ReuinifierOfTheShards

Thank you, I appreciate you highlighting the nuance in the differing levels of importance of the 4. I had previously mistaken Command to be a factor of Intent. But it makes more sense as the 4th considering the Dawnshard novella. I think the issue with spren on Roshar and Elantrians has lead me to think of Connection too similarly to proximity. Thank you! I appreciate this perspective. It appears I've made some assumptions in turning patterns into axioms. 'accidentally using some of Ruin's intent in creating Nightblood." I'm kicking myself for this one going over my head. Black smoke, "destroy" in the command. This is a wonderful example. Thank you.

I wouldn't necessarily go strictly chronological, and I don't know that I'd read fhe novellas before the novels. I would save all of the novellas to be read after finishing each series arc as a nice little piece of extra lore. The exception to this being Edgedancer and Dawnshard, which should be read chronologically within the Stormlight Archive story arc that we're currently on. I think starting people off with the original Mistborn trilogy is the way to go. The novels are solid and inviting (and under 800 pages). Starting with a novella or standalone will make it more likely that they'll read that one then stop. I find it easier to get into an author's set of works if a series pulls me in and always leaves me needing to know what happens next. Novellas and standalones have more finality to them and don't string you along quite as much. I also don't recommend mixing up Stormlight Archive and Mistborn Era 2 like that. These books are already massive. Going back and forth between a 5 book/ 2 novella series and a 4 book 2 novella series seems a little hectic. I would have then read either Mistborn Era 2 with the novellas and Elantris and the Elantris novellas mixed in if he wants breaks between books. Or have him read the Stormlight Archive after Mistborn Era 1, and then have him use the standalones and novellas to catch a break between each 1300 page book. Just make sure he reads Warbreaker before Words of Radience or Way of Kings (I think it's better between the two), and he reads Sunlit Man last. Tress can be read super early on the list or later, perhaps mixed in as a breather from the Stormlight Archive. Here's what I would do: Mistborn Era 1 Eleventh Metal Mistborn Secret History Way of Kings* Warbreaker* Words of Radiance * Edgedancer* Oathbringer* Dawnshard* Rhythm of War* Mistborn Era 2 Allomancer Jak Sunlit Man Wind and Truth (once it's out, but your friend has a long way to go lol) *Books that are nice to take break between with Elantris and its novellas as well as Tress and Yumi. I would personally read Tress after the Elantris stuff, but it doesn't really matter. I also wouldn't let him know that CoppermindWiki and the 17th Shard forums exist until he get to Rhythm of War at least

The combination of Ruin, Hemalurgy, and Realmatic theory on metals seems inconsistent at times. We know how Scadrians can use their abilities off world, how non-Scadrians can gain Metalborn abilities, why Elantrians can't use their magic off world, etc. But non-Scadrians using Hemalurgy outside of Scadrial? Scadrians do not have access to Hemalirgy because they were Imvested by Ruin (as with Allomancers being invested by Preservation), but they have Connection because they're native to Scadrial. So now Allomancy and Feruchemy make sense to be able to use off world, but Hemalurgy doesnt. https://wob.coppermind.net/events/48/#e559 The above link is to a WoB where he confirms that non-Scadrians are capable of using Hemalurgy because Ruin "doesn't care." There is also an Ars Arcanum entry from Khriss where she comments on Hemalurgy most likely being possible to perform anywhere in the Cosmere as long as the person doing it had the proper knowledge and Intent. Intent Investiture Connection ️ The rules of Connection seem broken with Hemalurgy. The Cosmere is FULL of different examples of Connection's importance and Connection's effects on the different magics of the Cosmere. Connection can determine if someone has magical abilities or not, whether they can use their abilities, and where they can use them. How can somebody who is from another system, who would presumably have no Connecrion to Ruin, be able to use Hemalurgy? I really enjoy the choice Brandon Sanderson made in developing hard magics for the Cosmere. I really enjoy the blend of high fantasy and science fiction. But now I need this to make sense. I understand how a Scadrian can use Allomancy anywhere in the Cosmere. I understand why Elantrians classically cannot. I understand why it's exceedingly difficult to take spren outside the Rosharan system. The exceptions to these also make sense. Hemalurgy seems broken to me at the moment, and actually makes FAR more sense as an Old Magic or a sort of pseudo-magic manifest of the laws that govern the Cosmere. Even if Hemalurgy was a practice based entirely on Realmatic theory, it would make more sense, and it would allow for the incorporeal laws of the Cosmere to check out at well. Connection would be Cosmere wide, Intent would be a matter of knowledge (simply knowing that an Intent is needed and what that means). Investiture would obviously be coming from the donor. And being able to pull it off would be a matter of knowledge and regular physical ability. This makes sense. Hemalurgy being of Ruin does not make sense. Connection suddenly being inconsequential is driving me in loops. Every single other magic strictly follows Connection as a law of the Cosmere, but Hemalurgy doesn't because Ruin doesn't care and just wants to destroy? We know the Shards are bound by the laws of the Cosmere just like everything else. "Apathy and indifference" being the explanation to this exception makes me wanna cry. Connection is one of the most important laws of the Cosmere .magic systems, and APATHY is what breaks it? Somebody make this make sense for me, please. I've read up and down and all-around CoppermindWiku, and this has been my conclusion. Perhaps you clever lot of the 17th Shard could give me the dose of cognitive dissonance I require. I'm leaning toward an unkeyed Nicrosil retcon, but if there's a simpler explanation I'd like to hear it.