Theoryland of the Wheel of Time

Steelheart Signing Report - Argent (Paraphrased)

Did David get Steelheart's weakness absolutely correct, or was it just close enough to allow him to destroy Steelheart?

It was absolutely correct. This is something David and Reckoners will actually discuss in Firefight. The second book will reveal much more about the Epics' weaknesses, and you will find out that there is actually a pattern to them, even though everyone thinks it's random.

Question

Are weaknesses somehow related to things, events, or phenomena the Epics feared, or hated, or disliked before they turned Epic?

Brandon Sanderson

RAFO, second book. This is the exact question people—and David—are asking in the second book. Good question though.

firefight, steelheart epic, epics,

Idaho Falls Signing Report - PrncRny (Paraphrased)

If using their abilities slowly drives them mad, how can good epics rise up to help?

That is kind of the point of the novel isn't it

epics,

Ask the Author: Brandon Sanderson (Verbatim)

Does Khriss write the Ars Arcanum?

Can a Seeker inside a Coppercloud Seek someone out of one?

What about a Soother instead of a Seeker?

Do all Epics' weaknesses come from things in their past?

RAFO.

It is possible.

Yes, again possible.

RAFO.

ars arcanum, epics,

Firefight Tour - El Cerrito, CA (Paraphrased)

Who’s your favorite Epic?

Ask in line, since it’s a spoiler for the books. It’s someone that you don’t know is an Epic.

epics,

Firefight Tour - El Cerrito, CA (Paraphrased)

Who is your favorite Epic?

I would say that Megan is my favorite Epic.

epics, megan,

Brandon Sanderson - /r/books AMA March 2015 (Verbatim)

Hello Mr. Sanderson, given that I can't go to signings this is actually pretty exciting. Anyway, on to the questions.

1. Concerning the terminology for Epics, the definitions given for High Epics and a prime Invincibility are effectively the same, meaning every High Epic should have one. However, in Steelheart David says that only a couple of the hundredths of High Epics in Newcago have one. Did David change his terminology between books or is there another reason. (I would also appreciate definitions for what differentiates a minor from a lesser Epic.)
2. While Epics already age slower can their powers protect them from aging completely, be it by simply negating it or for example returning them to a specific age, upon resurrection.
3. What exactly is needed to make a motivator? In Firefight they operated on Obliteration to build the bomb, yet people still trade with any amount of Epic cells. Does the amount simply relate to power or is there something else?
4. Why doesn't Nighwielder's weakness penetrate his blanket over Newcago when it does pierce the shadow tendrils he attacks David with? Could the reason be that his clouds act as some kind of “security blanket” if for example he got his weakness from being stranded in the dessert clouds like his would have protected him from the sun, which keeps the UV-rays of the sun from triggering his weakness, because they can’t recreate the situation it originates from.

1. Prime invincibility is the cream of the crop of High Epic, in David's estimation. The hardest of the hard to kill. However, other people define things differently. "High epic" means "I have a power that, if you stand there and try to shoot me, it doesn't work." That's why in his definition, Regalia doesn't fit the bill--though many others would say her power of keeping herself hidden as she does would totally count. All a matter of semantics, but to him, there's a specific gradation.
2. There are no known epics who don't age at all.
3. This is covered in detail in book three. I've been pretty sneaky about some of this stup, on purpose.
4. I've been dodgy about answering this one, as I thought I might get into it in Book Three, but as I work on it I don't know that I am. The answer is actually pretty simple--it's for the same reason that someone manifesting Regalia's weakness in Babilar doesn't make the waters suddenly retreat. Or that Steelheart's powers didn't leave pockets of open material around anybody who hadn't ever heard of him. (Which is where this exception started in my mind, as without it, the first book would never have worked.)
Basically, I had to make the rule that a large scale, general use of the powers had a kind of immunity to the weakness--one of diffusion. But the general spreading of the powers on the large scale were also far less precise. (For example, Nightwielder could cloud the sky with darkness, but not stop rain from falling.)
Otherwise, you could just find the pockets where the Epic's powers on the grand scale were not working, and easily figure out their weakness. Hence, engaging Nightwielder directly ruins his immediate powers, but on the grand scale the darkness remains in place over the city.
It's the only way I could make the powers work on the grand scale I wanted, in turning Newcago to Steel or sinking NYC.

epics,

Firefight-Powell's Books

Do all Epics go on Rendings?

It depends on how strong they are.

Epics,

Barnes & Noble (Newnan)

So Edward [sic], Conflux, [...] turn evil [...]

Well they think it is because Edmund is a Gifter and isn’t using his powers directly. That’s their philosophy on it. Whether that is true or not remains yet to be seen.

Reckoners, Epics,

Chicago

At the end of Firefight when it says that if you overcome your fears that the corruption kind of ceases to exist. Does that mean an Epic’s weakness is resolved [also?]

That is a question for the sequel.

David Charleston, epics,

ConQuest Kansas City 2015

I just got through the signing line. Since it was a mile long, I only asked about the Reckoners.

The ratio of Epics to normal folks is about 1 in 10,000. Brandon then clarified, without prompting, that was pre-Calamity population and the ratio is much higher now because so many normal people died. He then gave an example of Newcago, which has about 1000 Epics in a population of 250,000, so in that particular case the ratio is 1:250. (He didn't say, but I'd expect that to vary from place to place depending on the local politics.)

Reckoners, Epics,

Bands of Mourning Release Party

Can an Epic's weakness change?

Brandon said so far they have not.

epics, weakness,

Calamity-Philadelphia, PA

Which Epic was most fun?

Larcener, or Regalia.

Epics, Larcener, Regalia,