Could we learn blue magic second hand?

[KageTokage]

I'm more confused about how learning skills from machines is supposed to work when they neither have souls to glean knowledge from nor do they have aetherial patterns involved in their attacks that could be imitated due to utilizing technology over aether manipulation.

[sciencebot]

So are we learning second hand blue magic? Could we learn blue magic from each other? It is interesting to note that we are not allowed to pvp or even duel with blu, is it because we could learn spells like that?

Spoilers for Masked Carnivale and the BLU storyline inside this box.

So: the final boss of the Masked Carnivale, Azulmagia, is actually the roegadyn Whastrach wearing a costume and using a magitek hovering device. He uses Ram's Voice and Dragon's Voice, and if you don't have them before you do the fight, you can learn those abilities from him. I did! So the answer is, yes, you can learn secondhand blue magic. I wouldn't expect them to ever make it function in PVP, to prevent you from farming abilities without actually running the required content, but storywise, yes, absolutely.

I'm more confused about how learning skills from machines is supposed to work when they neither have souls to glean knowledge from nor do they have aetherial patterns involved in their attacks that could be imitated due to utilizing technology over aether manipulation.

According to the Blue Spellbook, High Voltage is aetherial in nature in the first place, because I guess the Allagans thought a wizard ball was more impressive than just a ball with some tasers glued on, but both Drill Cannons and Missile say outright they're magical imitations of technology. I guess you're just inspired by the weapons? Who knows.

Here's the relevant spell descriptions:

An industrial form of machina-based aetherial manipulation developed and adapted by the Allagan Empire. Through the compression of ambient lightning-aspected aether, the caster (or casting machina) floods the vicinity with highly charged arcs of electricity.

This technique mimics the Drill Cannons of machina by winding aetherial currents until they resemble rapidly spinning projectiles. Like the physical drills upon which they are patterned, these projectiles excel at penetrating stone.

A magical imitation of warmachina technology, this technique allows the user to fire a barrage of aetherial missiles. When efficacious─which, bear in mind, is not guaranteed─it sends a shock through the foe that appears to resonate more the greater their vitality.

[LineageRazor]

Spoilers for Masked Carnivale and the BLU storyline inside this box.

Given that the takeaway from the spoilered text in this post is, YES, a BLU can learn spells from other BLUs, the question might arise as to why Martyn doesn't just set the WoL down and cast Blue Magic until he's passed on everything he knows?

Well, Martyn seems to feel that the "journey" is a vital and important part of becoming a Blue Mage. Whether it actually IS so important is unclear. That might just be Martyn's opinion. Certainly players who've tracked down Primal spells might argue that it'd be great if they could just watch other players cast instead. XD

[Kalise]

Given that the takeaway from the spoilered text in this post is, YES, a BLU can learn spells from other BLUs, the question might arise as to why Martyn doesn't just set the WoL down and cast Blue Magic until he's passed on everything he knows?

What, and you mean actually doing something!? (Other than getting paid for what the WoL does for "Training")

Where's the Gil in that?

Well, Martyn seems to feel that the "journey" is a vital and important part of becoming a Blue Mage. Whether it actually IS so important is unclear. That might just be Martyn's opinion. Certainly players who've tracked down Primal spells might argue that it'd be great if they could just watch other players cast instead. XD

Well... I dare say it was the Whalaqee that tought Martyn that the journey was important, probably part of their culture surrounding Blue Magic (That, or the fact that Martyn wasn't very good at learning Blue Magic in the first place, according to Whastrach, so I don't think he's too keen on trying to actually teach anyone). I'm sure that Whastrach would probably disagree on that notion too and if it was profitable likely would teach you a bunch of Blue Magic.

[Iscah]

Given that the takeaway from the spoilered text in this post is, YES, a BLU can learn spells from other BLUs, the question might arise as to why Martyn doesn't just set the WoL down and cast Blue Magic until he's passed on everything he knows?

Clearly he just doesn't want to be beaten up repeatedly as a necessary part of the learning process....