Poll: Avatar: Bending discussion

[Mikeyfell]

I'd be an earth bender no doubt.
I don't have enough finesse or agility to bend air or water, and I don't have the control to bend fire.

I'm mostly stubborn and solution oriented, that spells Earthbender to me.

But I think I'd be able to bend blood though, I'm reminded of a scene from the third X men movie where Magnito sucks all the iron out of that cop's blood. I'd practice until I figured out how to do that.

As far as a special attack for Airbenders I don't think they need one. There's always air. always. They can fly (Even though Iroh Firebent himself into a jet and flew around like Iron Man) they can bend air in a way that will let them throw other stuff around, If they were determined enough they could bend the air right out of people's lungs and let the suffocate.

Airbenders have a huge advantage already.

Pew Pew lightning seems quite overpowered to me really, I'd like airbenders to have some special thing of their own since while I do love the movement and fights they engage upon, seeing them puff out some air pockets every time seems a little dull.

Some of you suggest bending the weather as a subcategory.. I don't see that viable at all. Clouds are made of water -> waterbenders can use it, Katara did it when she went to face her mother's killer - she bended the rain falling down. Summoning a storm? yeah I see firebenders use that for zappy powers. Sound makes sense I suppose though I don't see that too be particular useful [seems kinda lame too xD].
The idea of time manipulation I had would be justified by the fast-movement airbenders can use - a master of air bending may be able to manipulate molecules around the area to slow down a location. I see some sort of connection to time though it is a little vague isn't it xD.

Aang could use Airbending to run super fast too.
Not sure how Time bending would work though.

You know it seems like fire should be an extension of air and lightning should be it's own element.
Or lightning should be an extension of air. I just don't see the whole lightning/fire connection they're making.
It makes a symbolic sort of sense in TLA The fire nation were the bad guys and bad guys use lightning. but beyond that it doesn't click for me

 

[Fiad]

Water bending is what I would pick. Water is pretty much everywhere, so I can always bend. The healing thing would come in very useful. Plus it is pretty powerful just by itself.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

I'm thinking I'd like airbending. It's not contextual like water and earth (unless you're in space, I guess) and it's not as dangerous as firebending. Plus, I do always try to find get around my problems in the cleverest way possible, which is kind of an airbender-type attitude to have.

As for the subcategory....I'm thinking weather-bending is a good one. Besides, it's not all that more powerful then bloodbending. Though on reflection, does air really NEED a subcategory? We've already got increased speed by removing friction from the air around you, increased acrobatics by lifting yourself around with airbending, various air-shapes (spheres, cannons/funnels, wheels, blades, etc.) and probably a million other applications. That's kinda the point of airbending: It's very versatile as it is.

 

[Farseer Lolotea]

Every test I've taken has said firebender. I'm cool with that, even if it does kind of mean I'd have something in common with (*shudder*) Mako.

However, there'd also be merits to being a badass-normal of Asami's or Sokka's caliber. For one, you're more likely to be underestimated that way.

 

[The Human Torch]

Waterbender, since then I would be able to make ice. It's a hoot with parties and you can use it as a travelmechanic like Iceman of the X-Men does.

 

[subtlefuge]

Aang could use Airbending to run super fast too.
Not sure how Time bending would work though.

You know it seems like fire should be an extension of air and lightning should be it's own element.
Or lightning should be an extension of air. I just don't see the whole lightning/fire connection they're making.
It makes a symbolic sort of sense in TLA The fire nation were the bad guys and bad guys use lightning. but beyond that it doesn't click for me

You're over-thinking it. The show is based on science/religion/philosophy. It walks a fine line between all three, but it doesn't want you to look too far into any one of them. In that case, breath is energy, energy if fire/lightning. Freedom is air. There's no spiritual or philisophical connection between air and lighning (there is a connection between air and breath, but that's where the whole thing starts to fall apart).

It's not like it matters because Airbending is consistently portrayed as one of the most effective styles, it doesn't exactly need a better form.

 

[Luap26]

Air Benders being only pacifists, wrong - Dont you guys remember when they found Aangs old air bending teacher? He was surrounded by like a field of dead fire benders. He alone kiled like 200 fire benders. Clearly air benders can use deadly force when they believe it to be the easest way to stop violents.

