Chaos

:/

So, I've been thinking about my cage match list, and I want to change my preferred 16. In no particular order, Jasnah, Vin, Vasher, Raoden, Szeth, Alcatraz, Dalinar, Kaladin, Kelsier, Dilaf, the Lord Ruler, Sazed, TenSoon, Susebron, Sadeas, Marsh Mistborn characters: Vin's advantages are obvious, being small, quick, and incredibly skilled. Kelsier has an edge of ruthlessness which will serve him well. Marsh has additional Inquisitor abilities which make him a force to be reckoned with. Sazed is all about planning and the strength of Feruchemy. It would be fascinating to see how he does. And TenSoon, because it shakes things up. The Lord Ruler because I want to see how he will match up against other cosmere characters. Way of Kings characters: Dalinar and Szeth are the easy choices. Jasnah is powerful and highly motivated. Sadeas for his well-timed betrayals, which would totally give him a huge advantage against someone more naive like Susebron. Elantris characters: Raoden, naturally. He has similar disadvantages as Sazed, but he deserves to be here. Dilaf for the same sort of class as Sadeas. (Sadeas vs. Dilaf would be amazing) Warbreaker characters: Vasher because we need an Awakener. I want to see how he fares against a Mistborn or something. Susebron because he's surprisingly balanced--strong, but also naive. Alcatraz because we need to remember Brandon writes more than cosmere novels, and because he'll sass you into submission. So, I guess it depends what we're going for here. I imagine it as more of Suvudu style things and less "let's legitimately argue how this would work if Brandon would write it". Focus on fun. Because, um, it should be fun. If you like this bracket, upvote this post.

See, it's not just about powers, it's about popularity. Szeth vs. Kaladin is very interesting in that respect. For the Mistborn characters, it is even more important. They have different personalities, and different skill sets. Spook is also interesting for this reason, and has a very unique combination of powers. This is about way more than simple power. Besides, the cage match should be randomized, so it'll be less Mistborn vs. Mistborn and more, "Huh, what's Spook going to do against Dilaf?" You can't tell me you don't want to know about that. That's why cage matches are awesome. Jasnah, for example, is completely BA and I desperately want to see how she does. Hrathen because he is BA and motivated. Jasnah vs. Hrathen? Yes. That would be awesome. Dilaf also because of BAness. You're right, Kiin is such a loser. That Dreok Crushthroat sounds unthreatening in every way. Especially to thrones. No thrones ever are in danger of Dreok Crushthroat. What a pansy. That's why we vote on it, instead of taking this way too seriously and analyzing every little detail. You don't need to know all of Dilaf's powers. Dilaf vs. Vasher, go. Let's have people vote on it. That's why this is fun. EDIT: For example, it's how Jon Snow can beat magic users that he has no business to win against. Cage matches are one part realistic, one part popularity contest. Exactly as it should be.

Dalinar, Szeth, Kaladin, Jasnah, Vin, Elend, Kelsier, Marsh, Sazed, Zane, Spook (with Pewter), Vasher, Raoden, Dilaf, Alcatraz, Dennison (from Firstborn). Sixteen. You're welcome EDIT: Alternates can include Hrathen, Bastille, Shallan, Adolin, Kiin, Galladon, TenSoon, Sadeas, Shuden, Denth, and Susebron. Overpowered would be the Lord Ruler, but don't discount Vasher, since you can't push on Invested objects (Awakened objects are Invested). Take your pick. Now I really want to see a Lord Ruler vs. Vasher matchup... Short version, there are plenty of characters to work with here.

This would be a much better question for Skype, if you can get on tonight.

The experiment is pretty interesting. Maybe I should clean my room now?

I concur.

I'm such a jerk.

