I think it should be noted here as well that I don't think this kind of thing will happen either, for the following reasons: 1) We know that the Weapons have their strengths. I would imagine, then, that they would have their weaknesses as well, or else, why have "strengths" as such and not just have a stat mod of +100 across the board? This logical necessity poses some intersting questions as to what Godslayer's limitations are. 2) Slighty connected to 1) in that we've seen a GW be defeated at its own game. Morrolan has been killed, while wielding the "wand for creating death" or whatever it's called. That blade was all but *designed* to be outnumbered and yet remain the only thing laughing when everything was over. So even a blade like that can be defeated. Godslayer, as impressive and intimidating as it sounds and is, must have some sort of weaknesses. Obviously, though, his enemies are going to have to get aid from some other source than a God or Jenoine. :) 3) Vlad is not invincible as a physical fighter; he is just very lucky, and very skilled. He knows how to pit his unorthodox stance against people who've never experienced it before--and let's face it--not many who deal with it once deal with it a second time. This means that his opponents will always be caught off-guard the first time. Only one that survives or does his homework really well (like the Jhereg will and have) will know what to expect. Also, we have seen a *top-notch* Dragaeran swordsman stymied by Vlad's ability. But it must be pointed out that Vlad has had more close calls than an entire generation might have. He's been wounded innumerable times, and extremely badly at that. He keeps coming back, for the most part, because he knows Aliera. Without her, Vlad would have been a very interesting footnote in Dragaeran history. As an aside, it seems that GWs are infused with consciousnesses/essences/whatever that are sympathetic to the LOJ's side, or they are being compelled to fight for the LOJ--seeing how they fought *very* hard against the Jenoine. If they were on the Jenoine's side, they could not have failed to take the opportunity to use a force of 4 Jenoine to "free" themselves or their world from the influence of the LOJ. Just my 2 cents about Vlad being a metagamer. For the record, as many connections as Vlad has, there is at least one very powerful house dead set against him. And think of the leverage they can pull against Vlad with the other houses...think of the vulnerability of Cawti and Vlad Norathar. Think of the relative vulnerability of even Morrolan and Aliera, and his other friends for whom he might risk himself perhaps a bit too much... Jon <html><DIV> </DIV></html> ----Original Message Follows---- From: Chris Olson - SunPS <Chrisf.Olson at Sun.COM> Reply-To: Chris Olson - SunPS <Chrisf.Olson at Sun.COM> To: dragaera at dragaera.info Subject: Re: Monty Haul Syndrome? Date: Thu, 3 Jun 2004 15:50:13 -0700 (PDT) "Scott Schultz" wrote: > If the Taltos cycle was viewed as a series of RPG sessions, I'd be starting > to look a bit aghast at the game master. <snip> With some authors, I may worry about this idea. With Brust, I just don't see it happening. Two reasons (out of many:): 1. We don't know enough about the various strands that can be pulled. The J alone are an unknown factor, but there are others. Steve has always been able to pull a dagger out of his hat--I'm confident he'll continue to do so. 2. Steve writes using the Cool Theory of Literature. As long as he continues to do so, and as long as we agree with him on what is cool, his work will not degrade into banal Super-Heroism. In short, I trust Steve's work, and can't imagine him tripping into the pitfalls of Monty Haulism. It just ain't gonna happen. :0 Chris "I would rather go honestly to Hell, admitting that I leaped knowingly into error and folly, than enter into the sweetest Heaven men can dream of by whining that I had been pushed." - _Freedom and Necessity_ - Brust & Bull _________________________________________________________________ STOP MORE SPAM with the MSN Premium and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines