Sure; if it’s not obvious they’re from the universe of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Earthbending is substantially about: facing things head-on, “just getting it done”, “buckling down” (though I suppose this can be different than “buckling up”), being unyielding, orienting around “grit”.
Waterbending is substantially about: Being flexible, responsive to the environment, and careful.
Airbending is substantially about: Freedom of movement and action, using an opponent’s strength against them (which in PvE looks more like “doing what’s easy and/or fun”), speed.
The other one is firebending, but I didn’t reference it and I don’t really understand it well enough to put it in the same terms; still, my best gloss attempt is that it’s about focused and kinda bursty / lower-endurance intensity.
In the universe there are (usually) only these four elements, and most benders are pure specialists / only physically capable of learning their particular kind of bending; the main character (the avatar) is the only person who can / has to learn all four. In my analogy these elements don’t really cover the space of motivational structures that well, and anyway people don’t have to be specialists.
For reference, here’s Claude Opus 4′s summary of the styles:
EARTHBENDING
Neutral jing—waiting and listening before acting. Direct confrontation when the time comes—problems don’t go away by ignoring them. Being immovable and unmoved, enduring through standing firm rather than through continuous output. Drawing strength from solid foundations and deep roots. Meet challenges head-on, but only after patient observation and understanding what you’re facing.
WATERBENDING
The path of least resistance is often the most powerful. Push and pull, give and take—everything flows in cycles. Flexibility can overcome rigidity. Draw strength from external sources and community. Change is the only constant.
AIRBENDING
Freedom through detachment. The leaf doesn’t resist the wind. Conflict is an illusion that can be sidestepped. Joy and play are valid approaches to serious matters. New perspectives emerge when you release fixed positions.
FIREBENDING
Power comes from within—your drive, your breath, your life force. Act decisively from internal conviction and passion, maintaining intensity by continuously generating energy from within rather than standing firm. The sun gives life as well as destruction. Inner fire must be tended and controlled, not suppressed or allowed to rage wild.
got more exposition on what you mean with the different elements in this context?
Sure; if it’s not obvious they’re from the universe of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Earthbending is substantially about: facing things head-on, “just getting it done”, “buckling down” (though I suppose this can be different than “buckling up”), being unyielding, orienting around “grit”.
Waterbending is substantially about: Being flexible, responsive to the environment, and careful.
Airbending is substantially about: Freedom of movement and action, using an opponent’s strength against them (which in PvE looks more like “doing what’s easy and/or fun”), speed.
The other one is firebending, but I didn’t reference it and I don’t really understand it well enough to put it in the same terms; still, my best gloss attempt is that it’s about focused and kinda bursty / lower-endurance intensity.
In the universe there are (usually) only these four elements, and most benders are pure specialists / only physically capable of learning their particular kind of bending; the main character (the avatar) is the only person who can / has to learn all four. In my analogy these elements don’t really cover the space of motivational structures that well, and anyway people don’t have to be specialists.
Thanks! (I knew enough about Avatar to know what you wrote in your last paragraph, but the rest is new to me)
For reference, here’s Claude Opus 4′s summary of the styles:
EARTHBENDING Neutral jing—waiting and listening before acting. Direct confrontation when the time comes—problems don’t go away by ignoring them. Being immovable and unmoved, enduring through standing firm rather than through continuous output. Drawing strength from solid foundations and deep roots. Meet challenges head-on, but only after patient observation and understanding what you’re facing.
WATERBENDING The path of least resistance is often the most powerful. Push and pull, give and take—everything flows in cycles. Flexibility can overcome rigidity. Draw strength from external sources and community. Change is the only constant.
AIRBENDING Freedom through detachment. The leaf doesn’t resist the wind. Conflict is an illusion that can be sidestepped. Joy and play are valid approaches to serious matters. New perspectives emerge when you release fixed positions.
FIREBENDING Power comes from within—your drive, your breath, your life force. Act decisively from internal conviction and passion, maintaining intensity by continuously generating energy from within rather than standing firm. The sun gives life as well as destruction. Inner fire must be tended and controlled, not suppressed or allowed to rage wild.