Ta'veren is legitimate plot armour

[Silencia Roamadred]

I have given this some thought.

The Tav'eren abilities (especially in TSR which I am currently reading) serve as a way to legitimise plot armour and Deus ex Machina events within the overall plot. Whilst this could be seen as a cheap and tacky gimmick, the way Jordan pulls this off is to still have the stakes matter - our Tav'eren heroes rarely come away unscathed.

This authorial plot armour really works for me as it serves to legitimise all of these elements of chance that favour the heroes.

Any thoughts?

 

[Aduiavas Ida]

It is a very convenient way to explain away things that otherwise wouldn't work.
It is plot armour made into the system of the book so it works

 

[AgentSmithJR]

Ever since I saw the TVTropes article where they describe ta'veren basically "another word for main character" I've been more critical about who/how/what ta'veren really means and who it effects.
I just re-read New Spring, and there are times where it seems like Lan is ta'veren himself. But then it talks about how some 'lucky' men are just male channelers who are hiding their abilities/don't know they are touching the source.

I honestly could take it or leave it. From what I remember the only ta'veren who are alive (Perrin, Mat, Rand) manifest their abilities very differently and it could be handwaved away altogether. If ta'veren didn't exist Mat would just be lucky, Perrin would be a leader, and Rand would be the chosen one so the incredible things that happen around him are just par for the course.