comparative stormlight usage amounts

[Gasper he/him]

Does any one know which surges use more stormlight and which ones use less? Is an Elsecaller more efficient than a Windrunner or does a Dustbringer use more stormlight than a Lightweaver? How does each surges use of stormlight compare between members of different orders of the same oath level? Does a 3rd Oath Windrunner need more Stormlight than a 3rd Oath Edgedancer?

[RShara she/her]

We don't know for sure right now, although Brandon has recently asked Peter to figure out a quanta of investiture, so to speak. It looks like Lightweaving is less "noisy" than Lashing, but that's all we've seen in comparisons so far.

[Quantus he/him]

Each surge has different stormlight needs and usage rates (which in turn change depending on the specific application), I dont think it's all that easy to compare across different Orders, especially since the manifest the same Surge in different ways.  As far as within orders, you have to reach certain Ideals to access certain surges and abilities, but to the best of my knowledge there's been no indication that it changes their usage efficiency, overall Stormlight capacity, etc. And with the exception of Windrunners now, we havent had multiples of any given Order to compare their relative performance to see if it tracks the Ideals or is just personal strength differences. The closest thing we do know is that using an Honorblade to access the surges does take substantially more Stormlight than the equivalent action using a Bonded spren. 

Edited October 10, 2018 by Quantus

[Ember Hawk]

I think it will be like the mistborn stuff.  each metal burns at a different rate.  the same will be here each surge will take a different about of light to do and maintain.  We just need to see more uses we are only getting a few POVs of people that surge bind all the time.  And we only hear that they sucked in a bunch of light, and then at some point it runs out.  As we get more POVs  from other different orders we will get a better understanding of how it is used by each.

[Dunkum he/him]

4 hours ago, Quantus said:

to the best of my knowledge there's been no indication that it changes their usage efficiency, overall Stormlight capacity, etc

I'm not sure this is true.  I'm pretty sure when we've seen Kaladin swear one of his oaths that he commented on how certain things seemed to get easier for him.  I'd have to dig pretty hard to pull up a citation for that, though.

[Calderis he/him]

Stormlight efficiency is directly length to depth of the bond. As @Dunkum says, after swearing an oath Kaladin remarks on how his Stormlight goes farther (I think it's near the beginning of WoR, after he wears the second at the end of tWoK)

But these WoBs say enough. 

Quote

Questioner (paraphrased)

If a non-Windrunner picked up Jezrien's Honorblade would they gain Windrunner powers as well?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Yes.

Questioner (paraphrased)

If a Windrunner picked up that blade, would their abilities be enhanced?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

There would be some compounding but strength is not as much an issue with Surgebinding as is the strength of the spren bond and how much Stormlight you are using.

source

Quote

Brandon Sanderson

A full-blown Radiant can heal almost anything (cut from a Shardblade included) because of the way the magic works--their soul is literally bonded to investiture, and it suffuses them in such a way that even the soul is very resilient to damage.

Honorblades are what you'd consider a "prototype" for what eventually happened with Shardblades. An Honorblade can be used by anyone, without need for oaths, which makes them very dangerous--but since the bond isn't as deep, they are far less efficient. They use more stormlight, for example, and can't heal to the extent that a Radiant can.

So the difference is not in the device that did the damage, but in the method using to heal. Over the course of the first two book, the reader should be able to subtly pick out differences from what Szeth says is possible(in more than just healing) and what Kaladin experiences.

source

 

[RShara she/her]

5 hours ago, Quantus said:

Each surge has different stormlight needs and usage rates (which in turn change depending on the specific application), I dont think it's all that easy to compare across different Orders, especially since the manifest the same Surge in different ways.  As far as within orders, you have to reach certain Ideals to access certain surges and abilities, but to the best of my knowledge there's been no indication that it changes their usage efficiency, overall Stormlight capacity, etc. And with the exeption o fWindrunners now, we havent had multiples of any given Order to compare their relative performance to see if it tracks the Ideals or is just personal strength differences. The closest thing we do know is that using an Honorblade to access the surges does take substantially more Stormlight than the equivalent action using a Bonded spren. 

I don't think that you have to reach certain Ideals to access any of the surges tied to your order. The only time we've seen that was with Szeth and the Skybreakers, and that seems to be more tradition than ability.

Also, a higher level definitely increases stormlight usage efficiency. Kaladin remarks on it I think, and Brandon confirmed it, as Calderis linked.

[Quantus he/him]

7 hours ago, RShara said:

I don't think that you have to reach certain Ideals to access any of the surges tied to your order. The only time we've seen that was with Szeth and the Skybreakers, and that seems to be more tradition than ability.

I could have sworn kaladin gained the lashings slowly as he swore the Ideals too.  My mistake.

[RShara she/her]

5 hours ago, Quantus said:

I could have sworn kaladin gained the lashings slowly as he swore the Ideals too.  My mistake.

Nah, he was able to use them as soon as he figured them out/realized that they were possible.

[Quantus he/him]

Ok, so progressing in the Ideals increases the Radiant's efficiency and relative Stormlight capacity (by virtue of strengthening the Bond).  It also grants the ability to manifest a blade (usually) and eventually Plate.  In the case of Skybreakers specifically there is a link between specific ideals and the ability to use certain Surges, but that may be more of a tradition imposed by the Order and/or Radiant's Highspren rather than a firm function of the magic.  Anything else that changes relative to the Ideals and/or strength of the Nahel Bond?

 

 

Im curious if Lift's stormlight conversion abilities will still progress relative to her Ideals?

[Calderis he/him]

2 minutes ago, Quantus said:

Im curious if Lift's stormlight conversion abilities will still progress relative to her Ideals?

The conversion process isn't because of the bond, so I don't think it will be effected, but the efficiency still will, so it will still go further. 

[Quantus he/him]

37 minutes ago, Calderis said:

The conversion process isn't because of the bond, so I don't think it will be effected, but the efficiency still will, so it will still go further. 

Usage efficiency, and also overall storage capacity?  I figure the latter is one of the bigger dangers of her ability, since exhausting her internal Stormlight store risks acute malnutrition.