Technology in the Realms [Archive] - Wizards Community

Technology in the Realms [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Gellion
08-22-03, 10:39 PM What is your opinion on the current technology level in the realms? Do you think it should stay as it is? Or do you think it should advance some. When i say technology i do not mean magical technology, like what Eberron is going to have. But actual technology.

Also i have heard that due to the mass amount of magic on Toril, that a lot of technology does not work. Lets say this were not true, and technology would still work. Do you think it would advance any? Also do you think Smokepowder should be an alchemical substance imstead of magical?
Darkmistress
08-23-03, 01:11 AM Magic sorta makes the need for advanced technology redundant in the Realms, I think. Who needs a plane when you ca grab a magical airship or a flying carpet -- or a teleportation? Or, hell, who needs doctors when you can just call your friendly neighborhood cleric?
Mirtek
08-23-03, 07:16 AM IMO the realms are already to far. I would have prefered if they had never discovered smoke powder.

I am quite happy with it being a magical substances
rmilsop
08-23-03, 07:35 AM It adds a new dimension when technology becomes more advanced (anyone played Arcanum?), and can give you competing philosophies and factions. Personally, I distinguish between technological and alchemical.

I think smokepowder should be an alchemical substance, or at least that alchemists should have "molotov cocktail" type explosives. I don't think guns should exist at all, in any way shape or form.

Then again, I've always been a "bag of tricks" fan. I think there should be mundane (alchemical) counters or alternatives to a lot of magical stuff - examples given in the hero builder's guidebook under Gadgetmaster are what I'm talking about - slipperyfoot oil instead of Grease, smokepot instead of Obscuring Mist, epoxy instead of Hold Portal and clockwork noisemaker instead of ghost sound.

So in one sense I think there should be technology, but no high technology like guns, timed charges, electricity or steam engines.
Sarelle
08-23-03, 08:44 AM But whilst I do agree that smokepowder should be an alchemical substance, I don't even like smokepowder that much so it doesn't matter to me. And I would be one of those strongly against allowing new technology into the Realms. Smokepowder and arquebuses are far enough - this is a medieval fantasy setting for crying out loud! That's is what I play/read/am interested in it for anyway. If I wanted modern stuff I would have bought d20 modern.

Thats what I said in another board and that is my opinion on the matter.
Iakhovas
08-23-03, 11:12 AM this is a medieval fantasy setting for crying out loudMany of the civilized areas of Faerūn are more Renaissance than medieval. Smokepower is a differenciator for the Realms. Take it away and the setting moves closer to Greyhawk or countless other bland psuedo-european settings.
LoricDAHPaladin
08-23-03, 09:57 PM I am of the opinion that magic proliferates far too much on trivial matters. When Volo's Guide to Cormyr was released, I read much of it and was a touch disgusted with the pervasive magic that was just there for the using. To make a challenge, or discourage an attempt, there were detailed accounts of how shopkeep_01 would have so much preparedness as would make the contrivences of a B flick plot seem genuine by comparison. The commonality of magic dillutes the awe and power it is supposed to have.
Gellion
08-23-03, 10:02 PM Was that meant to be a reply for another thread?
LoricDAHPaladin
08-23-03, 10:59 PM I could have made a mistake. I apologize.
Darkmistress
08-24-03, 04:48 AM Originally posted by LoricDAHPaladin
I am of the opinion that magic proliferates far too much on trivial matters. When Volo's Guide to Cormyr was released, I read much of it and was a touch disgusted with the pervasive magic that was just there for the using. To make a challenge, or discourage an attempt, there were detailed accounts of how shopkeep_01 would have so much preparedness as would make the contrivences of a B flick plot seem genuine by comparison. The commonality of magic dillutes the awe and power it is supposed to have.

Wrong topic or no, this is my take on it: without the cultural/otherwise diversity (Faerun + Kara-Tur + Maztica + the planes) and the magic being so common, FR would be just another generic fantasyland. Really, haven't you had enough settings where everyone goes oooh and aaah at the sight of a simple cantrip? Common use of magic is so much more refreshing, IMO.
Desies
08-27-03, 12:01 AM I like the existance of very crude forms of technology...like basic steam engines and pistols. However I think that these things should be restricted to places such as Lantan where a god has intervened. Smokepowder was Gond's gift to the Lantanese People...it should be magical...and should exist!
Crust
08-27-03, 07:50 AM I've wondered about this in DL and FR. It seems that civilization's most advanced weapon is still the longsword. For thousands and thousands of years, people are still using the longsword, longbow, etc. One would think that there would be some advancement after so long, like there was in our own world.

I suppose magic almost halts that progress.
LoricDAHPaladin
08-28-03, 09:28 AM Originally posted by Darkmistress
Wrong topic or no, this is my take on it: without the cultural/otherwise diversity (Faerun + Kara-Tur + Maztica + the planes) and the magic being so common, FR would be just another generic fantasyland. Really, haven't you had enough settings where everyone goes oooh and aaah at the sight of a simple cantrip? Common use of magic is so much more refreshing, IMO.

