Raelas

I actually just found this right before you posted it! Thanks either way though, its muchos useful. That's quite a few questions answered... now for the rest of them.

After derailing a thread earlier (I'm very sorry about that!) I wanted to make a new thread here dedicated to the lore of Monks. Not so much the origin, but more the way they work. Chakra's. Its confirmed by the NPC Erik that chakra is aether but... why do they need a large amount of concentrated aether to unlock them? How do they stay unlocked? Are they pools? refinement points? Why do they stay open after being opened? How do they use it? Why do they use it that way? do they continually draw on aether externally when they fight or is it internally only? My character will beginning his painful journey to Monkhood come Heavensward... I need all the info I can get! I'm looking at you Sounsyy, Berrod! Halp!

Well, based on head-canon and logical thought, I assume the following: MP --> Mana/Aether HP --> Life force, a mixture of health and aether, but to a more primal degree Then there's your soul, which I guess is weaved in between the two. I assume this because of the "drain" ability used by arcanists, where they are able to convert a target's HP into MP, which means that they are both tied together in a sense. Same thing applies to the BLM's "convert" Welp, double post! ;w; I've always and always will assume the MP bar to be a game mechanic and that Aether = life force = soul. Again, that's my interpretation... my head is now spinning about Monks being Monks... chakra to aether... aether to chakra?! By your powers combined I am Captain Hydaelyn?! @w@ [EDIT] - After a trip to good old Erik in the Goldsmith's guild, he confirms that Chakra is in fact aether of the body and not an external source... which would mean a Monk would hold incredible amounts of Aether. I'm wondering if Chakra gates are in fact pools of refined and stored aether that are increasingly refined the further along the chakra gates you venture... or simply just hold more than the last... or maybe add to the last so as to increase their power and such. That does it. I'll make a new thread because I needs this juicy lore!

Oddly enough, I like to think of Monk chakras working a bit like Conjury. After all, you head to places full of latent aether - battlegrounds - in order to open your chakra in the MNK quest line. So, in a sense, you're attuning yourself to the aether of the world around you in order to bolster your attacks. Rather than talking to the elements, you're learning to draw on the energy yourself somewhat. ... Though, saying that, it starts to make me think of Black Magic too. Though, instead of straight draining aether to pull down the stars, you're drawing on it to make you punch harder. Hrm. Its an interesting thought actually. Needing that swell of concentrated aether to unlock a chakra within the body. It makes you wonder why it has to be that way... and why those chakra stay open after you've left that place. I've always considered the aether needed as a key which now makes me wonder... if like you said, they're pulling in aether to power their chakra... or is it the other way around? Chakra to shape and power aether?!

Out of everything we've seen in Eorzea you draw the line at not being able to make invisible, aether conducting ink? Given what we know about Conjury and Thaumaturgy, their job counter parts, Monks and Summoning, using the body to conduct aether is infact safe if done correctly. As we know, drawing from your own aether heavily is extremely dangerous. The only job that really goes against that is the Monk but the Monks use Chakras, which I believe is something different and aside from Aether... but I'm not sure? I should ask Sounsyy or someone about that. I see where you're coming from but lore within the game world heavily disagrees with you. I do agree it should have some sort of payment to its use though, be it fatigue or whatever. [Edited because I fail at reading today!] I dunno the invisible ink bit just feels weird, I'm not saying definitely don't do it just that I can't see it. Aether is safe to draw on but it seems that every class that does it does so through conduits and all, staves and formula in books and all. That makes it feel like to me that there needs to be some level of divide between the 'battery' and the product, to focus it and all. It feels to me like it'd be dangerous to just 'focus' it through your own body, because then you're just taking raw energy and forcing it through your own self to refine it down better. Like, I know this is 100% headcanon and all but to me the reason why your weapons take damage as a mage and all is because you're focusing all this wild energy through them and that causes strain. If you take that and apply it to your body that'd reasonably hurt like shit, wouldn't it? Just to be clear I think the idea is really cool and the OP should 100% go with it. I would say that depends on the method used. Within your head cannon you damn right it would hurt like a bitch but at the same time Monks and Paladins do exactly what with their arts. I mean, I know the Paladin arts are likely less strain on the body but I can't imagine the way Monks throw their aether and chakra around to be subtle at all. All in all, its a cool concept, plenty of info and ideas to get it off the ground. I hope it all goes well!

