How can there be a White Mage and a Black Mage simultaneously on a character?

[AspectOfWinter]

There's many example of FF characters being able to use both types of magic.

But Eorzea seems to be a universe where using both of them seems far less possible than in other FF games which treat Black Magic as being simply elemental magic rather than demonic as this game suggests it is.

In this game, each one seems to represent two contradicting faiths. One is warm, giving, healing, and calls upon nature, while the other is destructive, corrupting, demonic, and calls upon the Void. Going by the storylines, it seems like it would be very difficult for a sane-minded individual to be balanced and masterful of both schools to the point of being able to unlock the Soul Crystals.

But it was mentioned at one point that Red Mage MIGHT be unlocked through having both a White and Black Mage...

Can anyone enlighten me?

[Enkidoh]

Whatever SE have planned for possible future Jobs, I think it's a little too soon to be making guesses as to how the lore could allow such magic - technically RDM as it traditionally is depicted, is just a swordsman who can use White and Black Magic without excelling in either. It should also be noted that in FFXIV both White and Black Magic were outlawed because past practitioners of those schools of magic brought about Umbral Eras through their misuse. I presume RDM would have a similar explanation. But then I guess we'll see.

[Wolfandre]

I spent a few minutes writing different responses to this, but I think I've finally got the best one.

We, in our adventures, interact with White Mages. We interact with Black Mages. These people know the in's and out's of their jobs. They know the rituals, the rites, the restorative, the destructive. They know all of the things we don't get to see. Why is that?

Because we aren't White Mages or Black Mages. We are adventurers that use White Magic and Black Magic to accomplish our goals. These jobs are just another tool in our box or weapon in our arsenal. We don't bother ourselves to learn anything about them that doesn't help us. What good will knowing how to soothe the savagest elemental be when my friends are dying and Gaius is still on a rampage?

The same can be said for any job. Ever wonder why you're lauded as being the best and the strongest, but in the showdown versus the ultimate <insert job here> is always more powerful than you and using abilities you aren't given? Because they are a master of their trade, and you only bothered to learn what suited your needs.

That, at least, is how I see it.

However....we could just say "The Echo" and be done with this conversation entirely....Man, if that thing isn't the worst MacGuffin in history....

[WellGramarye]

Because you are the "one" and it has no baring on the individual story lines. I have power over the void, nature, my inner dragon, my inner chakra, ancient Nymian war tactics, the power to reshape aether, my inner fury, the will to protect others, and can carry a tune while retelling tales of ages past. Oh yeah I'm also the master of all types of crafting known to Eorzean. What of it? Lol.

[AspectOfWinter]

Because you are the "one" and it has no baring on the individual story lines. I have power over the void, nature, my inner dragon, my inner chakra, ancient Nymian war tactics, the power to reshape aether, my inner fury, the will to protect others, and can carry a tune while retelling tales of ages past. Oh yeah I'm also the master of all types of crafting known to Eorzean. What of it? Lol.

If that's the case, then I really think the dialogues in some of the stories could've been worded differently. From what the Padjal in the White Mage storyline says to you, it's almost as though taking up a Job class is effectively the same thing as joining a Grand Company.

[Wolfandre]

It's not quite the case. We can change jobs because SE allows us to, not because we happen to be the one guy in existence who is great at everything. Think of the stories you unravel as mutually exclusive to you. Meaning, in that moment, you are no longer the promising Thaumaturge who is destined to close the Voidgate. You never were. You are instead the promising Conjurer who is tasked with helping Raya-O-Senn in her ritual. It's hardly believable that you are not only the only non-Padjal White Mage, but also the chosen Black Mage to seal the Voidgate, and the adventurer who single-handedly brought the Empire to its knees, ad infinitum.

This is just a story-telling mechanic in order to allow us to experience the content they created for us.

[VisRalis]

If it helps, think of it as perhaps canonically you finish the story with 1 job.
Which is the usual case anyways right?

Regarding red mage unlocked from white & black... well good point.
It'd make sense if its CNJ & THM though.

[Skies]

If that's the case, then I really think the dialogues in some of the stories could've been worded differently. From what the Padjal in the White Mage storyline says to you, it's almost as though taking up a Job class is effectively the same thing as joining a Grand Company.

It would be, were you actually a Padjal, you are a very particular exception as you are deemed specially worthy and kind of nescessary.

And on that note you need to remember that White and Black Magic are not actually too different! After all it WAS White Magic that nearly destroyed the world once. Both schools of magic were created around the same era and unless my memory is far too foggy they possess the same base casting method, difference being that White Magic draws forth magic from the environment. Hell, unlike Conjury, White Magic doesn't even need permission to draw that energy, you just take, the reason why it brought an Umbral Era to begin with.

[TinyRedLeaf]

Because you are the "one" and it has no baring on the individual story lines. I have power over the void, nature, my inner dragon, my inner chakra, ancient Nymian war tactics, the power to reshape aether, my inner fury, the will to protect others, and can carry a tune while retelling tales of ages past. Oh yeah I'm also the master of all types of crafting known to Eorzean.

That's the same gripe I have with offline RPG games like The Elder Scrolls. ^^;

But Eorzea seems to be a universe where using both of them seems far less possible than in other FF games which treat Black Magic as being simply elemental magic rather than demonic as this game suggests it is.

In this game, each one seems to represent two contradicting faiths. One is warm, giving, healing, and calls upon nature, while the other is destructive, corrupting, demonic, and calls upon the Void. Going by the storylines, it seems like it would be very difficult for a sane-minded individual to be balanced and masterful of both schools to the point of being able to unlock the Soul Crystals.

Seriously, though, the only limitation is that set by your own imagination. If you ponder upon it, I'm sure you'll eventually be able to come up with a lore-consistent reason for how your character came to be a master of both black and white magic. I'm neither, but from a storytelling perspective, I imagine it could be because your character believed in the concept of balance, for example. A belief that darkness needed to be balanced with light, and too much of either wouldn't do the world much good.

In a way, your character's back-story will set the stage for how you imagine the game to unfold. Granted, not every player will go into this game with role-playing in mind, but given that you're here in the lore section of the forum (the only worthwhile part of the entire board, in my opinion), I'd assume that you're somewhat interested in the same thing, no?

Here's another example: while playing through the early thaumaturge and conjurer storylines, it occurred to me that if Sylphie wanted to carry on developing her healing abilities without being beholden to the elementals, she could have considered further training as a thaumaturge. It would have made sense. After all, she was drawing upon her own aether to power her healing spells, and thaumaturgy was all about channelling one's internal store of aether to work miracles.

But, for reasons of dogmatic orthodoxy, Sylphie chose to carry on as a conjurer. Personally, I'm disappointed, but as a friend, "big brother" and mentor, my character naturally supported her decision.

[FJerome]

The multiple battle classes aren't even as strange to me as when the battle and craft classes intersect. I can understand Big Rose not letting me sew my own Scholar clothes even though he should know I'm more than capable of it, dude just wants to sew them himself 'cause when else do you get a chance to do something like that? I was surprised, though, that Geva was okay with making my boots since it'd be far more like her to take me out back and murder me for staining the honour of Fen-Yll by moonlighting.

Also, Admiral Merlwyb must be getting sick of my Free Company. She keeps having to change her official chef because it is just embarrassing for your State Visitors to find out that you made the heroes who defeated Titan also cook dinner.