Introduction to the Tournament of Lost Potential

[atoraruka]

One of the things that I found really interesting about those books (in a Meta sense) is that most of the detractors seem to agree that it could have been a good story in the hands of other writer. One that at the very least had some imagination to set him/herself apart from the clichés and who treated the characters as more than action figures or

Comments

[zelaznamaska]

Very nice idea! Personally, I think that the most painful waste of potential was Eragon/Saphira relationship, closely followed by Murtagh's character, but I can't wait to learn your thoughts.

[atoraruka]

I think those are for round 2, but BOY DO I HAVE SOME THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THEM.

[atoraruka]

Well, I´ll try to be as "fan-friendly" as possible, but keep in mind that exploiting character potential would deviate from the source material almost completely in some particular cases. Those will probably be glossed over.

Yeah, it´s an extremely subjective thing, that is why I would like to hear your opinions

[star_dragon5]

Things I would have liked from the supporting characters:

Angela's identity and backstory.

More about Selena, particularly her days as Morzan's Black Hand.

Elva doing...something.

And since I've wanted to ask this question for a while now: how is Nasuada an incompetent leader? I don't doubt it, given Paolini's track record, but I want specifics, please.

[atoraruka]

Ok, a brief summation:
-With the lace thingy she gains benefits in the short term but screws up her allies economy, and making Orrin look like an idiot for not being a fanatical to her cause.
- She goes to war in a way that does not fit with their type of troops and logistics. (Conventional warfare against a much superior force instead of guerrilla. Watch the tactical analyses if you want more details)
- She sends away Eragon, their meat-shield, to an election far away. Her reasons being a tiny veiled attemp to hide the fact that he goes only because Paolini wanted to write it and Eragon is the main character.
- She tries to take the throne to the Empire just because she belives she can do it , instead of letting the guy with more experience tale the wheel.
- She acts like royalty when she is supposed to be a "primus inter pares" IE: acting with smug superiority over those she commands.

The list goes on.

[syntinen_laulu]

Re the lace scheme, it would actually by definition be impossible to raise enough money to fund a rebellion that way, in any galaxy.

[vaskrslacigla]

This is not on secondary characters but interesting idea...

Elves going "evil". (They make deal with Galbatorix and turn against humans).

Every elvish character could become more interesting, and Eragon, now half elf, would have to pick a side.

[vaskrslacigla]

That too.

[anonymous]

Perhaps you can have a third tournament for ideas. For example, the magic system has a lot of lost potential.

-TTT

[atoraruka]

Yeah, it would have been nice even if it just sticked with the first book's system