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Haha, wildly incorrect. All you have to do is Hug him. He had no flippin' clue how to react to Shallan that time...

Yup. I think this is the same thing as when he said gems exposed to some other Shard's perpendicularity would still be charged (though I dont think the older WOB actually confirmed what type of investiture would fill them, I assumed it was stormlight.)

Im with you , I got nothing...

We already have the example of Ettmetal taking a Touch-Range ability and making it an AoE Field Effect with the Cadmium Leech. I agree that it seems odd to me, but the rest is trying to deduce and follow it's pattern. It makes sense to my DnD sensibilities for the Ettmetal effect to bump the Range up one step (Self to Touch, Touch to Range). In a Csomere/Realmic sense, the explanation might be that the with Internal (Self Range) abilities the Primer Cube behaves like a Metalmind where touching it is enough to interact with your Spiritweb. I dont have as much issue with an External Power getting augmented from Touch to Range by using up some Godmetal, especially since allowmantic abilities actually burn it up, whereas Feruchemy just needs to be recharged.

According to the annotations he was born Autistic though it was supposed to be a twist: he's naturally good with numbers and instinctively knows the distance in strides of any two locations. Turns out he's actually a contender for the main protagonist of the next one:

Ooh, Id forgotten that, good catch. If we assume (for pure Doylistic reasons) that Ettmetal is not going to behave exactly the same for the Internal vs External Enhancement metals, I'd guess that Internal metals would require contact but External ones will create a field effect.

The point that I have been trying to make is that ReGrowth, specifically, has a Time Limit because the observations of the in-world users of that power have come to the conclusion that there is a Time Limit and I have yet to see a single compelling argument against it. So far all the arguments have been repetitions of the assertion that other forms of healing dont have a Time Limit so for some reason ReGrowth cannot. But the arguments havent yet been about that, they are just restatements about how those OTHER forms of Healing work. My points since then have all been trying to make it clear that there are already known exceptions and/or differences, not to mention that the WOB confirming that External Healing is going to have differences. Yup. Yes. Im saying that when you heal internally you are only limited by your Self Image, but when Regrowth is used on you by somebody else it has that limitation as well as a Time Limit. There is also a good chance that Kaladin's brands could have been healed off in his earliest days of being a slave, before all his bridgeman experiences really solidified his new Self; I personally think they didnt become anchored until probably when he chose Not To Jump. FWIW, while I didnt think it was really pertinent to the point I was struggling to make, it's worth noting that the WOB posted above does confirm that when it's external BOTH people's perceptions will matter. Which I suppose among other things means that Renarin simply thinking there is a Time Limit might easily be enough to impose one (on his use alone, anyway). Pretty much. A medically skilled Soulcaster might have a shot (Im starting to think that's closer to the Aon healing, but that's beside the point) or one of the various worldhopping solutions. Or the ol' wildcard that is Old Magic. Both, or I guess Neither? I dont at all think Rysn views herself as a paraplegic (at the Spiritual Ideal level) because of the way she still tries to stand, regardless of her current outward depression. So yes, if she were to become a Squire or Radiant, I entirely think she will live up to the Pun in her Name (ie. Rysn = Risen) That's fair, I agree that is where we are, and new information is likely the only think to shake the topic loose. For what it's worth, #1 is precisely what I thought we saw in OB, which is why Im putting so much weight on their conclusions. There's also that third possibility you described above: Rysn becomes Radiant and either Heals herself with Stormlight (confirming the Time Limit) or doesnt (confirming that Crippled is part of her Self Image). It took us a while wade through the tangle, but I think we got there. Im glad we managed to understand each other, and I look forward to revisiting this with you if or when we get more data to chew on.

