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Post by I Like Turtles on Jul 24, 2015 14:47:34 GMT -6
The idea is that the power of magic is what powers their "technology." Magic would replace everything on a flavor level but the mechanics would remain unchanged. Here are some examples.
Race - Humans if I can only pick one, or a number of races that make up a society
Agents would have the exact same function, but instead of technological weapons they'd have magic or gear that has been magically enhanced
Ground Troops - Swords, Armor, and Shields all magically enhanced to defend against ray guns and laser swords with fairly similar capabilities. They'd also either have damaging short range spells or swords that fire energy blasts in lieu of blasters or phasers. Armor Troops - Vehicles powered by "power crystals" along with mages that can cast powerful force fields. Artillery Troops - Mages. Nuff said. Air Support - If not mages flying around shooting things, then maybe actual air vehicles powered by magic. Or dragons. I like dragons.
Ships - They would build actual vehicles that use a "mystical" power source (roughly as mystical as Dilithium) that keeps the ships powered and moving on a basic level. Their magic protects the ship (both with force fields and magical energy blasts) as well as the passengers (permanent spells for artificial gravity, clean air and water and food, etc.). Any additions to the ship would also be explained by magic (fighter ships could be dragons in space, differing guns could just have more powerful crystals behind them, etc.).
Roleplaying - This isn't really an issue. Creating characters and interacting with the rest of the players is all based on my skill level (adequate at most) but, of course, any interactions would see that the characters in this faction are using magic to accomplish tasks that everyone else uses technology for. Power Armor vs Suped up Plate? Laser Swords vs Vorpal Swords? Laser Blasts vs Magical Blast? Different, sure, but similar enough that it could work.
And that's my argument for this faction, I hope it's at least been thought provoking.
If it won't work I'll try to come up with something else in a much quicker timeline than I came up with this.
Thank you.
Goodnight.
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Post by zurajai on Jul 24, 2015 16:01:48 GMT -6
So, let me say this.
It is unacceptable for it to be actual magic. My folks believe my ruler to be a deity. Is he? No. And perhaps your folks have come across this technology that appears to them, and thus they believe, to be magic. But there cannot be magic in this setting. That implies that anyone and everyone should be able to do it. As said, if you want to create the imagery of people believing they're using magic when it is in fact technology and science that's one thing, actually having magic in this setting is a whole other business entirely.
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Post by I Like Turtles on Jul 24, 2015 16:53:01 GMT -6
Well the power crystals could work for anyone, but the actual magic would have to be learned. I'm a little disappointed on the decision as there are a number of sci-fi sagas that also include magic and mysticism and thought it might be fun to see space marines dodging fireballs and fighting dragons.
Anywho, I'll think up something else. I'll try to get it in before everyone's ready to start.
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pixel
New Member
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Post by pixel on Jul 24, 2015 19:46:23 GMT -6
Personally, the concept of a people using science and technology but believing it to be magic actually sounds more interesting.
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Post by I Like Turtles on Jul 25, 2015 12:53:58 GMT -6
I guess on some level I can see the appeal, but then what business does that race have competing for galactic dominance? They don't understand how their own technology works then they'll never be able to fix it, or if so on such a slow level that exploration doesn't make sense. Monkey's in rocket ships... what happens when it breaks?
A race that uses magic instead of technology, fully aware of where it's trying to go and that other forces exist that can challenge their magic may be slightly confused by how these other races are doing what they're doing without magical aid, but no more confused than how other races will see them. "You mean you don't have warp drive? How the hell are you moving so fast?" The race can still compete, as they understand the universe that they're in, they just manipulate it differently.
Anyway that's my two cents. Sorry I'm being slow on making another faction. If everyone's ready I can just catch up when I get some inspiration.
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Post by RWU on Jul 25, 2015 17:26:27 GMT -6
I disagree. A people can understand how to use and fix their "magic" without understanding where it comes from or the theoretical physics behind it. Heck in most *actual* magic settings people don't fully understand how it works.
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Post by I Like Turtles on Jul 26, 2015 8:35:46 GMT -6
Sorry, I disagree. In Star Trek (any series) the smartest guys on the ship often had trouble repairing the ship when strange / bad things happened to it. These are guys who've spent their entire lives studying the technology they are using.
Now replace the crew with Chimps.
Okay, sure, it's hilarious, but the first "strange nebula" they "pass through" kills the ship, ever chimp aboard, and the show is over. All because they couldn't figure out how to get the dust out of their exhaust, or whatever.
