If he doesn't have the spark in him(however powerful he may be), he'd need training of the right kind to access Saidin. There's no guarantee that he would learn it. I don't think everyone teaches the Flame and the Void, and the closest other option for Ranma might be learning a deeper version of the Soul of Ice.
The AS may well discourage a trainee from spending too much time with warders, or Ranma might not find their fighting style particularly appealing possibly being far inferior to what he can manage.. thus never learning the Flame and the Void.
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Personally, I'd expect Ranma to be strong in the Power, if only because of his greater chi ability... Its not like the human body is likely to have multiple paths for energy transfer, and channelers have no difference physically from normal humans, only mentally(even though the power is apparently channeled through the body).
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I don't like the idea of him taking the oaths, but he may as well... or he can run away at that point(not much left to learn after that with regard to the OP anyway.. which he could realize).
... Considering how Ranma normally learns techniques. I'd almost expect him to be an AS in under 3 months.
Look at how little training Elayne and the rest have had, time wise. Effective OP training for Egwene or Nynaeve might be under a year. And Egwene at least is considered full AS. Elayne has a year on her, I believe, and she also is considered full AS.
Tarna(when she came to Salidar), seemed to think that with the level Elayne had achieved she would be made AS soon(while she was Accepted.. so even the WT would have done it)
Maybe the AS would want Ranma to learn other stuff, but if his mastery over the OP is absolute, he's powerful and he can remain fairly emotionless, I think he'd get the AS level quickly enough.
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On another issue, Rand is a lameass. He needs someone to give him a serious spanking. A Ranma stronger than him, would do him a fair deal of good
If Ranma's physically superior speed, and ki enhancement could reach his OP channeling speed, things could get ugly(mostly for the Forsaken, who are lame enough as it is)
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Personally, I think Super Asha'man Ranma might be more interesting... if he grew some back bone and leadership ability(so that he didn't end up a tool for buffoons like Rand)
Let him take over Taim's spot, and have a disagreement with Rand about how things should be working
btw, I suspect that Taim not showing all his power and seeming just barely weaker than Rand, was meant to imply that he might be stronger in the OP than Rand(on which issue RJ has only said RAFO sadly
)Seriously, there are too many people around Rand's level, for his level to be considered the max of all possibility. I consider him more the male equivalent of Graendal or Messana instead of Lanfear(assuming Lanfear was the max possible for a normal woman)
... not that I consider a ki enhanced human normal.
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On further thought, it occurs to me that it would be interesting, if Ranma knew how to channel Saidin(in his male form), already using the right kind of focus in battle(and gaining the ability in that world.. the OP simply not existing with sufficient strength in the Ranmaverse)
... if he learns that male channlers get an effective death sentence(and doesn't know for sure how severing would effect him), then he might have to stay a girl by choice.. until he can become strong enough to survive battle with AS(possibly 13 since thats how many would be sent).
Thus, he would learn the AS way of channeling Saidar, and also seek to master Saidin enough to be able to maintain his male form and survive AS attack, if he's found out, or they find him as a guy.
(who can say the taint would have much effect on him anyway. It doesn't on everyone(refer Logain). Maybe his superior healing would overcome whatever effect the taint is trying to have)
.. assuming that you can get away with not rotting, the only other problem is probably the voice in the head the worries most people in Randland and makes them think they're crazy. A little proof that the voice is another person, possibly a past self, and Ranma being of Japanese origin should be much less horrified.
Seriously, with Rand... after having gained all manner of channeling and other knowledge from Lews Therin, how could he possibly doubt that LTT was real(pathetic dumb-ass)
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Hmm... some other ideas for when Ranma could drop in.. if he's a male channeler...
1. Pre-Asmo: Gives Rand someone to work and learn with(and fear)
2. During the time Rand was taught by Asmo: Considerable opportunity for learning
3. Captured, Compelled and Taught by a male Forsaken, if he's potentially very powerful... would also give him the opportunity to do considerable evil even if he's not responsible for it.
4. Taught by Ishy to be a Forsaken and somewhat indoctrinated with Ishy's beliefs, even if he later starts to disagree.
5. Arrives somewhere in the past. Starts channeling and slows(making his potential life span very long... (like Taim's: if he looks 35, he could even be 200). He'd essentially be a male wilder teaching himself(possibly limited by his martial arts only world view getting ideas mostly from what he's seen, so that he won't come up with too many amazing things until he's had decades to grow past his original limited personality)... On this path, I'd definitely have strong ki overriding the taint's effects.
... even as it is, for normal people, it takes years usually to take effect(unless you drive yourself mad with the fear of going mad). For something with such a slow effect, what is needed to offset it might not be much.
Guys like Logain for example seem to manage to completely override its effects(might be because he thinks highly of himself, instead of letting himself accept a miserable fate.. unlike Rand's who's always doubting himself).
This has the added benefit of letting him be older than Cadsuane
6. Asha'man Ranma: This I've already mentioned. But its late in the story, and the opportunities for becoming a major character are low.