Id assume the Ettmetal would do what it always does and mimic the allomantic ability, so once charged anyone touching it would be hit with the Nicroburst. Much like Identity/Duralumin, Nicrosil's real use seems to be it's role in Medallions rather than it's individual use to a Ferring. Which is entirely common, there are several abilities that could have been useful to the full Mistborn or Feruchemists had the metals been known, but without the full suite they're not worth much. The ferring alone would have to go pretty far out of their way to use it. They might be able to temporarily gain abilities from Medallions and/or spikes and then store that ability in their own metalminds, building their own collection of Sealed and Keyed powers. Worldhopping would provide even more opportunity, thought also unique challenges.

OOooh, so many hopes. More than even the amazing Mr Sanderson can likely cram into a single novel, most likely. Vasher & Nightblood Reunion, and the Outing of Vasher as a Worldhopping Returned Rhysn & Chiri-Chiri joining up with the main cast Willshapers, Stonewards, Standard Truthwatchers, etc. All the rest of the Orders we havent seen in action yet. The Sibling & The Nightwatcher, and The Next Bondsmith Rlain. Possibly a Rlain/Venli reunion More Unmade The Everstorm confirmed as the 10th Unmade Kaladin, Adolin, and Szeth becoming rival-bro's (The Three Amigo's) Herald Migration-era Flashbacks Functional details of Fabrial tech More Spren culture Somebody gaining Plate on-stage Dalinar Connecting Vasher to Roshar/Stormfather/Honor enough that he is able to freely Awaken with Stormlight Hoid joining the team as a Radiant

SkyBrokers - The radiant clerks that handle all the local authority negotiation, contracts, and misc paperwork

Right. Because Dalinar is a Bondsmith and Ishar was the first Bondsmith, just hte way the Stormfather descibed the powers of a Windrunner as what Jezrien just was, before it had a name. There is literally nothing anywhere to indicate that Ishar was ever a Vessel or a Sliver, sorry. Aside from the whole death/Braize cycle, name literally one ability a Herald has that the corresponding Radiant does not. Dude, It's War. "It's not difficult for an assassin to kill the enemy leaders in their own strongholds" is kinds missing all the nuance of a War effort, it's like saying "all I have to do to win the fight is punch him the face", best you can do it try but it will certainly not be that easy. It's not like Assassination is a particularly new or original strategy, or one that all the Orders arent going to be taking steps against. Im not sure what you mean, there is only the one Stupidity&Intelligence example, and that one doesnt really apply because (I think i recall) it was recently confirmed that Cultivation granted that one directly.

If I recall correctly I think there was mention that blades would eventually adapt in in minor ways like the grip adjusting to better fit the hands of it's bonded wielder.

Devil's advocate on that, but Cesium takes time for the reaction because it's still a chemical reaction taking place, so it is limited by the other molecules in the reaction the way a flame is limited by the Oxygen present. Harmonium's volatility has to do with a fundamental incompatibility with the two Investitures mixing on a spiritual level, so it might not throttle the same way, if it doesnt use/need the water beyond the initial "spark". Learned something new, I had no idea about any of that. If the oil in question is literally the same as skin oils, I dont think it would have a problem? Alkali metals are usually stored in oil to prevent the moisture explosion issue, and in both Essences and my impression of Subsumers the cosmere magics seems to treat Water and Oil/Organics as distinct. I think it would have to be nearly all oils though, any sweat in the mix would obviously be an issue.

