Since there is seemingly a Lore-Based explanation for nearly game mechanic....

[JMadFour]

...Is there one for the pure FLASHINESS of the combat?

what I mean is, nearly every single attack in the game has a really loud, flashy, over-the-top particle effect on it. even the simple basic ones. I'm talking mainly Melee classes here, the DoM flashiness is pretty self-explanatory, they are casting spells.

but for DoW, is this the same thing? or is the flashiness just a "suspend belief" game thing?

[RyuRoots]

It's a video game. It looks neat (or is at least intended to). End of story. Not everything has or needs a complex explanation.

[Dalvy]

Have you never played any other FF title? Flashiness is a staple.

[MilesSaintboroguh]

Or watch any anime that has combat in it. If it ain't over the top, then it ain't flashy.

[Belhi]

If you want a lore reason, probably most combat skills Aether in some form or another, even the non DoM ones. Infact MNK for example is based on the channeling of Aether within ones own body.

[JMadFour]

If you want a lore reason, probably most combat skills Aether in some form or another, even the non DoM ones. Infact MNK for example is based on the channeling of Aether within ones own body.

this is what I am looking for.

basically, channeling Aether into our Weapons, for example?

[Belhi]

this is what I am looking for.

basically, channeling Aether into our Weapons, for example?

Pretty much. It depends on the class. I'd say WAR is the only one Im not entirely sure about because the nature of the 'inner beast' isn't completely clear. But for all the others definitely. Aether is in everything we do. Just consider the importance of crystals in the games narrative and crafting. Crystals are literally Aether concentrated into a physical form.

[Kaiser-Ace]

this is what I am looking for.

basically, channeling Aether into our Weapons, for example?

That's how I'd imagine it'd work. After all that's kinda how spiritbonding works from a lore perspective. And we only Spirit Bond gear by using it sooo, KUPO!!!!

[Cooperal]

Chalk it up to aether. All combat abilities, seemingly magical or not, are charged with aether. They don't often use this as harshly for more productive, non-combat means because screw you that's why.

Aether is like the nanomachines from the Metal Gear franchise. Or mass effect fields from.... Mass Effect. They're a cure-all solution when explaining anything from plot-holes to artistic license.

[Sessurea]

Hydelin was into the early 90s dancing scene I guess...