It involves the flows women are the strongest with (it would be different if it was a Talent involving Earth - then it would be very strong evidence of a genetic factor), and the SF skills could just as easily if not much better be explained by their focussed training on handling those weaves and their 3000 years of perfecting a narrow area of OP skills because necessity made them push the boundaries. The AOLers didn't need to push Cloud Dancing as far, they had a system using a network of ter'angreal that already did the job.
There's also no good evidence of special OP talents among the WO that would strengthen the hypothesis genetics are involved.
The strongest evidence genetics aren't involved is Rand, who has the very same skills and Talents as LTT (not just OP, but also motor skills like drawing, the affinity for swordsmanship etc.). If genetics were involved, there would be some major differences. In RJ's universe, the "spark" of talent seems to come from the soul, just like strength is tied to the soul, not genetics (the presence of the ability to channel is where genetics play a role. Theorically it's possible all souls have the potential to channel, and whether it can during an incarnation is a matter of genetics).
There's also no good evidence of special OP talents among the WO that would strengthen the hypothesis genetics are involved.
The strongest evidence genetics aren't involved is Rand, who has the very same skills and Talents as LTT (not just OP, but also motor skills like drawing, the affinity for swordsmanship etc.). If genetics were involved, there would be some major differences. In RJ's universe, the "spark" of talent seems to come from the soul, just like strength is tied to the soul, not genetics (the presence of the ability to channel is where genetics play a role. Theorically it's possible all souls have the potential to channel, and whether it can during an incarnation is a matter of genetics).
Yet we've seen no anomalies amongst the WF, where are the women with Strength in Earth or Fire (we've seen them amongst the AS)?. I see two options here:
1. The Pattern is creating a group with specialized abilities (Weather) by reincarnating Sea Folk souls only to the Sea Folk
2. Genetics play some role in flow affinity and/or Talents.
Certainly skills have been honed and learned to a greater degree, but to your earlier point, women with affinity (like Nynaeve) needed to experiment with Weather weaves in order to build those skills. Obviously this is something that took generations to develop the degree the SF have managed.
As to Rand, he's a complete outlier as he is literally an entity which has been reborn (much like the Hero's of the Horn always display the same skills). The Pattern has ensured a set of abilities for the Dragon that most likely all who are reborn as the Dragon possess. You could even argue that this is part of the reason why Tigraine had to go to the Waste to become his mother rather than having any random Aiel Maiden. It's possible that only the genetic combination of Tigraine and Joradin could have produced the child with the necessary genetic traits to become the Dragon.
Of course: "Talents or special skills available to members of the circle other than whoever is melding the flows are not available to the person who is. If those Talents or skills are particularly needed, then control of the circle must be passed."
Specific enough for you?
Specific enough for you?
thanks for providing, sorry if you thought I was being snide, it was a genuine question as I don't remember ever seeing it. Of course this quote does not cover off on flow affinity ... seems to me a circle with Egwene and a man who is particularly strong in Earth would have an advantage in Earth related weaves or Naeff and a woman strong in Air would have an advantage in Air related weaving etc... obviously Nicola's Foretelling or Egwene's Dreaming or Androl's ability with Gateways would not be transferred to the leader.
Of course as you well know from the context I meant Nynaeve wouldn't get any advantage from Flinn's Talent and vice-versa and the real advantages would come only if they alternated control of the circle between them (theorically, as we don't have data on mixed gender Healing).
Of course, these two linking would also have the best odds for research in Healing, for making important discoveries about mixed gender Healing, and finding out in which areas saidin is best or saidar is best, and in which areas using both is best.
Of course, in a mixed gender link both Nynaeve and Flinn would gain deftness in weaving and strength, but they would have those advantages linking with anybody of the other gender of similar strength.
Of course, these two linking would also have the best odds for research in Healing, for making important discoveries about mixed gender Healing, and finding out in which areas saidin is best or saidar is best, and in which areas using both is best.
Of course, in a mixed gender link both Nynaeve and Flinn would gain deftness in weaving and strength, but they would have those advantages linking with anybody of the other gender of similar strength.
Actually we do have some evidence. Corele and Flinn very likely linked when they Healed/Warded Rand's Fain/Ishamael wounds. Cadsuane's comment about "Things that have not been done since the Breaking" is suggestive that a male/female link was created to have a more potent affect in the Healing. The added deftness and the use of both halves of the Power likely made possible what neither side could have done alone. IMO what Flinn did alone would not have held until he linked to create pure flows with his weaves.
Domani Drag Queen in the White Tower ... Aran'gar watch out!
Talents don't make much sense
- 07/03/2011 09:34:56 AM
1750 Views
Re: Talents don't make much sense
- 07/03/2011 03:51:17 PM
910 Views
I have a slightly different view on your last two points
- 07/03/2011 07:30:43 PM
726 Views
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
676 Views
Re: thanks for the quote ... truly appreciate it
- 08/03/2011 08:59:18 PM
722 Views
I don't find it all that complicated of far fetched
- 09/03/2011 04:34:03 PM
584 Views
Re: I don't find it all that complicated of far fetched
- 10/03/2011 03:00:05 PM
704 Views
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
589 Views
One thought on the Sea Folk example
- 08/03/2011 07:27:15 PM
591 Views
also very possible ... I'm just thinking "outloud" so to speak
- 09/03/2011 04:32:08 PM
582 Views
No worries - 'thinking out loud' and going on tangents are my favorite hobbies here 
- 09/03/2011 05:54:42 PM
553 Views
- 09/03/2011 05:54:42 PM
553 Views
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
834 Views
Gateway Talent?
- 07/03/2011 08:19:12 PM
611 Views
Re: Gateway Talent?
- 08/03/2011 11:15:55 PM
684 Views
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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