@Drax please define what you think merging meant.
I read the angel quote. She explicitly refers to the danger of merging. This risk had to do with the mixing of energies not the difficulty of a master elementalist learning how to make illusions. She does not refer to the abilities as separately dangerous.
You claim they adapted one because of a loophole but four is impossible. Why?
They said spirit + true magic not spirit + preservation. Interdisciplinary fields are not homogeneous, even in our reality. Parts can relate to one field but not to others.
For instance
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochemistry#/media/File%3ASchematic_relationship_between_biochemistry%2C_genetics_and_molecular_biology.svg
If you think the turquoise is close enough to be a mix then you need to address why a pure usage is done through a mix. There is no turquoise in monk/paragon skills but those professions both have orange/yellow bursts. Both pink and indigo are within the palette of mesmers and ether. Moreover thieves came from assassins so the focus on dark/smoke/shadow may have changed their colors. Ritualists use the underworld, whether revenants draw from the same location is unknown. Crude should still be the right color.
Now I keep getting ahead of myself so let me clarify rather than theorize.
Form determines function.
Consider Razah vs Sylvari.
- they are direct adaptations
- both use the wrong material to mimic flesh
- both have most of the functions of humans (like choosing professions).
- ether, plants, and flesh are close enough to shape to the same function.
Now consider guardian vs ritualist
- they are direct adaptations
- both use the wrong material to mimic each other.
- both have most of the functions of each other.
- spirit and light are close enough to shape to the same function.
Someone without the ability to use one can substitute to access its associated techniques.
I know what Macha said. And I agree. But I think they adapted techniques/hoo-ha, not literally combined magical energies.
Abilties refers to output, technique is the methods. Ability requires practice or flair, technique requires memorization. Know how something is done is different from doing it.
A volleyball player could easily apply the techniques of football to their sport. Although footballers don’t use their hands, both sports use the rest of body to knock the ball into the air. But given the chance to learn how a footballer juggles, I think an expert volleyball player would find it easier to do it with volleyball. They understand its weight and how to manipulate it.
Similarly, the amount of experience using light or spirit or any element is a factor in how one learns to use energies.
The dragons have merged with other magics, do you see any skills that are purely from a new domain? Even creatures of extreme power and intelligence require training. They, like ritualists and guardians, will replicate the way they are comfortable.
Moreover any of the abilities they have mixed are super obvious. There aren’t any plant/death/lava hybrids that can be confused for original destroyers. Yet all restoration skills only resemble ritualist animations.
Now I believe ranger is either mixing techniques or using normal plant abilities, but if you think they are mixing plant/school magics remember the plant/x skills are clearly different from pure plant. And ranger uses pure water and pure light. Were ritualist a mix we should see pure spirit, an obvious mix, and pure other.
Rather than saying abilities and techniques I could say skills and principles. But yeah. I agree that ritualist has merged. Just not the way you define merging.
“Kentigem”-chief. Born cycle of Dusk. Wyld Hunt:
Learn as much mending and medical info as possible so that it can be added to the Dream.
Become the first Chief of Mending and guide the newly awaken as well as those who want to learn.
