Aether is probably my favorite magic system in any setting for just how much it gives lore explanations to so many RPG mechanics. Killed an enemy and got XP? You just absorbed it's Aether, making you stronger. A lalafell able to break a boulder with an Axe while a Roegadyn stuggled to do so? The Lalafell had more Aether and was thus able to do more damage to the boulder by conducting that aether through the Axe. I love how many systems and mechanics in XIV are diegetic like this
It super hard to discuss aether in a tangible sense since it's capable of doing almost anything. But you're right! It's a great magic system complete with amazing feats and great risk.
Synodic: "Consuming raw crystals can result in permanent paralysis or death!" Me: *Recalls BeneG's video of the WoL consuming the Convocation of 13's crystals like they're candy* Oh no, lol!
Wait a minute. Waaaaaait a minute. So if I'm hearing the explanation of crystals correctly, then are all the crystals and technicolor fog through all of Mor Dhona from the Battle of Silvertear Skies? As I was typing this, I had an epiphany. Given the description of how crystals are formed, wouldn't that make the crystalline remnants of The Flood surrounding Norvrandt just the accumulated aether of every single life that it took on it's rampage through The First? Sands of Amber just went from being a chill lo/fi theme to being a requiem for the dead in my head.
Actually, your observation isn't entirely untrue. It's a bit more than that, but yes. You're not off the mark. It's strange how such beautiful crystals can be formed from the spent aether of the dead isn't it?
I kind of love that you used the descriptions of Astral and Umbral polarity as they're understood in the Source. While the reverse is technically more true (Astral being static and passive, with Umbral being chaotic and flowing), that knowledge was brought back from the First by people who--as far as I know--haven't exactly been running around publishing treatises and research papers about it. It makes this video feel more...grounded, I guess.
Astral is still active, Umbral is still passive. It's light and darkness that they believe they got wrong. Astral/Umbral does not mean Light/Darkness. The new theory is that Darkness is more astrally aligned and the Light is more Umbrally aligned.
I have never been this immersed in a video about magic. I love how magic is really up to the imagination granted you have both experience & the resources to perform whatever spell you wish to do. I definitely needed this. xD
Great video! I always wanted to learn more about how the schools of magic use their Aether especially the Arcanist school because using geometry to channel Aether is very confusing to me XD
Okay, so, I know I'm not supposed to eat crystals because they'll throw my aether out of balance, that makes sense. But what if I eat equal amounts of each element at once? Are small crystals of all types eligible for a balanced breakfast? Like a fruit salad but instead of fruit it's carefully balanced ratios of elemental shards
if you're talking about Dynamis then the answer is, not really. Sure it's a cool addition but the world has operated so long without even knowing about it that it's a non-factor when explaining the principles of magic.
Your videos are fantastic sources for the lore-hungry. Do you know if someone who has been corrupted so as to be unable to channel their personal aether might have certain vulnerabilities, as opposed to someone who was born that way? Would it potentially shorten their lifespan to be cut off from that?
I was hoping you'd have brought up the contradicting way the people of the First understand Light and Dark, and how they might be the correct ones from what we've seen. How Light (Astral) is in fact the passive and stifling one, excess of it in any form choking the life out of the world, while Dark (Umbral) is the active force that drives the beginning of new life. We see this in action during the Eden Raids, as the whole reason Ryne has to be the one to channel Shiva is because Ice is so close to Light/Astral charges that it is passive and unmoving by default and so wouldn't manifest a Primal in an already drained and empty land without something to physically force it into shape.
@@Z-000R0 Light and Dark _are_ elements, Astral and Umbral are _behaviours_ . I guess in a way you could see the spell Holy as umbral light, light aspected aether experiencing a violent explosion, while the spell Blind from other games could be astral darkness, a pall of dark aether settling on a creature's eyes. Or at least that's how I understand it.
Wow, this sounds like carbon dioxide and the carbon cycle. This is a good lore that can be related to the real world such as something dies and eventually eventually turns to fossil fuel.
Aether is probably my favorite magic system in any setting for just how much it gives lore explanations to so many RPG mechanics. Killed an enemy and got XP? You just absorbed it's Aether, making you stronger. A lalafell able to break a boulder with an Axe while a Roegadyn stuggled to do so? The Lalafell had more Aether and was thus able to do more damage to the boulder by conducting that aether through the Axe.
I love how many systems and mechanics in XIV are diegetic like this
It super hard to discuss aether in a tangible sense since it's capable of doing almost anything. But you're right! It's a great magic system complete with amazing feats and great risk.
Synodic: "Consuming raw crystals can result in permanent paralysis or death!"
Me: *Recalls BeneG's video of the WoL consuming the Convocation of 13's crystals like they're candy*
Oh no, lol!
Wait a minute. Waaaaaait a minute. So if I'm hearing the explanation of crystals correctly, then are all the crystals and technicolor fog through all of Mor Dhona from the Battle of Silvertear Skies?
