The Dresden Files > DFRPG
Magic and Technology
x-tricks:
One way to look at magic – if you want to try and make it logical or follow the currently understood laws of physics and nature – is that it may affect the natural tendency of things to break down, go wrong or wear out. So, when Harry, or a mage is near a light bulb, which radically increases its chances of burring out right then. And the more infused with magic (not necessarily obviously more powerful), the greater that tendency is.
Magic is, after all, the manipulation of extremely unlikely events – among other more boom/flash effects. Magic can create good and bad luck, miracles etc.
Modern technology is rather delicate – the effect of a chip or a logic board deciding to go on the blink at a particular moment is more catastrophic than say, one hinge on a door. The door may work, if poorly but few computers can handle a logic board crash.
As to what magicians believe about how they affect technology on an individual level – well, that’s theory.
IMO – there shouldn’t be a way to keep technology safe from magic in this particular game. It starts to get too WoD and munchkin if you’ve got the magic/technology détente going on. In this game, if you want magic, you give up telephones and iPods. If you want iPods, you give up magic.
And, magic isn’t necessarily stronger than tech – because the strength of magic depends totally on the strength of the person using it. Sure, in the books we see Dresden slinging uber-powerful shields around but remember, he’s the crem-de-la-crem. Most players, starting out, will not be nearly o powerful, and may never achieve that level of strength.
Mario Di Giacomo:
--- Quote from: x-tricks on April 10, 2007, 09:51:08 PM ---IMO – there shouldn’t be a way to keep technology safe from magic in this particular game. It starts to get too WoD and munchkin if you’ve got the magic/technology détente going on. In this game, if you want magic, you give up telephones and iPods. If you want iPods, you give up magic.
--- End quote ---
Wizpods are more Diane Duane's shtick, anyway :)
Samldanach:
Hmm. I tend to think the wireless/bluetooth option wouldn't work so well. That is some pretty finicky technology, even with no magic around. I think it would lose the connection often enough to be more frustrating than useful. The voice recognition software, though, is certainly an option. You'd have to end up with a techie who is willing to set up the computer, and patiently train the wizard on how to use it. Basically, I think, from a game standpoint, you'd either have to have the techie be another PC (which makes most any gain the wizard gets from the computer be a wash at best), or some kind of dedicated ally (meaning the character isn't as good at being wizardly). Since the computer itself can't be enchanted, it would be hard to work up any kind of potentially game-breaking synergy.
And, of course, it wouldn't help either the Blue Beetle (you can't drive a car and keep it inside a circle) or the phone (too many pieces of the phone system would be outside the protective circle).
Slife:
--- Quote from: Samldanach on April 11, 2007, 02:14:01 PM ---And, of course, it wouldn't help either the Blue Beetle (you can't drive a car and keep it inside a circle)
--- End quote ---
Why not?
Samldanach:
Er, because the car moves, and the circle doesn't? ???
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