Their number are easily their biggest weakness, absolutely. I personally think they are the most potent because they seem to have the potential for direct Connection and/or Spiritweb manipulation, if Melishi was any example with the apparent ability to (with the right circumstances) spiritually neuter an entire race. Theirs would be a force that would likely lose in a pitched battle of whole Orders, they simply dont wield the same raw military Might. But I dont believe that a Civil War between Radiants would actually be fought on the battlefield; if the Bondsmiths found themselves there, they'd've already screwed up and lost the fight. But I think they are the most capable of doing something Investiture-based that is massive and dramatic enough to win the war in one big gambit. Ishar has never held the Honor Shard if that's what you mean. "Binder of Gods" is his title as Herald and the Original Bondsmith, but he's supposed to have the same capabilities as his Order's Radiants. I dont know if he can qualitatively do anything a normal Bondsmith cannot, but so far the Radiants have always had more capability than their Herald equivalent, not less. They got the Surges from their Swords and a direct Power conduit to Honor (that was controlled/regulated by Honor himself, if Im not mistaken), but presumably still dont get things like Squires or Plate which no Herald got. If he can do something unique it's always possible, but it would be the first such example and Id suspect such a thing to be related to the Oathpact stuff rather than Bondsmith powers. Melishi is really the Bondsmith example Ive got in mind for that statement, though. Of course not, I never said the other godspren could control the Storm, that would be silly. I said that all three Gadspren were wildly powerful in their own right, independent of their Radiant Bonds, which would make them major tactical resources all on their own. The Stormfather cannot stop the storm or even move it wildly off course, and I assume he cannot actually deny Stormlight to anyone in particular (though that would end the Fight right there, making it Bondsmiths vs Lift, personally). But we have seen him modify the specific timing of the Highstorm's arrival (once, specifically in response to the Everstorm), as well as manipulate the winds for Kaladin's benefit. That tells me he does have the discretion to make the Storm more damaging to enemies, directing winds and lightning and maybe even debris toward one side and away from another the way the Everstorm does. Im also assuming that whatever circumstances would have caused this hypothetical Civil War would motivate him to the Bondsmith's side and not try to remain neutral, fwiw. Meanwhile there is a lot of hints that the Sibling is the Key to Urithiru's real systems, and thus tactical advantage, whatever that may be (Oathgate hub if nothing else). The Nightmother is the source of the Old Magic and as far as we know has near total discretion over the effects she grants, thus in such a hypothetical War she could basically be a purpose-specific Super-Soldier factory.

Bad. Things. Best case they'd annihilate each other, though for that to happen I think the other would need the another Destroy Evil Command, and time to accumulate Investiture the way Nightblood seems to have done, otherwise I think Nightblood would likely win the contest. I tend to think any other command wouldnt provide the sort of complete destruction that Nightblood can, and that they'd need to be matched in power. Worst case they rip a hole in the Realms, some sort of wild Perpendicularity.

I believe you are correct, and that we saw that in OB

There's no hard & fast rule that Ive ever found, just that it gets increasingly difficult to keep things coherent with each additional POV. All I can do is share some methods Ive seen used: First, any POV change is a little jarring as there is a voice and location change to deal with, so as a general statement fewer is better. If there is a way to work events so that one of your POV characters is present for the event or is filled in on it after the fact (possibly with full flashback scene), it's worth considering. Past that, some of the smoother transitions are when you can have the same scene passed off from one of the POV characters to the new one; like when the PovC is doing something in a bar, and they switch to the bartender noticing him then (or maybe remembering him while cleaning up after closing and then we follow this new person as they go out into the ally and get assassinated or whatever. Basically if you can bridge continuity with the scene and/or location it becomes less jarring when you change voice. One of my favorite classic series, the Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay, did this fairly often when events were happening away from the main five MC's (all the proverbial "Yankees in King Arthur's Court). If there are no nearby POV characters, or it doesnt work for whatever other reason, as I reader I find it helpful it the 2nd-tier POV section of the text is entirely and obviously separated, rather than switching between POVs on the run within the chapter as you can get away with on your established mains. This could be separated chapters like the Interludes like were used in the Stormlight Archive for secondary POV's. I've also seen it done well where there are short, obviously segregated sections at the beginning of each chapter that gave you visibility outside the main POV. I see that most often used in 1st Person POv's where there are fewer options, and offhand the most famous example I can think of is Ender's Game. Though I think to use that you really have to make sure to include something with every chapter. One interesting thing Ender's Game did was for those POV-breaking sections to be entirely dialog with none of the participants named, so the readers had to work out the person from voice and context clues. It gave the reader a glimpse behind the POV curtain of that particular story, but with the added game that the conversation's real significance could be hidden from the reader until later when they know to know who was speaking and what the context is.

