An alternative could be that even if the gaps are large, strength does not mean that much. Kind of like height - there are reasons why it might indicate superiority in a fight, and is readily measurable, but the reason why men might generally be able to win a fight against a woman are not really about their being taller.
I am leaning more towards this, and have been of this opinion for the last few books. There is a metaphysical aspect to saidin and saidar which get ignored when we are trying to quantify strength levels. We are told strength is related to your soul, yet we never considered that your soul's relative importance to the Pattern might determine your strength. After all, how would you rank this? When Rand channeled hundreds of weaves in "Towers of Midnight", was this because he is the Dragon Reborn or because he has realized something about the One Power on an intuitive level that no one else has?
Perhaps women are generally "weaker" because they are so used to being in a female body that is 'weaker' physically than most male bodies, that this affects the expressions of their soul. If the One Power is a form of energy that allows for reality alteration, then your belief might express how much of the Power your soul can filter through your body before physical destruction.
Perhaps Ishamael is a match for Lews Therin because he believes so strongly that he was destined to be a match, that his soul can handle more Power than he was initially thought to be capable of, even without the True Power. It could also explain why Lanfear can be claimed to be second only to Ishamael according to the legends; when we get her POV, she focuses on being the strongest woman in the world that she might be holding herself back from being the strongest channeler in the world. She was driven both by egotism and an inferiority complex to drill the bore and date Lews Therin. Moghedien's inferiority complex and preference to work from the Shadows may drive her lesser channeling power, but when push came to shove, she used the Power to do something in T'A'R that no one thought possible - if it came down to her physical survival with her back against the wall, no holds barred, she may be capable of matching a "stronger" Forsaken because that's how her mind/soul works.
Just conjecture at this point, but it would account for Plot armor and etc.
"Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness."
This message last edited by RugbyPlayingAshaman on 13/12/2011 at 05:07:51 PM
Underestimating Forsaken strength
11/12/2011 05:57:22 AM
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Yes, you are probably correct
12/12/2011 06:26:07 AM
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Re: and some of the information given to us is flawed
12/12/2011 07:38:59 PM
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The real question is - What percentage of her full strength did Nynaeve achieve by Book 4?
12/12/2011 08:31:30 PM
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I find that unlikely
12/12/2011 09:28:07 PM
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Easy question for you: Based on the evidence, what percentage of her strength was Nynaeve at in tSR?
13/12/2011 07:09:56 AM
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Well....
13/12/2011 01:12:48 PM
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Well there we have it
13/12/2011 01:36:45 PM
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Re: Well there we have it
13/12/2011 02:06:14 PM
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Re: Well there we have it
13/12/2011 02:12:10 PM
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Alivia may not even be stronger than Nynaeve...
14/12/2011 03:14:06 AM
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That wouldn't surprise me actually *NM*
14/12/2011 07:46:47 AM
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Where would you place Egwene though?
14/12/2011 09:13:46 AM
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Re: Where would you place Egwene though?
14/12/2011 12:53:49 PM
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Bonfire next to a candle indeed. Hehehe...
14/12/2011 05:50:34 PM
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14/12/2011 06:56:40 PM
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The same "step" you refer to seperates Egwene from normal Aes Sedai according to RJ...
14/12/2011 07:14:55 PM
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Yes I would agree with that
14/12/2011 08:24:35 PM
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Alivia with an angreal > > > Cyndane
14/12/2011 08:50:41 PM
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So many instances of logical laziness in that post...
14/12/2011 10:01:45 PM
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Re: So many instances of logical laziness in that post...
15/12/2011 06:16:01 AM
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There's always room for error, and in general I agree with some of your placements...
15/12/2011 07:03:01 AM
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Re: There's always room for error, and in general I agree with some of your placements...
17/12/2011 10:25:47 AM
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Because a difference of a few % is negligible, and not even worth mentioning...
17/12/2011 10:54:49 AM
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Yes
13/12/2011 04:16:40 PM
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Re: Yes
13/12/2011 04:47:17 PM
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Nah. Beyond the realm of possibility. Sorry,
13/12/2011 05:12:40 PM
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There are a number of comments from Q&As that shows that this is possible and more complex.
13/12/2011 08:23:49 PM
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None of which I disagree with, but a far cry from women being weaker just due to believing it...
13/12/2011 08:39:40 PM
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But that is my point: it wouldn't be merely force of will.
13/12/2011 09:40:17 PM
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Wait.. I DIDN'T write that!
14/12/2011 03:02:04 AM
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Reply to your question of - "Why use Logain gateway comparison as evidence:"
17/12/2011 03:08:19 PM
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On gateways
18/12/2011 07:17:09 AM
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Might assume that Elayne is stronger in the Power than Aviendha.
19/12/2011 02:40:46 PM
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I suspect he knows that...
19/12/2011 05:53:00 PM
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