Class changing, are we unique?

[Cilia]

I don't play DRG, so this doesn't mean much coming from me, but...

In regards to Blood of the Dragon and associated skills, it's implicitly the WoL drawing on his/her bond with Midgardsormr, not Nidhogg. BotD gives you energy tendrils in Midgardsormr's blue/white energy signature, which appears both when using Dragonsong Dive and when you fight the phantom Midgardsormr at Keeper of the Lake (though how a DRG can use Dragonsong Dive before then is a big question - then again, the chances of LB3ing anything at that point in the game are pretty null right now).

Conversely, Nidhogg's energy signature is black/purple. It shows up every time Estinien pulls out the Eye, surrounds Estinien-Nidhogg when he's using his powers, and is prominently displayed when he uses Final Chorus (using both the energy tendrils from BotD and then some). Hraesvelgr's energy signature seems to be a golden color, as shown when his Eye transfers its power to you before the Final Steps of Faith.

As for Soul Crystals, implicitly anyone who is capable of resonating with a given Crystal can learn the skills within it. NINs pass soul crystals down in their hidden village for this express purpose. What makes us special is that, implicitly, the Echo and/or Blessing of Light lets us resonate with any and all Soul Crystals. So while others have to train for a lifetime to develop their skills, we just hack into Soul Crystals to become proficient in the arts we can go on a deicide binge in an afternoon.

[Ametrine]

On the case of the Levellieurs, shield spells seem to be more common AND potent in Sharlayan, since we've seen Y'shtola use a different version of Collective Unconsious (as a CNJ, even!) that stops attacks completely, the Levellieurs version of "Sacred Soil" may not even be the SCH skill itself but a Sharlayan variant (as for HOW the Sharlayans knew about it...well, that's their whole shtick, gathering knowledge and then not telling anyone about it, at least until grandpa Louisoix rebelled) or a completely different spell that works similarly.

I'm thinking the same. AST's entire story has the underlying theme that Sharlayans are severely punished for sharing their knowledge and teaching outsiders like you their techniques (it's almost on par with murder!), and every Sharlayan we've met has been very powerful.

We should be glad their leaders are pacifists!

[Ametrine]

As for Soul Crystals, implicitly anyone who is capable of resonating with a given Crystal can learn the skills within it. NINs pass soul crystals down in their hidden village for this express purpose. What makes us special is that, implicitly, the Echo and/or Blessing of Light lets us resonate with any and all Soul Crystals. So while others have to train for a lifetime to develop their skills, we just hack into Soul Crystals to become proficient in the arts we can go on a deicide binge in an afternoon.

Continuing with Astrologian, Leveva's grandfather sees his crystal glimmer in your presence, immediately tosses it to you, and nerfs himself of all his job skills in the exact same way we do when we unequip soul crystals.

It makes me wonder the mentality behind job crystal resonation. Is it an honor to pass it on? How many people have them?

[Atoli]

...and nerfs himself of all his job skills in the exact same way we do when we unequip soul crystals.

That's an interesting question though, since AST is a pure job with no class attached, and all it's skills are jobskills. So what did he actually become by unequipping the soul crystal?

[MilesSaintboroguh]

....less Piety, Mind, and MP?

[Ametrine]

That's an interesting question though, since AST is a pure job with no class attached, and all it's skills are jobskills. So what did he actually become by unequipping the soul crystal?

According to Leveva, he basically tossed aside his ability to defend himself from the bandits. It's been so long since I did that quest, so I may be wrong, but I don't think the old man lifts a finger in the quest as the whole thing is Leveva, Jannequinard, and ourselves chasing down the bandits while Leveva gives us a crash course on card powers.

So, I think he literally did lose ALL of his AST skills!

[MilesSaintboroguh]

According to Leveva, he basically tossed aside his ability to defend himself from the bandits. It's been so long since I did that quest, so I may be wrong, but I don't think the old man lifts a finger in the quest as the whole thing is Leveva, Jannequinard, and ourselves chasing down the bandits while Leveva gives us a crash course on card powers.

So, I think he literally did lose ALL of his AST skills!

Should have a quest where someone steals our soul crystals.

[Atoli]

So, I think he literally did lose ALL of his AST skills!

Wow, now I feel fairly bad about keeping that crystal...xD

Should have a quest where someone steals our soul crystals.

That would be fun, but hard to do, since there are various instances in which we as players can't de-equip the soul crystal because a) the job has no class attached b) the weaon is job only and we have no class/job one with us.
Haha, and it would be such a button mess on the hotbar too..xD

[MilesSaintboroguh]

Could just apply a special debuff then that affects abilities and stats.

[Ametrine]

Wow, now I feel fairly bad about keeping that crystal...xD

Well, he did give it to us and Leveva warmly and instantly takes us under her wing.

Honestly, the two of them are super cool about it, but spreading the craft of Sharlayan Astrology is their goal, so having a dutiful student in our character makes their day.

It comes off in the end as an old man retiring from his position.