Any ideas for what the MND stat represents?

[Urthdigger]

I think it can probably be thought of as a "warmer" kind of knowledge than Intelligence. It is the intelligent black mage that knows the child's dad likely perished in the fire. It is the mindful white mage who knows telling the kid that will not help. Intelligence is cold logic, while mind is more hunches and personal experience. A black mage can tell you how a mage channels the aether through their bodies and focuses them into desired effects, while a white mage is more concerned with applying the end result. It is theory versus practice.

[TinyRedLeaf]

I like to think Mind is the same as the more "traditional" Wisdom stat

Ever since FFXI, I thought of MND as a kind of 'practical Wisdom'/phronesis

The D&D version of "Wisdom" is very similar to what Enkidoh said about FFXI's "Mind" stat -- it's a measurement of religious faith and "insight". Hence the attribute's association with clerics and priests. And being an atheist, I find that slightly off-putting, the idea that you must have a religion to be "wise".

From a role-playing perspective, I also find it hard to imagine how someone could be "wise" without being at least reasonably "intelligent". I mean, the only persona that comes to mind (pun intended) is... Forrest Gump.

I think it can probably be thought of as a "warmer" kind of knowledge than Intelligence.

Yup, that's how I like to think of the stat, too, a measurement of "emotional intelligence" or empathy.

I like the other ideas, too, such as clarity/focus or "mindfulness".

[Nayto]

Here's a bonus:
What kind of mental thinking would a SCH/WHM go through if they went into the cleric stance? Since obviously their mind and intelligence get's swapped.
Does the religious white mage all of a sudden decides this world is better off burned in divine wrath? (Or the non-believer be stoned?(pun))
Does the SCH realize it's better to demoralize the enemy with diseases and plagues?
If cleric stance was more of a pre-determined trait than a skill... you'd think that our healers have a bipolar disorder.

[TinyRedLeaf]

What kind of mental thinking would a SCH/WHM go through if they went into the cleric stance?

Well, to use my interpretation of MND, it would mean that the scholar or white mage is temporarily suppressing his natural instinct to care for someone else's well-being, and instead become a cold, calculating machine bent on inflicting maximum destruction.

Or, from the religious perspective, it would mean having the scholar or white mage being temporarily overwhelmed by a desire to bring about holy retribution. As you can see, such a concept would work better for a white mage (and even then, only barely, as FFXIV's white mage functions more like a "neutral alignment" druid than like a holy priest in FFXI). It wouldn't work so well for the more rational, scientific scholar.

[AngelicSence]

Mind equal wisdom, and understanding of all things. Basically, person can feel the life flow though "mind" and body. Thus, they can sense life energy and also restore it intelligence would be, probably.. A knowledge... Unlike mind, it comes from experience. So, Int = power from studying. Mind = power from meditation.. >.>

[Anonymoose]

Here's a bonus: What kind of mental thinking would a SCH/WHM go through if they went into the cleric stance?

I think the answer is in the name if you assume that the name is itself a nod to high fantasy (D&D Style) cleric classes, which are oft based on holy military orders such as the Knights Templar. I'd say what's going through the mind of a healer in Cleric Stance is that in their current scenario, the best defense is a good offense.