To the OP, I have to think that the Binders of Gods would be the most powerful and very likely to be the ones with the most capability for large-scale action if we are crediting one with the spiritual reformatting of an entire race (shenanigans notwithstanding). If nothing else they are certainly bonded to the most powerful Spren, so just imagine an enemy that has the Highstorm itself on their side as well as all the unique Combatants that the Nightwatcher could theoretically create, and Im going to go ahead and propose that they'd get command of Urithiru via the Sibling. Aside from those I think the Lightweavers have the most Power potential (which I suspect is why Hoid gets to be one). Soulcasting is arguably one of the most potent Powers in the Cosmere (and I personally think it's THE most potent single ability), because it lets you fundamentally reformat a person or object, which with enough subtlety means you can freely manipulate the Spiritweb itself; the required skills and energy are wildly different but in practice it's theoretically permanent Forgery. Lightweaving can theoretically extend to all kinds of particle accelerators and energy beam weapons and whatnot (not to mention actual quantum hoodoo if they understand enough to apply their wave manipulation) but only if they gain modern earth-equivalent scientific understanding. By comparison Elsecallers would be much harder to pin down long enough to finally defeat, but as far as we know Elscalling cant offer anything like the sort of offensive capabilities of Lightweaving, while Truthwatchers get the Energy Beam potential but Progression is again pure defense. Between the rest of the Orders I think it would mostly come down to actual tactics and circumstances, they all have comparable strengths and weaknesses. The Windrunners and Skybreakers in the air with the Dustbringers and Stonewards on the groun and would do most of the traditional fighting. The Edgedancers would be guerrilla's that might not win the day but would be hell to capture and defeat. Willshapers are a wildcard, but I get the sense they are one of the craftier orders, and they Elsecall, so they might lead the pack on Fabrials and/or off-world tech.

Essentially you have to hold a large portion of a Shard's power. If that Shard is unheld at the time it can become permanent, otherwise the original owns is likely to take it back in short order, and you'd have to get enough of it away from the Shard in the first place. In Rashek's case, it was only possible because so much of the Shard's Investiture was held in the Physical Realm in the Shardpool, where he could reach and take it without the Shard's help/approval. This was very likely a combined result of the unique way those two were Invested in Scadrial since they created it, as well as the way the two Shards were actively opposing and limiting each other's actions, but I cant say that for sure. I do suspect it would be harder to pull off on Nalthis, for example, though if you managed to collect the entire population's Breaths you might get there (Im going to arbitrarily call that the 20th Heightening). I believe that in Rashek's case, he basically found a huge stash of Preservation's power hidden int he physical realm. When he took it up it Ascended him, making him a Sliver, but each time he used the Power it would return to the Spiritual Realm where Leras would be able to reclaim it (just like how "destroyed" and/or used breaths return to Endowment).

No, that's a reasonable interpretation, especially given her general tone in her Letter. Im not sure that sort of Play Nice chaperone mentality fits with her overall erratic nature as described in WOB, but I could just as easily be wrong. I was thinking Connection in the sense of making various kinds of Spiritual Connections, Oaths and Bonds but also friendships and patriotism and that sort of thing that get reduced when a feruchemist stores it. There's a strong focus on Oaths with Tanavast, though the Lightweavers that just need to be self aware as they go but arent actually restricted by their Truths, so I dont personally think Sticking to a Code is all it's about. If relationships are Connections the way they seem to be with feruchemy, then it would make sense that Promises and Oaths and other forms of Commitment would forge those sorts of Connections. Does that make any sense? Per WOB Rayse is going after the other shards because he wants to be "top dog", to be the most powerful being in the Cosmere. I could call that an ambition, so if Shards can affect each other within their own purview, perhaps Ambition would have been able to pacify or bottle the ambitions in Rayse. Or the opposite, if they were more destructively inclined

In theory all of Existence was part of and arose from Adonalsium's Investiture before it was divided up among those 16, so in that sense every planet and creature than existed should have had some mix of investiture that got reassigned, which I think fits with the wide variety of Spren we see on Roshar that have similar themes of other Shards, if nothing else. But on the actual scale of Investiture I doubt it will be enough to move the needle in any significant sense, the same way even "uninvested" people still have some innate Investiture.

