Say The Worst Possible Thing Happens...

[TristanWebb]

So channellers use lightning like the army uses mortars, to hit things that are out of line of sight. And if you have the time like Avi and Egwene did you can gather clouds so that the use of it requires less of the power, but if you don't have the time (like Rahvin who was under a surprise attack) you can still make lighting by itself using more of the power?