One thing to consider
Certain metals may get in the way of aether flowing correctly for spell usage. Â Yes; Paladins are in full plate mail, and yes they can cast healing spells. Â Incredibly weak, underpowered healing spells.
We can make an assumption that, just like how some gemstones help with magic casting, certainly other materials can also aid or hinder it. Â Magic casters who rely on a connection to their aether, or the elements, may have that connection weakened if they wear certain metallic armors.Â
Inversely, some materials, such as certain types of imbued cloth, may strengthen this connection.
Garlean has some armor wearing mages, but those mages tend to be weak or entirely reliant on magitech for spell-casting rather than any natural propensity.
It's also worth noting that some of the more magitek-inspired items, such as the Ironworks equipment, or the High Allagan Armors, have far more metal in them. Â Perhaps because they've found metals that don't hinder that connection in low quantities, or the Ironworks items use some magitek technology to keep that connection going.
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Basically, this may be an issue of dense metals interfering with spell casting like a signal-jammer to a radio. Â As we progress in the story and Eorzea becomes more skilled with magitek and rare metals, we may see more metallic, armor-like mage outfits.
Of course, I expect such things will still be rare.
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Worth noting, alloyed gildings are used in-game and in-lore to damped the effects of elemental magic. Â You can see this in the Gilded Magitek Armor and in Summoner lore.
Certain metals may get in the way of aether flowing correctly for spell usage. Â Yes; Paladins are in full plate mail, and yes they can cast healing spells. Â Incredibly weak, underpowered healing spells.
We can make an assumption that, just like how some gemstones help with magic casting, certainly other materials can also aid or hinder it. Â Magic casters who rely on a connection to their aether, or the elements, may have that connection weakened if they wear certain metallic armors.Â
Inversely, some materials, such as certain types of imbued cloth, may strengthen this connection.
Garlean has some armor wearing mages, but those mages tend to be weak or entirely reliant on magitech for spell-casting rather than any natural propensity.
It's also worth noting that some of the more magitek-inspired items, such as the Ironworks equipment, or the High Allagan Armors, have far more metal in them. Â Perhaps because they've found metals that don't hinder that connection in low quantities, or the Ironworks items use some magitek technology to keep that connection going.
---
Basically, this may be an issue of dense metals interfering with spell casting like a signal-jammer to a radio. Â As we progress in the story and Eorzea becomes more skilled with magitek and rare metals, we may see more metallic, armor-like mage outfits.
Of course, I expect such things will still be rare.
---
Worth noting, alloyed gildings are used in-game and in-lore to damped the effects of elemental magic. Â You can see this in the Gilded Magitek Armor and in Summoner lore.
