(07-13-2017, 10:33 PM)Valic Wrote:(07-13-2017, 10:17 PM)Unnamed Mercenary Wrote:Of course, I'm actually working on a graph that explains the spectrum of aether alignment but I'm missing this detail. As with certain characters also mentioned int he RDM questline or Alisae, it seems like some people can struggle in some areas like healing because their aether is naturally akin to umbral or vice versa. So while it's possible, I still don't quite get the origin or concept of someone's natural mana being aligned, or it's determining factors.(07-13-2017, 09:55 PM)Valic Wrote:(07-13-2017, 09:51 PM)Unnamed Mercenary Wrote: Umbral is passive. Astral is active. They can be of any element.It's less about what umbral and astral is and more what determines how far into either spectrum people can use them. Otherwise, a person would be able to cast umbral fire or astral fire for example.... But I imagine it's more akin to your alignment between the two, which then has me asking what determines that. But yeah, Sounsyy prolly has it :p.
Astral Fire would be something like a fireball.
Umbral Fire would be more like smoldering coals.
Sounsyy has a lore post on this.
While certain skills may be astral or umbral aspected, I would imagine that people manipulating aether often make use of both sides. One cannot exist without the other. It's important to note that the skills we have in the game's battle system are by no means the only skills or spells available within the setting. And not all spells may even be astral or umbral aspected to begin.
Your affinity with certain elements is mostly determined by where you reside, which is why monsters in hot areas spit fire and monsters in cold areas spit ice. It applies to the human races too. So an Ul'dahn-born mage would have more affinity with fire and earth, while Twelveswood-born mages are more attuned to wind, water, and earth. As for Astral and Umbral? Are there any examples of someone being more attuned to one polarity than the other? The NPC you're referring to with difficulty healing wasn't because she was more attuned to one polarity. It was because she'd never actually learned any magic before, but her bloodline gave her a natural advantage toward destructive magicks.
