Source of All Magic

Several Final Fantasy games have had different ways in which magic was learned. For many, it's a job thing, the job your character is determines how you learn it, and for others it is a seemingly inborn trait that some have and some do not. VI had espers, VII had materia, VIII had drawing, etc. etc..

So the question is, story-wise which do you find the most appealing? Do you like a world where magic only can be drawn from foes? Or perhaps a world where magic comes from magical beings who infuse humans with their power? And let us not forget a world where little shiny stones give people magic. Which do you prefer?

The espers worked nicely and allowed for every character to sweep the board and get every spell, so I'm going with espers from Final Fantasy VI <3

I liked junctioning magicX.x;;; wished you could draw it faster though:P

The Esper system made everything a little too easy. I turned even Mash/Sabin and Cyan into spellcasters in the end! I like a world in wich those who have talents can learn magic (from items, espers or whatever) and have the true mystical wizard aura around them.

yeah i thought espers worked really well - though i really liked ffvii's as well

I was refering more to storyline, what you think works better.

I prefer the class system. It requires a bit more stategy, and it makes more sense.

Espers by far, but Materia is awesome as well.

I really like the Espers, as it's such a neat little story... the essences of fallen magical creatures. Add that, plus Terra's having magic because she's half-Esper and Celes being augmented with it... all very interesting, very intense I think.

I also like systems like IV... where people learn spells through natural talent and study, but it isnt particularily rare or original in fantasy games/stories.

Drawing and Espers. Job system was cool too.

I like the item system used in FFIX the best, and the job system. FFIV's is also nice because it gives you a reason to level up, but I prefer the inclusion of AP. Gives you something else to work for.

Espers from FF VI

BTW is it me or is it kinda corney in FF I where you just buy the spell, I know its based on class, yet there is no depth to where the magic comes from. Its like people go with their spar change and learn how to blow up the planet.

the job system in FFIII , FF V

I LOVED the sphere grid. The job system and espers worked pretty good as well.

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BTW is it me or is it kinda corney in FF I where you just buy the spell, I know its based on class, yet there is no depth to where the magic comes from. Its like people go with their spar change and learn how to blow up the planet.

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Actually, that's the D&D style, where wizards are required to scribe scrolls into their spellbooks in order to be able to cast them, and in order to scribe them, they usually have to either find the appropriate scroll or pay someone for a copy of the spell, which is difficult to make and thus can be expensive.