Vision

Interesting, I just finally caught up in the Mistborn world as a whole last night! That Ars Arcanum in AoL really blew me away with its info. Welcome to the forum!

I... didn't know Harmonium was even a thing. Well I suppose that changes my calculations a bit (thanks all for clarifying, it's just surreal to me that we've gone from 11 metals to apparently 67!) Oh, how times change. It's incredibly interesting to me to read about a magic system with rigid rules that aren't known even to their users. Is Brandon the kind of author to release all of his details on something (e.g. complete workings of mettalic arts) once he's done with a series? When Mistborn books are finished decades down the line, will we still be discovering metallic powers or will Brandon have mercy on us?

Well, I'm not sure what I said to deserve a downvote... maybe my satire was bit too subtle? Hint: This topic is as serious as a policeman in a police station. You think it's really serious, then you realize that policeman is The Joker in disguise, and he is most definitely NOT serious. (Though in a way that makes the situation ridiculously more serious... which is maybe the explanation for that downvote? Haha.)

Am I reading the Ars Arcanum of AoL correctly? (Just finished reading it, btw. So good!) It says "There are sixteen base metals that work, though two others- named the God Metals locally- can be used in alloy to craft an entirely different set of sixteen each." So there are 16*3+2*2 allomantic metals?! That's ridiculous (assuming it's true)! Explanation of maths, just in case: base 16, plus 16 base-atium alloys, plus 16 base-lerasium alloys, plus atium and malatium, plus lerasium and possibly a unique alloy for it too. I'm probably totally off somewhere, but are there really 52 allomantic metals? Of course, finding the materials to make and test all of them, and the ferrings to do so, are a totally different matter.

So we all know David turned down Calamity's offer by overcoming his fear of water. The scene is ambiguous enough that many people have questioned whether or not David is now an Epic. I propose that overcoming his fear of water allowed him to bypass his rending, but a second fear took its place to give him a weakness. That fear? Being called a nerd. With Megan around, he can never activate his powers because of her constant lighthearted teasing. Until David accepts who he is, he can't unlock his new potential. See, David's primary fear has always been being called a nerd. His fear of water was just a short-term distraction that Calamity picked up on and made his initial weakness, despite David's "fear" being a simple instance of a body of water being a new environment. Notably, he quickly adapted to his new environment and, so I say that Calmity's assigning of his weakness was a mistake. He rectified this error, but not before David overcame the negative effects of becoming an Epic. David's new weakness is now his true challenge, one he will have a much harder time overcoming. This will be one of the main points of book three, I think, and allows Brandon to explore the wonderfully cliché theme of accepting yourself for who you are, one of my favorites. Edit: Just had a brilliant insight that somehow was not part of my initial post. Prof will learn about this weakness, and in a move that is thematically appropriate, lure David into a trap ddevised from information about Prof's own past... his middle school science classroom. David won't be able to help feeling like a nerd in such an accommodating environment, and his Epic powers will be fully neutralized until Megan helps him understand that it's okay to be a nerd.

Signed in just to upvote this masterpiece.

I just thought of one that is unique (relative to other responses here, at least), yet also fairly feasible/logical. Basis: All humans emit slight electromagnetic fields. Quality stored: electromagnetic power Metal used: lithium (see what I did there?) Effect while storing: disrupted electrical reactions in the body, leaving you weakened and with a mood disorder (consistent, but depends on the person) Effect when used: increases your own electromagnetic field, allowing you to sense other fields nearby and release electricity with small discharges (very small, wouldn't significantly damage a human unless a ridiculously massive amount was stored)

Looks like I'm INFJ... same as Shallan. Seems accurate to me! That description basically is me, kinda scary. My JP difference was only 1% though, so while I could be INFP, I think the INFJ is a much better description of me. I'm impressed with the results, how have I not heard of this before?

Well, not anymore! Haha. If there's ever a Steelheart movie, Mitosis should be an after credits scene. Then on the dvd/bluray release, they have this as alternate version as an extra. What I wouldn't give for that to actually happen...

This so much. On topic, though, I think your explanation on the first page was an excellent counterargument, basically what I would have said if I'd been in the position to do so I'll admit I thought the same on the first point curi brought up. I equated High Epic with prime invincibility... not sure if that was stated somewhere, a logical assumption, or just my mind making faulty connections.

