Seonid

Here are some thoughts for epics that I'd like to write for. I don't know if we're too far in to the Oregon RP to introduce them. On the other hand, they might work for Calamityville (with a few tweaks...basically which end of the Calamity corruption spectrum they find themselves on) or for some other Epic RP (maybe the Oregon sequel). Paladin: Ranger: Guardian: So, what do you guys think? Are these too OP for Oregon as it stands now, or might they be good to show up for a cameo or two?

It is very possible that there are more axes than 4 in the Intent space. Brandon has said that Adonalsium could have shattered in such a way as to result in different Shards. It is highly unlikely that such an arrangement would correspond neatly to a re-arrangement of the current Shattering results. So any given Shattering likely exists in a 4-dimensional Intent space as a subset of a higher dimensionality that corresponded to the whole of Adonalsium. Whatever operator resulted in the Shattering had the effect of contracting the dimensionality. (Alternatively, Intent-space is inherently 4-dimensional, and different Shattering results end up with Shards that have different component vectors, but exist in the same space, but I like a higher-dimensionality space better.) Let us, however, try the following thought experiment. Let x, y, x, and w be the basis vectors of the Intent space. Let them be mutually orthonormal, linear, and let them span the space. (We could also assume an inner product, if you like, and that the space is complete. That makes the space much easier to deal with. And it is possible that the operators related to inner and outer products might reflect different Shardic interactions. Bless you Brandon, if this can actually be expressed mathematically.) Then the Intents corresponding to the Shards can all be expressed by a 4-vector in Intent space, which can be expressed in terms of the basis vectors. (Thus far, I think that I haven't said anything new. Now for my additions.) The objection has been raised that the Shards do not exist in terms of paired opposites. This is only a problem if we assume that the axes correspond to the Shards themselves. If, instead, they correspond to attributes that Shards may possess, then the problem disappears, as there is nor requirement that the Shards exist on opposite ends of axes. For example, if one axis is change vs. stasis and another is giving vs. taking (or retaining), then Preservation might have a large component in the direction of the stasis axis as well as a (smaller) component in the direction of the giving axis. Ruin would be opposite on the change/stasis axis but similar in component on the giving/taking axis. Odium might have a small component in the direction of change and a large component in the direction of taking/retaining). Endowment could be near 0 on the change/stasis axis but have a large giving component. And so on. And that says nothing of the other axes. There are a lot of potential configurations of the Shards and axes here. This needs more investigation. Sorry. This was all just stream of consciousness stuff. I'll come back after my class and see if I can clean it up and make it more formal/rigorous.

Definitely the Riddlemaster series by Patricia A. McKillip.

Alright. I'll bite. The first three on my list I consider to be the most powerful works of fantasy ever written, bar none. This is likely because these author's don't write fantasy, they are in the business of constructing myth, which is a far more powerful mode of communication. 1- The Lord of the Rings. The premier example of mythmaking in the modern world. Need I say more? 2 - The Riddle-Master of Hed; Heir of Sea and Fire; Harpist in the Wind - by Patricia A. McKillip. Seriously one of the most brilliant series I have ever read. Rakes your emotions over the coals (in a good way) and then makes you feel good at the end. 3 - A Wizard of Earthsea - by Ursula K. LeGuin. The rest of her series isn't of the same quality, but this book. I just can't say enough about it. Again, the construction of useable myth as opposed to a fantasy story. Now we get to my second tier series/authors, the ones who write high or epic fantasy. Since I've only got 2 slots left, I'll fill them with: 4 - Stormlight Archive - Brandon Sanderson 5 - Kingkiller Chronicle - Patrick Rothfuss Honorable Mentions - The Wheel of Time; The High House

On thinking back, sentient may have been the wrong attribute. What Sazed did was to make them a completely separate and self-sustaining species. Whereas before, koloss sentience came from their human origins, now they are a completely separate race, even perhaps a separate species (although the existence of interbreeding makes that claim a little complicated). They are no longer twisted humans, but a new creature. Whatever exactly he did to accomplish this, whether that was granting sentience or the ability to reproduce or, most likely, a whole combined set of physiological and spiritual changes (to remove the effects of Hemalurgy), it would require Investing in the koloss. As I believe I have understood the consensus (although maybe there isn't one, and I am projecting a unified theory where one does not exist), the extra bit of Ruin's power was invested into the koloss to make them a true separate creature from humans.