If a people consider technology to be magic, then they have no real understanding of it. Every episode of Star Trek or Stargate or whatever where the crew finds a simple race that has some sort of technological device providing for or protecting them, they think it's magic. However that device usually gets damaged or destroyed and the people are helpless.
I'm not saying it's not an interesting trope to use in a sci-fi show, but as a race of people in a story about conquering the galaxy? I don't know, I don't think it's as cool as Space Mages and it's not for me. If someone else wants to play it, great, but it doesn't inspire me.
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Post by dragonlord7012 on Jul 26, 2015 8:55:42 GMT -6
I could see it working from a certain angle. Have a race that uses McGuffinium. This substance has strange properties and has unique reactions to normal physics as we know it. And all the technology seems to involve it, at least peripherally. And you can have mooks infused with it, or who manipulate it to create "spells." And they don't fully understand all the details on WHY it works, but they can learn and manipulate the effect it produces. And its existence allows for a otherwise low tech race to travel through space with only somewhat modern tech. Incidentally i just described Mass Effect. Because Biotics are Space Wizards. And Element Zero is made of magical space crystals
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Post by I Like Turtles on Jul 26, 2015 16:07:02 GMT -6
Maybe you described it better, but that's basically how I envisioned my proposal, just with magic items replacing tech (communication crystals instead of omni-tools).
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Post by dragonlord7012 on Jul 26, 2015 16:31:05 GMT -6
I think the only real difference is the way you treat your tech tree. Mysticism that is normally attributed to magic doesn't work well in a sci fi setting. Saying "My stuff works because of magic" implies a lack of understanding ,because magic in its very nature is shrouded in mystery, and a lack of understanding. Comprehension of what you are doing is necessary, and a formal language is needed in order to achieve the large scale projects that being a space faring race requires. Having crystals that get energy by resonating with a nearby dimension with its own set of rules, isn't a problem. But you have to treat it as a science. Sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science.
"Your crystals resonate only with the fourth virgin daughters, if and only if they are born under the light of a full moon." There is a reason, and more likly than not a spaceworthy race will of discovered it. For example, same scenario but after being analyzed;
"The effect is only achivable by a female, born from a mother with a certain hormonal level that is most likely to occure between the third and fifth birth. A particular gravity field is needed during the first few hours to lock in the effect for their lifetime. A moon may not be necisarry. By giving hormone treatment, and having births in gravity controled chamber, all females will be able to manifest this trait. Childbirth seems to mess up the trait, for reasons that are still being researched. "
Exact same scenario, understood parameters and measured phenomena. And then exploited to make instead of 1 female in a billion a mage. 50% of your population is now one. Enabling the globalization of your mage resources.
I'm a big fan of divergent tech trees interacting, but any reasonably space worth wizards would have to be scientist first and formost. They might traditionally put their "casters" in wide brimmed pointy hats. But those casters would talk about their craft in the language of engineers, and not in propheies.
Edit: as an addendum. Anything they do would have to be a resonable choice to do so. Why would you use a sword if you can use a tank? Do they have shields that act like a energy based ferrofluid that becomes harder the more force you apply? (Or maybe like Dune Shields)
Having "magic" creatures would be reasonable to the extent that your planet is saturated with your unique resource. But you have to obey the laws governing the universe, even if you get to bend them. I think the manner in which you do so must be reasonably defined, and understood.
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Post by I Like Turtles on Jul 26, 2015 17:19:58 GMT -6
Saying "My stuff works because of magic" implies a lack of understanding ,because magic in its very nature is shrouded in mystery, and a lack of understanding. I dunno, high level mages in any setting seem to understand it pretty well. Even low level mages have a pretty good understanding of magic, just not necessarily the talent or ability to cast more powerful spells. Mages would be the best of the best and therefore the ones who explored, because their ability to do so requires knowledge of magic. Sort of like how only the best pilots and engineers get to be astronauts in today's world. They bring some muscle bound brutes with a basic knowledge of magic because every army needs soldiers. Also, tanks vs swords is an unfair comparison. One is an armored vehicle that provides artillery strikes the other is a hand weapon used for close quarters fighting. I wouldn't suggest the my magic sword can kill a tank. It could do relatively the same thing that a tech based melee weapon (laser sword?) could do.
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Post by I Like Turtles on Jul 26, 2015 17:22:45 GMT -6
Anyway I'm surprised this is still a hot topic, as it's already been axed.
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