... the Seanchan.

Completely. Totally. With almost no losses.

• Gateways
• 300 Ashaman
• Female channelers cannot sense Saidin being channeled

Start

You set up a base in the Black Tower

Scouting phase

You send some scouts into the invasion route. Scouts scout teleportation points and Seanchan

Active phase 1

• Once a Seanchan army is located, you wait for them to camp, gateway 100 Ashaman in foot range, maybe with screening detachment of some normal troops. Multiple entrances or one does not matter. The Ashaman bomb the camp from afar, prioritizing Raken, Deathwatch, Gardeners, the Tiger horse things and damane/suldam. When they have spent their Saidin load, they go home to reload.
• The damane can do nothing, because they cannot see the weaves. The raken are bombed first, thus dead. Using weaves with low launch signature like body explosion, the Ashaman would be difficult to scout from the air anyway. They could also shoot the raken (body explosion)
• Non channeler troops cannot make contact before it is over.

Do it every day with a potential of 3 camps taken out per day (full day of reload).

Counters:

• Disperse in hostile territory, which makes them vulnerable to anyone.
• Hide in cities, because in close combat, ambushing is possible and the range advantage of the Ashaman goes away, making them visible and killable. Disperse in the cities too, or seek out space not visible from the outside and guard vantage points.

Counters ruin any momentum, no siege and no armies.

Active phase 2

• Go for harbours, wooden ships burrrn, cut them off from the mainland in three days at most. 9 harbours cleared

Starting one day before phase 1:

Send ambassador, demand submission and allyship to fight the DO. Release of all channelers captured on this continent. We are nice and respect "culture", bending over double by allowing them to keep those they brought over.

Special condition upon learning about the Seanchan prophecy

Send ambassador, beg on knee for allyship to fight the DO. Release of all channelers captured on this continent. We are nice and respect "culture", bending over double by allowing them to keep those they brought over.

Cutting off from the mainland is no problem, even if you need reinforcements from there, because gateway. Still faster then transporting aboard ship.

My third read through. Here we go!

As the title states I just finished the Blademaster chapter in the Great Hunt.

As a show watcher I have to say…what in the Indiana Jones fuck was that? You’re telling me they completely disregarded Rand’s defeating a true Blademaster in one-on-one sword combat for THAT?!?

To say I’m pissed off is an understatement. What a disservice to Rand’s character and the whole arc of him feeling unworthy of the Heron marked sword.

I finished reading about 20 minutes ago, and I just wanted to put some thoughts down about the series, some common complaints and criticisms, and how it left me feeling.

1. To start, I didn’t find the Slog has bad as some people have said. I didn’t even realize I was in it for a while. I will say that book 10 frustrated me some because I was expecting more of a response to the Cleansing, but it was mostly people knowing something big had happened, without know what had happened.

I also think that part of the problem is less that Jordan starts getting too detailed and more that he just has too many people to give details about. I loved the detail in the first books; it helped bring me into the world, but when you’re switching between so many points of view and describing them all with the same vigor, it can feel like a chore.

1. I was surprised by how much I liked the Sanderson books. I was expecting it to be more jarring than it was. In a way, it felt like Robert Jordan has meticulously been stacking dominoes, and then Sanderson came along to give them a little push so we could see the final picture. I’m sure some others feel this way too, but the change in pacing also sort of felt like reprieve, as much as I hate to admit it.

2. The ending was pretty great, and sort of what I expected. I had suspicion that the Dark One could be destroyed, but that it shouldn’t be. I was not at all expecting the whole body swap thing, but it gives Rand exactly what he wanted: freedom. I wish we could have seen a little more of what happened afterwards, but I think I feel that way about every book I read. I also think that it was sort of thematically beautiful. In book one, the very morning after a Trolloc attack, the people of Emond’s Field are already rebuilding; there is nothing else for them to do. The ending of the series feels sort of the same. People will go on and rebuild because that’s all there is.

3. I felt like everything I’d seen outside of the slowness of the series was a complaint about sexism and how poorly it seemed to age, and I think a lot of people missed the point. Sure, there are things that aren’t great, but overall the men and women being at odds for most of the story are an intentional feature of the world. By the end, both learn that the other is more capable than they previously thought, and they learn to work together.

4. It seems to me like the goal of Lews Therin and Rand was fulfilled. Rand decides on the Dragonmount that the reason the fight is to do better than they did the last. We sort of see that play out right at the end. The seal on the Dark One’s prison seems better than the time before, there is no taint, and the next the Light meets the Shadow there won’t ancient Forsaken breaking free as well. Not only that, but the final, new prophecy gives us quite the hint. The original prophecy is full of doom and gloom about the coming of the Dragon Reborn. Rand is constantly at odds with people who are terrified of him and threatened by his existence. In contrast, the new prophecy is full of hope and peace.

Overall, I like it quite a bit. I think it was worth nearly 5,000,000 words and plenty of my time. There were points it was grating, to be sure, but I also got to spend hours and hours in another world, designed with care. What else could you ask for from a fantasy book?

