Timewaster's Guide Archive

OK, I will admit that I was being a little hasty with Soulcasting; it does have limits (currently it is directly related to the size of the gemstone, but more limits may arise). However, I will complain about AonDor.

I just feel like I have to chime in here that AonDor doesn't need to be "excused" for any reason. I thought it was a wonderfully written magic system, intuitive, consistent, and fitting for the world, with clear limits and consequences. Just one uninformed, ranting fan's point of view.

If you don't think it should be excused, I won't excuse it. I will instead complain about it.

Where are the "limits and consequences?" The system is, "if you draw the shape correctly, you get power." The only "limit" is distance from Elantris.

A magic system that is powerful isn't necessarily bad, but a system that has no limits is. It's nice knowing exactly what people can and cannot do. With the AonDor, Sanderson can do pretty much whatever he wants to if, say, Raoden draws the Aon "Eda." Since the AonDor is a language, it must have adjectives. Sanderson has never defined what the adjectives can do. In fact, he never defined what the words like "flower" can do. What happens if I draw the Aon "Opa"?

Another thing: the AonDor is a developing language. Maybe one day a character will draw a random symbol that will turn out to be an Aon. Then, Brandon has yet another Aon to do stuff with. He doesn't have to stick to the 41 Aons already made.

There are no power limits; it is implied that you can make it as powerful as you want with enough add-ons. They also never mentioned getting tired after repeated use of the AonDor.

Don't get me wrong: Elantris is a good book. But that is because there isn't a magic system through most of the book. If Sanderson writes a sequel, he will have to put more limits on the system.

Have you read the other two books? Because all is explained except for the "TLR doesn't die" part in the other books. That part is, as far as I can tell: yes, he uses some of his health stored up to heal himself. When he was old and without his bracelets, he didn't have any health to keep him alive.

The only thing Szeth has left is his religion. Are you asking for him to betray the only thing he has left? And besides, how do you know that Szeth is only obeying religion?

Bela?

So when were the shards splintered? Sazed had  both of them.

Well, how does everything fit together? Well, each magic system draws energy from something. Maybe that something is Dor! Maybe the Dor is in different forms (Stormlight, metal, color, mystical energy, for WoK, Mistborn, Warbreaker, and Elantris, respectively), and it powers everything! To take this a bit farther, what if the Shards of Adonalsium are the Dor's pure form?

Quote from: happyman on September 08, 2010, 07:57:30 PM

Quote from: Rhuan on September 08, 2010, 12:11:25 AM

Quote from: happyman on September 07, 2010, 10:33:02 PM

My guess is that Kaladin's raw power has maxed out now that Kaladin has taken the oath of the knights radiant.  It seems like a good mortal (i.e. Elantrian or Returned or powerful Mistborn) level, and will take a lot of practice to master.  Also, it seems to me that it is the same level as Szeth has hit, and Szeth never said anything about increasing in power over time, nor have we seen such shown onscreen.

He only spoke the second Ideal of the Knights Radiant, I think there are more, so perhaps he has more power to come as he gets mroe in sync with Syl through committing himself to the rest of the Ideals, or perhaps not.

Actually, I did think of something.

The knights radiant are always shown using Shardplate and Shardblade.  Glowing Shardplate and Shardblade.  Yet, somehow, the current magic users are adverse to using them.  Maybe overcoming that particular weakness will be a way for Kaladin to power up again, as it were.  Heaven only knows he's going to need the help.

The ones that we saw.

It's possible that the Surgebinding orders didn't use plate.

The Surgebinders didn't use plate,  although they probably used blade. They didn't because, as it says on page 29 in the hardcover (end of the page): "His Lashings interfered with the gemstones that powered Shardplate, and he had to choose one or the other."