Talk:Bloodbending/@comment-4681645-20120430001705/@comment-4888161-20120430011822

I have thought about this, too. So what makes bloodbending so condition specific in the first place? Plantbending doesn't appear to have the same restrictions, or any at all beyond water content for that matter. Yet when the same thing is tried on animals, it can only be done under the full moon. So there must be something about animals that makes it harder, or interferes with the technique. And there also must be something about the full moon that over comes it.

But why the full moon and not the other stages? Something about the moon gives waterbenders power, similar to how the sun gives firebenders power. Without the sun, firebenders can't bend fire. Without the moon, waterbenders can bend water. But when the moon is out, it strengthens their waterbending. The more of the moon that is out, the more powerful waterbenders get I assume. And when 100% of the moon (full moon is out, it grants them even more power. My guess is that even 99% wouldn't be close to as powerful as the whole 100% because it is still technically incomplete at 99%. But when a full moon is out, it is complete at 100%. So that is probably why it grants much more power than other stages of the moon.

So what does the full moon provide that the other stages of the moon don't? Well we know it increases their power well beyond normal conditions. So maybe if there was a way to increase the power level of a waterbender to the same levels without using the moon. After all, waterbenders can bend water when the moon isn't out. As long as no one pulls a Zhao, an alternative way to increase the power of a waterbender might work. Now this is easier theorized than done, and it would have to be a master level waterbender to start with (before their power was increased). But in theory, a master waterbender with enough increased power might be able to do it at least to a limited extent without the moon being out. This extra power might be able to counter the difficulty of bending the water inside animals/humans.

However, it probably isn't that simple. The moon likely also provides a spiritual element. If it does, then not only do you have to increase the power, but you have to find a way to replace the spiritual enhancement of the full moon as well. It could be that the full moon simply provides a spiritual element that can't be replaced. But if the spiritual element can be replaced, AND the power can be enhanced by other means as well, than an accomplished waterbender just may be able to overcome the difficulties that bloodbending presents without the full moon, even if it would likely be more limited.

Everything I said so far is just the basic part. It gets way more complicated, and how you would actually do any of this is a completely different matter. To be realistic, there are no signs that this will happen. Even if it is possible (and there is no guarantee that it is), there is nothing suggesting we'd see this in LOK. Until confirmed otherwise, we have to assume that this full moon restriction is absolute. Now people like me have plenty of theories, but the are just that and not considered likely at this point. I still like to think of methods, but I won't list any of mine now because this is getting long and complex already and I only outlined the situation.

Anyways, I'll give you a few later but only if you want to see them.