Darkmistress, I understand now that we have different RPG backgrounds. I come from the background where this is the norm. For me refreshing would be a marked decrease in all things magical.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gellion 08-22-03, 10:39 PM	What is your opinion on the current technology level in the realms? Do you think it should stay as it is? Or do you think it should advance some. When i say technology i do not mean magical technology, like what Eberron is going to have. But actual technology. Also i have heard that due to the mass amount of magic on Toril, that a lot of technology does not work. Lets say this were not true, and technology would still work. Do you think it would advance any? Also do you think Smokepowder should be an alchemical substance imstead of magical?
Darkmistress 08-23-03, 01:11 AM	Magic sorta makes the need for advanced technology redundant in the Realms, I think. Who needs a plane when you ca grab a magical airship or a flying carpet -- or a teleportation? Or, hell, who needs doctors when you can just call your friendly neighborhood cleric?
Mirtek 08-23-03, 07:16 AM	IMO the realms are already to far. I would have prefered if they had never discovered smoke powder. I am quite happy with it being a magical substances
rmilsop 08-23-03, 07:35 AM	It adds a new dimension when technology becomes more advanced (anyone played Arcanum?), and can give you competing philosophies and factions. Personally, I distinguish between technological and alchemical. I think smokepowder should be an alchemical substance, or at least that alchemists should have "molotov cocktail" type explosives. I don't think guns should exist at all, in any way shape or form. Then again, I've always been a "bag of tricks" fan. I think there should be mundane (alchemical) counters or alternatives to a lot of magical stuff - examples given in the hero builder's guidebook under Gadgetmaster are what I'm talking about - slipperyfoot oil instead of Grease, smokepot instead of Obscuring Mist, epoxy instead of Hold Portal and clockwork noisemaker instead of ghost sound. So in one sense I think there should be technology, but no high technology like guns, timed charges, electricity or steam engines.
Sarelle 08-23-03, 08:44 AM	But whilst I do agree that smokepowder should be an alchemical substance, I don't even like smokepowder that much so it doesn't matter to me. And I would be one of those strongly against allowing new technology into the Realms. Smokepowder and arquebuses are far enough - this is a medieval fantasy setting for crying out loud! That's is what I play/read/am interested in it for anyway. If I wanted modern stuff I would have bought d20 modern. Thats what I said in another board and that is my opinion on the matter.
Iakhovas 08-23-03, 11:12 AM	this is a medieval fantasy setting for crying out loudMany of the civilized areas of Faerūn are more Renaissance than medieval. Smokepower is a differenciator for the Realms. Take it away and the setting moves closer to Greyhawk or countless other bland psuedo-european settings.
LoricDAHPaladin 08-23-03, 09:57 PM	I am of the opinion that magic proliferates far too much on trivial matters. When Volo's Guide to Cormyr was released, I read much of it and was a touch disgusted with the pervasive magic that was just there for the using. To make a challenge, or discourage an attempt, there were detailed accounts of how shopkeep_01 would have so much preparedness as would make the contrivences of a B flick plot seem genuine by comparison. The commonality of magic dillutes the awe and power it is supposed to have.
Gellion 08-23-03, 10:02 PM	Was that meant to be a reply for another thread?
LoricDAHPaladin 08-23-03, 10:59 PM	I could have made a mistake. I apologize.
Darkmistress 08-24-03, 04:48 AM	Originally posted by LoricDAHPaladin I am of the opinion that magic proliferates far too much on trivial matters. When Volo's Guide to Cormyr was released, I read much of it and was a touch disgusted with the pervasive magic that was just there for the using. To make a challenge, or discourage an attempt, there were detailed accounts of how shopkeep_01 would have so much preparedness as would make the contrivences of a B flick plot seem genuine by comparison. The commonality of magic dillutes the awe and power it is supposed to have. Wrong topic or no, this is my take on it: without the cultural/otherwise diversity (Faerun + Kara-Tur + Maztica + the planes) and the magic being so common, FR would be just another generic fantasyland. Really, haven't you had enough settings where everyone goes oooh and aaah at the sight of a simple cantrip? Common use of magic is so much more refreshing, IMO.
Desies 08-27-03, 12:01 AM	I like the existance of very crude forms of technology...like basic steam engines and pistols. However I think that these things should be restricted to places such as Lantan where a god has intervened. Smokepowder was Gond's gift to the Lantanese People...it should be magical...and should exist!
Crust 08-27-03, 07:50 AM	I've wondered about this in DL and FR. It seems that civilization's most advanced weapon is still the longsword. For thousands and thousands of years, people are still using the longsword, longbow, etc. One would think that there would be some advancement after so long, like there was in our own world. I suppose magic almost halts that progress.
LoricDAHPaladin 08-28-03, 09:28 AM	Originally posted by Darkmistress Wrong topic or no, this is my take on it: without the cultural/otherwise diversity (Faerun + Kara-Tur + Maztica + the planes) and the magic being so common, FR would be just another generic fantasyland. Really, haven't you had enough settings where everyone goes oooh and aaah at the sight of a simple cantrip? Common use of magic is so much more refreshing, IMO. Darkmistress, I understand now that we have different RPG backgrounds. I come from the background where this is the norm. For me refreshing would be a marked decrease in all things magical.