@Outis, I think that the consensus is that Sazed put the extra bit of Ruin's power into the Koloss, to make them sentient, like Preservation did with humans. I agree completely on the spike, though. I'm not convinced that it gives Wax the ability to burn pewter at all.

Yeah. I realized afterwards that it wasn't the best question to get at the answers I was looking for. All that we can really take out of it is that any powers the Heralds have are granted, rather than being their own.

Maybe people who were there and asked questions can share their answers here while we wait for the transcription. I asked two questions and had a third answered by him writing it in my book with a signature. First question was about one of his unpublished works, Aether of Night, wondering if the similarities to the magic system in Liar of Partinel were deliberate. Turns out they were, but they were the result of cannibalization, not a continuous storyline. Second question was whether it was possible to burn Allomantic metals at different strengths, or if there are only two levels, burning and flaring. His answer was that you can burn at intermediate levels, but it requires a lot of practice. The best Allomancers can start at a standard burn and increase their burn levels incrementally all the way up until they are flaring the metal, and can push their flares higher than less-experienced Allomancers can. It takes a lot more skill to burn at lower levels than the regular burn than it does to burn at higher levels. For his signature, I asked him to tell me about one of the Herald's innate powers (from Stormlight Archives). His answer was "They have none." Anyone else? What questions did you get answered. Oh, and the guy right behind me in line asked a question about "the man who calls himself Taln," and where he was from. Brandon's answer was that he was from the same place as the other Heralds. Note: there may have been more ambiguity in the wording than I am representing here. This probably shouldn't be taken as direct evidence that Taln is who he says he is until we can examine the exact wording when the transcription comes out.

I asked this to Brandon at the Comic Con signing. His answer: Yes, metals can be burned at a wide range of levels, but it requires a great deal of skill. So for the average Allomancer, it is as if they can only burn or flare. But as you practice and develop more control, you can start to develop fine control in how much power you can output with your metals. You can actually, with enough skill, burn all the way up to a flare, and you can push a flare higher than you otherwise could. He said burning at lower levels than the default were far more difficult, though.

Brandon has posted it on his blog. That should help.

Thanks!

Just a quick question, does anyone know if Brandon is charging for signatures at the Comic Con? I ask because several of the guests have (quite expensive) signature prices and I couldn't see any listed for Brandon. Second, is he ok with me bringing a book for him to sign, or do I have to buy one there?

I think that the simplest answer is this: Stormlight grants healing. Szeth does not believe that his Stormlight-healing can heal Shardblade-severed wounds. Therefore, he can't. (As per Word of Brandon) Kaladin has no such pre-conditioned beliefs. Therefore, he can use his Stormlight-healing to heal Shardblade-severed wounds. The surge Regrowth has nothing to do with it, although it does allow you to project your healing onto somebody else. I see that as its primary function. In addition, Szeth, who doesn't believe that Honorblade holders with Stormlight can heal that (although he does believe that Radiants can heal it, see his interaction with Taravangian) believes that an Honorblade conferring Regrowth will overcome that disadvantage for an Honorblade holder.

Well that works then. Thanks for letting me know.

Darnit. I missed that thread. It only mentions Saturday, though. Do we have folks for the earlier days?

