The One Power doesn't seem that unique or innovative to me.
Tom Send a noteboard - 11/10/2012 04:05:06 PM
Obviously, D&D used a system involving spell memorization, but most other RPG systems had magic points of one sort or another. The idea goes back to Larry Niven's mana. The concept, using that exact word, has been used in lots of different settings, from GURPS to Magic: The Gathering. Palladium roleplaying used a similar concept with a different name (I forget what), as did Warhammer, Rolemaster and other similar systems.
After all, there's not really anything scientific about Jordan's magic system, beyond the fact that he had exact measures of who was more powerful. It essentially looks and feels the exact same as a spell system, except that spells are called "weaves". The idea that the knowledge needed to cast one or more spells was lost, or that it is like a technology, is almost universal to any magic system.
Breaking the One Power into five elements is also hardly new - four- and five- element systems are commonplace in most RPGs.
I am confident in saying that there is hardly anything novel in Wheel of Time. It is a repackaging of lots of popular themes and ideas, and the repackaging itself was cleverly done. That has been the charm of the series.
After all, there's not really anything scientific about Jordan's magic system, beyond the fact that he had exact measures of who was more powerful. It essentially looks and feels the exact same as a spell system, except that spells are called "weaves". The idea that the knowledge needed to cast one or more spells was lost, or that it is like a technology, is almost universal to any magic system.
Breaking the One Power into five elements is also hardly new - four- and five- element systems are commonplace in most RPGs.
I am confident in saying that there is hardly anything novel in Wheel of Time. It is a repackaging of lots of popular themes and ideas, and the repackaging itself was cleverly done. That has been the charm of the series.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
So when the book/series ends, what will it have all meant?
08/10/2012 09:47:49 PM
- 1910 Views
HAHAHA!
08/10/2012 10:17:58 PM
- 967 Views
Yeah, the use of my time does matter
09/10/2012 02:45:15 AM
- 886 Views
Not sure I'd call it mindless
09/10/2012 02:53:00 AM
- 867 Views
Well, it is a bit more complex than a D&D novel
09/10/2012 02:55:40 AM
- 868 Views
I'm not really a huge fiction reader to begin with
09/10/2012 11:25:34 PM
- 761 Views
I've noticed that quite a few here/wotmania have not been big fiction (fantasy) readers
11/10/2012 05:48:02 AM
- 847 Views
Re: I've noticed that quite a few here/wotmania have not been big fiction (fantasy) readers
12/10/2012 05:11:20 PM
- 789 Views
Well... it's a bit late in the game...
09/10/2012 02:04:16 AM
- 966 Views
True, but it's never too late to ask people such questions
09/10/2012 02:49:28 AM
- 769 Views
I'm not sure...
09/10/2012 06:03:08 AM
- 782 Views
Well, we may be in closer agreement then
09/10/2012 06:43:50 PM
- 819 Views
There's a reason for this...
09/10/2012 02:11:21 AM
- 867 Views
True
09/10/2012 02:54:12 AM
- 899 Views
Re: True
09/10/2012 06:19:42 AM
- 778 Views
I am now visualizing WoT as a telenovela adaptation
09/10/2012 06:59:11 PM
- 749 Views
everything about Lanfear screams TeleNovela!
11/10/2012 04:38:03 AM
- 697 Views
Por ella, soy Luisa Therin?
11/10/2012 05:44:32 AM
- 777 Views
It is a tale, told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
09/10/2012 02:21:20 PM
- 839 Views
It also has Faulknerian allusions
09/10/2012 07:04:55 PM
- 820 Views
BTW, did you see the Folio Society's color-coded The Sound and the Fury?
10/10/2012 08:06:18 PM
- 1047 Views
Re: BTW, did you see the Folio Society's color-coded The Sound and the Fury?
10/10/2012 09:39:56 PM
- 790 Views
The One Power doesn't seem that unique or innovative to me.
11/10/2012 04:05:06 PM
- 686 Views
No, but I'll keep it in mind for the future when I have more money to spare
11/10/2012 05:49:52 AM
- 661 Views
It sold out fast. They might reprint it, though.
11/10/2012 03:45:20 PM
- 653 Views
Hopefully, that or it won't be more than $200 when I do have the money to spare
11/10/2012 05:53:20 PM
- 856 Views
Re: So when the book/series ends, what will it have all meant?
11/10/2012 10:52:01 AM
- 757 Views
Ah, where would we be without such bright lights like you around?
11/10/2012 05:59:48 PM
- 941 Views
It will have meant.. .
11/10/2012 06:59:43 PM
- 739 Views
So...
11/10/2012 07:05:41 PM
- 800 Views
For me, yes.
11/10/2012 07:45:25 PM
- 673 Views