I have a slightly different view on your last two points
darius_sedai Send a noteboard - 07/03/2011 07:30:43 PM
Do your parents or grandparents give you similar Talents, or is it solely the Wheel that determines it?
It seems to be the soul that develops "talents", based on Rand/LTT. (other characteristics could be genetic, we don't really have enough data to judge of this). We don't know if this evolves over time, is due to some cosmic affinities, on the number of rebirths. It's doubtful the Wheel determines it, it seems to only determine the parameters, eg: if the True Source is reachable or not, if the communications between man and wolf is possible etc. The talents are latent or active depending on those parameters.
We do have one specific example that is telling... The Sea Folk all seem to exhibit a high degree of Talent for Cloud Dancing ... so much so that even Ishamael comments on it in his thoughts. Seems that it's possible that such an insular group could be breeding very specific affinities. Obviously this isn't "proof", but I think genetics play a role in Talents too.
What happens when someone with a Talent is in a Link? Can the person guiding the Link use their Talent, or can only the person with the Talent use it?
The talents in a circle are strictly those of the circle leader, the person who weaves. That's where passing control between specific members of the circle along the way is useful, and where balancing the requirements for raw strength and specific weaving talents to accomplish a task come massively into play when planning a circle. The optimal balance between saidar and saidin also comes into play often, we're told (the BOW circle is an example: it worked, but it worked by overworking the ter'angreal and the circle lacked male players who could guide saidin the same way the saidar flows were guided. The ter'angreal was left to draw saidin on some "auto mode"
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There would be absolutely no point in Nynaeve and Flinn linking, for instance, if the Healing doesn't require both of them to take the lead at some point. Weaving talents or strength in flows aren't cumulative. "Strength" in flows means dexterity with that flow (including controlling large amounts of some flows). That counts for nothing in a circle unless you're called to take the lead at some point. What you contribute to a circle is raw strength (and some psychological dimension, it appears)
. There would be absolutely no point in Nynaeve and Flinn linking, for instance, if the Healing doesn't require both of them to take the lead at some point. Weaving talents or strength in flows aren't cumulative. "Strength" in flows means dexterity with that flow (including controlling large amounts of some flows). That counts for nothing in a circle unless you're called to take the lead at some point. What you contribute to a circle is raw strength (and some psychological dimension, it appears)
I'm not sure I agree with this 100%, is there a quote someplace supporting that Talents/Affinities are not accessible to the Leader?
From what we know of the AOL most AS had vocations and only did "AS work" when their particular skills were necessary for a Circle. Seems to me that the Leader of the Circle would have to have access to at least Flow Affinities of everyone in the Circle since in many cases only a Man can lead or only a Woman can lead. Seems like in the AOL they would only want the most skilled weavers to lead a Circle, which indicates (to me) that an AS who spent most of his/her time in a vocation would not qualify... merely lend a natural gift to a Circle.
As for Flinn and Nynaeve linking for Healing I imagine it would be quite potent ... much like when a man and a woman link and create a Fire, it's exponentially more powerful than it should be because it's using both halves of the Power.
Domani Drag Queen in the White Tower ... Aran'gar watch out!
Talents don't make much sense
- 07/03/2011 09:34:56 AM
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Re: Talents don't make much sense
- 07/03/2011 03:51:17 PM
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I have a slightly different view on your last two points
- 07/03/2011 07:30:43 PM
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Re: I have a slightly different view on your last two points
- 08/03/2011 01:29:46 PM
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thanks for the quote ... truly appreciate it
- 08/03/2011 05:07:19 PM
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Re: thanks for the quote ... truly appreciate it
- 08/03/2011 08:59:18 PM
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I don't find it all that complicated of far fetched
- 09/03/2011 04:34:03 PM
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Re: I don't find it all that complicated of far fetched
- 10/03/2011 03:00:05 PM
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seems to me a non-sentient entity would be less likely to give abilities to a specific individual
- 10/03/2011 09:28:36 PM
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One thought on the Sea Folk example
- 08/03/2011 07:27:15 PM
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also very possible ... I'm just thinking "outloud" so to speak
- 09/03/2011 04:32:08 PM
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No worries - 'thinking out loud' and going on tangents are my favorite hobbies here 
- 09/03/2011 05:54:42 PM
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- 09/03/2011 05:54:42 PM
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I don't think they are supposed to make 'sense', really. Maria gave info about Talents in a Q&A
- 07/03/2011 04:05:40 PM
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Gateway Talent?
- 07/03/2011 08:19:12 PM
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Re: Gateway Talent?
- 08/03/2011 11:15:55 PM
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It doesn't break the rule so much as shows that the rules aren't as universal as we thought
- 09/03/2011 04:15:20 PM
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