Re: I think you are mistaking what RJ meant effective to mean. - Edit 1
Before modification by RugbyPlayingAshaman at 03/02/2011 07:05:25 PM
You know I've always wondered about the strength and dexterity thing. If the strongest possible man and the strongest possible woman can do absolutely everything to the same extent individually (talents, experience, knowledge not withstanding), what balances out the woman's ability to link?
The balance is that men can handle more of the One Power flowing through their bodies in general, and in certain Links, they need to lead. In all fairness, it's a nebulous question. It is somewhat like asking 'Women can get pregnant and men can't. What is the men's balance for this?' I don't believe any of these abilities were supposed to be "balanced with each other" insomuch as they were simply facts to be dealt with.
And if the strongest woman can do everything the strongest man can do, and vice versa, then is dexterity not just another name for strength, since in the end they don't grant different things?
Yes, which is why I think RJ was trying his hardest to get away from the term 'strength' as used by fans. The characters used that because they are in the world, but if you mean strength to indicate effectiveness, than it really is more nebulous than just taking into account magnitude of Power the body can handle before being destroyed. It is noteworthy that the more dangerous Forsaken don't use the term 'strength' the same way the Third Age channelers do to refer to channeling - they tend to refer to training instead.
Is greater dexterity better suited for certain tasks and greater strength for others?
Yes; we are told that in the Age of Legends, the Hall or Servants chose its' agents and mission leaders based upon particular criteria needed to best accomplish a task. Some tasks required more power, others a certain balance of skills, and etc.