As I was typing this, I had an epiphany. Given the description of how crystals are formed, wouldn't that make the crystalline remnants of The Flood surrounding Norvrandt just the accumulated aether of every single life that it took on it's rampage through The First? Sands of Amber just went from being a chill lo/fi theme to being a requiem for the dead in my head.
Actually, your observation isn't entirely untrue. It's a bit more than that, but yes. You're not off the mark. It's strange how such beautiful crystals can be formed from the spent aether of the dead isn't it?
I kind of love that you used the descriptions of Astral and Umbral polarity as they're understood in the Source. While the reverse is technically more true (Astral being static and passive, with Umbral being chaotic and flowing), that knowledge was brought back from the First by people who--as far as I know--haven't exactly been running around publishing treatises and research papers about it. It makes this video feel more...grounded, I guess.
Astral is still active, Umbral is still passive. It's light and darkness that they believe they got wrong. Astral/Umbral does not mean Light/Darkness. The new theory is that Darkness is more astrally aligned and the Light is more Umbrally aligned.
@@SynodicScribe Dang! Looks like I got schooled by the professor. :D Thanks for the lesson!
@@Reycied You're getting extra homework for that one!
I have never been this immersed in a video about magic. I love how magic is really up to the imagination granted you have both experience & the resources to perform whatever spell you wish to do. I definitely needed this. xD
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video!
I always wanted to learn more about how the schools of magic use their Aether especially the Arcanist school because using geometry to channel Aether is very confusing to me XD
While it's not the Arcanist School specifically I did try to touch on that briefly. Hope it helps!
ua-cam.com/video/g--xTIHL2-E/v-deo.html
Truly, I look forward to seeing your explanations of the various commonplace schools of magic, if you haven't made them already. Fantastic work.
Okay, so, I know I'm not supposed to eat crystals because they'll throw my aether out of balance, that makes sense. But what if I eat equal amounts of each element at once? Are small crystals of all types eligible for a balanced breakfast? Like a fruit salad but instead of fruit it's carefully balanced ratios of elemental shards
Imagine eating electricity, fire, uranium, and a bullet fired from a gun all at once.
That's what would happen. It's more energy than you can handle.
Huh the tree in the middle, I recall the Member of the 12 that stands as Patron of Gridania, Nophica I believe she is called.
Video on the Twelve is still in the works. Gonna be a big one.
What about the idea that Astral is "stasis" and umbral is "change" as it is on the 1st? or is that just because it's on the 1st?
I wonder how want we have learned recently can expand this subject
if you're talking about Dynamis then the answer is, not really. Sure it's a cool addition but the world has operated so long without even knowing about it that it's a non-factor when explaining the principles of magic.
Your videos are fantastic sources for the lore-hungry. Do you know if someone who has been corrupted so as to be unable to channel their personal aether might have certain vulnerabilities, as opposed to someone who was born that way? Would it potentially shorten their lifespan to be cut off from that?
Someone like Thancred? I can't say for certain. It doesn't seem to have affected his physical health outside of not being able to cast spells anymore.
Yes, that was the one on my mind. Good to know for research purposes. Thank you, Professor.
I was hoping you'd have brought up the contradicting way the people of the First understand Light and Dark, and how they might be the correct ones from what we've seen. How Light (Astral) is in fact the passive and stifling one, excess of it in any form choking the life out of the world, while Dark (Umbral) is the active force that drives the beginning of new life. We see this in action during the Eden Raids, as the whole reason Ryne has to be the one to channel Shiva is because Ice is so close to Light/Astral charges that it is passive and unmoving by default and so wouldn't manifest a Primal in an already drained and empty land without something to physically force it into shape.
or maybe treat light and dark as element and thus they can also have negative and positive polarity like other element
Uhm, spoiler alert please 🥺. There's a lot of new sprouts in the community rn.
Calling light astral is actually just a misnomer. Umbral describes the effect, but light describes the cause. Vise versa for astral and darkness.
@@Z-000R0 Light and Dark _are_ elements, Astral and Umbral are _behaviours_ . I guess in a way you could see the spell Holy as umbral light, light aspected aether experiencing a violent explosion, while the spell Blind from other games could be astral darkness, a pall of dark aether settling on a creature's eyes. Or at least that's how I understand it.
Thank you for your Understanding
Wow, this sounds like carbon dioxide and the carbon cycle. This is a good lore that can be related to the real world such as something dies and eventually eventually turns to fossil fuel.
Are you planning on Mount Content? Thank you Scribe for Superb Lore!
You mean like talking about the lore behind the various in game mounts? I can certainly try, but there's not a ton to go on.
I love this game. Your lessons help me to really appreciate it!
Crystals are like tide pods. Useful, but not eatable.
what an underrated channel
So you're saying some soul is floating around while the people fly about smacking into them just to get to Kugane for jump puzzles?
Now you know what some people are born angy.
Reality is better when it’s fiction