Re: this doesn't square in any way with Bell Curve though - Edit 2
Before modification by Sidious at 04/06/2010 11:05:10 PM
you put too much variance at the top and not enough in the middle for it to work. If Egwene was truly as low as you put her (and friends) there would be a ton more women between her and Moghedien. The fact that we have only see what 5 women in the series who fall between Egwene and Nynaeve is all I need to confirm that Nyna is closer to 95, Moghedien 85-90 and Egwene 75-80.
If you look at it from AS strength... there are clear levels.
Daigain = 1 unit of AS Strength (15)
Namelle Sisters = 1.5 unit of AS Strength (22 )
Verin = 2 units of AS Strength (30) ... slightly above average Sisters need margin above and below.
Sheriam = 2.5 unit of AS Strength (38 )
Moiraine = 3 units of AS Strength (45) ... Siuan's new strength is the key here
Kerene = 3.5 unit of AS Strength (53 )
Cadusane = 4 units of AS Strength (60) ... significantly stronger than Moiraine, but not at Egwene level
Bode = 4.5 unit of AS Strength (68 )
Egwene = 5 units of AS Strength (75) ... Amys + Melaine makes this her minimum since Melaine the weaker of the two, notes that she is stronger than most AS, 75 is the minimum here
Moghedien = 5.5 unit of AS Strength ( 83 )
Nyneave = 6 Units of AS Strength (90) Minimum level for Nynaeve IMO, she could easily be more like a 95
Alivia = 6.5 unit of AS Strength (98 )
Lanfear = 6.7 units of AS Strength (100) There is no way any of the FS could be more than this and have 3 women hold a shield on them reliably for a long period of time.
Obviously these are approximations, but it's pretty easy to map out since we know that Siuan is between 1/2 and 1/3 of her old strength, but not the weakest AS. We know Egwene is close to 2x Siuan, and that even the strongest female channelers cannot break through a shield held by 4 women of Daigian level (as evidenced by Semirhage). Even Rand was held by 4 women, who combined MAY have approached 10 Daigians, and we know that men have "several levels above women". Logain was held by 6 women in the same book and he's close to the max male strength... I'd write that off to knowing the weakest sisters wind up with the responsibility as Cadsuane implies later in the series ... so maybe about the same as the 4 women that held Rand?
Shannow relies too much on edited and interpreted quotes for me to even bother with him any more. So whatever... his posts just make me believe even more strongly in my point of view.
Things like his claim that OP Strength in women is a exact ... WRONG:
LOC
To Heal Again
"Everything goes into it," Siuan explained. "Who learned fastest, who spent the least time as novice and Accepted. There are all sorts of shadings. You can’t say precisely how strong anyone is. Two women might seem to be the same strength; maybe they are and maybe not, but the only way to say for certain would be a duel, and the Light be blessed, we’re above that. Unless Nynaeve returns us to our full strength, we run the risk of standing fairly low."
Drives me nuts when people edit quotes, ignore context and then draw conclusions/interpretations which they present as fact.
If you look at it from AS strength... there are clear levels.
Daigain = 1 unit of AS Strength (15)
Namelle Sisters = 1.5 unit of AS Strength (22 )
Verin = 2 units of AS Strength (30) ... slightly above average Sisters need margin above and below.
Sheriam = 2.5 unit of AS Strength (38 )
Moiraine = 3 units of AS Strength (45) ... Siuan's new strength is the key here
Kerene = 3.5 unit of AS Strength (53 )
Cadusane = 4 units of AS Strength (60) ... significantly stronger than Moiraine, but not at Egwene level
Bode = 4.5 unit of AS Strength (68 )
Egwene = 5 units of AS Strength (75) ... Amys + Melaine makes this her minimum since Melaine the weaker of the two, notes that she is stronger than most AS, 75 is the minimum here
Moghedien = 5.5 unit of AS Strength ( 83 )
Nyneave = 6 Units of AS Strength (90) Minimum level for Nynaeve IMO, she could easily be more like a 95
Alivia = 6.5 unit of AS Strength (98 )
Lanfear = 6.7 units of AS Strength (100) There is no way any of the FS could be more than this and have 3 women hold a shield on them reliably for a long period of time.
Obviously these are approximations, but it's pretty easy to map out since we know that Siuan is between 1/2 and 1/3 of her old strength, but not the weakest AS. We know Egwene is close to 2x Siuan, and that even the strongest female channelers cannot break through a shield held by 4 women of Daigian level (as evidenced by Semirhage). Even Rand was held by 4 women, who combined MAY have approached 10 Daigians, and we know that men have "several levels above women". Logain was held by 6 women in the same book and he's close to the max male strength... I'd write that off to knowing the weakest sisters wind up with the responsibility as Cadsuane implies later in the series ... so maybe about the same as the 4 women that held Rand?
Shannow relies too much on edited and interpreted quotes for me to even bother with him any more. So whatever... his posts just make me believe even more strongly in my point of view.
Things like his claim that OP Strength in women is a exact ... WRONG:
LOC
To Heal Again
"Everything goes into it," Siuan explained. "Who learned fastest, who spent the least time as novice and Accepted. There are all sorts of shadings. You can’t say precisely how strong anyone is. Two women might seem to be the same strength; maybe they are and maybe not, but the only way to say for certain would be a duel, and the Light be blessed, we’re above that. Unless Nynaeve returns us to our full strength, we run the risk of standing fairly low."
Drives me nuts when people edit quotes, ignore context and then draw conclusions/interpretations which they present as fact.
Well at least we know now what we each believe
Sorry, but I can never speak about the bell curve again. I literally spent two months speaking about it once and about a hundred posts. I've run out of fuel 
A lot of my numbers come from shielding. My assumption is that to match a channeler you need to be at least as strong as them, which has been reasonably demonstrated throughout the series. If thirteen women can match most men, and thirteen AS can smother any man, then your table has problems - unless you have an excuse like saidin vs saidar, or the strength loss in linking.
13 weak women = 13 x 5 = 65 (strong men can hold this off)
13 weak AS = 13 x 10 = 130 (no man can hold this off)
Rand can face any three women unless they're Forsaken = 3x20 = 60
Six women can hold any man = 6x20 = 120
Strong men can break through five women = 5x20 = 100
AS have strength from 10-25, so this remains tough. Realistically they would take their individual powers into account, but in the books I'm sure this is not the case while holding a male.
I like my table better, but I don't find yours ridiculous or unlikely either. It wouldn't be a surprise if either of our tables was correct. That said, I don't think these numbers exist - I think he has a tree from 1-20, or something like that.
If your table is correct then Egwene came into her strength very late. I've always been of the opinion that Nynaeve's been leaps and bounds ahead and that the distance has remained relatively constant as they've grown in power. I also think that the bonfire quote shouldn't be put in the trash merely because it's hyperbole. On the other hand, there's a strong theory out there that RJ intended Nynaeve and the Forsaken to have god-like strength, but changed it later in the series, and thus all the early quotes about Nynaeve holding half a full circle with a sa'angreal, and ten AS equal a weak Forsaken etc.
Whatever. I do think we agree on the relative rankings even if we don't agree on their relative powers. I wouldn't mind knowing how strong Alivia is compared to Graendal and Lanfear. I do wonder if Alivia is equal to Lanfear. That would be a surprise.