Comments on: Cage Match 2010, Round 1: 7) Temeraire versus 26) Haplo

By: dpomerico

dpomerico — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:25:25 +0000

And that’s the end of that chapter!
Make sure to check out (and vote…and comment!) on the next match with Temeraire–this time against Polgara:
http://wp.suvudu.com/2010/03/cage-match-2010-round-2-7-temeraire-versus-10-polgara-the-sorceress.html

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:37:45 +0000

I’ve read both series and enjoyed both. Sadly it seems that most of the voters have not. Really the Temeraire vs. Haplo is almost as bad a match as Locke vs. Rand. Haplo would wipe the floor with Temeraire in under a minute, assuming Temeraire didn’t fly away in fright which at least one other dragon has done after meeting the patryn’s stare.
Best case for Temeraire: He blasts out a Devine Wind at Halpo only to have it reflected back by rune magic to kill Lawarence and crew. Stunned and feeling nothing but grief, Temeraire hardly notices Haplo’s second spell clipping his wings or the sudden bone-breaking impact that follows the long fall.
Worst Case for Temeraire: Upon seeing an attacking dragonlash, Halpo memories of growing up in the labyrinth are stirred, evoking the patryn’s rage. Forsaking brutal efficiency, he decides go medieval on Temeraire.
Being a Celestal with the Divine wind is great against Napoleonic armies, but doesn’t equal being a demigod who’s magic can shift reality at whim.

By: nico

nico — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:32:11 +0000

Some people mentioned Haplo’s “friends”, though no one thought he couldn’t beat Temeraire alone.
Actually he never really works with partners at the point of time depicted in the character description.
Sad that Haplo loses, apparently not many people read both series. At least he got a few more votes : )
The Death Gate cycle was great. Even with the last book being released in 1994(compared to the newer Temeraire) it’s still a great work of fantasy and worth the read.
Btw. Patryn do draw runes in the air, they just don’t perform funny dances.

By: jay

jay — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:40:40 +0000

I do no think everyone understands the Divine Wind. This is no “wind” attack persay, but a sonic boom. And when has Haplo ever had to stop a sonic boom? And since he hasn’t, why would he have a rune protecting him from that, or from a musketball either. The Divine wind can create a tsunami sinking an armada of ships. Plus everyone thinks Haplo can bring his friends along, this is not a battle between Temeraire, Haplo, AND THIER FRIENDS, this is battle between Temeraire and Haplo. Even if they could bring their friends, Haplo and his friends could not defeat 30 dragon friends and companions of Temeraire’s(and probably more would join).
Either way, everybody loves Temeraire, no one likes Haplo(or even read his series).

By: james

james — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:19:43 +0000

People keep talking about Haplo’s friends and him being able to demolish Temeraire. If you would like to talk of aliies and friends, temeraire has about 30 friends whom are dragons. I don’t care how powerful Haplo is, he cannot kill 30 dragons all coming at him.
But of course this is not a cage match between Temeraire, Haplo, and all thier friends. This is a battle between Temeraire and Haplo. Haplo’s runes may protect him against claws, teeth, swords, and bullets, but the Divine Wind does not have a physical shape, but is a force of nature. If anyone has read the Temeraire series. A celestial dragon can not only sink a ship, but a fleet of ships without coming anywhere near by creating a tsunami.

By: nico

nico — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:26:27 +0000

Well he stepped through the Death Gate which was created with rune magic, so it apparently works in the Temeraire universe.
That’s no guarantee but everything else wouldn’t be fun : p.

By: Christa

Christa — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:06:11 +0000

Big dragon, little man. Omnomnom!

By: crashandy

crashandy — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:50:12 +0000

Every one seems to assume that magic will work in Temeraire’s universe. If it does then it still maybe a fair fight but if no then Haplo gets splatered in short order.

By: AO

AO — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:33:19 +0000

It’s been a few years since I last read the Death Gate Cycle, (and I’ve never the Temeraire series) but didn’t the Runes on Haplo’s body make him pretty much impervious to harm?
More importantly, and what I do remember with certainty, is that his magic allows him to see every possible outcome from any act and select the one that he wants. The more unlikely the outcome then the more difficult it is for him to generate that result, but I can’t imagine that it would be terribly difficult for him to simply cause the Dragon to miss or his Divine Wind to fail (repeatedly if needed) and then respond with guaranteed hits. Unless the Dragon can affect probability then he would probably never able to land even one hit on Haplo.
It looks like Haplo is going to lose due to popularity, or lack thereof, but I am quite puzzled by the original write-up and disappointed with this result.

By: vengur

vengur — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:10:40 +0000

well the divine wind sunk 16 ships of the line, 4 frigates and killed nelson.