I think most of the Forsaken are close in strength. I'd propose the following...
90 - 100 strength : Ishamael, Demandred, Lanfear, Sammael, Rahvin, Aginor, Graendal, Sharina, Alivia.
80 - 90 strength : Semirhage, Mesaana, Nynaeve, Balthamel, Be'lal.
70 - 80 strength : Moghedien, Asmodean
I really don't think that strength has ever been a factor in Forsaken attitudes to one another. The Forsaken tend to look at the whole picture : strength, skill, reputation, previous triumphs, mental state. Semirhage tends to make people uneasy because she is such a horrendous torturer - she makes Lews Therin scared and there is no way she approaches him in power. Aginor has lots of strength but little else. Moghedien has little strength but can backstab anyone.
I see no problem with Semirhage having a strength of 85 and Lanfear 100. It would be an even duel if it came to it, and neither would underestimate the other. Semirhage certainly has talents that make her a dangerous adversary, and Moridin doesn't doubt she could kill Rand.
It's important to remember that any Forsaken who were weak or unskilled were killed in the War of Power. All of them can stand their ground in some way. Any large gap cannot exist between the Forsaken - Demandred would not ally with Mesaana if she was weak enough to crush... she has something to her name. They are not Aes Sedai - they don't defer to strength. They are confident in their own power and skill to challenge anyone. Semirhage had no problem going for Rand when her plan failed, and Graendal didn't consider strength when she took on Cyndane and Moghedien at the same time. They're mostly equal to one another, with a few differences.
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Fan of Lanfear
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Semirhage's strength in the Power...
12/11/2009 06:57:37 AM
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No you did not...
12/11/2009 07:27:06 AM
- 704 Views
I'll look again tonight, but I'm sure Nynaeve made a comment...
12/11/2009 07:33:29 AM
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Actually, Nynaeave is far stronger than Moghedian now
12/11/2009 12:30:29 PM
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We DON'T know that Graendal is stronger than Semirhage and Mesaana...
12/11/2009 12:48:32 PM
- 764 Views
Inconsistency?
12/11/2009 08:53:39 AM
- 636 Views
Holding a shield vs. making one...
12/11/2009 03:19:09 PM
- 601 Views
Don't they clearly say one single would suffice but they used 2 for
13/11/2009 04:57:15 AM
- 537 Views
To HOLD her. Didn't I make the distinction clear?
13/11/2009 05:04:58 AM
- 519 Views
Reducing the number of people holding the shield, reduces the strength of the shield correspondingly
13/11/2009 07:15:24 AM
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Not necessarily true (Plus, another possibility)...
13/11/2009 07:43:37 AM
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I agree about the angreal, but not the 1 woman shield part...
13/11/2009 07:50:26 AM
- 530 Views
Agree to disagree?
13/11/2009 08:07:59 AM
- 504 Views
Sure, just a couple of points...
13/11/2009 08:18:15 AM
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Re: Sure, just a couple of points...
13/11/2009 08:51:28 AM
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Interesting concept...
13/11/2009 08:59:53 AM
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The answer lies in a fundamental difference between spinning and maintaining a weave...
13/11/2009 09:33:00 AM
- 601 Views
Yeah, I posted on this
12/11/2009 08:53:26 PM
- 562 Views
Hmmm....
13/11/2009 12:42:37 AM
- 609 Views
Mesaana thought she matched Semirhage
13/11/2009 01:45:09 AM
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Re: Hmmm....
13/11/2009 06:56:56 AM
- 539 Views
I think Sanderson just doesn't have the interest and knowledge of relative strength that RJ did..
13/11/2009 07:07:45 AM
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Re: Hmmm....
13/11/2009 07:59:57 AM
- 597 Views
The reason behind our (certainly MY) hesitance to place Nynaeve too high, is Alivia...
13/11/2009 08:04:51 AM
- 618 Views
There is a simple answer... skill...
13/11/2009 08:21:25 AM
- 615 Views
Except that...
13/11/2009 08:49:15 AM
- 607 Views
What about Sharina?
13/11/2009 09:17:20 AM
- 517 Views
No evidence either way, but you leave a massive gap between Lanfear and the average Forsaken...
13/11/2009 09:31:27 AM
- 622 Views
I don't think it's massive
13/11/2009 09:46:27 AM
- 589 Views