I'm curious... Not that it would matter much, but would the setting for Elemental be pre-technological Altaria? If so, that could be a nice, cool tie in for GalCiv fans.
Even "pure fantasy" is just a perception. Look at the definition of technology: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology) The method in which mages make their robes and the hand tools farmers use on their magical herb farms are all technology. Even a staff is technology because it is a tool. We've always had technology.
But I know what you mean. Still, as I've been saying I'm a big fan of options. I would much rather it be set up so advancing to dawning technology or fantasy technology is a choice so those that want to shun it and honor the traditional ways can and those that want to embrace it can. Much like the real world. And it would fit in nicely, this game seems to be all about choices from what I've read.
I suppose it just comes down to what you call it. Or, maybe it works like this:
Magic operates on the "B/c I said so" principal. A spell works because that's how it works. There's no reason behind it, there's no force behind the scenes, it is just a series of variables that converge to create something that cannot appear from the sum of its parts. In other words: magic is not linear. I say "wingaudium leviosa" and the rock floats. I don't directly or indirectly move the rock, it just floats because I am manipulating its state through magic.
Technology operates on the "here's why" principal. A machine works due to underlying laws and activities that can be reduced to a simpler and simpler level. Each variable affects another to produce the desired outcome. Basically: technology is linear. I flip a switch, allowing electrons to proceed from an area of greater charge to an area of lesser charge, passing through a filament(sp?) of material that produces a large amount of friction, which is expressed as heat, which becomes electromagnetic radiation, which bounces off objects in the room and eventually makes its way to my eyes, allowing me to see. One thing leads to another, and each step occurs in sequence.
Not so seem argumentative or anything, but again that is based on perception. Nothing happens "because", not even magic. Nearly every world has purpose behind magic. Let's take an extremely popular one: The Forgotten Realms. In this creation, magic may not be completely understood but has constant application. It has to be researched and learned, there are laws that nearly always remain the same, and it has various sources.
Even if you don't understand why a rock moves because you tell it to, some force is making it do so. Typical magic is based off a force beyond our understanding just like the "Force" in Starwars, which by the way is basically watered down magic. It's still there. In the end, it's not really different from someone rubbing flint together to make fire and wield it as a weapon but not know it works.
And both magic or technology can be either linear or none linear, depending on the writer. In reality, science is pretty linear. However, so is most magic in fiction. If it wasn't, you'd never be able to have practiced magic; every time you attempted to cast a spell it would do something completely unpredictable. Instead saying those words keys a process which may not be known to you that has nearly the same result every time.
The very fact that you can say "wingaudium leviosa" and expect the rock to float every other time is because it is linear. The reasoning may or may not be clear, in fantasy it's typically 50/50 between worlds where magic is a force that can be learned and researched and worlds where magic is wild and untamed, used by those with natural talent and never completely understood. In all cases, it's still a force by it's very definition.
"Just because" systems usually never work, it shows lack of thought in a writer and is very unrealistic. Humans never buy it. You woud be hard pressed to find a magical world where magic is explained as "just because" (compared to just unknown and mysterious). Even if you did, I'd bet a decent sum it isn't well known or remotely popular.
I suppose so... Guess it's all in the definition.
Sorry, wasn't trying to be offensive or anything. I'm just one of those people that love talking about things I..well, love.
Same here. No offense taken.
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