Don't worry about being off topic here. It happens. If you go off topic, that's probably because it's more interesting Oh wow, this is simply brilliant. I never connected Zane-Ruin with the Principle of Intent, but in effect, it is exactly the Principle in action. I'm ready to espouse Feather's idea and integrate it into the Principle (I think its due for a revision sometime). I'm not certain about this reasoning for how Elantrians are chosen. Er, I mean, I like the idea behind this a ton and I'd love it to be true, but mist-Snapping didn't necessarily require people to act more in line with Preservation. ...Well, now that I think about it, Allomancers do have more Preservation in them. It's just that it doesn't seem to connect with their personalities, really. So there would be spiritual DNA things that would be out of the scope of this idea (if there was such a deep connection with personality and spiritual DNA, how could you be both an Allomancer and a Feruchemist?). Since we don't know how the Shaod works, and it appears to operate like the Deepness, I can't say the Principle is in effect. I'd like it to be, though However, for the Returned, I'm more likely to buy that. We're fairly positive Endowment is alive, which means that Returning is more akin to Ruin's influence on Zane. Ruin's pressure was active pressure (whereas mist-Snapping wasn't really an active choice of Preservation, near the end. It was just following old orders), and is in line with the Principle. I think it is quite likely a similar function works for Endowment and Returning. Unrelated and slightly more on topic--what if the Transportation Aon can just shift you to Shadesmar, and that's how you can get to Roshar? Or some other Aon that accesses it. That's certainly a lot easier than advanced astronomy techniques. I think I recall that Scadrialans can access Shadesmar, but I can't imagine how. God metals, maybe.

I feel that the US Alloy of Law cover conveys much more of a steampunky vibe I guess Brandon is going for. Sure, the UK feels more misty, but it doesn't convey the change in the world effectively.

I say it makes most sense to have Brandon's characters, and do it via voting.

I've roped in Dragonmount's help, but it doesn't seem to be working much :/ I'm surprised that the quantity of votes is so much less than Vin vs. Jon Snow...

Uh oh. Next thing you know you'll create seventeen characters like Kerry, if you have so much spare time XD If you ever have questions about it--and you will, given the sheer scope of Luthadel--feel free to IM Kerry or I. Or Skype with us. That's probably the most efficient way to do it. Yeah... there's a lot of worldbuilding there...

You think a day will be long enough?

You think this is long? This is a measly 1900 words! My grandest is 7300, in talking about Hero of Ages XD (I'm insane) But I'm glad you liked the theory!

Hey, it's always good to check if things are in fact true. I'm rather lax on my citations most times.

Oh, right, duh. There you have it. That settles the matter for me unequivocally. (Also, I upvoted you Rioter for that)

Hemalurgy was kind of modeled on acupuncture. There are certain spiritual "pressure points" on people. You charge a Hemalurgic spike by putting it in the correct spiritual pressure point. By putting this now charged spike in the correct pressure point in ANOTHER person, you effectively splice the Spiritual DNA into them. Essentially hacking it in. I don't know if this answers your question. ...Mostly because I don't understand what you're asking XD

I guess. I suppose you have a point. However, everything is pointed to Odium, the True Desolation, the Everstorm. The weight the Almighty puts into this is certainly deserving of "most dangerous Shard". Plus, did Brandon ever say Odium went to Sel? If he explicitly stated this, then there's no more debate and Rayse = Odium.

It'll probably displace this topic, but I dunno. @Silus - Don't be ridiculous. It's going in the guide, confirmed or not. Any other possibility is unnecessarily convoluted at this point. @lordofsoup - I do not believe Aona is Relief, for a variety of reasons. There are a number of theoretical considerations to take into account. It was theorized to be Relief on TWG, but it isn't a basic enough Intent for a Shard.

Definitely, especially since my guide is taking forever. Great work, Zas.

SQUEE I'm getting a $1000 scholarship from the math department. Now, if I don't become an RA, I can actually pay for rent next year.

This is quite plausible.

Yes, but we all know that I'm the cosmere expert here

Hey! That's slander. I only stalk ladies. There are lots of words to describe the Cosmere Guide I'm writing now. "Quick" is not one of them. Try "Complete" and "Unabridged" and "Really-time-consuming-for-Chaos-to-write". So... sorry. It isn't done. I'm only 1000 words into it, and it's easily going to be 10,000 words long. That said, Firiel, I'm online practically all the time, and I'm happy to talk cosmere all day. I'm not kidding. So, if you like IMing, that works best. Also, check out Zas's Brandonothology. You can find it in his sig. Welcome, welcome! We'll get you cosmere-trained soon enough