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'Sup. I'm a bit unclear on Malazan generals being "hot iron" or "cold iron". I know it was somewhat explained in earlier novels and they gave some examples; Coltaine and Tavore being "cold" and Korbolo Dom being "hot". That being said, can anyone provide a simple explanation of the each? Is one better than the other? How do the tactics differ? And so forth...
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Hot Iron Vs. Cold Iron
#1
Throne of War 
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Posted 03 May 2010 - 09:47 PM
#2
WhiskeyJackDaniels
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Posted 03 May 2010 - 10:02 PM
The simple answer hot iron generals are more prone to fighting using emotion, and cold iron are more calculating and patient. It's really just the personality of the general. There's a good description of it in HoC I believe, right before the armies of the whirlwind face the Bonehunters
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#3
Defiance
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Posted 03 May 2010 - 11:01 PM
Temperature.
uhm, that should be 'stuff.' My stiff is never nihilistic.
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#4
Mott
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Posted 03 May 2010 - 11:47 PM
The pages in HoC that describe it are p709-711 in the Bantam MMPB. There was too much to type out all of it but usually a commander is one or the other (although a couple, like Dujek, Karsa can be both) and one most occasions Cold Iron wins over Hot Iron.
'Cold Iron... The warchief's soul - it either rages with the fire of life, or is cold with death.'
'Military histories reveal, mistress, that cold iron defeats hot iron more often than not. By a count of three or four to one.'
In case the page numbers are no use it's near the beginning of chapter eighteen, the first chapter in book four.
'Cold Iron... The warchief's soul - it either rages with the fire of life, or is cold with death.'
'Military histories reveal, mistress, that cold iron defeats hot iron more often than not. By a count of three or four to one.'
In case the page numbers are no use it's near the beginning of chapter eighteen, the first chapter in book four.
Mottfather, who art in chat, hallowed be thy name, thy empire come, thy magic be done, on wu as it is in warren. give us this day our daily cahpters, and forgive us our timeline, as we forgive yours, lead us not into goodkind, but deliver us from ayn rand, for thine is the series, the epic, the glory, I<3WJ ~ Obdi and GH
#6
worry
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Posted 04 May 2010 - 01:07 AM
Hot iron is furious aggression while cold iron is precision. Think Barghast vs. Seguleh in terms of demeanor, but on the grander scale of war-making. Both are deadly, and both have their value, but without versatility in the leadership the former is more likely to lead to a Pyrrhic victory or even a loss.
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#7
Salt-Man Z
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Posted 04 May 2010 - 04:46 PM
Cold iron can hurt faeries.
"Here is light. You will say that it is not a living entity, but you miss the point that it is more, not less. Without occupying space, it fills the universe. It nourishes everything, yet itself feeds upon destruction. We claim to control it, but does it not perhaps cultivate us as a source of food? May it not be that all wood grows so that it can be set ablaze, and that men and women are born to kindle fires?"
―Gene Wolfe, The Citadel of the Autarch
―Gene Wolfe, The Citadel of the Autarch
#8
Azathmaster
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Posted 22 December 2011 - 01:28 AM
In historical terms, imagine celtic barbarian warchief(Hot iron/charging at the enemy yelling aghhhhhhh) vs. Julius caesar (Cold iron/ cool/calculated and cruel, willing to starve women and children to accomplish cause. Barbarians are angry and channel it into fighting, caesar holds it in and uses it to be cold, clear, precise, etc
Or Hot iron burns: less precise, painful but needs a lot of fuel and wears off sooner or later and very fanatical often, vs Cold iron which is very precise, and cuts right where it needs to and can keep going for a longer time. Less fanatical.
Or Hot iron burns: less precise, painful but needs a lot of fuel and wears off sooner or later and very fanatical often, vs Cold iron which is very precise, and cuts right where it needs to and can keep going for a longer time. Less fanatical.
This post has been edited by Azathmaster: 22 December 2011 - 01:33 AM
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