Timewaster's Guide Archive

Under no circumstances should Keanu Reeves be let near this.

The novel was a strange mix-it wasn't Sanderson, and it wasn't Jordan.  It was a hybrid novel.  To be honest, for an epic series like this, I would have preferred RJ's style, but the next best thing likely is Sanderson.  As has been noted before, perhaps the biggest departure from RJ's style was with Mat; his humor was more overt, and he cracked more jokes.  RJ was capable of creating characterizations, but in a more...gradual...manner.  The pacing of the book was very similar to KoD, which made it different from any of the first 10.  You get the feel that the plot has already been set up, and what's happening is simply the unfolding (or, WOT-talk, unspinning) of the previous buildups.  (Dominoes are falling in order)

SPOILER.......

I had a few "Wait...what?" moments, the greatest was after finishing, when I realized that Min's injuries hadn't disappeared after Rand's balefireing of Semirhage.  Another was towards the end, when I realized that the chapters weren't perfectly aligned (Rand refers to Mat and Perrin's activities before we see them.) 

Has anyone else noticed that you can't see Rand's eyes?  I think this may lend into the Fisher King theory about him losing his vision.

You guys are too worried about the cover.  Don't worry, it'll fall off soon after you open the book.  (Seriously, though, Tor should develop a better glue.)

Any weave that touches him would melt.  However, he can still be affected/killed by the power.  Recall, Rand's assault on Rahvin-Mat got cooked by lightning.  (Which was an area targeting weave, as opposed to a person targeting weave)  So weaves that target him can't touch him, while weaves that target his area still get him.

"I equate Vin's level of power being somewhere near Moraine's. Quite strong for her time, but not even near the strength of the original nine Allomancers."
So are you saying that Vin's power level (OVER 9000!) is below average?  With the developments of WoT, ie the Asha'man, the windfinders, etc., Moiraine is towards the lower end of the spectrum.  Think, recent characters would skew the average upwards, and Asha'man would definitely have an impact...
(note: I am leaving Seanchan and Shara out of this.  While there are likely numerous channelers in each, they'd offset each other-Shara breeds for channelers, while Seanchan removes them from their gene pool.  Additionally, we don't really know how their populations...)
Vin is capable of killing mistborn and inquisitors alike, and if she's aproximately equal to Moiraine, the average mistborn would be equal to the average Aes Sedai.  And we've seen how they faired against just about everything...  

"But instead, we're debating whether or not a Mistborn could defeat a Channeler, if all else was equal. "
"Also, a few months/years training in the White Tower compared to a few months/years learning things on your own is hardly an equal field."  
Are we trying to make things a equal field?  Personally, I don't think it is.  The point is not to have a fair contest here, but to compare the magic systems for raw power/usefulness. 

"A few year's training in Allomancy could more roughly translate to Nynaeve's skill with the One Power before her formal training began. She had been using the One Power for years to heal people, and had become quite proficient at it, but she still had her block and any Aes Sedai could run her up one end and down the other."
I say that a Vin, pre training, is more in this area.  They both didn't know what they were doing, neither used the full extent of their power, both were proficient, and neither could truly stand up to a trained counterpart.  

"As for the building scenario, it's true too much force could splatter a Mistborn, but most of that force would either be absorbed by the weaves or used to break them. (Side note: I seem to remember that weaves of air are designed to not hurt those encapsulated in them.)"
I recall people thrashing around in air-this implies that they come up against something solid.  While Mat describes this as a thick jelly(TDR), there are also examples of damage being done to a person while held.  In the mini contest between Nynaeve and Siuan, Siuan is launched back, slammed against a wall, and held there.  This does not seem to protect the person held.  
There is, however, question as to how the weave works-channelers can lift people up into the air, but there is no mention of what happens if an outside force pushed on the held person then.  Perhaps they would fly off, but the holding would keep, (Picture a mistborn, stuck in one pose, flying around) or my splatter theory would be proven.  If you can find a passage where it notes that weaves of air are designed not to allow hurt-not just not to directly hurt, but also to stop indirect damage-please post.)

"I believe Elayne equates lifting things with air to be similar to lifting them with your arms, and could you imagine lifting something pressing down with the force of a building?"
I do recall something like this, but I thought it was more simile, rather than actual force.  I think that there are strength limits to how much can be lifted, though whether your average mistborn could overcome this and break the weave would be up for grabs.  (And they'd need to do it repeatedly, as channelers can weave quickly)

"Side Note II: Feruchemists?"
There's also true power...

Gholam are near immortal, and crazy fast/strong, but an Allo burning tin and pewter would even the field up pretty fast, toss in a duralumin pewter burn for a final punch or something, and it wouldn't be pleasant to be a gholam in Luthadel. Likewise Vin's flying metal bits of death, making sure a LOT of it was silver, would probably make for an unpleasant day.

Gholam were created as a specific counter for channelers. 

For circumstances, lets set the scenario something like this: both sides are prepared for the fight, but neither has much equipment.  Mistborn starts with several vials and a coinpouch, Channeler starts well rested.  No angreal of any type, and only a bead or two of atium.  Fight is in a city with lots of metal on buildings.  Fight begins with neither knowing where the other is.

Overall, because of the raw power, I'd go with channelers.  A mistborn could dodge non-targeting attacks, ie things like arrows of fire and lightning, but a holding weave would make them a sitting duck.  (or, probably, a floating duck)  And even while dodging, say, a good stream of balefire, how much time would they have for attacking?  Coins wouldn't do much good-thrown objects aren't helpful unless the channeler is stupid.  (ie Moghedian vs the male a-dam...when spears were launched at Rand by Couladin+crew, he was able to slice through that, and when a rock was thrown at Aginor-teotw-that turned to dust.  And don't forget the super Rand-shield that nearly asphyxiated him.)

The only advantage a mistborn would have is in close quarters combat, as they'd be faster and stronger.  If they even got spotted (which is likely, considering holding said(ar/in)) before closing the distance, the mistborn would be fried yesterday.  (Balefire ftw)

This depends on your life-if you have stability, Feruchemy is probably going to be more useful.  If you have to stay on the go, Allomancy would be quicker-you need to worry less about your metal stores than a Feruchemist would have to worry about their stores.

I can't stop thinking of how good Feruchemy would be if you need to take a test- super speed writing, super fast thinking, incredible amounts of information at hand...

This would also translate in a fight; Feruchemists should be able to outwit Allomancers, as they can increase their thought processes...