How does magica work ?

[Rannie]

That's an interesting theory there dale and it would be nice to see it the only other time they have done the whole people from another planet was 7 and ret conned in 10-2 where they were from spira.

[VargasVermillion]

Interesting idea, I doubt they'd be space travelers though. If anyones familier with the witcher series I could imagine something like that causing the garleans to end up in a world they aren't native to, or maybe they are allagan bio creations. The answer has something to do with that eye methinks.

[Enkidoh]

That doesn't hold weight I'm afraid, seeing as here states Garlemald's origins as a Hydaelyn-native 'insignificant nation' in the northern part of Ilsabard, and only with a sudden technological revolution did they spread out into the wider world:

Until some fifty years ago, Garlemald was a remote and sparsely populated nation which held little more than a fraction of the northern continent of Ilsabard. But with the arrival of a technological golden age and the concurrent emergence of a brilliant young legatus—now the reigning emperor—in the span of a single generation Garlemald established itself as one of the most formidable forces in all of Hydaelyn.

Native Garleans are just hyur who have a third eye, which, although it's unconfirmed, to me resembles more an implant rather than an actual natural optical organ. It rings true that a people advanced in technology (and especially magitek), would also be skilled in cybernetics. But only a certain ahriman knows for sure.

[Dragoon130]

Could the Garleans possibly be a Allag anti-magic corps expirment of some sort? Similair to the pariah gene in the warhammer 40k universe. I mean they Ixali were slave workers so it wouldn't be a big stretch.

[VargasVermillion]

That doesn't hold weight I'm afraid, seeing as here



Native Garleans are just hyur who have a third eye, which, although it's unconfirmed, to me resembles more an implant rather than an actual natural optical organ. It rings true that a people advanced in technology (and especially magitek), would also be skilled in cybernetics. But only a certain ahriman knows for sure.

They are the largest tribe of hyur though so they could be regarded as separate similar to elves, the spoken races are very human in appearance so they do have more differences than just the eye. They also share similar genetic traits with skin and hair color but I guess that would be due to how remote they originally were. I have a feeling the eye is genetic though, guess we won't know until we see more of garlemald proper, or at least a controlled province.

[Didimiaou]

It doesn't realy answer to the initial question

[Cilia]

OK, let's do this.

On Magic
-Magic, probably, is the end result of aetheric manipulation. To cast a spell you need to gather, concentrate, and direct the aether to achieve the desired effect. To cast a fire spell, for instance, you just gather and direct a certain amount of fire aether from the environment / atmosphere. Aether is in all things, y'know...

Each class' method of doing so differs slightly, but that's the basics of it. To wit:
CNJ / WHM: Very druid-lite in this game, uses ambient aether for healing effects. Relies primarily on wind, water, and earth, based on their spells.
THM / BLM: Uses ambient and personal aether to produce various effects, relying primarily on fire (Astral) for high power and ice (Umbral) to slow down enemies and regain mana.
ACN / SCH / SMN: ACN uses aether to program Carbuncle familiars, with Emerald leaning towards wind and Topaz leaning towards earth. SCH uses the same type of aether as CNJ / WHM, probably, and uses a more advanced version of the Carbuncle familiars (the fairy summon has sentience, unlike a Carbuncle). SMN uses their personal aether to give shape to a pseudo-Primal from their memory; arguably, primal egis use as much of the SMN's aspected aether as is physically possible without adverse effects.
AST: Pulls in aether from the heavens. Somehow. I think.
PLD: If you think they're actively using magic, uses Light aether for mostly defensive purposes.
NIN: Uses small amounts of personal aspected aether to produce a variety of ninjutsu. Can only use ninjutsu at a limited rate to avoid problems with imbalanced internal aether.
DRK: Uses personal Dark aether to enhance attacks. Much more intense than ninjutsu, but capable of vampirically draining aether from enemies through various means.

In all cases, running down to 0 MP is probably the greatest amount of exertion that can be done without ill side effects. Fortunately, the only classes that dip down that low regularly are BLM and DRK, the former of whom does so intentionally before recovering with Umbral Ice and the latter of whom knows the risk of using too much of the power of darkness, so they cut it off before mental pollution and physical breakdown begin.

On Garleans
-Pretty sure they're not aliens. I believe it was stated somewhere that their inability to manipulate aether is because of a genetic defect, but I don't remember where from.

[Kotemon]

OK, let's do this.

On Garleans
-Pretty sure they're not aliens. I believe it was stated somewhere that their inability to manipulate aether is because of a genetic defect, but I don't remember where from.

Maybe it's like the Cyclops lore in Krull. They made a deal to see the future, so they gave up one eye but wound up only able to see their own deaths with the remaining eye. The Garlians may be able to see the aether and what not, but having that eye and ability renders them unable to tap into it by natural means. Hence the Magi-tech.

[Dalex]

While yes, the nation of Garlemald is native to Hydaelyn, it does not mean the Garleans themselves were the only members of their society. It is entirely possible that the Garleans don't know the truth of their origins, and were either brought here or were a stranded race of explorers. Midgardsormr himself indicates that he "came to this star with seven eggs in tow" (or something to that effect), so dragons themselves appear to be an alien species (though obviously capable of using Aether).

Seeing as FF XIV has on many occasions reached back into the themes and settings of previous games, I would raise the memory of the Genomes from FF IX: Artificial human-like beings from the technologically advanced world of Terra, whose own lifestream/soul is incompatible with the native Gaian lifestream/soul. Not to mention, the caretaker of this race is none other than Garland, master of the Invincible airship, who seeks to destroy the Eidolons (Eikons, anyone?) and the people who them, as they threaten his goals.

[Rhodkr]

Since we're on the subject of Garleans, I have to wonder if the third eye is just a result of the Allags 'shutting' down the Allag Summoners. Summoners can't use aether, they can't summon! In essence, I'm wondering if the Garleans are descended from the ancient Summoners. The Allags are known for human genetic manipulation after all.

As for the magica system, there's not much I can really add that hasn't already been mentioned in previous posts.