1. Based on the ARR/HW BLM quest line all the way to 60, Black Magic is illegal in Thanalan as it's considered heretical and dangerous by the church of Nald'thal. Across Eorzea, the Hearers of Stillglade Fane (the Conjurers' Guild) enforce the ban and seem to have no quarrel with bringing a Black Mage back to Gridania for judgment, no matter where in Eorzea they're caught. It's clear the Fane doesn't consider Coerthas, Dravania, or even Thanalan outside of its jurisdiction. It's not known how Limsa Lominsa feels about it from those quests. In short, it's not a safe thing to advertise if you know how to use it.
2 and 3 others have more or less answered. Of course, you needn't have Black Magic to be able to produce impressive effects; by way of comparison, a very powerful Thaumaturge can shake the heavens, while a Black Mage can call down meteors. There are also other magicks and techniques capable of producing impressive destruction, including repurposed Allagan technology, machinistry, and magitek, as well as your character's own personal magical research.
As for question 4, the BLM 50-60 quest line indicates a few interesting things. One, there is (was) at least one organization, the Defiant, actively seeking to recover Black Magic for their own use. However, without a soulstone to mediate the magic's power, a Black Mage can incinerate themselves from the inside out with the forces they try to unleash. Stillglade Fane remains well aware and actively opposed to the practice of Black Magic, attempting to stamp it out wherever they find it.
2 and 3 others have more or less answered. Of course, you needn't have Black Magic to be able to produce impressive effects; by way of comparison, a very powerful Thaumaturge can shake the heavens, while a Black Mage can call down meteors. There are also other magicks and techniques capable of producing impressive destruction, including repurposed Allagan technology, machinistry, and magitek, as well as your character's own personal magical research.
As for question 4, the BLM 50-60 quest line indicates a few interesting things. One, there is (was) at least one organization, the Defiant, actively seeking to recover Black Magic for their own use. However, without a soulstone to mediate the magic's power, a Black Mage can incinerate themselves from the inside out with the forces they try to unleash. Stillglade Fane remains well aware and actively opposed to the practice of Black Magic, attempting to stamp it out wherever they find it.
The Freelance Wizard
Quality RP at low, low prices!
((about me | about L'yhta Mahre | L'yhta's desk | about Mysterium, the Ivory Tower: a heavy RP society of mages))
Quality RP at low, low prices!
((about me | about L'yhta Mahre | L'yhta's desk | about Mysterium, the Ivory Tower: a heavy RP society of mages))