discussion Long Range surge usage(spoilers Ahead)

[Hollow_the_edgdncr he/him]

First time on the 17th shard forum but I was just thinking on back when Jasnah used the transformation surge at long range and I was wondering if other surge binders could mess with surges at long range (like a skybreaker or windrunner changing an object's gravitational effect without touching said object). Cause all I can think of is Szeth walking down a street pointing finger guns toward things and them just exploding.(I have only read way of King and am partway through Words of Radiance so please no spoilers). I'm hoping to start a friendly discussion.         : )

Edited June 19, 2019 by Hollow_the_edgdncr
Smilie face

[Wandering Investor]

Good question, hard to answer though without some spoilers, but I'll try to avoid them.

So we know that the transformation surge and illumination surge can affect at range, and I think the prologue to book one hints that the division surge might be ranged or at least area of effect.

Either this is due to uniqueness in the surges, or the other surges are wielded by radiants that either don't know how, or are too low level to use their surges at range.

My guess is unique abilities to the individual surges, but it's hard to prove one way or another at this point.

[+Ark1002]

I doubt gravitation will be long range.

If it becomes such, the OP factor goes up 100%

If you could change gravity anywhere, that would be bad.

But also, things like adhesion are even more unlikely. They adhere through skin contact. Therefore, the long range would make a lot less sense.

[Hollow_the_edgdncr he/him]

Yeah I think gravitation would probably be too op as well. Thanks for feedback 

[Calderis he/him]

I think Jasnah's ability to soulcast at range is purely of function of access to shadesmar.

Notice that when she soulcast the man she touched to quartz, his clothing changed with him. When she soulcast the two to smoke at range, their clothing was uneffected. And then she comes out of the last trance like state. 

I think what occurred that she projected her mind into shadesmar and soulcast them from there directly. Without touching the beads that represent their clothing, the clothing was not changed. 

As such, I don't think other radiants have access to the same method. 

[Hollow_the_edgdncr he/him]

Good point

[Elsecaller_17.5 he/him]

I have no idea about the viability of it but I would love to see progression used at range.

[Elsecaller_17.5 he/him]

On 6/19/2019 at 8:13 AM, Hollow_the_edgdncr said:

Jasnah used the transformation surge at long range 

I suspect this particular case is a resonance since specifically she is an elsecaller meaning she also has the surge of transportation and a greater connection to Shadesmar in general.