Just a few things I'd like to point out with the Wheel of Time magic system (and yes, I feel like such a tool for defending it)
1. People in many areas literally hate and fear channelers and certainly don't envy them (Tear, Seanchan, even people in the Two Rivers didn't think much of Aes Sedai)
2. There is some friendly fire (remember A Path of Daggers, the Seanchan battle?)
3. There are limitations to what they can and can't do. Aes Sedai are bound by the Three Oaths (though some have gotten around that). Male channelers are limited by how much practice they've had and thus don't have as much of an understanding of the Power as Aes Sedai do. Men are also limited by their fear of other male channelers. There's a paranoia factor there. And both sides are limited by their fear of drawing too much of the Power and burning themselves out forever.
4. Even channelers are vulnerable (if very powerful). For example, in Path of Daggers Rand almost gets taken out by an arrow during the battle at the end. Another example is when he was dueling the Taeran lord (whose name I forgot).
5. Perrin isn't always jealous of Rand for a few reasons.
A. He's his friend.
B. He doesn't -want- to channel. Hell, he doesn't even want powers he does have.
C. Perrin never wanted to be a ruler-type, he just wanted to lead a plain life.
D. Perrin never wanted to have the Power in the first place. You have to understand that the Power (both halves, really, but especially the male half) was looked at like some kind of curse and you also have to understand that the general populous of the books doesn't understand or know of most of the "behind the scenes" stuff that's happening in the books. And for that matter, most don't even know what the Power is, really. There's just a ton of rumors circulating around about what Aes Sedai (and men that can channel) can do with it, most of which isn't even true.
6. Now about the whole bit with why Egwene has to gather an army and such. You have to remember that Aes Sedai cannot harm others unless their lives or the lives of their Warders are threatened. So even if they do get into the White Tower, they'll have been Shielded and probably severed before they ever had a chance to fight anyone and take over the place. Storming the place like that would be VERY risky. But, if they gather an army (w/ Warders mixed in, and thus their Warders lives are in danger), then they can use their powers or, better yet, not have to use them and take it that way.
7. And about the sexist thing. This is completely explained in the books for anyone that can pick up on it (which isn't hard, as it's blatantly pointed out many, many times). Basically, men can wield more raw power (just as, on average, men can do more physically than women) but women can use it more skillfully. Also it's explained that men are generally stronger in Earth and Fire, women are stronger in Wind and Air, and they're both fairly equal in Spirit. Look at it this way - men and women think VERY differently. Men are more aggressive, on average (thus, they're stronger in more offensive weaves) and women are more passive (defensive/skillful weaves).
Now with that said, I do agree that Jordan's magic system is absolutely terrible. Then again, the entire series has generally gone downhill since EotW..heh.
Now about how most magic users are "born to magic". I pretty much agree with you on this one. I think that the entire thing came about when people started trying to come up with ways to limit magic users in a fantasy universe. If everyone could use it, then everyone would - so there has to be some way to limit it. Thus, the "born to it" concept came up and has pretty much stuck.
So.. beyond having a "secret society" type thing for magicians, anyone have any decent ideas as to how you could limit magic?
[This message has been edited by Aldiran (edited June 04, 2001).]
1. People in many areas literally hate and fear channelers and certainly don't envy them (Tear, Seanchan, even people in the Two Rivers didn't think much of Aes Sedai)
2. There is some friendly fire (remember A Path of Daggers, the Seanchan battle?)
3. There are limitations to what they can and can't do. Aes Sedai are bound by the Three Oaths (though some have gotten around that). Male channelers are limited by how much practice they've had and thus don't have as much of an understanding of the Power as Aes Sedai do. Men are also limited by their fear of other male channelers. There's a paranoia factor there. And both sides are limited by their fear of drawing too much of the Power and burning themselves out forever.
4. Even channelers are vulnerable (if very powerful). For example, in Path of Daggers Rand almost gets taken out by an arrow during the battle at the end. Another example is when he was dueling the Taeran lord (whose name I forgot).
5. Perrin isn't always jealous of Rand for a few reasons.
A. He's his friend.
B. He doesn't -want- to channel. Hell, he doesn't even want powers he does have.
C. Perrin never wanted to be a ruler-type, he just wanted to lead a plain life.
D. Perrin never wanted to have the Power in the first place. You have to understand that the Power (both halves, really, but especially the male half) was looked at like some kind of curse and you also have to understand that the general populous of the books doesn't understand or know of most of the "behind the scenes" stuff that's happening in the books. And for that matter, most don't even know what the Power is, really. There's just a ton of rumors circulating around about what Aes Sedai (and men that can channel) can do with it, most of which isn't even true.
6. Now about the whole bit with why Egwene has to gather an army and such. You have to remember that Aes Sedai cannot harm others unless their lives or the lives of their Warders are threatened. So even if they do get into the White Tower, they'll have been Shielded and probably severed before they ever had a chance to fight anyone and take over the place. Storming the place like that would be VERY risky. But, if they gather an army (w/ Warders mixed in, and thus their Warders lives are in danger), then they can use their powers or, better yet, not have to use them and take it that way.
7. And about the sexist thing. This is completely explained in the books for anyone that can pick up on it (which isn't hard, as it's blatantly pointed out many, many times). Basically, men can wield more raw power (just as, on average, men can do more physically than women) but women can use it more skillfully. Also it's explained that men are generally stronger in Earth and Fire, women are stronger in Wind and Air, and they're both fairly equal in Spirit. Look at it this way - men and women think VERY differently. Men are more aggressive, on average (thus, they're stronger in more offensive weaves) and women are more passive (defensive/skillful weaves).
Now with that said, I do agree that Jordan's magic system is absolutely terrible. Then again, the entire series has generally gone downhill since EotW..heh.
Now about how most magic users are "born to magic". I pretty much agree with you on this one. I think that the entire thing came about when people started trying to come up with ways to limit magic users in a fantasy universe. If everyone could use it, then everyone would - so there has to be some way to limit it. Thus, the "born to it" concept came up and has pretty much stuck.
So.. beyond having a "secret society" type thing for magicians, anyone have any decent ideas as to how you could limit magic?
[This message has been edited by Aldiran (edited June 04, 2001).]