Hmm... I found a decent list of potential names on www.supervillain-namecreator-because-you-are-a-stupid-epic-and-cannot-create-your-own.com... I'll go through some of them, see what I think. Looks like they're in alphabetical order, for my convenience. Daggerhand Catchy, unfortunately I don't use daggers. Daily Death Sounds like a game show. Pass. Daisypusher Hahahaha NO. Damager Eh, I annihilate more than I damage. Not for me. Dangerfist Nope. Daredevil-Taken Darn, it's already in use. Whatever, sounds wimpy anyways. Darkchull What kind of a name is that? And what in Calamity is a "chull"? Dartgun Alright name, doesn't fit at all. Daybreak Well, I do break people's days down into nothingness, but this sounds a bit too... hopeful for my tastes. Deadpool-Taken Sparks, I really liked that one! I leave a pool of dead around me, it's great. Really, this could've been me... Death So generic! Pass. Deathpoint Looks like a name is missing here... oh well. Moving on... Dearth Too pompous. Deboner It describes my power really well, but that name is just terribly awkward. "Hey Deboner! Get over here and ... debone these guys!" Nooo thanks. Debt Collector Interesting. The debt that all men pay and all that jazz. I'd definitely consider it if it were all one word. Otherwise ... it's more like a title, and I want my name to be personal. Decaf Fear the power of Decaf! I'll make your caffeinated coffee worthless by putting you into an eternal sleep! Decal Makes no sense. Decant ^See above. Decay Not that accurate. My skeletons happen instantly. BAM! (I'm still bitter about that.) No slow death for those guys. Deduction Like, Sherlock Holmes? Uh, no. Actually, wait. Deduction like taking away from the original? Sounds good to me, ... I'll keep it in mind. Defeat Oh, Calamity, the potential puns! No way! Defiance Not my style. Definition Just... No. Dejection I will deject your bones from your flesh! Wait, wrong word. Nah. Delete! Pretty sure I saw an anime once where this was some dude's catchphrase. Is... is that an exclamation point? ... That's ridiculously tacky. Delirium I'm not crazy, how dare you?! Delta Meet my friends Alpha (points with left hand), and Omega (points with right hand)! Neat, but it's not for me. Deluxe Like a GameBoy. Too childish for my epic powers. Demetri Wait, what? Is this some kind of joke? Demolition Maybe if I wrecked things instead of people. Demonclaw I'm just as human as the next guy, thanks. Maybe a bit more Epic, but that can't be helped. Denial I just told you. I am NOT crazy! That voice is SUPPOSED to be there! Depopulation The concept's there, but it just doesn't sound like a name. Detox This name would be perfect if I was some kind of poison Epic. Do those exist? I'd almost like to meet one. ... Anyways, I like the name, but it really doesn't fit. Deviance Not my style. Devilspawn I may be evil, but this name's just plain rude. Devotion Rather not be known as the 'loyal' Epic, thank you very much. Is that it? I need more "d" words! Or maybe I could use one of those names as a basis? So many choices... Or... I could use my deadly pointing ability to coerce random citizens into creating one for me! Brilliant! I'm going to rob that bank in a couple weeks, I'll definitely need to find a name before then.

Eh, I think most people just want to see David get powered up after all his hard work. I'm fine either way (story wise, both could be interesting, though theme wise I'll admit that him not being an Epic is probably better), and could see it going either way. The scene was a bit ambiguous, which is why a lot of people see it as open to interpretation (at least until Calamity comes out). I mean, David says he became an Epic, and then says he turned the offer down. Slight contradiction there Random comment: I thought the line about looking for heroes among epics being a valid option, but looking in the wrong place (thinking of Prof as a hero instead of Megan) was pretty powerful and made Prof's turn that much worse.

Realized this had a bit of Firefight spoilers, my bad! Fixed.

Reading Firefight was like being a firefighter surfing a tsunami. See, the firefighter's trained for intense situations, but he's not in his natural element (a YA book). But he decides "What the heck?" and rides the wave of intensity instead of fighting it. He's pulled along by the craziness, and can't let go without being drowned, so he hangs on relentlessly until the ride's over (guessing many people here read this book mostly in a couple long sittings). Reading Firefight was like ripping out the plumbing of a broken, leaky faucet that drips chocolate milk. No, it makes sense, really! You realize that you want the chocolate milk a lot because it tastes so good, but you decide it's coming out too slowly. What do you do? Obviously, you dedicate yourself to the job of exploring and ripping out the plumbing that contains the chocolate milk. You succeed, finishing off the delicious chocolate milk, and then realize you have no way to get more of it without calling in the experts. Cue Brandon the plumber! Reading Firefight was like seeing a pig with a jetpack. Do I even have to explain this one? Fine, okay. Well, you see the pig fly by you faster than you thought was physically possible. However, you always knew this day was coming, and you'd been waiting to see a pig fly for a while now. Now that you've seen it, you know you'll wait to see it again. It was also a hilarious, exciting, truly memorable experience, and you were glad that you were one of the people who could witness it.

