Kurkistan

Which list has just been updated.

Ants have everything to do with it! Honestly, given what little we have from Brandon, "Ideals" is likely a better term. Too late now, though.

Fair enough. Myself, I think the lack of evidence is okay because it slots rather neatly into my preexisting theory. I wouldn't be comfortable spinning off an entirely independent theory based on a single choice of word by Brandon, but as is I think it fits. I shall await your eventual reading of my theory. The "Simplified" one that I link to in the OP is rather short, if that makes you feel better (the one on Forgery, though...). Just to give you a brief preview: I don't talk much about interactions between Shards or shardworlds, mostly focussing on regional and world-level stuff.

Ah, *rubs hands together* so thou wantith a great debate over the general applicability of a Formic theory to the Cosmere... So, to sum, do you think this theory stands and falls with Forms as a whole, or that it is weak even if you subscribe to my Formic newsletter?

I'm honestly unsure as to whether you're kidding. Yeah, it's just the one quote, but "shadows" really implies some non-intentional crossover of concepts, and Forms fits that bill to a tee. And if I'm mad, Argent, then what does that make you who appears to agree with me on topics of great import... I am capable of brevity. I just don't like it.

It's been awhile since I threw a Forms thread at you guys, so I decided now's the time. This one is actually fairly short, just a thought that came to me the other day. Evidence: We have only a few quotes on the nature of conceptual interaction between shardworlds. Dead end: So that one's a dead-end because "shash's" universality is the direct result of the Shards having a single point of origin. More interesting, though... Source: Theory: Now we're in business. "Shadows"... Sounds like a Form to me!! So, in short, I would propose that the broad strokes of religious concepts (among other types of concepts, almost certainly) exist on a level that transcends individual shardworlds. So a man is pondering the beauty of colors on Scadrial and strikes on their possible spiritual significance: in so doing he establishes a Spiritual connection to some somewhat vaguely defined "Colorful Religion" Form. So far as other concepts go, I would hazard that similar things could happen with aesthetics, inventions, philosophy, etc. Not so much that every culture is just a carbon-copy of the other, obviously, but enough for a certain degree of similarity/contiguity. Now if only Roshar could pick up some Crossbow Forms from Sel...

I can't see it myself. Are you sure that it's not reserved for Admins/Mods?

Just something I noticed during the FantasyChat last night: Source: So it seems that the quote about the one ring "Burn the One Ring, eh? I think it's such a powerfully invested object that it would be very, very dangerous to try" may have lead us astray a bit. Unless shardblades/plate simply aren't powerful enough. Rather, it looks like you need a "tie" of some kind to get any special reaction. That aligns with compounding and all, or "type" of Investiture could mean that Allomancers are only attuned to Ruin/Preservation. Aside: I just figured out why Inquisitors are allowed to get weird effects for burning their spikes: the same reason they can use spiked Feruchemists' metalminds. The sDNA in that spike is "theirs" at the point when they burn it.

If you're all so squeamish about the whole "mass slaughter" thing, might I suggest (again) that they could use animals?

Welcome into the light. All the answers after the first one are hidden in pages on the site. No guesswork involved.

I would guess so, but recall that his power was most tightly tied to his own personal well-being. So it would need to be a similarly powerful precog who was able to focus all of his power on finding out Fortuity's future.

I'm going to side with MadRand here and say it's likely all about intent. We know that intent can do some pretty subtle things (See: Mark's Cross in Rithmatist [that specific part of the magic system being Realmatic]).

@Satsuoni What Shardlet said. I also find it easier to use the ticker than to check the fora myself, but I think it fair to say that we have a far greater obligation to protect those who don't want to be spoiled. It's hard enough to avoid spoilers as it is without a bunch of spoilerific topic titles throwing themselves at you on the main page.

It's my own understanding that "Harmony" doesn't really have an Intent. It's mostly just Sazed in the middle with Ruin and Preservation balancing each other out. I agree, though, in that I also doubt that Harmony is seeking to create some brute "balance."

