
Juuso, Andrew and I are suffering from a fundamental disagreement on the level of technology on Qaiyore. I've posted the relevent pages from _Aria_ on the website so that we can all be looking at the same information. The difference seems to lie in what the advanced metallurgic technological base constitutes. Is it 12 on "Dominant Materials" or 15 on "Power & Manufacturing?" I'm afraid we need a definative ruling. Jefferson (Exquaestio) http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
Probably on the verge of 13 on the Miscelaneous Innovations Scale, at 12 on the Dominant Materials Scale, and a lower 14 on the Power Sources and Manufacturing Innovation Scale. Such technology discussions should also probably involve discussion on education, politics and economics. In medieval and Renaissance Europe, developments in either affected the other. Ibrahim Jefferson wrote: >Juuso, > >Andrew and I are suffering from a fundamental disagreement on the level of >technology on Qaiyore. I've posted the relevent pages from _Aria_ on the >website so that we can all be looking at the same information. The difference >seems to lie in what the advanced metallurgic technological base constitutes. > Is it 12 on "Dominant Materials" or 15 on "Power & Manufacturing?" I'm >afraid we need a definative ruling. > >Jefferson (Exquaestio) >http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/ > > > >---------------------------------------------------------------- >To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net. > > > > ================================ Confidentiality Statement and Disclaimer ================================ This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and contains information that is privileged and confidential. If you, the reader of this message, are not the intended recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this communication. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by return email and delete the original message. Thank you. ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
Also, what about the technology of the Vraal? Did they arrive without any of their own indigenous technology? If they did bring technology from their homeworld, what was it like, and is it transferable to other Qaiyorean societies (and has it been transferred at all?). This is potentially a wilcard in terms of technological development, as it represents a society not indigenous to Celandra as a whole. Ibrahim ibrahim wrote: >Probably on the verge of 13 on the Miscelaneous Innovations Scale, at 12 >on the Dominant Materials Scale, and a lower 14 on the Power Sources >and Manufacturing Innovation Scale. > >Such technology discussions should also probably involve discussion on >education, politics and economics. In medieval and Renaissance Europe, >developments in either affected the other. > >Ibrahim > >Jefferson wrote: > > > >>Juuso, >> >>Andrew and I are suffering from a fundamental disagreement on the level of >>technology on Qaiyore. I've posted the relevent pages from _Aria_ on the >>website so that we can all be looking at the same information. The difference >>seems to lie in what the advanced metallurgic technological base constitutes. >> Is it 12 on "Dominant Materials" or 15 on "Power & Manufacturing?" I'm >>afraid we need a definative ruling. >> >>Jefferson (Exquaestio) >>http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/ >> >> >> >>---------------------------------------------------------------- >>To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net. >> >> >> >> >> >> > > >================================ >Confidentiality Statement and Disclaimer >================================ >This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and contains information that is privileged and confidential. If you, the reader of this message, are not the intended recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this communication. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by return email and delete the original message. Thank you. > > >---------------------------------------------------------------- >To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net. > >================================ >Confidentiality Statement and Disclaimer >================================ >This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and contains information that is privileged and confidential. If you, the reader of this message, are not the intended recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this communication. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by return email and delete the original message. Thank you. > > > > > ================================ Confidentiality Statement and Disclaimer ================================ This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and contains information that is privileged and confidential. If you, the reader of this message, are not the intended recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this communication. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by return email and delete the original message. Thank you. ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
ibrahim wrote: > Also, what about the technology of the Vraal? Did they arrive without > any of their own indigenous technology? If they did bring technology > from their homeworld, what was it like, and is it transferable to other > Qaiyorean societies (and has it been transferred at all?). Technology from another part of Dreaming is usually not transferrable, certainly not advanced technology, since advanced technology so often means heavy reliance on the local magical/physical conditions. Most will-based magic is transferrable, barring that it's usually harder to perform on Celandra. Some of authority-based magic is also directly usable. But some (the "localised" part of it) is totally unusable. > This is potentially a wilcard in terms of technological development, as > it represents a society not indigenous to Celandra as a whole. There are other Dreaming-based people on Celandra besides the Vraal. And no, they haven't had much impact technologically, either. juuso ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
