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Re: my comments w/ edit Sidious Send a noteboard - 19/11/2009 04:54:30 PM
well, I'm not one to debate this as you guys are, but this experience has thrown me into the middle of it all.

First, it's clear that Brandon focuses elsewhere. I think this is a good indication that raw strength in power rarely matters that much. I can easily see that Brandon only really looks at this for issues of AS deference and direct conflicts - which we didn't get much of in TGS. As we saw with the Cyndane question, he's not infallible. But my conversation with him specifically on Nynaeve, Semi, and Mesaana left me confident that he had it right.


I think that Nynaeve, Semirhage and Mesaana are all pretty close in strength. With Nynaeve slightly stronger than Semi and Semi slightly stronger than Mesaana.

I think that it's unclear if Graendal is stronger than Someryn or not. Both are prideful women who are used to being the strongest around - particularly Someryn who has never before encountered someone at or very near her strength. The muted responses that we see from both Graendal and Someryn indicate to me that each felt the other was stronger. With the lack of anything difinitive, I think they should be considered essentially equal.

Nynaeve and Talaan are a bit more difficult - we know that at the time of the training that Nynaeve wasn't yet at her full potential. It's debatable if Talaan was or not. I honestly think Nynaeve is slightly stronger, but calling them equal makes a lot of sense.

Sharina may or may not be at the level of Graendal. But I think with knowing how rare that strength is, putting her below Graendal is the way to go.

I imagine there is a slight chance that one of Tuon's damane is up near this strength, but we have absolutely know evidence to support that.

Basically, all this adds up to me agreeing with what you've put together here.


edit: Also I find that Sheriam's reaction to Mesaana's strength is very interesting. Sheriam has been around Nynaeve enough that she shouldn't be so shocked. One conclusion I have is that Mesaana uses a weave to make her seem stronger. We've all long suspected that she can make herself seem weaker - seeming stronger should just be a minor variation of that weave. Mesaana wouldn't ever bother using it around the forsaken since they all know how strong she is anyway.


I pretty much agree with all your issues. Talaan may exceed Nynaeve - it remains a vague reference to this day. Graendal said that Someryn was not negligible which is basically saying she's extremely strong, and Someryn was irritated that someone was close to her in strength. They may be similar.
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Female Forsaken strength : a new post - 19/11/2009 04:12:35 PM 1682 Views
Except... - 19/11/2009 04:26:32 PM 720 Views
There's no evidence for that - 19/11/2009 04:31:17 PM 679 Views
It's common sense - 19/11/2009 04:40:01 PM 649 Views
No, it's based on absolutely nothing - 19/11/2009 04:50:30 PM 694 Views
If you agree that there are stronger damane than Alivia... - 19/11/2009 05:00:05 PM 610 Views
I didn't say that - 19/11/2009 05:07:33 PM 625 Views
Well, I think you are wrong... - 19/11/2009 05:35:27 PM 613 Views
Glad to have you back. Now for the arguments to start! - 19/11/2009 04:29:01 PM 730 Views
Hmm... - 19/11/2009 04:47:12 PM 736 Views
Actually, you are the one placing Lanfear immensely high, my list reduced the strength difference... - 19/11/2009 05:05:18 PM 805 Views
But I'm not - 19/11/2009 05:17:05 PM 713 Views
Let me ask you this... - 19/11/2009 10:13:12 PM 752 Views
Very good point *NM* - 20/11/2009 01:38:55 AM 322 Views
One possibility - 20/11/2009 03:18:55 AM 665 Views
All assumption - 20/11/2009 04:11:20 AM 608 Views
Why introduce that concept, if it is just of academic importance? - 20/11/2009 07:41:54 AM 585 Views
You don't know the significance of it at all - 20/11/2009 03:14:46 PM 702 Views
Why? - 20/11/2009 03:17:51 PM 1223 Views
Re: Why? - 20/11/2009 04:30:50 PM 570 Views
How can you argue in such a way and still keep a straight face (presumably)... - 20/11/2009 05:07:39 PM 609 Views
Re: How can you argue in such a way and still keep a straight face (presumably)... - 21/11/2009 10:55:47 AM 597 Views
Is Graendal the only Forsaken NOT to overstate her own ability then? - 21/11/2009 01:53:28 PM 702 Views
Probably not in this case - 21/11/2009 11:34:25 PM 582 Views
Your rankings hinge ENTIRELY on whether you have Graendal correctly placed. - 20/11/2009 03:24:22 PM 543 Views
Yeah... entirely - 20/11/2009 04:33:45 PM 568 Views
Okay, "entirely" was a bad choice of word. - 20/11/2009 09:57:52 PM 590 Views
Re: Okay, "entirely" was a bad choice of word. - 21/11/2009 10:48:16 AM 648 Views
Re: Let me ask you this... - 23/12/2009 04:30:27 PM 620 Views
*correction*Re: Let me ask you this... - 23/12/2009 04:32:02 PM 592 Views
my comments w/ edit - 19/11/2009 04:37:27 PM 676 Views
Re: my comments w/ edit - 19/11/2009 04:54:30 PM 740 Views
Re: my comments w/ edit - 23/12/2009 04:42:15 PM 541 Views
What ever happened to all teh info from wotmania? Especially the FAQs? *NM* - 19/11/2009 05:01:45 PM 406 Views
http://13depository.blogspot.com/ *NM* - 19/11/2009 05:31:01 PM 330 Views
Re: Female Forsaken strength : a new post - 19/11/2009 05:39:10 PM 694 Views
Re: Female Forsaken strength : a new post -- What about Dexterity?? - 19/11/2009 06:44:31 PM 700 Views
This perfectly matches my understanding of the situation. - 19/11/2009 07:06:31 PM 570 Views
Agreed! This make more sense than the previous list *NM* - 20/11/2009 12:07:37 AM 368 Views
Too many levels - 20/11/2009 01:48:24 AM 695 Views
You are completely right about too many levels. - 20/11/2009 04:17:17 AM 577 Views
21 levels is largely a myth - 20/11/2009 04:27:27 AM 578 Views
Re: 21 levels is largely a myth - 20/11/2009 01:51:17 PM 713 Views
Thanks for the post. Interesting stuff there. *NM* - 20/11/2009 03:14:12 PM 303 Views
That's good to know. - 20/11/2009 07:56:41 PM 550 Views
I have to disagree for a couple of reasons. - 20/11/2009 04:14:40 AM 695 Views
Talaan is not stronger than Nynaeve - 28/11/2009 08:27:22 PM 717 Views
Re: Talaan is not stronger than Nynaeve - 28/11/2009 10:05:15 PM 796 Views
Talaan has be channeling for 6 or 7 years - 28/11/2009 10:56:12 PM 614 Views
Re: I have to disagree for a couple of reasons. - 30/12/2009 12:37:40 AM 1026 Views
Agree with nearly all - 20/11/2009 04:43:47 AM 579 Views
more hopefully to come - 20/11/2009 08:15:00 PM 555 Views
Thanks KCF, that's a great question to ask. - 20/11/2009 08:28:32 PM 783 Views
A little more evidence that Nynaeve is stronger than Semirhage - 29/11/2009 12:12:37 AM 575 Views
I agree that Graendal is the 2nd most powerful woman Forsaken - 29/11/2009 04:07:00 PM 543 Views
It's possible - 30/11/2009 08:23:28 PM 553 Views
Re: It's possible - 01/12/2009 06:18:56 PM 661 Views

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