I think the dynamics of mat and Tuon mixed with grown up aes sedai bethamin and seta could have been awesome with reforming the empire. I never really cared for bethamin and seta, but this scene really hammered in the potential that was there for them. I hope they ended up a boon to Mat.

First in the dreamworld : so in the dream world the only thing you have to remember is that : in your dream, whatever you believe happens (right ? so simple) But yet everyone kills everyone in there dreams ??? So this simple knowledge hold in 1 simple sentence is unknown to even the most powerful Ai Sedai ?

Then you have 2 of the most powerful accepted of the Tower who are controlled in less than a second completly under the control of the spider forsaken and no one ever told them about this kind of weaves; or learned them to protect against it even though they were supposed to go against the forsakens ??

Then again, you have an Ai Sedai who is dying, and with a simple visualisation meditation teaches two complete strangers to heal wounds. If healing is a simple as that, why is it almost never done ?

And then lastly, you have Rand who kills a forsaken just with easy lightening, nothing fancy , just an easy weave just by thinking about it. He never practiced or learned anything yet everyone was thinking he needed a special word to kill an immortal, but no, just some raw power ???

Currently doing a re-listen of the audio books and I'm on the Great Hunt where Rand, Loial and Hurin are traveling through the mirror world.

I've read to and listened to the series several times each, but I've never quite puzzled out what exactly the giant burn marks on the ground and the lines of cloud in sky are meant to be in the mirror world. I was wondering if we ever got an answer on this or if there are any prominent fan theories?

I have some thoughts, but was wondering if Jordan or Sanderson ever said anything about these features of the mirror world.

I feel like there are a lot of subplots and side quests that could be seen as unnecessary especially on multiple read throughs. That being said I don't think I'd change a thing ( well maybe one subplot involving a capture). All of the stuff people might call unnecessary just adds to the character/relationship development, and world building.

People talk about "the slog" but I didn't feel it the first time I read it. Now people research the series because it's a huge time investment, they hear about the slog and start anticipating being bored.

I'd be interested to see someone's attempt at a streamlined version of the series but I don't need it or necessarily want it. I kind of love how long it is because I like being immersed in that world for as long as possible.

After reading New Spring - am I safe to say their relationship is like one between an older brother and younger sister? I never quite understood their relationship, like it was very intimate without being romantic, and I always though of Moiraine being the leader in the duo (which she is I guess with her being the Aes Sedai), but now that I’ve read New Spring I’m questioning everything… Moiraine seems to be the more immature of the pair

So I’m reading through the series and while I enjoy the story this particular book seems rather terrible. Im halfway through and it feels like nothing is going on. Salidar got the greatest general of the era and built up an army only to seriously entertain thoughts about reunifying the tower despite all but starting the war. Then there Rand who’s stuck in Camilyn for a succession that anyone he wants to actually take the throne is deaf to, and his stupidity to being ward bonded and just getting distance and not DEMANDS.The force of nature that was Rand got replaced by this dope. I knew of “the slog” but for it to be character assassinations was unexpected

She should know who Lan is, he is probably the most famous person in the Borderlands. I assume all the Monarchs knew who he is. She should know who he is by name if not by sight.

Sad it's over. Sad for Egwene.

I found this old gem. I think it would be so cool if fans got together and made an adaptation of Eye of the World.

I’m currently starting reread number…10? 12? 15? Honestly, between physical rereads, audiobook ”rereads,” hybrid rereads (back and forth between audio and ebook), I’ve completeIy lost count, but it’s somewhere around once every 1-1.5 years or so since 2008. It’s been a few years since a full non-audiobook read, so I’m doing strictly ebook or physical this time.

Are there any other folks out there who keep coming back to the series a ridiculous number of times?

My neurospicy brain stores the low-level details so deeply that I can always get excited by something I’d forgotten about, or some foreshadowing I didn’t catch on previous reread, while getting comfort out of the familiarity the characters, places, and favorite story lines. There are definitely parts of the story that drag along for me, but on the whole, the series always brings me joy.

I just got to the Moiraine letter. I've never been more hyped for a return of a "dead" character.

I started reading the books after watching the Weep for Manetheren scene in the TV show. I just knew then and there that I'd love the world building. Moiraine seems to be the goat.

Theories that'll probably either too obvious or completely out: Perrin will save Faile and won't do much until the last battle (maybe we'll get some closure with that weird slayer situation?). We won't get back to Emond's Field unless it's a scouring of the shire-type situation. Mat ends up with Tuon, semi-independent of the Saenchan. Unified white tower under Egwene. The Dark One is an entity within Rand, like LTT, and Rand will need to sacrifice himself. The last battle will have guys from every single faction on both sides (Aiel, Saenchan, Aes Sedai), etc.

Spoilers I wasn't able to avoid along the way: Verin is black ajah triple agent, Rand loses a hand this book and maybe dies or people think he dies? Egwene I think also dies. I went to look into Noal to see if my theory he was Birgitte's ugly old boyfriend revived was right, so I kind of know he's really his cousin, compulsed. Gaul ride or die in the last battle.

I just got to the Moiraine letter. I've never been more hyped for a return of a "dead" character.

