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DRAGONMOUNT

A WHEEL OF TIME COMMUNITY

MatsLuck

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Posts posted by MatsLuck

  1. "Mat slipped back and left them to it. The general who leads in the front of battle is a fool. That came from one of those old memories, a quote from somebody whose name was not part of the memory. A man could get killed in there. That was pure Mat Cauthon." LoC

  2. I think RJ's humor was at its best when subtle, and often tongue in cheek. A few of my faves...

     

    Perrin after meeting Faile: "Once again he considered tossing her over the side. Seriously, this time." TDR

     

    And a little later, "He lifted two onto his plate with the serving fork, and grinned at Zarine around a mouthful."..."Eat your nasty fish, falcon, he thought." TDR

     

    From Rand's POV I believe, not sure what book: "All women are Aes Sedai"

     

    Rand's first meeting with Berelain: "It left her smooth shoulders completely bare, and exposed a considerable expanse of pale bosom. He found himself wondering distantly what held it up." TSR

     

    "Part of him wanted to tell her to put on a cloak, too. A thick cloak. Part of him did." TSR

     

    Thom Merrilin on the majhere of the Stone: "Horrible woman, he thought. If we had turned her loose on the Trollocs, she'd have had them all sweeping and mopping." TSR

     

    Mat to Moiraine: "'I do read sometimes...Treasures. Dealings. Lots of things in books.' Luckily, she did not insist that he repeat the titles; he had not paid attention once Rand brought up books." TSR

     

    Rand's POV observation that he supposed Mat must have read a book sometime. Not sure where that one is found.

     

    Rand: "'I am not mad,' he said to the empty room." aCoS

     

    Setalle Anan to Nynaeve and Elayne: "'I doubt I've ever seen so much foolishness poured into just two dresses.'" aCoS

     

    Queen Tylin to Mat: "'If that is part of what being ta'veren means, you must be very popular.'" aCoS

     

    Perrin and Egwene: "'Advice! Nobody tells us how to be men. We just are.'

    'That,' Egwene said, 'is probably why you make such a bad job of it.'" TEotW

     

    Nynaeve observing that Elayne always looking pretty no matter the circumstances was "a secret the Aes Sedai should investigate." Not sure what book maybe LoC

     

    There are so many more.

  3. Some of mine have been mentioned, Mat leaving Tar Valon, the portal stone various futures scene, the glass columns (Both Rand's and Avi's trips). So a few others...

     

    1. Six Stories...mentioned already but I will expand. I believe it starts with some good Mat/Elayne humor along with newlywed Mandragorans, a little light conversation with Mat and Nalesean, and then goes into my favorite small scale fight scene in the series. When Mat simply says, "You can't have her"...one of the most heroic scenes in the series.

     

    2. Not sure of the name and it may have been more than one chapter, but the rescue of Egwene and the horn from Falme before the big battle was great. Nyn and Min rescuing Egwene while Rand is fighting Torak, and ending with Ingtar's redemption. Awesome.

     

    3. Two chapter sequences I've always liked were the Four Kings/Rand and Mat on the road alone part, and also the beginning of TSR which was the last time until ToM that we saw that many of our friends in the same place at the same time. Great character interaction (Faile/Berelain, Mat/Egwene, etc.) Also includes Mat's trip to Finnland and the "The stone stands!" battle scene.

     

    4. Last, a real quick one that makes me laugh and includes some good action is Rand, Hurin, and Loial in Cairhein, with Rand playing the Great Game without even trying hehe.

  4. You can't launch an invasion based on guerrilla tactics. Obviously if the wetlanders invaded the waste they'd get owned. My point was how could the Aiel just walk over the Dragonwall and own everyone, considering their military is so unsophisticated and their equipment so poor.

     

    You could argue that Mat and Ituralde (?) are both launching offensive guerrilla wars right now. And I don't see the Aiel "army" as unsophisticated at all. As I said I think they are much more experienced than anyone on the other side. Also, in the Aiel war, I think they came over and just started sacking Carhein. I don't think the nations had any idea it was coming and it would take them quite some time to unite and organize. Aiel caught them with their pants down. That's their style, hit hard, hit fast, disappear. And the French overconfidence you mentioned...we have every reason to believe that the nations were also very overconfident in facing the "savages". And I do believe in this type of warfare (hand to hand physical combat) those things like strength of will and physical ability are much bigger factors than they might be in today's wars.
  5. I mean, how the hell can a bunch of nomads with crappy equipment, no armour, no cavalry and no cities defeat the wetland nations?
    You mean like in Vietnam?

     

    What would be the Aiel's answer to archers?
    They do have bows of their own, and the only bows whose range is specifically emphasized are the Two Rivers bows which are only used there. They hide well also.

     

    I don't care how skilled a warrior you are, I don't care how young you were when you learned to fight
    That might be part of your problem in asking this question. When I first read of them I immediately thought of Sparta. And I do think it makes a big difference when someone does war/battle/fighting in general 24/7 since the time they are a child vs someone who trains for a few years (if they didn't just "sign up") and sees action maybe a few times a year if that.

     

    You only have to look at our history to see that no matter how good your infantry is, you'll get your ass handed to you if your enemy fields cavalry and you don't.
    That's what the guy in Braveheart said before he got his head split.

     

    They seem to use their spears to fight individually and not in any sort of formation (another terrible idea)
    Lan explains a tactic they favor to Rand, complete with different divisions executing different maneuvers.

     

    As far as the military angle, it might be better to think of them as exercising guerilla warfare to some extent.
      Agree. And I think the points about bows, and heavy cavalry ARE valid points, I just don't think the Aiel stay put long enough for those things to be as effective as they might normally be. I see the Aiel as very hit and run as opposed to line up a huge force and charge.

     

    That being said I do think there is a certain amount of suspension of disbelief. They are the most badass because they are supposed to be. That's their cliche role.

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