Magic and Sci-Fi

[Otto Harkaman]

Tékumel, Empire of the Petal Throne
http://www.tekumel.com/

I just realized reading his website that M.A.R. Barker died a couple weeks ago.

More info about Tékumel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%A9kumel

 

[FreeTrav]

Not out yet.

I realize that, but if they're playing Traveller on the USS Enterprise, I'm sure that it will have been released by then...

Besides, I'm easily amused - I giggle a bit at the idea of the Enterprise crew role-playing self-referentially.

 

[Ran Targas]

Techno-mages anyone? I always thought JMS was on to something with these guys. I use a similar group to quietly spirit away ill-gotten Ancient artifacts and the like; things that shouldn't see the light of day for long. Otherwise how are they going to keep up their little charade as all powerful wizards?

Oddly enough, it makes me think of The Wizard of Oz with a wizard whose little more than a Conneticut Yankee ... just a charlatan with a little inside knowledge of simple science yet millennia ahead of his fellows.

 

[mike wightman]

Ever read the books?

Technomage magic was all shadow tech wrapped up in mumbo jumbo.

IMTU I explain psionics as bio-nanite machinery built into DNA by the Ancients to grant access to their technology - grav manipulation, jump space access etc.

There are earlier generations of this tech that are bulkier - it goes something like:

jump drives for ships

jump drives built into battledress

jump drive included in a multi function smart phone

jump drive implant

jump drive bio-nanite

 

[DangerousThing]

There are earlier generations of this tech that are bulkier - it goes something like:

jump drives for ships

jump drives built into battledress

jump drive included in a multi function smart phone

jump drive implant

jump drive bio-nanite

I *like* this.

On the other hand, IMTU there are alchemists as well as scientists. Alchemy is defined as the Science of Magic and Soul.

People think that alchemy was people trying to turn actual lead into gold. These people have never read the works of actual alchemists. The lead into gold thing was metaphorical; the lead under discussion was the alchemist's soul. In other words, the alchemy was to purify and transform the alchemist's own soul.

My alchemists only study magic after years of studying science and mathematics.

Though the most important thing that most people see of alchemist work is the standard id cards that people have that are linked to them from birth.

One science fiction author I've always liked was HP Lovecraft. Now, there aren't any of the major nasties in my campaign, but there are some minor creatures. And of course somebodies in the background waiting for "the stars to be right." Though I give it a few thousand years before this could even possibily happen.

Have a nice day!
Jay

 

[BlackBat242]

One science fiction author I've always liked was HP Lovecraft. Now, there aren't any of the major nasties in my campaign, but there are some minor creatures. And of course somebodies in the background waiting for "the stars to be right." Though I give it a few thousand years before this could even possibily happen.

Have a nice day!
Jay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5P8q02LUzo

 

[DangerousThing]

ROTFLMAO!

Thank you!!!!!! I really needed that.

 

[leo knight]

I watched the video above, and have had that song stuck in my head since. If it drives me mad, I hope it brings me some eldritch insights. Or at least some entertaining hallucinations.

 

[DangerousThing]

On the other hand, IMTU there are alchemists as well as scientists. Alchemy is defined as the Science of Magic and Soul.
...
My alchemists only study magic after years of studying science and mathematics.

I do need to say that nobody really knows how alchemy works, but only those who truly study mathematics have a good chance at learning alchemy (assume you need mathematics-6, philosophy-4 just. Most alchemists need to use diagrams which produce similar mind-states in those who study them. There are other rules of magic which are known to work, based partially on quantum mechanics and partially on other hand-waving. Most alchemists use computers to handle the math. Only a very small percentage of alchemists can handle magic without diagrams and computers and they all seem to be of a common non-human bloodline.

Much, but not all, of this I stole from Charles Stross' "Laundry Files" books. These are absolutely wonderful and I recommend them to everybody. They are strange spy novels where the main character "Howard" is a civil servant with the title of "Computational Demonologist."

A couple of the theories as to why alchemy works is that a) it is magic, b) there are several forerunner-built computers that take commands when given in the right mind state, and c) the universe is actually either a giant computer or a computer simulation and alchemists talk with it.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that "magic" doesn't have to be magic at the core. It can easily be advanced tech, perhaps coupled with psionics.

Incidentally, the "computer" theories explain the diagrams as things needed to get our minds into the proper state to give commands to the computer.
-
Jay

 

[77topaz]

Ever read the books?

Technomage magic was all shadow tech wrapped up in mumbo jumbo.

IMTU I explain psionics as bio-nanite machinery built into DNA by the Ancients to grant access to their technology - grav manipulation, jump space access etc.

There are earlier generations of this tech that are bulkier - it goes something like:

jump drives for ships

jump drives built into battledress

jump drive included in a multi function smart phone

jump drive implant

jump drive bio-nanite

Spending a week alone in jumpspace in a battledress does not seem like a very pleasant concept (or am I just interpreting the post wrong?).

 

[mike wightman]

Drugs - during your week in jump space your suit drugs you and stimulates your muscles to keep them fit.

You enter jump and appear at your destination completely refreshed

Besides, at Ancient era TLs jump becomes teleportation for short rage hops.