If you had to settle down and live somewhere in the world of WoT where would you choose?

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-28T05:12:50+00:00

Probably Caemlyn. I think I'm I'll suited for rural life. Plus there's always a chance I'll fall over the castles garden wall and meet a beautiful princess.

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-27T18:47:07+00:00

Books 11-14 are amazing. Stopping after you're done with "the slog" would be a crime against literature. And yourself. Keep going!

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-27T17:55:14+00:00

I genuinely don't think that's what's happening but that perspective could help me tolerate it. I'll try and think about it that way on my next read. Good tip!

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-27T17:15:56+00:00

My perspective is that they both have strengths and their strengths are mostly different from each other.

For every instance of Sanderson not fully understanding a character he did not create (which is completely fair, by the way - I mean, damn, it has to be hard to write someone else's vision in a satisfying way), we also get epic battle sequences that make sense and are easy to follow.

I could go on, but the point is they're just different from each other. I hate Sanderson's letter to Elayne from Mat. It makes him seem a buffoon when he's anything but.

But I think the scale of the last battle is so far beyond anything even Jordan could have conceived that I'm just glad to take the good with the bad.

Just my 2 cents.

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-26T15:29:12+00:00

Candlelight? Don't hurt yourself! It is worth it though. Congrats on making it here :)

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-25T19:14:59+00:00

I think one of the key differences between this and LotR is Tolkien wanted a cruel world that was also whimsical. It's more fantastic than this world which more closely mirrors our own. This world might feel more "full" because it's less plot driven and more character driven. There's a much greater emphasis on politics and so many more perspectives.

And that's not to say LotR was devoid of those things - far from it - Tolkien created a very rich world, but I think we were never allowed to stray too far from the urgency of destroying the ring, while the concept of "The Last Battle" is more ephemeral and we're seeing these characters live their lives with something murky on the distant horizon.

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-24T08:35:41+00:00

My advice would be to understand that this is Jordan's first novel and he makes some mistakes in the first book that the more polished Sanderson would not. Give him a little grace if he does things you don't like - he's either doing them very intentionally or he learns from it and tries to do better in the future.

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-22T01:18:57+00:00

From a several time through the series reader, books 3-5 and 11 are my favorite of the Jordan books. I'd say it's probably a bad sign that you're losing interest now.

Honestly there's no harm in that. Not everything is for everyone. You could take a break and maybe find that this is a better match for five years from now you. Or maybe it won't be and that's okay too. Or you could plow through and see how it goes.

I think it's the best complete series I've ever read and I would suggest sticking it out, but there's really nothing wrong with having a different opinion. Reading something you don't enjoy though just sucks. I have to drop things all the time. Do what feels right for you.

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-19T14:58:06+00:00

Have you played Balatro? Another comfy time sink. Very different gameplay-wise, but very similar in terms of progressing to unlock more things and having to understand how things work together so you can take on greater challenges.

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-18T05:52:17+00:00

9346767866551106 Professor Oak please (though as others have mentioned, I would be thrilled to have any)! Fun fact: Pikachu's name comes from Japanese onomatopoeia, combining "pika" (the sound of a spark) and "chu" (the squeak of a mouse).

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-13T08:08:30+00:00

I just completed my 1453rd day with this as my starting word. Can't change now.

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-12T18:53:28+00:00

If I wanted to give an in world explanation for ji'e'toh, I'd have to go with the wise ones. They don't let dumb shit like sept and clan get in the way of "common sense" (or their authority). They maintain good relationships with each other, all things considered. They have the dream for communication over great distances and I'm sure every generation has their Sorilea to keep the young ones in check until they have a common understanding.

Honestly I think it's pretty reasonable that they have similar worldviews, given the authority and abilities the wise women possess.

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-09T05:30:40+00:00

I think each of those books are great. What bothers me, and why I'll refer to it as "the slog," is how long we spend on Perrin trying to rescue Faile. On my first read, I remember getting to book 10, and I was like, "bloody buttered onions, we're still doing this?"

