluminum compounder

[Bryce Carmony he/him]

So while I fill my metalmind what am I losing? Any advantage to having surplus identity? I get that the airship people of BoM used identity to get language but not really sure what other implications could be.

[Observer]

They actually used connection to get languages. Brandon's on record as saying that tons of excess identity is not the most useful thing in the world, but given identity seems to be spiritual identity and not mental identity, it might have some applications in regards to, say, hemalurgy.

[Bryce Carmony he/him]

They actually used connection to get languages. Brandon's on record as saying that tons of excess identity is not the most useful thing in the world, but given identity seems to be spiritual identity and not mental identity, it might have some applications in regards to, say, hemalurgy.

Ah connection. I read BoM in 2 days I need to re-read it #_#. Even if it's not useful what do you think it would do? Hemalurgy steals identity so is there a perk to stealing more?

[baby he/him]

umm, I'd like to say something about this, but it's heavy BoM Spoilers so this should (probably?) be moved to the subforum. Or the grace period might have ended. I don't know. Don't trust me. 

Edited March 9, 2016 by Onceler

[Voidus]

umm, I'd like to say something about this, but it's heavy BoM Spoilers so this should (probably?) be moved to the subforum. Or the grace period might have ended. I don't know. Don't trust me. 

Yep, spoilers can be discussed outside in spoiler tags but unless it's in cosmere theories if the entire topic is spoilers it should be kept in the subforum.

[Irkutsk he/him]

I personally have a theory that an excess of identity would, for at least one, very specific use, prevent your physical body from being soulcast. Soulcasting requires that you convince an object to change it's cognitive identity, (i.e., the great and mighty stick) so tapping identity should theoretically prevent someone like Jasnah from turning you into fire.

[CaptainRyan he/him]

I personally have a theory that an excess of identity would, for at least one, very specific use, prevent your physical body from being soulcast. Soulcasting requires that you convince an object to change it's cognitive identity, (i.e., the great and mighty stick) so tapping identity should theoretically prevent someone like Jasnah from turning you into fire.

 

Very clever theory! Have an upvote!

[IndigoAjah he/him]

I think that having excess Identity might also prevent body-jacking via a god/spike etc. Say someone tries to use the red metal spike on you, if you realise in time you tap Identity, become too sure of yourself to be taken over for long enough to take the spike out. Kind of Granny Weatherwax-esque

[dvoraen]

I personally have a theory that an excess of identity would, for at least one, very specific use, prevent your physical body from being soulcast. Soulcasting requires that you convince an object to change it's cognitive identity, (i.e., the great and mighty stick) so tapping identity should theoretically prevent someone like Jasnah from turning you into fire.

I agree with this too!  I definitely think you're correct that having a surplus of Identity can protect you against non-Physical alteration, as it were.  I also wonder if, by extension, it basically makes you immune to Rioting and Soothing, amongst other things.

 

I've been ruminating on the idea of Compounding aluminum lately, and to be honest I had the weirdest thought:

 

Does Compounding Aluminum basically allow you to "encrypt" a metalmind you're filling during the process so it is you, and only you (in the cosmere), who can later tap it?  The point being, if there are gradations to burning copper and bronze, for example, then surely there are gradations to Identity.  So instead of someone "mimicking" your Identity somehow, they have to REALLY up the quotient to get to your stuff.

 

I'm probably on the wrong track, since having no Identity can hypothetically give you access to someone else's metalmind, but it did make me wonder if it worked the other way too.  Like having a Spiritual fingerprint scanner, except only the original can provide the correct one (instead of a partial, so to speak).

Edited April 5, 2016 by dvoraen

[Yata he/him]

Well I agree with the "hard to Soulcast"... but now something come to my mind.

 

An Alluminium Compounder would be the ultimate defense (or at least some sort).

With the Allomantic Side he may purge any malicious Investiture in his spirit Web, while through the F-Alluminium may be an Unbreakable force on the Cognitive Side (where your Identity may be a factor aganist many assoult).