The Dresden Files > DF Books
How to use computers as a mage
Fcrate:
--- Quote from: g33k on September 12, 2019, 10:21:07 PM ---Distance alone is no protection; not when the wizard is focusing his will and intent on interactions with the internet via the computer.
Harry hexes things down at a distance regularly; granted, his long-range Hexus spell is specific and intentional, but we see him unwilling to even step into an Intensive Care ward; the one time I recall, he only did so when he could be sure he had empty rooms adjacent to the one where he was interviewing Pell, and he STILL kept the time to a minimum, and left ASAP.
And THAT was with him intentionally keeping his focus on Pell, on Pell's testimony, and symptoms.
--- End quote ---
About Pell's situation, well playing with internet isn't the same as playing with people's lives. Even a small malfunction could kill someone in the intensive care ward.
As for focusing his "will" on the computer, that doesn't strike me as accurate, in the books, Harry has to deliberately gather his will for any given spell, with the intent of a spell. e.g: In Hexus, he's making an effort to destroy the electronics. Will and Focus are two different things, just because he's focused on the computer doesn't mean he'll work magic on it. Maybe if he was reading something that affects him emotionally it would be different, but a big projector isn't a lot of technology and should be able to handle a calm wizard.
g33k:
--- Quote from: Fcrate on September 12, 2019, 11:42:33 PM ---About Pell's situation, well playing with internet isn't the same as playing with people's lives. Even a small malfunction could kill someone in the intensive care ward.
As for focusing his "will" on the computer, that doesn't strike me as accurate, in the books, Harry has to deliberately gather his will for any given spell, with the intent of a spell. e.g: In Hexus, he's making an effort to destroy the electronics. Will and Focus are two different things, just because he's focused on the computer doesn't mean he'll work magic on it. Maybe if he was reading something that affects him emotionally it would be different...
--- End quote ---
Harry doesn't have to gather his will to hex things down; it just happens around him. Constantly. Even when he wants it not to. He only needs an act of will to take out things at a distance, or to do it with tactical timing. Electronic things near Harry fail, no matter what (even sophisticated mechanical things fail, hence his avoiding automatic weapons).
Georgia loans him a modern SUV, and various electronic subsystems begin failing... worse and worse. Occasional rides in Thomas' Das Truck soon begin to impact it, too.
Murphy & Butters keep needing to turn off their computers before Harry can be in their offices. Bony Tony stores info on a USB drive, in the confident expectation that this will keep it away from any powerful wizard; and Harry's professional assessment (as a wizard) is that it's likely a solid strategy.
Harry could maybe cruise the internet for a little while doing emotionally-lightweight stuff... cute-cat videos, heartwarming human-interest pieces, etc. Not using a computer in the regular way, but via some of these "at a distance" methods the thread has been exploring. Absolutely agreed!
But when he begins using the internet? Professionally, as an investigator, as a wizard? Harry cares about the stuff he does. A "calm" wizard Harry is not, not when he cares the way he does! Early-on he did a fair amount of just-paying-the-bills jobs, finding lost valuables &c, stuff he didn't care about. I don't think he has any of that sort of "spare" time any more...
--- Quote from: Fcrate on September 12, 2019, 11:42:33 PM ---... but a big projector isn't a lot of technology and should be able to handle a calm wizard.
--- End quote ---
In fact video projectors are EXTREMELY high-tech, and will inevitably be intensely susceptible to Murphyonic-Field disruption.
Braincandy:
--- Quote from: g33k on September 12, 2019, 10:21:07 PM ---Distance alone is no protection; not when the wizard is focusing his will and intent on interactions with the internet via the computer.
Harry hexes things down at a distance regularly; granted, his long-range Hexus spell is specific and intentional, but we see him unwilling to even step into an Intensive Care ward; the one time I recall, he only did so when he could be sure he had empty rooms adjacent to the one where he was interviewing Pell, and he STILL kept the time to a minimum, and left ASAP.
And THAT was with him intentionally keeping his focus on Pell, on Pell's testimony, and symptoms.
To interact online, Harry would de facto be focusing his will upon the computer. There's no other way TO interact with the internet. It'd be one blown computer after another!
Similar with running water: there is a dampening effect, but it's not a reliable warding. In White Knight, Harry freezes a big chunk of water in the bay. In Small Favor, Harry raises a shield while standing in open water.
The only reliable way I see, canonically, is for a muggle in a circle to run the thing, and follow Harry's directions.
Mind you, it could get pretty sophisticated... Get a projector, and a screen outside the circle. Harry could interact with this sceen largely as if it were a touchscreen, while the computer-operator, watching Harry carefully, could duplicate things on the active/electronic screen.
--- End quote ---
Yet, in Skin Game they were able to use running water to operate near sensitive electronics without blowing them. I don't want to get too deep into that since this isn't the spoilers board but I assume you know what I am referencing. I think it's fairly clear that if Harry were to get clever, he could find a way to use a computer. He's never going to do it, because that's not who Dresden is, but he theoretically could without too much trouble.
Fcrate:
--- Quote from: g33k on September 17, 2019, 07:10:41 PM ---Harry doesn't have to gather his will to hex things down; it just happens around him. Constantly. Even when he wants it not to. He only needs an act of will to take out things at a distance, or to do it with tactical timing. Electronic things near Harry fail, no matter what (even sophisticated mechanical things fail, hence his avoiding automatic weapons).
I meant that the effects are far stronger when he gathers his will to cast a spell. Otherwise they're pretty random.
Georgia loans him a modern SUV, and various electronic subsystems begin failing... worse and worse. Occasional rides in Thomas' Das Truck soon begin to impact it, too.
Murphy & Butters keep needing to turn off their computers before Harry can be in their offices. Bony Tony stores info on a USB drive, in the confident expectation that this will keep it away from any powerful wizard; and Harry's professional assessment (as a wizard) is that it's likely a solid strategy.
Which is what? 3-5 meters max?
Harry could maybe cruise the internet for a little while doing emotionally-lightweight stuff... cute-cat videos, heartwarming human-interest pieces, etc. Not using a computer in the regular way, but via some of these "at a distance" methods the thread has been exploring. Absolutely agreed!
But when he begins using the internet? Professionally, as an investigator, as a wizard? Harry cares about the stuff he does. A "calm" wizard Harry is not, not when he cares the way he does! Early-on he did a fair amount of just-paying-the-bills jobs, finding lost valuables &c, stuff he didn't care about. I don't think he has any of that sort of "spare" time any more...
In fact video projectors are EXTREMELY high-tech, and will inevitably be intensely susceptible to Murphyonic-Field disruption.
The projector is high tech but the screen isn't, and I've seen many rear projectors before, Harry doesn't even need to be in the same room as the equipment.
--- End quote ---
Sorry for replying in quote, I'm very lazy.
--- Quote from: Braincandy on September 18, 2019, 04:37:52 AM ---I think it's fairly clear that if Harry were to get clever, he could find a way to use a computer. He's never going to do it, because that's not who Dresden is, but he theoretically could without too much trouble.
--- End quote ---
I agree, but I also think that Jim Butcher made it this way for a reason, as it adds to Harry's character, and difficulties.
Steelblaidd:
The option that I worked out was to put the computer in a magic circle and the crate a magic mirror type artifact that communicates with it using LiFi.
https://purelifi.com/lifi-technology/
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