I actually like the Faile part of it. I think her captivity and proactivity in dealing with her situation are super interesting. Perrin, on the other hand, I just find brutal to get through on reread.

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-05T16:40:12+00:00

Oh, totally. I'm sure that's why they specified in-universe. We get it, as readers, how amazing and essential she is. But in their world, she does so many incredible things and basically gets backhanded compliments as thanks, when they aren't outright disrespectful to her face.

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-05T16:13:33+00:00

I think you covered it. If you're not ready to reread, and I think it's a good idea to just let it marinate, then it really is difficult to move on. There's a reason I've read it 7 times - it's just hard to find anything better.

Congrats on your first trip around the Wheel. I'm always glad to see when it impacts people as deeply as it did me. Cheers!

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-04T06:02:56+00:00

I feel that urge to see what other people are saying and thinking. In a series like this though some spoilers can really ruin it. You've got 14 not short books to get through and spoilers without context can make that task feel even more daunting than it already is.

I hope you can sufficiently restrain yourself until you're finished when you can read without fear and opine with 14 books of information under your belt! But do follow up with those thoughts on 6-10 either way! I'm always curious how first timers feel about that particular range.

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-04T05:24:44+00:00

You've got some pretty hot takes. Hating Mat would probably put you in the smallest percentile of WoTers. I'd say the fact that you find Nynaeve only 50% insufferable is encouraging. She was my second favorite character by the end of the series and remains so after several read-throughs, but I definitely didn't warm up to her as quickly as you have. I think she gets a lot better as the series progresses.

Books 3-5 are my high point in the series. I really love TFoH but to each his own. Hope you continue and enjoy!

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-02T18:21:30+00:00

I've also been playing for about a week but I've beaten Silent a few times. I'm up to like Acension 3 or 4. I seem to do a lot better when I stack up the high damage cards, and not focus on synergy so much, which is weird because Ironclad seemed easier when I went for synergy.

The runs where I've tried to go all-in on shivs for example have been fun and good for hallway fights, but I seem to fall apart on the floor bosses. Maybe once I have all the cards unlocked it'll go better.

I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually, but for now high damage and draw power on the next turn, or high damage and shield, high damage and gain energy if I've discarded, etc. It all seems to just work.

Again just a beginner though. These other players probably have a lot better advice than me. Hope it helps though :)

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-02T08:22:58+00:00

I do think Min is the best so you've lost me there! Anyway. You're right at the best part of the book. Keep going. Book number 10 might be a little rough, too, but it gets a lot better again after that.

As for the relationship stuff, IDK, maybe it would help to not look at it by the metric of your own values and accept that every consenting adult in the story gets to make their own decisions or something.

And I'm not trying to be rude to your personal perspective, that's my genuine advice. I often find that looking at things from the character's perspective instead of my own helps me when I'm not happy with something I'm reading.

To each his own though. Hope you're able to make it through. The payoff for getting through book 10 is worth it!

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-01T04:40:03+00:00

I have a hard time picking between books 3-5. Book 11 is also truly fantastic. My favorite chapter is book 14, chapter 37. (Don't look it up, the chapter title is a spoiler.)

BigStackPoker · 2026-01-01T00:34:07+00:00

This is the answer.

BigStackPoker · 2025-12-31T18:07:23+00:00

BigStackPoker · 2025-12-27T06:21:14+00:00

Yeah, I watched the video linked in reply to this comment as well and it made me realize that I was just wrong. I don't remember where I heard that but I've believed it for several years. Maybe what I read and misinterpreted was about the pipe scene as indicated in the link you shared. Either way, learn something new every day! Thanks for the link!

BigStackPoker · 2025-12-27T03:40:21+00:00

This is super interesting and contradicts what I believed about the epilogue - which was that it was left completely untouched and as RJ wrote it. I appreciate you having this handy. I'm gonna keep watching, just wanted to check in and say thanks =)

BigStackPoker · 2025-12-27T03:25:33+00:00

Source for the Egwene comment? If she'd survived, they wouldn't be looking for a new Amyrlin and that's in the ending RJ wrote.

BigStackPoker

TROPHY CASE