The Dresden Files > GS Book Club
Ghost Story Book Club - Chapters 46-FINISH **MAJOR SPOILERS**
huangjimmy108:
--- Quote from: john4200 on August 20, 2011, 09:02:06 AM ---It is more than just strength. There is skill. Most, if not all, Senior Council members would beat Harry in a fight, since they are much more skilled and experienced.
--- End quote ---
You are right of course, but if my optimum estimation of Harry's raw strength is true, it is still a bit scary. The minimum one is fine though. If he only have the same approximate strength as senior council member without the skill, the story can still reasonably continue without making Harry over powered.
ImmortalPolka:
--- Quote from: john4200 on August 20, 2011, 09:02:06 AM ---It is more than just strength. There is skill. Most, if not all, Senior Council members would beat Harry in a fight, since they are much more skilled and experienced.
--- End quote ---
Skilled, yes, but skilled at what? Skill and experience are fine, but are the skills you've refined applicable to the task at hand?
If there had been any doubt before now, it was made explicit in GS; Harry has been shaped and forged to be a weapon. And he's not just a blunt object. Beyond his own experience, which focuses seemingly almost completely on conflict, Harry is extremely canny, a skilled tactician (in general and on the spur of the moment), highly intelligent, gifted with a great natural talent for magic, not given to hubris and not least of all mentally and physically tougher than nails. And that was before he got the Winter Knight juice up.
Right now, two wizards enter, one wizard leaves, I'd put my money on Harry over any WC Wizard except the Merlin, Eb and Rashid. I'm not saying he'd waltz in and one punch everyone or even anyone. But last man standing (or maybe knocked on his butt but still breathing)? Dresden. I'm sure there's even a few ringers in there that would come much closer to punching Harry's ticket than you'd ever think, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. :)
Of course the problem Harry would face is that the WC wouldn't be coming after him one on one like it was some bad TV reality show. They'd come in force, game faces on and loaded for bear. For Mouse even. ;)
[Shoot. Rereading I see you were referring specifically to Senior Council members, and I was thinking White Council wizards in general. What the heck. I'll still roll with it. SC members would rip Harry a new one or two in the process, but I'll still back Harry and his junkyard dog X-factor, with the exception of the three members I named.]
john4200:
--- Quote from: ImmortalPolka on August 20, 2011, 03:54:00 PM ---Skilled, yes, but skilled at what?
--- End quote ---
Everything. When you are hundreds of years old, having survived many challenges, you tend to pick up some skills.
As for tactics, Harry is not very good. He gets in a lot of fights when he has not prepared sufficiently (sorely lacking in background knowledge and suitable tricks), and a lot of his successes have been pure luck or getting saved by someone else.
polarglen:
I'm in the minority here, but the whole thing reminded me of Trek's solution to a writer writing him/herself into a corner -- aliens playing mind games. In this case, bad angel playing mind games. Didn't work for me.
ImmortalPolka:
--- Quote from: john4200 on August 20, 2011, 08:08:58 PM ---Everything. When you are hundreds of years old, having survived many challenges, you tend to pick up some skills.
--- End quote ---
We've been shown that all wizards have their strengths and weaknesses, not to mention that some things are just a matter of talent or a lack thereof. I stand by the assertion that Harry has talent, training, skill and experience in mayhem that few on the council can match.
--- Quote ---As for tactics, Harry is not very good. He gets in a lot of fights when he has not prepared sufficiently (sorely lacking in background knowledge and suitable tricks), and a lot of his successes have been pure luck or getting saved by someone else.
--- End quote ---
Again, I beg to differ. Tactics are how you handle yourself when the rubber hits the road, in the heat of battle. Harry not only excels as a tactician, it's one of the things that's kept him out of a grave up until now.
Now, Harry the strategist, the long view thinker? Well, I think his record there stinks... um, I mean "speaks"... for itself. :)
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