Cosmer

They very most talented people in our society (top 1% athletes) benefit greatly from that natural born ability...usually. Is it normally in athletics or entertainment? For sure, but that's OK. People love sports and entertainment! I think technology wipes out most of the tineye advantage. So pewter for me.

Which era of Scadrial that we got do you not like? More of the modernization into our Earth proxy?

My list with some select commentary… Elantris: 65 TFE: 90 (I’m a sucker for OG world builds) WoA: 75 (Zane storyline stinks) HoA: 85 WB: 40 (slowwwww) WoK: 90 WoR: 90 OB: 85 RoW: 75 (depressed Kaladin is a tough read) WaT: 70 (story is excellent / editing seemed off) AoL: 80 (never understand the W&W hate…truly so good) SoS: 85 BoM: 95 (most re-readable IMO) TLM: 90 M:SH 75 TES: 75 YNP: 85 TSM: 75 IoE: 60 (modern prose threw me big time) White Sand: n/a (can’t do graphic novels)

The Kelsier casting is truly so important...already expecting them to weave the Secret History story throughout WoA and HoA so he gets more screen time.

Apple budget plus Brandon maintaining control is a big win. Still hard to see how these get adapted IRL, but I’m more excited now than I would’ve been with many other studios / arrangements.

Again…fully think it was clunky for most people because Hoid was calling attention to the “translation” which could imply he knows English which is dumb. I am not that bothered by it but that’s my hypothesis. I think what would’ve worked better is if he just remarked that he wondered what month it translated to for us (the reader).

I don’t hate the hemalurgy idea…they are BROKEN individuals; surely susceptible even with how highly invested they are (maybe not “surely” but maybe). Now actually spiking them will prove tremendously difficult. No chance a physical battle goes well for you. Which is why I go back to emotional allomancy or just emotional manipulation in general to create an opening.

How well would a duralumin riot/soothing work on a Herald…? Play off their mental fragility and hope to incapacitate them that way for a time. Well documented weakness! Kind of OP so this has to be the flaw. then move on to capture

Ok but are we concerned that he did in fact die in that fight…like he didn’t just kill everyone and waltz away

@Frustration I love this stuff. I know you’re higher on Radiants (and lower on Mistborn) than me but I still like the list for the most part. Though “Thousands” feels like a LOT for a 4th oath radiant… Curious how Taln’s burst in WaT played into these calcs for 5th oath and beyond. Don’t have my book handy so not sure how many singers he took out (and they’re deadlier than haze killers no doubt)? EDIT: see also Vin’s massacre…

@Treamayne true! Kinda forgot about Wax and the mists. Still rarely happens and only a little bit of investiture.

Yeah I just never got the sense Harmony invested him at all. Always preferred nudges and hints and whatnot - possibly because his balance issues mean he can’t grant investiture that easy. Or it would be too much direct involvement for the powers to let it work. I do think we see this happen in Ghostbloods though…he’s going to find a way to share power with someone (or be bullied into it by a very convincing talker) so action can be taken to protect Scadrial.

A *potential* solution for this...do a Silmarillion-esque story of Cosmere that lays the foundation for any worlds he cannot completely finish or get to where he needs to by end of Scadrial v Roshar conflict. If he can just focus on Mistborn and Stormlight, he's got a chance. The "history" of other characters and worlds can be complete in the anthology work that's not really a novel or many novels.

@Ookla the Inactive again if this is being played out on the shattered plains, Mistborn or Wax lose for sure. No anchors. However…if they’ve got anchors to push against the weight isn’t an issue. Wax’s weight then becomes just a nice to have as he’s moving around between anchors. IMO Cutting the steel lines is nice in theory…in practice, I imagine it’s much harder when you’re getting hit hard in the chest with a ton of force.

But he gets 1 coin lodged or pinned correctly, increases weight, and sends the SB flying…repeat. I am very biased with Wax…might be my favorite character so forgive me a blind spot. But he could level cities before any Lerasium upgrade.

@Frustration I feel like an anchored push in Era 1 was enough to puncture metal no (and likely crack plate)? But regardless, I think you’re more right than me…coins alone & in a non-modern society this is tough for a Mistborn. Keep your distance and slowly weaken the plate is the best option. Maybe hope you can get them off balance or airborne with some well placed pushes or pulls…a few hard landings certainly help here. This would not be a fun gameplan to watch…bad tv for sure. But we likely won’t see our first match up without loads of metal and perches around. Let the Mistborn have more than just coins and friendlier terrain… Does Wax pre-Lerasium fare better in your mind (no gun)?

Non-Stormlight-fueled Kaladin beat a shardbearer…not to mention several other “civilians” in Alethkar history beat shardbearing men without their own. Believe a talented Mistborn would have little trouble finding weak spots and leveraging their weight (and anchors) to beat down the Unoathed. Could take a while if the anchors are bad, but I just don’t see how they get hit themselves…they’re able to keep distance and/or use speed bubbles. 4 corners offense works sometimes! I see zero threat from javelin attacks with the shardblade bc of Speed Bubbles. Now if you put this battle on the shattered plains with nowhere for the Mistborn to anchor themselves with coins this will be tough!

Could Kelsier leverage the story of Kaladin post-WaT and feed some of his own lore in there to build more of a Connection with the people of Roshar? Would this help him move off Scadrial more easily? admittedly don’t know the most about connection…

But to what end? Any thoughts?

Kelsier is THE Survivor…but Kaladin also has a pretty strong claim to the title. (Also a Lord of Scars title could be up for grabs - tho Kaladin did just lose his). Regardless, both are quite famous for their refusal to die in very deadly circumstances (including actual death!). I wonder if this is intentional by Sanderson. In the future of the Cosmere, will the two be conflated by followers…as the religion spreads from Scadrial originally and Kaladin’s own following begins to pick up steam, I can imagine their stories combining in many ways. Not an expert in how perception influences the Cognitive Shadows and whatnot, but this would have an impact on them no?

The way Hoid references the translation was clunky for sure. The name itself doesn’t bother me at all… Would’ve like it to read more like him calling her “December” and then remarking about how he’s curious how this will be translated to future readers or listeners - as it’s a very odd name.

Pretty normal to use whatever means necessary to escape arrows flying your way… also pretty normal to take off a mask of your finally dead spy adversary. Jasnah stinks and should answer for her crimes & bad vibes.

Yeah I would imagine Taravangian is quite keen to repeat the vessel-killing by Nightblood experience again (on someone else obviously). Quite a tool to have on your planet. No need to destroy it…I am sure he thinks he can control it here soon.

Hoid is clearly attempting to get pieces of every magic system available. To what end we aren’t 100% sure yet… I have a few questions as it relates to this: Why did he pick a Cryptic of all the spren available? (That’s assuming he had some control in that choice; maybe he didn’t). If we believe he’s going after EVERY magic system tied to each shard, how would he get a piece of Odium’s power? He didn’t go after a Voidspren originally, clearly. And because he didn’t get a Voidspren, or any of the other non-Cryptic Rosharan abilities, do we think he will try to get those somehow to complete his magic gathering (pun intended)? I just can’t imagine he’s thrilled that someone else can lash things and he cannot…

Fairly certain we will just see more and more “skill” difference between folks with access to the same power. Wax and Wayne felt like a tease for this as they both had extreme skill and nuance with their powers (and it advanced throughout the series)…so raw power and abilities become less important in era 4, but mastery becomes even moreso. The only differentiator available. Kelsier vs Inquisitor another example of skill trumping “taken” powers of equal or greater value.