Just click "Edit" and then the "Use Full Editor" button on the OP, then you should be able to edit the title. Happens to the best of us.

Thanks for the updates.

@Argent The computer-sciency definition might end up being too much of a simplification, if we allow for changes to flow in any direction between the Realms. That said, I agree with you that that you've come upon a fair way of describing a large part of the normal functioning of the Realms. Myself, it took me a bit before I fully realized how much Cognitive execution reminds me of procedural generation. If you don't want to formulate your own brand new theory, you could just espouse mine instead. -In all seriousness, though, you would likely be able to benefit from developing/adapting some of my ideas. The MEC needs a bit of work after all the new info we've gotten. Some samples: Another:

To be clear on the "city in Shadesmar" point, the implication was that it was spren that were inhabitants of Shadesmar: spren that you hold to be Spiritual and only able to access the Cognitive at all with great effort through being tied to the Physical. You might be okay with this, but I just want to be sure we're on the same page here. Overall, I guess I'm just not feeling your theory. I don't think it necessary or suggested by the data to any large extent. But I've thrown most of the quotes I can think of off the top of my head at it already, so I suppose that's that. For old times' sake, I'll just toss a "That's a very interesting way to look at it. The theory isn't all there, but it's thinking along the right lines" in in regards to the theory that the Cognitive executes Spiritual directives, as well as all three Realms interacting. Not the most solid answer nor the most focused question, but I find it reassuring nonetheless.

Well yes, that too. I tend to forget when I actually have evidence.

As I addressed higher up, I think the Spiritual is pretty much bustling with connections and whatnot. It seems that "life sense" is Spiritual, as well as generally connections between people. See: Feruchemical duralumin as a Spiritual metal that increases or decreases your "connection" with others. I think that the Spiritual would be quite affected by the disappearance of people and things. Aside: Does your theory have a problem with a city and its inhabitants existing only in Shadesmar?

Fair enough. I've just always thought it best to get all the information out there so that potential question-askers can evaluate which questions to pick out.

I doubt it, but then again I have a whole heap of philosophical commitments to allowing Cognitive–Spiritual (Hey! I used an en-dash!) interactions. See my reply to your post if you want some details.

@Gloom I can't say I like that theory. Complete non-interaction between the Cognitive and Spiritual is a bit much. I theorize that the two interact quite closely (so I'm incredibly biased), and I think that such a model is more sensible for the Cosmere. I don't see why we ought to abandon the power such interaction gives us in favor of a theory that makes everything hinge on Physical stuff. Here's some analysis I have on why 1-way interactions can result in contrivance, though it's on a slightly different point. -- Also, we have some firm hints from Brandon that the two floaty Realms interact directly: Source: "Plato's theory of the forms has always fascinated, and so the idea of a physical/cognitive/spiritual realm is certainly a product of this. Human perception of ideals has a lot to do with the cognitive realm, and a true ideal has a lot to do with the spiritual realm." This suggests to me that the perception and the true ideal interact with one another directly (trickle down and bubble up, perhaps) rather than being mediated by the Physical. -- On spren in particular: I think we've pretty much nailed spren down as Cognitive being that chill about in the Cognitive Realm, so it's odd of you to say that Syl needs a bond with Kaladin in order to get Cognitive access. Brandon said: "[T]hink better in the physical realm" suggests that she can think fine and dandy elsewhere. -- Then we have this answer from Brandon: Now obviously the Cognitive realm never being a way to access the Spiritual would also justify a "No" response to this question, but you'd think Brandon might throw us a bone and answer the question in a bit more detail if that was the case, instead of being all Aes Sedai about it. -- That's not all that points me towards the two being able to interact with one another, but it's a good start and I'm running a bit late. @MadRand I await your theory. (though, fair warning, I'll likely be mean to it ).

Thanks, at least someone benefited from my pain. For fun, the en-dash is 0150. For that 1–2% of the time when you might need it.

For the love of- I have to type 4 numerals (0151) to get a gorram em-dash—a basic character—but it's just 1 numeral for smiley faces and card suites!?!?!