Out of everything we've seen in Eorzea you draw the line at not being able to make invisible, aether conducting ink? Given what we know about Conjury and Thaumaturgy, their job counter parts, Monks and Summoning, you don't believe that using the body to conduct aether is not only safe (which it is) and that drawing on your own aether all the time would be safer? I cite the Conjurer story quest here because its been shown time and time again that powering spells with just your own aether is particularly bad and dangerous. Quite the contrary, drawing from your own aether heavily is extremely dangerous. The only job that really goes against that is the Monk but the Monks use Chakras, which I believe is something different and aside from Aether... but I'm not sure? I should ask Sounsyy or someone about that. I see where you're coming from but lore within the game world heavily disagrees with you. I do agree it should have some sort of payment to its use though, be it fatigue or whatever. (Apologies, typing from my cellphone.) Lore-wise; using your own aether is safe, thaumaturges and arcanists use their own aether aka. Mana pool. In the conjurer storyline, Sylphie was using her life force, not her mana, hence why it harmed her! As for sorecery aka. "Magic without a medium/weapon" it's used multiple times in the MSQ, even in minor plotlines by minor characters, so, technically, some spells are possible without the necessity of a medium, I do believe it's bound to be more unstable though. I was under the impression that THM's cycle aether between umbral and astral, using their body as a conduit. My memory on the how and why are slightly fuzzy but I thought that like CNJ, the majority of aether is borrowed from an external source when casting. I also thought that Mana is aether is life-force? I need to consult the Sounsyy as I could be entirely wrong here. @w@

Out of everything we've seen in Eorzea you draw the line at not being able to make invisible, aether conducting ink? Given what we know about Conjury and Thaumaturgy, their job counter parts, Monks and Summoning, using the body to conduct aether is infact safe if done correctly. As we know, drawing from your own aether heavily is extremely dangerous. The only job that really goes against that is the Monk but the Monks use Chakras, which I believe is something different and aside from Aether... but I'm not sure? I should ask Sounsyy or someone about that. I see where you're coming from but lore within the game world heavily disagrees with you. I do agree it should have some sort of payment to its use though, be it fatigue or whatever. [Edited because I fail at reading today!]

Its just an artistic direction really. You could go with invisible ink, flesh coloured or simply just say that it is the way it is because reasons. Not to mention its something you can't visually show without emoting that its there, so there's that. Then again, a macro could fix that for you. Saves you typing it out over and over. The lore of the visibility ink, I feel, is probably the least important thing about using ink on the body to channel Arcanima.

I've seen this exact concept used quite often over the few years of ARR. Hell, one of my characters has a very primitive version of it that uses a stored pool of aether to fire off a single aetherical blast as a last resort. Its a once a week deal and leaves them pretty much out of commission afterwards. Its possible in theory and as there isn't really any lore to support the effects of doing so... just balance it however you see fit. [Edit] - I also see no reason why the tattoo's couldn't be non-visible until they're actually used to channel aether along them (Which is how my chars tattoo's work).

Its... Morphin' time! I'm not sorry.

A brooding, contemplative P'azih. The rarest of all P'azih's. I love the lighting.

Rare footage of D'lyhhia actually smiling!

You should let them think exactly that... until you blow off a chunk of their face. In fact, letting them believe they're stronger and feeding that overconfidence will work hand in hand with finding and exploiting weaknesses. No matter what they think of your weapon choice, a carefully crafted emote will back them in to a situation of no return everytime. I love when I get to do that!

I have to admit, I didn't know almost any of what I just learned about armour in the last 5 or so replies. Pretty fascinating stuff actually! But back on topic, well, further back on topic, I guess! In this universe we inhabit... I think a lot of us are Aetherically inclined when it comes to combat so on the issue of armour? I consider it a non-issue simply because in this game world Aether seems to trump all. So I echo my previous post; If you're capable enough it doesn't matter one way or another! That said, not everyone is, of course. So some beefy armour is going to be nice either way. Of course... if we combine armour AND aether?! That'd be something... until a talented -insert class / job / master race (Monk)- comes along and punches holes through your good time, your logic and your armour! So yeah... deal with them as ingeniously as you can! Be warned, though. Prophecy speaks of an aetherically inclined Machinist, talented to the gills and all around a bad ass will appear before us... Then we're really screwed. ;w;

