WAR vs. DRK: Philosophy

[Tenkuu]

On a fundamental level the key similarity between the two is emotion. DRKs fundimentally draw on and manifest 'darker' emotions such as rage, fear, hate, pain, sadness, etc and use it as a weapon. In the 50-60 DRK quests it shows the key is to understand what you are fighting for and what invokes those emotions. The 'Flame in the darkness'. You balance your darkness by finding something to anchor you something to fight for. This is similar with WAR.

Technically speaking, all jobs involve some degree of darkness. With SMN, for instance, those who crave too much power end up drawing the attention of Ascians. Not to mention when you add in the 50-60 job storyline and the most recent auracite reveal, SMN easily feels like the job that's the most vulnerable to the appeal of its own power. When you consider the fact that unlike with the other jobs, a SMN is pretty much confirmed to be a primal killer, this is the job that has always felt the closest to the MSQ for me. You could even argue that as a primal killer, SMN is the most powerful job. Quick question: are Ascians considered the ultimate dark SMNs?

However I think the fundamental thing with the Inner beast is that its a pure and primal and above all honest representation of the desire of the WAR. Its not so much as harnessing darker aspects of ones nature as much as channeling primal emotional reactions. The reason Curious Gorge and Broken Mountain couldn't control the Inner Beast is that their desires were about being the strongest and proving that strength, driven by fear and desire to prove themselves, not a desire to protect the town. The WAR is kind of like the Hulk. When he is fighting for the right reasons he can be a hero. When he is just angry and confused or hurt he can be extremely dangerous and destructive. There is a purity to motivation and reason just won't control that.

I agree completely. This is exactly why I feel that DRK comes from a place of greater intentions than WAR. DRKs literally gain nothing from taking up someone else's cause and righting an injustice. They don't even do it because they want to be proven right, but more as a "fuck you" to the system. There is no glory in being a DRK, it's essentially about following your heart. BRD is probably similar in that respect.

Im trying, somewhat unsuccessfully to dodge around spoilers. I guess my point is that with a DRK its about harnessing your inner turmoil and pain and channeling it while anchoring yourself by remembering what your fighting for. With the Inner beast its about being honest with yourself and clear on why you are fighting.

Since we're delving pretty deep into jobs with comparisons, I think spoilers are to be expected and shouldn't be avoided in a thread like this. I think with both DRK and WAR, what you are fighting for is important to remember, otherwise you lose yourself in either selfish desire (WAR) or negative emotions (DRK).

On a side note, didn't they hint a live letter back ago or two that they might have Fray make a reappearance in the future? I kind of hope so. Fray is a fantastic way of conveying the WoL as a character.

I'm not sure whether you mean the actual Fray (the dead guy) or your darkside, but I'd be interested in seeing more of either one.