Arcanists and their spells

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Originally Posted by faris

Possibly it's already been mentioned in this thread but in ONE fieldcraft or tradecraft quest (possibly miner. Unsure. Or even alchemist.) it is mentioned that the ink used to create grimoires is aetherically conductive.

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It's the level 20 Alchemist quest. The explanation given there is:

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Originally Posted by Anonymous Arcanist

For an arcanist to weave his spells, he must conjure in his mind the image of distinct mystical diagrams known as arcane geometries. These geometries are inscribed upon the pages of a grimoire, such as the one you constructed at my request. The most important aspect of any grimoire is the quality of the ink used to illustrate its pages. Geometries drawn with ink that is especially conducive to the flow of aether allow the arcanist to more effectively channel his magic strength. Thus when one is in need of a new grimoire, one must turn to an expert in the making of this liquid gold--an alchemist. And, Thaliak be praised, I was blessed with the attentions of a true artist.

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The descriptions of the inks themselves refer to it as well. They're "Enchanted <metal> Ink" with various types of metals for various levels (Enchanted Copper Ink, Enchanted Iron Ink, Enchanted Silver Ink, etc.) and the description of each is "Ink fortified with <metal> sand to improve aetherial conductivity." (with, obviously, the name of the appropriate type of metal there).

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Originally Posted by Truxton

As guildmaster Thubyrgeim put it they are 'esoteric calculations to express the nature of aether in mathematical terms that are represented by arcane geometries.' These are the patterns that allow arcanists to manipulate aetheric energy and produce specific effects. It's also what allows them to shape the aether into summonable entities like carbuncle, the egis, and the fairies.

What I don't understand is how all these complex formulas and spells equate out to things of the biological variety like Bio and Miasma. We get a very clear cut definition of how conjurers and thaumaturges are able to cast the elemental spells that they can. (Nature and harnessing their own inner aether respectively)so why or how do arcanists produce these debilitating poisons and how exactly do they get into our enemies that don't have blood or other things of the biological variety like golems and skeletons and such?

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You answered your own question while you were asking it.

If Arcanists/Summoners are able to shape aether into physical manifestations such as the carbuncles or egis, then why wouldn't they be able to shape microscopic manifestations that attack an opponent at the cellular level. They even have a move called "Virus," which means they shape the aether into bacteria to weaken the opponent. Same principal used for Scholars as they manifest leeches to extract disease from a teammate.

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Originally Posted by Truxton

I ask because these are things that you would see in the arsenal of an assassin or ninja, not typically a math textbook. :(

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I think you are confusing bio with poison. Yoshida said that the new ninja class will be utilizing poisons, such as weapons coated with Poisonous Potions. Bio implies biological, such as egis, or even bacteria.

After reading through this thread, I think their skills match the class rather well.

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Originally Posted by Gamma621

They even have a move called "Virus," which means they shape the aether into bacteria to weaken the opponent.

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Or maybe they shape it into a virus, since that what the spell is actually called? virus =/= bacteria.

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Originally Posted by RickiFake02

Or maybe they shape it into a virus, since that what the spell is actually called? virus =/= bacteria.

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Yes, you're right, they're not the same.

Now I could post a link to a fascinating article on the debate of whether Viruses are accepted as being alive or not, or we could skip the biology lesson and continue discussing the game filled with magic and dragons.

So let's talk Egis. I haven't finished the summoner questlines just yet, so forgive me if this is explained in the higher levels, or even earlier and I just don't remember... But basically, an Egi is the shard of a primal's full power, given physical form through properly aspected aether and then subdued and tamed by the summoner, right?

I'm a bit confused as to how one actually differs from a primal aside from scale. Do they have any sort of independant will? (I lean towards yes on this one, given the end of the quest event for Titan-egi.) Do they posess the capacity to temper an individual? Could a summoner with enough skill and aether summon a full primal on their own?

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Originally Posted by Darske

So let's talk Egis. I haven't finished the summoner questlines just yet, so forgive me if this is explained in the higher levels, or even earlier and I just don't remember... But basically, an Egi is the shard of a primal's full power, given physical form through properly aspected aether and then subdued and tamed by the summoner, right?

I'm a bit confused as to how one actually differs from a primal aside from scale. Do they have any sort of independant will? (I lean towards yes on this one, given the end of the quest event for Titan-egi.) Do they posess the capacity to temper an individual? Could a summoner with enough skill and aether summon a full primal on their own?

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I don't think it's possible for a Summoner to become powerful enough to control a true primal just because of the massive amount of Aether required to do so. Either it would kill the summoner instantly by completely depleting his aether pool, (Similar to Conjurers who don't draw their power from nature) or he would have to individually be more powerful than the primal he's attempting to summon. To me, that would almost categorize that Summoner as a primal himself. Maybe this is how Ramuh was created. :O

You know I wonder why Summoners are on our side if all they can summon are miniature version of Primals. Why aren't they Tempered?

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Originally Posted by Darske

Could a summoner with enough skill and aether summon a full primal on their own?

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This will be answered by the final quest in the summoner storyline.

Tristan attempts to make one last, gigantic summon, but the effort literally consumes him in an inferno of aether.

In short, a single summoner will never have enough aether to summon a full-fledged primal.

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Originally Posted by Darske

I'm a bit confused as to how one actually differs from a primal aside from scale. Do they have any sort of independant will? (I lean towards yes on this one, given the end of the quest event for Titan-egi.) Do they posess the capacity to temper an individual?

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An egi, as Y'mhitra explains, is merely an "essence" of a primal. Think of them as the "larval" aspect of the primal's true form. Though, to be sure, the jury is still out on what the primal's "true" form actually is. Read this thread to find out more: Are primals really primals?

As for whether the egi have independent will, I think they have basic animal instincts. Animals all have distinct personalities of their own, as any owner of a pet cat or dog would tell you. And try making a cat to do as you say. I'm fairly sure you'd agree it has pretty strong willpower. :p

What I think you're asking, rather, is whether the egi are self-aware, in the way "true" people are. On that point, I'm not too sure either, but they clearly don't speak to the summoner the way full-fledged primals do, so I'm inclined to think that the egi are not "self-aware".

In short, I'd say the egi have animal-level intelligence, in keeping with the fact that they are no more than a mere fraction of a primal's true form.

Here's a thought: its a videogame and therefore doesn't have to make exact sense. Why bother to over think small details that don't really matter in the end? Just game on.

I'd actually like to add my thoughts on the subject of the Arcanist's Aetheir source. By the real world examples of archain teachings like Alchemy, Sorcery, ect, ect (Weather you believe in them or not.) the basic rules for drawing energy for those spells or abilitys is know as "Energy Channeling" in the hermatic beliefs that most midevil real world magic was based off of. The short version would be that Humans (Or the humonoid races in Eorzia's case) would have very small natural reserves of Aetheir (The basic composition of the universe(s)) and those capable of using magic would be able to channel the aetheir around them into them selves to actually USE the magic.