Why do we love black mages so much?

[PhasmaRok]

Just for the record, Vivi is definately cute, but he's also very bad-ass (if you don't believe that, just play FF9 until the "Fight with Dark Waltz No. 3" FMV). I dob't know why a character design like Vivi is cute, he just is. Maybe just by virtue of being so chibi-ish, yet possesing so much power. Personally, I think it's directly related to the eyes, somehow.

However, I also think that Vivi is the only Black Mage character who looks cute drawn in their real-life proportions. An 8 bit BM sprite is capable of looking cute, but a real-life BM would probably just look mysterious and cool.

And in regards to FFT, I love Black Mages in that game, but I think that the Summoner class has fewer disadvantages.

[Killer_Nacho]

Originally Posted by PhasmaRok

And in regards to FFT, I love Black Mages in that game, but I think that the Summoner class has fewer disadvantages.

Yes, the Summoners are the "Ultimate" Spell caster (besides the Calculator that is) in that game.., even if *technically* they are called Wizards. I actually thought Black Mages sucked in that game, personally. In Chapters 1 and maybe 1/3 of Chapter 2 they are alright, but after that thier attacks are too slow and too weak for thier own good.

[kam_islash]

Hey I wasnt KNOCKING her for being fanservice....Im a fan and I love service!

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[Godefridus]

Yeah, I notice a lot of people saying, "because they're just cool;" "I have a thing for shrouded faces;" "people like amoral power." I was trying to get underneath those very opinions--you know, like an anthropology of black mages. WHY are they cool; WHY do people like shrouded faces and glowing eyes.

This is a subjective judgment, but for me it is the pointy straw hat that makes the black face and glowing eyes come together. I mean, Star Wars Jawas have black faces and glowing eyes, but they aren't cool like blackmages. It's all about the hat.

[Nucleus]

Originally Posted by Godefridus

damn pale skin looks like you're oggling a dead person.

What does particularly dark skin look like, then? Is the darker extreme preferrable over the lighter? Or are both extremes ugly to you? If pale is 'dead', is dark 'extra crispy'?

In any case, I agree completely with your original post.

Originally Posted by Godefridus

Yeah, I notice a lot of people saying, "because they're just cool;" "I have a thing for shrouded faces;" "people like amoral power." I was trying to get underneath those very opinions--you know, like an anthropology of black mages. WHY are they cool; WHY do people like shrouded faces and glowing eyes.

You want to get 10 gallons of water out of a cartoon of milk.
The reason why BMages are so popular is because most of the members in the fandom are geeks. Teenage geeks tend to have temporal emotional problems and wish they could be more "powerful" and be able to do whatever they want. The BM class is the perfect embodiment of the kind of freedom and power most people wish they could have.
Somebody with amazing destructive power and total freedom to wander and USE the world. An amoral creature with nothing to stop him from getting whatever he wants from this world exhept for those that are a little more powerful than him.

Plus, you can dehumanize a BM, thanks to shrouded face, to the point where it becomes a "creature" and not a "mage".

[Terex4]

Yeah, I notice a lot of people saying, "because they're just cool;" "I have a thing for shrouded faces;" "people like amoral power." I was trying to get underneath those very opinions--you know, like an anthropology of black mages. WHY are they cool; WHY do people like shrouded faces and glowing eyes.

The only problem is that not everything has a reason. I don't know why I like shrouded faces and I doubt it has to do with some childhood experience or deeper meaning my subconcience holds. Some things simply exist without a purpose.

Or perhaps there's subliminal messaging hidden in the pixels of BM's robes that makes us love him........

[Nucleus]

Originally Posted by Continuum

You want to get 10 gallons of water out of a cartoon of milk.
The reason why BMages are so popular is because most of the members in the fandom are geeks. Teenage geeks tend to have temporal emotional problems and wish they could be more "powerful" and be able to do whatever they want. The BM class is the perfect embodiment of the kind of freedom and power most people wish they could have.
Somebody with amazing destructive power and total freedom to wander and USE the world. An amoral creature with nothing to stop him from getting whatever he wants from this world exhept for those that are a little more powerful than him.

So, Black Mages are popular because teenagers have, quote, 'problems'?

This is no better than saying 'because they're cool'.

Originally Posted by Nucleus

So, Black Mages are popular because teenagers have, quote, 'problems'?

This is no better than saying 'because they're cool'.

Not just teenagers. There's something about true amoral acts that attracts people. It's something in our nature.
All other classes tend to side to one side or another, or have a specific reason for what they do (Money, justice, vengeance, control, etc...). BlackMages can do whatever they want, please their desires without refrain, without being tied to any material, spiritual or moral value. Having power is all they care about, HOW they use it is merely an accidental thing that they can decide by themselves.
It's about total freedom, baby!

[liam_yates]

Originally Posted by Continuum

A lot of people love BlackMages just because they embody the kind of power and amoral freedom that they THINK that they want to have.
It's a great power WITHOUT the inmediate need of great responsability. Their Mage class doesn't force them to practice a set code of morals, quite contrary, it teaches them that they can do whatever they want for their own benefit.
They wield a great deal of power, without any set of morals to control their destructive impulses.
People have envy of that kind of oportunity. The fools.

I envy of that kind of oportunity