Alright folks, the SLC Comic Con starts the day after tomorrow. Brandon is going to be there for all 3 days, doing book signings and panels on each day (2 book signings on Saturday!!) His schedule is posted here. Note the 3:00 event: Celebrating Fantasy Literature: The Worlds of Brandon Sanderson From Elantris to Mistborn to completing the Wheel of Time series to The Way of Kings, Brandon Sanderson sits at the nexus of modern fantasy literature. Join him for a discussion of his work, his worlds, and his plans for the future of both. Source - brandonsanderson.com; link above. So we need to get Sharders to the following signing events to record and distribute them to THE WHOLE INTERNETS!!!! Or at least the folks who care, namely, us. Thursday, September 4: 4:00–5:45 p.m. - Book signing Sharders: Rubix and fRR 6:00-8:00 p.m. - Book signing Sharders: Rubix and fRR Friday, September 5: 12:45–1:45 p.m. - Book signing Sharders: Rubix and fRR 3:00–4:45 p.m. - Book signing Sharders: Rubix and fRR 6:00-7:00 p.m. - Book signing Sharders: Rubix and fRR Saturday, September 5: 12:30–2:30 p.m. - Book signing Sharders: Rubix and fRR (full) and Seonid (partial) 3:00-4:00 - Brandon discusses his worlds, his work, and his plans for the future of both. Sharders: Rubix and fRR and Seonid 4:00-7:00 p.m. - Book signing Sharders: Rubix and fRR So here's how this works. You volunteer for a time slot, and I will write you down on the ListTM above. Ideally, we should have at least two folks there recording at each session, but I realize that that might not be possible. I'll be going (probably...I'm feeling a little sick right now, so if I get better I'll be there) on Saturday, but I won't get there until after 12:30, maybe 1:00 or 1:30. We'll see how that goes. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead! Volunteer! Step up now for your chance to be immortalized as an Assistant Librarium for the Compendium of all Cosmere Knowledge (see the third post and on in this thread)

Do we have a WoB on this? I hadn't seen anything of the sort.

You are probably right on the Steel/Iron references there. I wonder if doing the lesser push/pull uses more/less/the same amount of metal?

Actually, I think I am going to disagree that there are only two levels that metals can be burned at. I am actually pretty sure that there is a continuous distribution of burn levels. I am agnostic as to whether flared metals map onto the higher levels of the distribution or if there is a separate distribution for flaring, but the multiple references to having a metal (pewter is the one most often mentioned, but tin is sometimes brought up as well) on "low burn" makes me think that the Allomancer has far more fine control over the rate of burn (and therefore over the power of the effect) then just a flared/non-flared dichotomy. A second evidence is in the various strengths a Steelpull or Ironpush can be done with. The fine control evidenced by Kelsier or Zane also seems to indicate control beyond a simple flared/non-flared system.

He definitely got there through Windrunning, as we see in the battle with Kaladin in the Highstorm. Windrunning is how Szeth gets just about everywhere.

Kobold, I have followed your command. Oh, and I definitely agree with the new Q&A with Brandon! Maybe have one with Peter Ahlstrom too, to salvage his Reputation.

Can I get added to that White Sand PM thread?

