Mperv comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 114 + chapter 115 - Less Wrong

3 Post author: Gondolinian 03 March 2015 06:02PM

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Comment author: Mperv 10 March 2015 03:18:10PM *  0 points [-]

"the stunbolt leapt out of her wand and - - slowed to a stop in front of Professor Quirrell's raised hand, rippling in midair like it was still trying to fly and making a slight hissing sound."

Does LV really need hands to stop stunbolts? Why did he try to evade?

Comment author: fezziwig 10 March 2015 07:49:28PM 1 point [-]

Resonance. He doesn't dare involve himself with Harry's magic in any way.

Comment author: gattsuru 10 March 2015 03:40:30PM 1 point [-]

He'd just been attacked by a magical source that disarmed his weapons at the wrists, was cast wordlessly and without wand motions, and did not leave an obvious bolt to block. This is probably a bad time to show off.

At a deeper level, Voldemort (and Mad-Eye Moody) favor a combat philosophy of dodging, under the quite reasonable realization that there are a large number of spells that can overwhelm shields or are unblockable.