This book arrived Thursday afternoon for me, and I'd finished it early Friday morning... never read a book that quickly before. I love Brandon's Cosmere works, but man, these Reckoner books are addicting. Anyways, thoughts... dang it prof, why you gotta go be so stupid? David's almost always reckless, but he's also almost always got the right idea. If you'd listened to him about Megan, you'd have been safe. David, why you gotta go be so stupid? If you'd explained your non-mobile interactions with Megan, you'd probably have been a lot more convincing. As others have said, Megan was awesome in this book, and not just because she has ridiculous powers. She knows similes from metaphors and isn't afraid to preach the difference, she knows her strengths and weaknesses, and plays them both for maximum survivability even in the face of the only thing that can really kill her, and she turns the safety on as a symbol of true love. (Maybe my favorite moment from the book?) Quick annoyance that I had about the first encounter with Obliteration: Brandon ANTI-FORESHADOWED. What the heck, man? Prof deliberately gives David tensor powers despite explicitly saying they probably wouldn't be much use in Babilar. David goes and gets himself ball-and-chained, and what does he do? He lets himself almost drown, only saved by the benevolent Megan. He should've easily been able to tensor the chain and be free, so I'm annoyed that he didn't. I know he was scared because of the water, but being scared hasn't reduced his fairly impressive survival instincts at all before. Urgh. Now, for the first time, I'm caught up in one of Brandon's ongoing series... it's both a terrible and wonderful feeling. The wait will suck, but that's what I have a life for, right? To fill up the space between Branderson books

Maybe this is just a case of unreliable narrator, but in Chapter 12, David claims, "He'd spent weeks sitting in the center of town bare-chested like some ancient sun god, drawing heat out of the air, basking in the sunlight. He'd stored it up, then released it all at once." In Chapter 29, he says "Before he destroyed Houston and each of the other cities he's annihilated, he sat in the sunlight for seven days drawing energy... He then released it in one burst." Obviously the second claim is the one to go by, so why is the first statement so far off? It's not a super big deal as the second is reiterated multiple times to make sure it's the correct time scale, but it's just bugging me

Pretty sure his powers were going to be a repeat of the spyril powers. Meaning he'd be pretty underpowered compared to most when not in Babilar. But, I get the point. So... overcoming a fear allows you to become sane if you're an epic, and allows you to reject becoming an epic if you're not. And since David would have gone all 'the Rending' on his friends if he accepted, the only choice was to reject the powers before testing them. So how does the transition from chapters 41 to 42 work? He literally says that he's become an epic, but because he doesn't test his powers first, he's allowed to reject them? Could he now have latent epic powers?

Primary Power: Precision terraforming (not the right term, but 'terraforming' sounds cool). I control completely the attributes of chunks of earth (limited in size to 100 square meters at a time, maximum). I can change its composition, state of matter, and other defining factors, as long as the chunks remain in a form that is currently found within the planet. This allows me to transmute metals into other metals, transform solid rock into flowing lava, and create sand from the sturdiest of structures. As 'attributes' includes spatial position, telekinetic-like movement and shaping of earth is also easily performed. Secondary Power: Transmutation of metals into other metals leaves their atoms unstable and highly volatile. These atoms can be chosen at will to release their energy in small-scale nuclear explosions. Second Secondary Power: Cannot be harmed by materials that found their origins beneath the planet's surface. Weakness: Besides having no prime invincibility (though that second secondary power helps me feel much more secure in my survivability), my notable weakness is that my powers lessen drastically in proportion to my distance from solid ground. Get me high (very high, if you want to be super safe, as my abilities are still considerable even when weakened) into the air or far out at sea, and I'll be a disappointingly underwhelming opponent. Good luck discovering this weakness on your own, though, even if it is logical in retrospect. Cheesy name: Ashflow (I don't care that it's not a perfect description, I'm extremely attached to this name ) Costume: Incredibly dense, yet highly mobile, metal plate armor. In the form of a knight's armor, adorned with prismatic diamonds, and with intricate designs made of lava rivulets flowing throughout the plates. Although mostly just my arrogant showmanship, the lava's heat does make close combat uncomfortable for my opponents. While designed to be both impressive and practical, it should be noted that maintenance of the armor detracts a bit from my allotted volume of controllable earth. In what ways am I a total *******? I enjoy the beauty of destruction, though I realize that destruction is only beautiful when delivered sparingly. Therefore, I only go on total rampages rarely. But when I'm in the mood for beauty, I will spare no one and bring Ruin indiscriminately. Quirks/Misc.: Despite my incredible destructive capabilities, I generally challenge myself to complete my objectives using my powers with effective or showy (preferably both, whenever possible) ingenuity. I'm delighted with clever opponents, but will unleash my true wrath on those that I am forced to admit are cleverer than myself, both as a logical precaution and as an emotional expression of my insecurity. My atomic explosions are my trump card, and I only rely on them when desperate or in one of my rampages. Also fond of traps for my enemies, preferably to be placed as excessively and humiliatingly as possible. Essentially, I'm the world's most terrifying earthbender to ever experience the glory of a Calamitous existence.

