(12-04-2014, 01:27 PM)Enteris Wrote: My apologies if such a discussion already exists within these forums somewhere, but this has been something plaguing my mind and I'm curious to see people's thoughts. Now, before we get into this, please note that it is my intention to hold a discussion, not start a flame or pissing war. As such, please keep posts constructive and on point, rather than diving into personal attacks.

Surfing through these forums lately, a lot of posts have come up regarding different issues within the game world. Dragoon's jumping, contraceptives, healing, strength of a lalafell and a number of other things. Within these threads, a common answer continues to pop up: aether.

Now, I understand aether is like the life stream, it's naturally in (pretty much) everyone and everything. It is a source of power for many of our character's abilities and attributes.

... but when is enough, enough?

Often times, when discussing the issues mentioned above, the answer "because aether" is often brought up. This, to me, often seems like a cop out and is liken to saying "because magic." Along with this argument, a quick accompaniment of "the lore doesn't explicitly say xyz, so it works!" pops up. 

Where is the limit? When do we say that, even though the lore says nothing for or against the topic, aether really isn't a good explanation? If Bob McBobberson says that he's capable of spinning indefinately through the air in a kicking fashion (Ryu from street fighter) through the use of his aether do we have to accept that since, to my knowledge, there's nothing in lore stating that he can't? And if so, since there's nothing in lore stating I can't, can I then turn around and say my character is capable of cloning himself through the use of aether and instantaneously tranfering his entire being to a clone the instant he dies? Lore doesn't say I can't... so maybe I can?

This is the problem we run into. Often times I see people argue "because aether" to explain a reason their character is capable of doing something, but aren't willing to put a limit on it. Or they're not willing to accept another person's "because aether" for their own character. Or, often times, the whole realism vs. fantasy (because aether) argument gets thrown around.

Where's the line? How much aether does it take to do such things? How much aether is a person capable of holding/controlling/storing? Does it differ between the races? 

Where do we draw the line between "because aether" and realism?

(12-04-2014, 01:27 PM)Enteris Wrote: Where do we draw the line between "because aether" and realism?

(12-04-2014, 09:42 PM)Jazz Egi Wrote: You have to consider as well the respective setting being played.  This is Eorzea.  Compared to the Garleans we are backwater ignorami with minimal understanding of the sciences.  What if people blaming everything on aether is just a lack of immediate knowledge of biology, chemistry and even magic?  

Dragooon jumping?  That probably is aether.  Its a superhuman feat.  Contraception?  Almost certainly a wonder of chemistry in a time of alchemy.  Furthermore, the mere existence of aether means physics are different here.  Not that Eorzeans can grasp advanced physics either!

Don't see it as lazy writing, see it as wistful, nostalgic ignorance to natural processes.  Like a body having humours or a flat world or believing in posessing demons instead of mental illness.