 

[Terminate421]

Earth, you can crush shit and fly. Also, metal bending.

 

[Terminate421]

Oxygen has a solid form. Sure its hard to obtain but apparently energy creation/depletion are possible. Would enough air benders be able to create solid air? Water benders can turn water into ice and steam. Consider this for a moment. Yeah. Solid air in your lungs? Sucks to be you. That sounds reasonable to me.

Id take earth. Always seemed the most practical.

If I was an airbender, I'd just change the air pressure around someone to a vaccuum. Then, anyone inside would explode. Or suffocate. Whichever comes first.

A. They could get out
B. They could still use their bending (No Zero Gravity)

Air bending to me feels the weakest, mostly out of the fact that its, air. A little cover stops you. That is why I'd like earth bending, besides I could pull up a chair made out of rock and float on that.

 

[CommanderL]

Air bender Being able to fly and run super fast aang ran up a vertical wall plus being able to keep your self keep your self warm -aang was never cold

 

[DragonStorm247]

Aang could use Airbending to run super fast too.
Not sure how Time bending would work though.

You know it seems like fire should be an extension of air and lightning should be it's own element.
Or lightning should be an extension of air. I just don't see the whole lightning/fire connection they're making.
It makes a symbolic sort of sense in TLA The fire nation were the bad guys and bad guys use lightning. but beyond that it doesn't click for me

You're over-thinking it. The show is based on science/religion/philosophy. It walks a fine line between all three, but it doesn't want you to look too far into any one of them. In that case, breath is energy, energy if fire/lightning. Freedom is air. There's no spiritual or philisophical connection between air and lighning (there is a connection between air and breath, but that's where the whole thing starts to fall apart).

It's not like it matters because Airbending is consistently portrayed as one of the most effective styles, it doesn't exactly need a better form.

I think the reason airbending seems so powerful is that no has really fought airbenders before. During the 100 year war, people designed and perfected techniques and tactics against earth, fire, and water benders. Even before the war, due to the Air Nomads' pacifist nature, it was incredibly rare to observe one in combat. So very few anti-airbending maneuvers were ever developed, and then what little there was was forgotten when they all died out. Airbenders aren't inherently OP, it's just no one knows or has experience on how to deal with them.

 

[Ryu-Kage]

I think putting lightning as an advanced form of Firebending would make more sense than Airbending. As the show goes on, we see that what is referred to as Firebending is really more like bending the energy around them. That's why the sun gives Firebenders enhanced power; they could bend the heat and light of the sun into fire. That's why the Boiling Rock imprisoned Firebenders who stepped out of line into "the cooler", which was basically a glorified refrigerator; energy is slowed down in cold conditions. That's why the cartoon versions don't need to have burning sources to draw from to Firebend (screw you, Shyamalan!). And since lightning is a discharge of energy, it makes sense that it would be pooled under the energy-based element.

Back on topic, for an advanced form of Airbending... it needs to be something creative, something that would require advanced thinking to figure out. You needed to know that there was earth within the metal in order to Metalbend. You needed to rationalize that life contains water within it in order to Bloodbend (or Plantbend, for that matter). Maybe the advanced form of Airbending could be the ability to change the content of the air. Oxygen is not the only thing found in the air, there are other gases like nitrogen or carbon monoxide, so an Airbender could try to shift the oxygen present and make a certain area more concentrated with another gas that people wouldn't be happy to bend. Hard to say whether "Oxybending" (or whatever that would be called) would be on a level of darkness comparable to Bloodbending, but it might be. And maybe that's why the generally humble Air Nomads / Acolytes don't practice it.

As for which one I'd like most, probably Airbending. I would like to fly. Also, as long as I'm here, there is probably Air around me. The ability to fly and the fact that Air is so plentiful is why I'd like to use it. Fire would be second because I could probably come up with more clever things to do with Firebending than most people, and it's plentiful once again. Earth is my third choice. It would be cool to be able to shift the earth, but I'm not sure if I'd have the talent for Metalbending. So I might be a bit limited if I'm trapped on an oil rig (instead of in a rocky valley, Shyamalan, you dingbat!). Water is probably the one I'd least like to have. It seems like the most limited element in many cases without having to resort to Bloodbending, and I REALLY wouldn't want to resort to Bloodbending unless I absolutely "do-or-die" had no other choice.