When a very large percentage of your holiday wish list consists of Branderson works. Almost said Cosmere novels, then I remembered that I have decided to 'branch out' and am totally getting Steelheart for Christmas. And hopefully Shadows Beneath, which is only partially Cosmere, but fully awesome. When you spend a 'shopping day' in Barnes & Noble sitting in a chair reading said Steelheart book for hours and realizing that if you want the book as a gift then you'll have to wait a week to unwrap and then finish it... When you watch Akame ga Kill, then read (part of) Steelheart and are amazed by the similarities, despite one being fantasy anime and one being a fantasy/scifi YA novel set in America. As my brother introduced me to Akame, I will hopefully return the favor with Steelheart and finally get him hooked on Sanderson.

What happened to this? It's still coming this week, right? Exams are finally over now and I am so ready for some good and exciting news.

Church of the Survivor?

Thankspren - Appears as a tan blob vaguely shaped in the image of the rare chicken from Shinovar, strutting happily around in looping patterns. Appear in the presence of sincere feelings or expressions of gratitude. There is a certain holiday celebrated by some western countries dedicated to declarations of thankfulness that attract large numbers of thankspren. Birthspren - Spren attracted to the successful creation of new life, whether plant or animal. Appear as golden, glowing, miniature versions of the new life. A newborn child, for example, will attract birthspren that take the form of miniature golden babies. Birthspren remain in the presence of new life for a varying, seemingly random amount of time, and leave when they are most likely to go unnoticed. Their presence is generally viewed as an indication of a healthy birth. Isospren - Appear around those who are a large distance away from any other individuals of their species. The greater the distance and sense of isolation felt, the larger and more apparently corporeal the isospren will appear. Isospren appear to enjoy keeping individuals company and prevent them from going mad, but can occasionally exacerbate the issue. Never appear in groups of any size. Isospren begin as small gray cubes, and become more structured and intricately detailed as they grow in size. Eventually they will resemble this image in form and appearance:

Nerpspren - Mysterious spren that are only visible when viewed with a reflective surface. Looking in a mirror, at polished steel, or at a calm body of water will allow you to see them for example, but these spren are otherwise invisible. Their reflections indicate that they are multicolored streams of light that slowly stream through the air. It is unknown what attracts them, but it it hypothesized that they appear slightly more often near reflective surfaces on purpose. Fatespren - Enigmatic spren that appear during moments when critical choices are made. Although 'critical' is a subjective descriptor, fatespren usually choose to appear during choices that will dramatically alter the final destinations of the person or people involved. Fatespren appear as thin grey loops floating as halos above the person(s) making the decision. They will hang in the air until a permanent decision is made, and then burst into either gold or black fireworks, depending on which option was chosen. The fatespren seem to correlate a gold explosion with a morally wise or tactically sound choice, while a black explosion denotes a 'poor' choice. After exploding, the spren dissolve into the air. Sorrowspren - Spren visible around those who have suffered a great loss of something, such as a friend, trust, or belief. These spren sprout out of the ground as colorful flowers and then wilt quickly, drooping across the body of the depressed individual if they're stationary. If the individual is moving, the sorrowspren will droop towards the person, leaving a trail of 'wilted' brown sorrowspren.

This is a very interesting away to celebrate a birthday, hahaha. But I'll gladly take part. What's his actual birthdate? Thanks for informing us newbies! (And I thought getting to know people was hard enough without a week-long identity switch where all the names start the same way...)

I, too, was very impressed by the format. New standard for theory presentation for sure. Argent basically said anything worth saying in regards to constructive criticism (definitely more than my currently inexperienced mind would have thought to point out). I like the theory, I guess we'll see where it winds up.