Thank you for finally acknowledging that.

Nope. Simply because the Tower also ends up excluding the very strong channelers. The 1000 sisters we consider in the Tower do not have a range from Morghase to Lanfear. They have a range from Daigian to Moiraine. The average, therefore, is likely to be close to (though not exactly, since the exclusion is skewed towards one side, we don't know which, exactly) 50. The strongest sisters like Moiriane are likely to be a level or two above the average woman, that's all.

Nope.


I just can't understand you and Siddy here. You ignore RJ's quote, ignore the mathematics, plug your ears with your fingers and keep repeating that you have to be right. If you want to disprove what I'm saying, why not come up with an actual "relative scale" that you guys keep harping about and show me how that fits a bell curve and proves your point. It won't. Seen a relative grading for an exam? They use bell curves too. They skew the average by excluding the outliers so that the average will clutter around the score the most number of people got. But RJ said his bell curve covers all channelers. You would need to exclude people from the level of Egwene or something to come up with an average strength of 25.

I know and understand how this almost 100% boost to Aes Sedai strength can be confusing and disorienting. The first time I saw the bell curve statement, I was similarly thrown off.

Lets take the one example that can prove this.

Verin, Shalon and Kumira vs. Graendal.

You'd put Verin at 20, Shalon at 22, Kumira at 11 (since she is just stronger than Daigian) and Graendal at a minimum of 80, right?

Now, Verin and Graendal had angreal, though both call it weak. Lets say Verin's multiplied her strength by 2 and Graendal's multiplied her strength 1.5 times.

Then the circle had 40+22+11-10=63 (taking into account loss of strength due to linking. Even if you put it down to loss of only 5, their strength is only 6. So, roughly, lets put their strength at 65. Lets say the precision advantage boosts this to 85, even.
Even with this, Graendal has a strength of 80*1.5= 120!

This circle beat back Graendal with the loss of one member. Yet, you want me to believe that Egwene at 45, with Romanda and Lelaine at 25, meaning a combined strength linked of 85, cannot beat back one of the male Forsaken unaided? That is laughable. Even if you say Verin's angreal increases her strength by 3, and Kumira is of strength 15, their circle still has a maximum strength of a 100/110.
And Graendal still has the amazing skill advantages, yet she gets beaten back?

Clearly, there's something wrong with your placement. Aspects of the text, as well as the one mathematical fact we have about OP strength disprove it.