 

[BarcodeReader]

The advanced form of airbending would have to be not just manipulating air around a space, but also out of a space: Breathbending. Sucking all the air out of a room, essencially suffocating your opponents. If you wanted to keep it TV Y7, it could be downplayed to be something akin to a Force Choke. It would also be the most effective attack against Fire, cutting off the oxygen. Now that I think about it, that's probably how Gyatso was able to take out all those firebenders, He got all of them in one place and bended all the air out, getting rid of all the firebenders. It ended up killing him too, but he died king of the hill made of dead fire nation soldiers, like a Boss.

 

[CrimsonBlaze]

I would like to be an Airbender because the style of Chinese martial arts suits my being very well. It is also very versatile and can be use anywhere there air is present.

I also would like to be a Firebender because fire is my favorite element and I feel like I have a lot of stored up fiery passion to let out.

 

[Cazza]

Just on the bending itself and not the culture of each nation. I would choose Air. I could run extremely fast, jump extremely high, push & pull objects. Air is everywhere if I were in a vacuum I would be dead.

If I added the culture. No way would I want to be a monk. I would choose Waterbending. Could waterbenders heat water into steam? then use the steam as a weapon? I don't think that was ever shown.

 

[Hellkite_Overload]

I don't know if many people know this, but fire bending is all about the manipulation of one's inner energy. Fire bending, unlike the other elements, does not rely on manipulating any substance or outwardly present materials. Fire itself is just the release of energy from a fuel source, and fire bending is all about manifesting and manipulating your own energy. The most basic manifestation of which is creating a flame spontaneously. Manifesting one's spiritual energy as large arc of electricity, (requiring much more power than basic fire) and controlling it's path, having complete control of one's own immense inner energy: that is the ultimate display of discipline in firebending. So when you think about it, lightning being the ultimate zen of firebending makes perfect sense!

 

[pppppppppppppppppp]

Airbending, because in the age of nuclear bombs, and predator drones, bending seems pretty irrelevant combat-wise.

I just want to jump over buildings, glide around in the air, and grab the remote when it's far away. Plus airbending's source is everywhere and it's the least conspicuous.

 

[Auninteligentname]

I would go for waterbending, thank you very much.

I could swim under water for a while, because I can open up a air pocket under the water. I could freeze and unfreeze solid chunks of water. I could bend flowers and creatures alike. And if I actually needed to fight with my bending abilities, I could just pick the water I need from the air, as it's most likely to rain here in my city.

 

[Clinky]

I really would like to be an Airbender, it's philosophy is my favorite, it has my favorite moves and style(lots of spins and movement), and it's payoffs are what I like best(airscooter, glider, air blasts, cyclones...). But I'm not entirely sure if it fits my personality, I am certainly not very confrontational and I prefer to keep the peace as long as it's reasonable to do so... But I am very emotional. It does tend to be difficult for me to just loosen up like an airbender needs to do. My friends say I seem like I would make a good waterbender, mostly in the healing category since I like to help people. I also admit that being a 'Swampbender' would be pretty amazing by extension, I have a very big love for plants and being able to manipulate them would be amazing... Think of what you could do with huge roots or vines? Or the possible poisons in a plant? I really hope we can see more air and swampbending later in Korra, I just feel like we never got to see much of those to know their full capabilites.

And I'm going to add that I think 'soundbending' seems like the best leap for advanced airbending, goodness knows there may already be techniques. Sound is just the vibration of air particles, even speaking is basically your vocal cords shaking the air in your throat. Sound is a very dangerous thing... Blow someone's eardrums and they aren't getting up for a little bit. Sound can also stun a person. Shatter glass at a high enough frequency. Shake something to bits with a low and strong enough frequency. Anyone who has been hit by a whip(which at their speed generate miniature sonic booms) can tell you that stings awful and tears the skin... Now increase the size of that. Very nasty.

 

[Kae]

I always go for earth, Why? Because it gives me the ability to manipulate environments, I just think it's cool to have the ability to build a bridge by just moving my hands, or you know make roads or build things, I mean the other ones are fine but earth powers have more useful applications, besides it's not like I would be a warrior, so just whatever power let's me be awesome without fighting.