This is basically where Im at. To @Pathfinder's point, the Aon case is certainly far from an ideal comparison case given how many exceptions to various Cosmere Rules are already involved with the Dor, but as one of if not the the only example of External Healing besides ReGrowth, so at the very least I think it can be a great counter-example to show that not all Healing works exactly the same way with exactly the same limitations. That being said, I would love to see somebody ask if the Aon is itself the same sort of Spiritual Healing, or if being a Dor-based Reality Programming Language perhaps it uniquely operates on some more fully Cognitive mechanism? As @StanLemon pointed out, such a dramatic failure of the healing doesnt really fit with the Spiritual Ideal mechanism which simply stops when it's power runs out but does have any "process" that can be prematurely interupted like a botched surgery. I think the Aon might be a little more "brute force" that is manipulating the physical in a medical manner more directly rather than restoring the Ideal, something that is fiddling with cell division and things like that. It's kinda like how Jasnah "healed" Shallan of that Points that time, but rather than using Shallan's Ideal she simply replaced all of her blood via soulcasting. Has she messed up Shallan could have theoretically ended up with Strawberry Jam in her veins.

So far we dont really know details of how the Avatar's interact, and speculations can vary wildly depending on the person's interpretation of Autonomy. One thing we do know is that they are cognitively separate enough for some of them to have opposite opinions of Hoid, so the implication is that hey are not a Hive-mind. The best theory Ive found is that the nature of Automony allows for multiple Vessels to hold separate pieces of the Shard's total Infinite Investiture. We've been told in WOB that the actual shards are infinite but the vessels are finite and so can only ever access some limited part of the total, so the implication here is that Autonomy is able to spread the load across multiple Cognitive aspects, and so each time (an) Autonomy discovers another concentration of Autonomy on a given planet, rather than leave one Invested planet and moving to a new one, they would find a local to take up the mantle for that planet's portion. So as the theory goes, Ruin was capable of feeling out the Spiritual Realm for places where lots of Ruin was present, so had he found Roshar he could have hypothetically gone there but would have had to Leave Scadrial and take his power with him, because the finite vessel Ati wouldnt have been capable of Cognitively encompassing that much of the ∞/16. Meanwhile, had Autonomy made the same discovery, they could have arranged for a local to become a new Autonomy Avatar that could be called the Shard of Rosharan Automony. At least, that's how the theory goes, but it's all speculation. And it raises the question of how Avatars compare in Power Level to full Shards. It seems cheaty for the Autonomy collective to be getting full multipliers on power every time they cultivate a new Avatar, that seems like way too easy of a shortcut to passing Sazed on power levels. The other option is that Avatars are simply weaker individually than shards, but they are more powerful in concert even if it's not a 1:1 power boost.

How the Connection trick and Language work with Written vs spoken form is something we havent really seen explored but Im curious how it will play out. For example, if if he used his Connection trick to learn the Language from an Ardent lets say. Would he have been able to read the language even when he could not read his own native Language. If not, will he start to get that piece once he learns to read Alethi the old fashion way (as if he needs to establish a Written Langauge sector of his brain before he can Connect it to the Written Language parts of another person. That's a side topic entirely, i realize, but could easily see the Nahel Bond providing some similar Connection-based effect between the Radiant and Spren.

BoM - Bands of Mourning PR/CR/SR - Physical/Cognitive/Spiritual Realms BAM - Ba-Ado-Mishram