Could we learn blue magic second hand?

[Cabalabob]

To learn the spell missile we fight enkidu, who obviously is not natively using missile, he must be casting it as blue magic.

But we can still learn it from him. So are we learning second hand blue magic? Could we learn blue magic from each other? It is interesting to note that we are not allowed to pvp or even duel with blu, is it because we could learn spells like that?

It’s not unheard of, in ff tactics advance if an enemy blue mage used a spell on your blue mage, they could actually learn the spell.

[Alistaire]

who obviously is not natively using missile, he must be casting it as blue magic.

Wanna explain how you figure that?

[Cabalabob]

Because he’s not a robot, nor does he have a missile launcher?

[Brightamethyst]

You're overthinking it. Either the missile is just a normal physical weapon, in which case we shouldn't be able to learn it in the first place, or it's actually magic in the shape of a missile, in which case theoretically anything could use such an attack spell.

[KageTokage]

I'm more confused about how learning skills from machines is supposed to work when they neither have souls to glean knowledge from nor do they have aetherial patterns involved in their attacks that could be imitated due to utilizing technology over aether manipulation.

[Lusavari]

In the OP's favor... Enkidu and Gilgamesh both use a LOT of Blue Magic spells from FFV in that fight, not limited to but including:

White Wind
Missile (in 5, learned from rocket launchers on the Ronken sky fortress)
Eerie Sound Wave (Though this may not have actually been a BLU spell....)
Aero II

While Gilgamesh uses
Lilliputian Lyric
Rocket Punch
Pond Chorus (In Big Bridge anyway...)

Gilgamesh and Enkidu always had a healthy supply of Blue Magic. Gilgamesh is essentially a DRG/BLU. Though one might argue Jump is more of what of his BLU skills than a native one...

[sciencebot]

So are we learning second hand blue magic? Could we learn blue magic from each other? It is interesting to note that we are not allowed to pvp or even duel with blu, is it because we could learn spells like that?

Spoilers for Masked Carnivale and the BLU storyline inside this box.

So: the final boss of the Masked Carnivale, Azulmagia, is actually the roegadyn Whastrach wearing a costume and using a magitek hovering device. He uses Ram's Voice and Dragon's Voice, and if you don't have them before you do the fight, you can learn those abilities from him. I did! So the answer is, yes, you can learn secondhand blue magic. I wouldn't expect them to ever make it function in PVP, to prevent you from farming abilities without actually running the required content, but storywise, yes, absolutely.

I'm more confused about how learning skills from machines is supposed to work when they neither have souls to glean knowledge from nor do they have aetherial patterns involved in their attacks that could be imitated due to utilizing technology over aether manipulation.

According to the Blue Spellbook, High Voltage is aetherial in nature in the first place, because I guess the Allagans thought a wizard ball was more impressive than just a ball with some tasers glued on, but both Drill Cannons and Missile say outright they're magical imitations of technology. I guess you're just inspired by the weapons? Who knows.

Here's the relevant spell descriptions:

An industrial form of machina-based aetherial manipulation developed and adapted by the Allagan Empire. Through the compression of ambient lightning-aspected aether, the caster (or casting machina) floods the vicinity with highly charged arcs of electricity.

This technique mimics the Drill Cannons of machina by winding aetherial currents until they resemble rapidly spinning projectiles. Like the physical drills upon which they are patterned, these projectiles excel at penetrating stone.

A magical imitation of warmachina technology, this technique allows the user to fire a barrage of aetherial missiles. When efficacious─which, bear in mind, is not guaranteed─it sends a shock through the foe that appears to resonate more the greater their vitality.

[KageTokage]

I think I'm content to embrace the "It just works" mentality for certain BLU skills.

[Kalise]

I mean, theoretically, it should work to learn Blue Magic second hand right?

Given that you look to replicate the aether patterns of the monsters using the abilities in order to perform Blue Magic, it would only make sense that if you fight against someone who successfully uses the ability then you're still should be able to analyse its aetherial pattern.

[SannaR]

Concerning the Allagans did make a ball that could make clones of a summoner that then could do summoner things I think what any and all ADS types is just child's play.