Dealing with any type of offense be it melee, magic, arrows or firearms (Even a combination of the aforementioned) is really going to boil down to one question; How capable is your character? In the established lore of the game world we inhabit there are those that are capable of amazing feats. I like to use the Pugilist / Monk angle in these sort of examples. Both are famed for being quick, agile and hard hitting in terms of how they're portrayed when played through the skin of the WoL. That said, he's the WoL and massively overpowered. The average RPer may be nowhere near that power level or skill level. Could a talented Pugilist / Monk like Hamon or the WoL dodge or deflect a bullet using aether? Sure! Could your considerably less powerful average RPer? Who knows! Circumstances certainly play a part, of course. Warning, distance, muzzle flash , velocity of projectile and aim. The same really applies to anything, its all down to how capable you portray your character to be. As for my answer on how I'll deal with guns? Carefully. Most likely take the hit in a non vital spot then murder them as they're reloading... exactly how I would deal with arrows or magic if not able to avoid it. None of my characters are superhuman... yet! They might be one day (One will be beginning his journey in to Monk-hood come Heavensward... he's going to get his ass kicked a lot ) but not for a VERY long time. I'm of the school of thought that adheres to slower, more realistic character progression rather than having abilities that make zero sense given a combat skillset and taking two weeks to master a weapon "just 'cause".

-fans self, play baywatch theme- Oh, Dog, bby.

Nope. Need women with meat on their bones who aren't dolls. *sage nod* Wait... -squints at avatar... then banner- Is that a female Au-Ra I see? They don't come any daintier than that... even Lala's have more meat on them! I smell hypocrisy! -rolls out of the thread-

On the subject of topless Miqo'te... I shall shamelessly post this once more. I'm so sad the caldendar idea from waaayyyy back when never got off the ground. I Had October covered! Covered I say! ;w; [Edit] - Forgot the reason I popped in to this thread at all! Topless male Au-Ra... such manly, much JoJo's pose. I've become quite enamoured. @w@

Lets see... i'll bite! Yangh has a form of Pugilism based on the Mantis Kung-fu forms and a boat load of Yang's moveset from Street Fighter III: Third strike. Its appropriately named 'Linh Mantis', named after her Clan's surname and is their go to Assassination arts when training assassins from Young. It is a style completely tailored to killing. Aside from that she uses a Scimitar Blade. Her style with the blade is a kin to sword dancing. Its fancy and she's a complete novice with the sword. There's also her Blue Mage esque type abilities which I don't get to use with many people because grey areas of lore and what not. Very fun though! P'azih is more of a Pugilist and a Monk in training. He doesn't KNOW he has a Monk soul stone yet, or what a place of power is... or what a Monk even is. He's been trained as a Pugilist and had the stone left to him by his father who received it from an old Ala Mhigan, Master Monk who'd put down his fists after the fall. He has a few skills Pugilist wise. Nothing Chakra related yet though... that's to come! I can't wait to RP him getting his ass handed to him by a proper Monk who happens on the same place of power and insists on dueling for it. He's also adept with sword and board. Has a decent aptitude for aether but hasn't really trained for it as he's 9 months fresh out of his tribe!

Time for lurking... Kahn'a senpai notice me! D'ly and Khaia. Aiyana looks so terribly done with him right here.... And Kiv doesn't really care. Suddenly... a jumping minion! Yve is tall... Being super Edgelord (I hear that's a popular buzzword around here these days) anime villains! And the bonus round... "Spot the D'ly!"

Arranging a house can be tough. P'azih and D'lyhhia have been hard at... work? Uh...

1. Aurum Vale (Hard mode when?!) 2. Lost City of Amdapor (Hard mode wheeeennnn?!) 3. Snowcloak 4. Pharos Sirius (Hard mode wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen?!) 5. The Sunken Temple of Qarn HM 6. The Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak 7. Cutter's Cry (Hard mode plz ;w; ) 8. The Tam-Tara Deepcroft HM Not Dungeons but worth mentioning! The Crysallis The Steps of Faith Syrcus Tower The Whorleater

It's... so beautiful... *wipes tear* I was guessing at GSM... i hope its actually just some lvl glamour deal! ; ;

AST, MNK, Arabian esque looking outfits? BLU looking GSM gear? /hnng

Do assassinations count as a fight... or? OwO