Not true. Rand, Egwene, Elayne, Aviendha, Nynaeve and before them Moiraine and Siuan all showed a natural level of inherent skill with the OP. This is what allows these people to become innovative with the Power while others simply learn weaves and practice them. Skill is a combination of what you know, how you use it and your natural gifts with the OP. Talents enter into this as well, there is more to it than simply knowing more weaves than someone else. These things are inherently related to one another in a duel. Some individuals seem to learn how to use the Power with great ease, while others lag ... this MAY be related to strength in the Power as some here have suggested, but this could be as easily explained as a storyline device RJ employed to make his main characters get to where they needed to be in a short time.



Of course not every time. but if you are laying bets on a winner Egwene is the long shot everytime ... don't mix up the strength level "Egwene" with the actual individual. I am attributing her strength in all 5 Powers as part of her skill. This bonus will naturally help her in almost every instance since she will almost always have a broader array of weaves at her disposal when facing another channeler. For instance, if she faces a woman of greater strengths, but is not as strong in Earth and Fire Egwene is going to have an advantage with many offensive weaves that has nothing to do with strength and everything to do with inherent skill.



Do you really believe that Demandred with at 5x Rand strength can't win? A sa'angreal simply guarantees Demandred will have an overwhelming strength advantage. Something he will want rather than face any chance of failure ... not much different than Moghedien.



agreed