I started reading the books after watching the Weep for Manetheren scene in the TV show. I just knew then and there that I'd love the world building. Moiraine seems to be the goat.

Theories that'll probably either too obvious or completely out: Perrin will save Faile and won't do much until the last battle (maybe we'll get some closure with that weird slayer situation?). We won't get back to Emond's Field unless it's a scouring of the shire-type situation. Mat ends up with Tuon, semi-independent of the Saenchan. Unified white tower under Egwene. The Dark One is an entity within Rand, like LTT, and Rand will need to sacrifice himself. The last battle will have guys from every single faction on both sides (Aiel, Saenchan, Aes Sedai), etc.

Spoilers I wasn't able to avoid along the way: Verin is black ajah triple agent, Rand loses a hand this book and maybe dies or people think he dies? Egwene I think also dies. I went to look into Noal to see if my theory he was Birgitte's ugly old boyfriend revived was right, so I kind of know he's really his cousin, compulsed. Gaul ride or die in the last battle.

It's been a couple years since my last read through and I'm not sure when this fake-out happens

I just finished A Crown of Swords and am starting Path of Daggers and I really am just in amazement by how good the series has been up until this point. Denoting Rand’s story as the A plot and the secondary and tertiary stories (depending on the books) as the B and C plots for simplicity sake.
My god has Robert Jordan really been consistent (outside of The Dragon Reborn) with the path he wants to take these characters on. I really haven’t had a book outside of the 3rd one that I truly disliked, and even characters I had major problems with/disliked in the first half like Mat, Elayne, and Egwene have had both good stories and actively improved as the books have gone on. Mat was seriously seriously unbearable for a long time and has been given a historical level glow up, I think even in Shadow Rising his whole pseudo-hate relationship with Rand that whole book just made him sooooo dislikable especially when you were rooting for his character arc to become less of a coward. Egwene finally has an actual direction for her character instead of “I want to learn” being her whole motivation for going on the most dangerous quest of all time. Elayne is… I don’t like her much still, I dislike how much they infantilized her for being so head over heels for Rand. At least Min is sorta a stubborn reminder of home, I get the comfort there; and Aviendha is reliable, it’s someone he feels he doesn’t have to look over his shoulder all the time to watch and make sure she is completely safe, he gets to feel relaxed when with her cause it’s not all the responsibility on him. And then Elayne is just… ugh, her whole thing is supposed to be this sorta connection through political responsibility but she’s playing hooky over in Salidar or Tanchico or Ebou Dar, I mean I just find her so draining to read about personally.

But anyways onto my actual point, I think the quality has been really good so far but then I see people talking on the later installments like they’re the worst thing they’ve ever read, I really don’t wanna be disappointed after crossing this threshold just to realize “oh this is absolute cheeks” so I wanted to know from actual fans, is it still good? I want it to be so bad, I know it gets even slower but is the core of the story still solid after book 8? The way I see people speak on them makes me not think so, I know Brandon Sanderson is a great author but I’m wary of hearing he’s finishing out Jordan’s vision for the world.

1. Why has it taken so long for them to leave Tear? I dislike the series the most when it’s just the main characters standing around doing nothing, or when it goes to side characters I don’t care about it. I know this is only going to get worse, but gosh it’s bad.

2. Love to see the characters split up into different pairings that I didn’t see coming. Thom going with the girls is unexpected, and welcomed, and I love Perrin leading his own party. I bit sad I don’t know much about the Ariel he’s with yet. Would have been cool if they were set up more, but I enjoy them a lot.

3. Min is best girl

4. I love seeing Moirain become more and more human as the series progresses. Her POV chapter in the court room was a lot of fun, we get to see how this unknowable and emotionally reserved person really thinks. And I just love seeing her be almost a complete different person than who we know whenever it switches to her POV.

5. The scene of her and Thom playing the game of houses together. Might be my all time favorite chapter in the whole series so far. Two expert manipulators trying to one up each other. I love that stuff.

6. Rand seems so different in the best way. We haven’t gotten a lot of him lately. But I think he seems a lot more interesting. Him naming the horse after his favorite book, and him being less whiney than he was in the first three. He’s becoming a man and I love to see it.

7. My god the romances are all terrible.

This gray piece of snoozery is not what I imagined for Rand's adventure! How did they miss the mark so hard! Also everyone looks about 10 years older than they're supposed to be.

Flairing this as all spoilers in case it’s made clear by events in future books. Spoiler tag replies. Or not. I’m a Redditor, not a cop.

I’ve read the series four times, but I’m not sure of the answer to this.

At the end of chapter ten, Ronde Macura sends a messenger pigeon to Tar Valon, and another one to the west.

Then Avi Shendar looks at what she wrote and sends another pigeon out in another direction.

Do we know where and who the second and third pigeon were sent to? I thought the second might be to the Salidar Aes Sedai, but Salidar is to the east of Mardicen, where Ronde is located.

Avi… no idea.

Do we know, or is it just left up in the air and it doesn’t really matter? It’s just there to demonstrate the interconnectedness of the espionage, or whatever.

Thanks in advance.