New Player Explain like I'm 5: What is the Lore behind Blue Mage!

[Hercub]

What is the lore behind Blue Mage? I'm really anticipating Blue Mage but I never played Final Fantasy 11, so I don't know what the Blue Mage has historically been about. I'm sure Final Fantasy had a particular Lore for the Blue Mage, so can more advanced players share and discuss the Lore!

[Doluka]

Blue Mage has always been about learning enemy abilities and using them for your own benefit. There was never really any lore beyond that in any of the games except XI, which was actually kind of dark.

In that title specifically, your character is essentially kidnapped and your soul is shattered via Aht Urghan alchemy to allow for you to absorb the essence of monsters. (I may be wrong about the kidnapping part, it's been very long since I did that). The soul-shattering aspect was the in-game explanation of the "how" behind the blue magic abilities and could lead to people unable to contain said power turning into Soulflayers. This didn't actually happen to players, it was just an explanation for where the enemy type came from.

in XIV, it's more about <insert lore here when we get it>. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Hercub]

Oh, that does sound dark. I saw the video for the Blue Mage and he seems more like a laid back joker or trickster. Kind of fits my style of things. I find the whole lore so far ironic and poetic.

His soul is shattered so he takes the worst enemies and steals their gifts before shattering their soul. The problem? If not done correctly he can go real dark doing that like you mentioned the soulflayer.

I don't like the clothes the Blue Mage is wearing in the video, but I think it is there to make a symbolic point not as an archetype of this kind of character. Here is the video and let's see if we can decipher or predict the lore of the Blue Mage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMJ3oGF2SJM


I saw the video again, and seems this man is a method actor (the highest form of Drama). He has a fun time stealing people's powers. He starts small with the lower level enemies but all he wants is that primal. Showing those lower level enemies they could have done more with their powers. He's too high class for me, I'll be the working class version of him. But I'm sure others will be their own class of him.

Add to the fun! More lore, More answer!

Dungeon or not this character is going to be the most rewarding.

[LineageRazor]

You'd probably get a lot more vigorous responses if you posted this to the Lore forum, rather than General Discussion!

Anyway, in regards to the above, do not expect FFXIV lore to have ANYTHING to do with what the job was like in FFXI. What we've seen of the job so far in trailers and such paints it as having "fun and entertaining" lore rather than "dark and brooding" lore.

As for other prominent Blue Mages in Final Fantasy, their lore is pretty much independent of their status as Blue Mages. Strago (FFVI) comes from a village whose members fought in the War of the Magi, but it's not explained why that enables Blue Magic. It's sort of suggested that he's a scholarly fellow, and learns through observation? Quistis (FFVIII) has pretty much the same background as most of the other main characters; raised in an orphanage, joined the SEED academy, etc. Her Blue Magic is entirely unexplained; it's just her special skill. Quina (FFIX) is a weird creature that learns skills from monsters by eating them. It's pretty much assumed that's the source of their Blue Magic, as certain others in the Qu tribe can also use Blue Magic. Khimari (FFX) is a Rhonso, but it's not stated one way or another whether the ability to use "Rhonso Rage" is common among Rhonso, or just something Khimari can do.

FFXI is definitely the first time Blue Mage has gotten in-depth lore - which is not too surprising, as FFXI had in-depth lore for just about EVERYTHING in the game.

(I may be wrong about the kidnapping part, it's been very long since I did that).

You're not far off the mark. While there was consent involved, it was pretty dubious consent. Basically, you meet with head Blue Mage Raubahn while he's in disguise as Waoud, and he asks you a series of questions. If he determines you to be an ambitious individual with a lust for power, you're presented the option to become a Blue Mage. However, it's not until the procedure is complete that you learn about all the baggage that power includes.

While it never happens to a player character (for obvious reasons), it's noted that eventual transformation into a monster is pretty much inevitable, if the Blue Mage doesn't die of other causes beforehand. The Blue Mage job quests introduce you to a number of Blue Mages at various stages of mental degradation, and at one point the player has to assist in the disposal of a Blue Mage who has freshly turned into a Soulflayer. (Incidentally, Blue Mages can also transform into Flans.) Being an exceptional individual, it's certainly possible that the player character could be the first individual able to hold a virtually unlimited number of monster souls within themselves without ever succumbing, but that's never made explicit.

[Rhindas]

She says something like "Normally when you use Lancet you absorb health, but when a Ronso uses it, they also learn Blue Magic." That's uh, not verbatim, it's been awhile. But yes, it seems to be implied most Ronsos can use Blue Magic...however, it may be that Kimahri must actually be in Ronso Rage to use it, because Biran and Yenke will just outright use blue spells. This may just be a battle design decision though.

[Iscah]

You'd probably get a lot more vigorous responses if you posted this to the Lore forum, rather than General Discussion!

Only once we actually have FFXIV blue mage lore to talk about, though!

[Astarotha]

blue mage in general follows a sort of shamanic shapeshifter/mystic approach to magic (taking on aspects of powerful creatures in some way or even becoming those creatures in extreme cases), but as implemented it generally eschews the more ritualistic and tribal points this type of magic encompasses (you could argue that qu and ronso are de facto tribal shamans borrowing power through ritualistic eating of organs or through a specific form of tribal hunting) for a more scholarly pursuit such as acting, teaching, or whatever youd consider strago to be (loremaster perhaps?) or alchemical augmentation as in 11.

the underlying foundations of 14s blue will likely follow this too but they are definitely taking the actor aesthetic from ff5 especially with the name masquerade for their solo battle arena

[Derio]

FFXIV is going in the aspects of Blue mage from the older FF games. Like FFVI where Strago learned blue mage abilities from seeing enemies use attacks. And FFV from the masquerade.

FFXIV chose this route over 11 route to try to give users a more solo experience and stay true to the lore of the job with certain skills. While it is highly discussed with both positive and negative feedback. BLU will be the first FFXIV job where you can not take into end game content.

Of course you can always just read up on it here http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Blue_Mage


I still think that this is going to be good content regardless of the hate around its release.

[SenorPatty]

You guys are explaining this wrong. OP requested to explain BLU like he was 5.

"BLU DO MONSTER MAGIC. BLU DO MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO AFTER MONSTER BONK BLU ON HEAD. THEN BLU USE MONSTER MAGIC TO MAKE BAD GUYS A GO GO!".

[Nihility]

they're like monster mimics
they have to witness monster skills and live through it and then they can use it too

most games they're kind of mediocre stats all around, the vast majority of the monster skills are borderline useless, except there's always 2-3 that are super OP.
Most notably white wind(AoE heal = to casters current hp) and mighty guard(AoE every defensive buff available)