Here's how Taravangian comes across to me. Here's a man, a deeply compassionate and caring man, who is so concerned with the well-being of others that he is personally funding the hospitals with no expense to those treated. He is friends with Gavilar, who is having visions from Honor. From these visions, the two of them know a Desolation is coming, and perhaps even make plans to work towards stopping it together, but we have no way of knowing that. But then, Gavilar is assassinated. T. is left cut off from the source of all of his information for how to stop the deaths of the people he deeply cares about, and turns in grief or desperation to the Nightwatcher, who grants the boon and curse of fluctuating intelligence/inversely proportional to his empathy (although one potential theory that I like is that the boon was the single day of super-powered intelligence and the curse was the inverse relationship between his intelligence/empathy after. There is nothing in the text that requires his super-intelligence on the day of the Diagram to be associated with zero-empathy.) As a direct result of this, he has the Day of the Diagram (which should become the official title ). A moment of clarity so perfect and precise that he can see by the logical extensions of his own (dare I say it?) supernaturally-powered reason exactly how to influence the predictable course of human history in such a way as to produce the highest possible chance (from his perspective) of saving humanity. And then, he is left alone, cut off again from the source of brilliance and foresight and ability to plan for the future. He knows that Honor is dead, either from the visions or from insight gained from his flash of intelligence. For whatever reason, he believes the Knights Radiant are unreliable (perhaps the secret that destroyed them before has something to do with this). He remembers being smart enough to see all of this, and has committed himself to that course of action. From the information he had on the Day of the Diagram,TM he has laid out the best possible course. Like Shaggai said, he is not capable of coming up with another plan comparable to it. He and Dalinar together are not capable. He and Dalinar and Jasnah and Kaladin and Shallan and Syl and Pattern and Ivory altogether likely lack the combined intelligence to come up with a superior plan. They certainly lack the information. So he's locked himself into a course that he can't get out of. Like Shaggai says, he is morally committed to it now. There isn't any backing down for him now, unless a way that is demonstrably superior in every way. It's a simple, logical position. In fact, it's the basic operating principle of science. The scientific method is inherently conservative. You hang on to the descriptions of reality you have, even as the discrepancies mount, because there isn't anything better. And when a new model that is demonstrably (and consistently so over time) better at describing reality is established, you jump ship (after thoroughly testing the model). Taravangian is acting the same way. Of course, it may not be the right position. In fact, given the state of things in the books so far, it almost certainly isn't the right position. And the Diagram certainly suffers from a crippling lack of the ability to perfectly self-correct. (It should here be noted that the Diagram has some limited self-correcting ability built into it, and Mr. T. has attempted to access more by the use of the Death Rattles, but it almost certainly won't be enough to counteract the full force of accumulated error over time.) And this is the point that I make it clear that Mr. T's way of saving humanity is an awful way. An absolutely bloody, morally bankrupt and awful way to save humanity. But he believes that it is the only way. And if it were, in fact, the only way, then the only moral choice would be to follow it. Because saving the world is a morally higher cause than the life of any individual or any group of individuals. But, from the viewpoints of other characters we have seen, it isn't the only way. And because we know that, we know that Taravangian's plan is an immoral and a wrong one, because there is a better option. But he can't see that. As far as he can see, his only option is to follow the Diagram exactly, because he is no longer intelligent enough to put together workable alternatives. And until he is confronted with evidence that there is, in fact, such a workable alternative (and one that doesn't require wading through rivers of blood to get there), he is morally incapable of changing his path. My prediction is that one of the important sub-plots of the first 5 books will be Mr. T slowly coming face-to-face with the fact that there was a more ethically acceptable option for saving humanity than the Diagram. His actions have been justified so far only by the strongest necessity. The existence of another viable and workable option removes that necessity, and so as he realizes that Dalinar's option is, in fact, workable, he will have to come to terms (or fail to do so) with the fact that his actions were not necessary, and therefore were not justified. I believe that this realization will break him. I don't know if he will heal over time, whether he will find himself dead at the hands of some justice-dealing hero, or dead by his own hand in remorse. But I think he will break when he realizes that things didn't have to be the way the Diagram outlined. Needless to say, I find Taravangian an exquisitely tragic character.

Every trope has been done before. Spren (a magical creature that bonds with a person, giving him/her powers)? See "Familiars." Channelers and the One Power? Aristotelian elements + the common addition of Spirit as a basis for a magic system - commonplace. Story of the poor, orphaned hero/heroine grew up on the streets and learned a hard and brutal life but eventually found a group of friends who actually care and overthrow the Dark Lord/Evil Overlord/Big Bad Guy/Terrifying Person from the hero/heroine's past together with him/her? Sounds like Mistborn, sounds like The Way of Kings, sounds like parts of Circle of Magic, sounds like a host of other books. But. Everything is original in a way, too. The Wheel of Time was derivative. But it was unique. The Lord of the Rings was derivative. But it was unique, too. The Stormlight Archive is derivative, in its own ways. But it is entirely unique in other ways. And I love Brandon Sanderson for it.

True that. True that. And, Kobold King, for what it's worth, I quite enjoyed AMoL. But then, I'm easy to please. (If I missed what should have been obvious sarcasm, proceed to ignore this line.)