Jefferson wrote: > Juuso, > > Andrew and I are suffering from a fundamental disagreement on the level of > technology on Qaiyore. I've posted the relevent pages from _Aria_ on the > website so that we can all be looking at the same information. The difference > seems to lie in what the advanced metallurgic technological base constitutes. First thing here is that I really don't like Aria's technological scales. They reflect too much the historical technological paths, and have no allowance at all for magical developments or alternate paths. That said, they do have value in showing the general structure. In terms of technology, my principle is that anything that doesn't conflict with the history, and is consistent with the feel of the period is ok. If I have to use the Aria scales, here goes: Dominant materials: level 12 at least for advanced societies on Qaiyore, level 10 for less advanced. Like Andrew said, the high tech might reach upto 15. But that technology is not very mature yet. Power & manufactoring: mostly level 13, but localized technological innovations upto level 15 exist. If someone suggested a windmills, I wouldn't say no immediately. Agriculture: *very* dependent on the culture, from 10 to 20. Use of magic (whether effective or not) prevalent. Building and construction: dependent on the culture, from 10 to 20, but mostly upto 13. Most fantastical buildings constructed with the aid of magic. Transport and communication: level 15, individual societies may reach upto 17. No astrolabe or quadrant, though. Military: dependent on the culture, from 10 to 19. No gunpowder, though. Misc.: mostly upto 12. Frequent individual innovations upto 20. Mostly with the aid of magic, though. I hope this clarified things. If not, ask for more. juuso ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
Juha Vesanto wrote: > Jefferson wrote: > >>Andrew and I are suffering from a fundamental disagreement on the level of >>technology on Qaiyore. I've posted the relevent pages from _Aria_ on the >>website so that we can all be looking at the same information. The difference >>seems to lie in what the advanced metallurgic technological base constitutes. > > First thing here is that I really don't like Aria's technological > scales. They reflect too much the historical technological paths, Not too much way of avoiding that, but that history is exclusively european, and ignoring China creates quite a few problems. I also don't like the bias towards architecture, and in a few places the scales are simply _wrong_. > and have no allowance at all for magical developments or alternate > paths. That said, they do have value in showing the general structure. And put us all on the same page for discussion purposes. I have my own tech scale, which can be found at http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/devrate.htm My Development ratings are a work in progress and I welcome comments. There have been some major revisions recently, so there are likely some omissions or contradictions that I would welcome help finding. > In terms of technology, my principle is that anything that doesn't > conflict with the history, and is consistent with the feel of the > period is ok. > > If I have to use the Aria scales, here goes: > > Dominant materials: level 12 at least for advanced societies on Qaiyore, > level 10 for less advanced. Like Andrew said, the high tech might reach > upto 15. But that technology is not very mature yet. OK. That's what was confusing me. I place "advanced metallurgy" much earlier on the tech scale. Certainly at materials 12 crossbows are not difficult to manufacture, though they may not be economic. > Power & manufactoring: mostly level 13, but localized technological > innovations upto level 15 exist. If someone suggested a windmills, > I wouldn't say no immediately. OK. That's where I thought things were. > Agriculture: *very* dependent on the culture, from 10 to 20. Use of > magic (whether effective or not) prevalent. > > Building and construction: dependent on the culture, from 10 to 20, > but mostly upto 13. Most fantastical buildings constructed with the aid > of magic. OK, basically 13, but with magical improvements allowing 20 in some cases? > Transport and communication: level 15, individual societies may reach > upto 17. No astrolabe or quadrant, though. > > Military: dependent on the culture, from 10 to 19. No gunpowder, though. > > Misc.: mostly upto 12. Frequent individual innovations upto 20. Mostly > with the aid of magic, though. > > I hope this clarified things. If not, ask for more. Yep. I was judging things much lower, at around 1100 Europe. Instead, things are closer to 1400 Europe. On my tech rating system (see above) that's a major difference (2.8 to 3.8). Which means that clear glass is available (though spectacles have not been invented) along with double entry bookkeeping and positional mathematics. What about spinning wheels, mathematical symbology, and mechanical clocks? Jefferson http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/Exq_Main.html ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
Jefferson wrote: > Juha Vesanto wrote: > >>Jefferson wrote: >> >> >>>Andrew and I are suffering from a fundamental disagreement on the level of >>>technology on Qaiyore. I've posted the relevent pages from _Aria_ on the >>>website so that we can all be looking at the same information. The difference >>>seems to lie in what the advanced metallurgic technological base constitutes.>> >>I hope this clarified things. If not, ask for more. > > > Yep. I was judging things much lower, at around 1100 Europe. Instead, > things are closer to 1400 Europe. On my tech rating system (see above) > that's a major difference (2.8 to 3.8). Which means that clear glass is > available (though spectacles have not been invented) along with double > entry bookkeeping and positional mathematics. What about spinning wheels, > mathematical symbology, and mechanical clocks? No wonder we disagreed so much--you were thinking Early Medieval, and I was thinking Late Medieval/Early Renaissance. I suspect mathematical symbology might be as high as early algebra, especially for Mir, Torphan, and Sedonia(being the three cultures that are large enough or advanced enough to have universities). I'd say spinning wheels almost certainly exist. As for mechanical clocks, I've done some rooting in the archives, and before he vanished, the old Tanimbar player spent a few actions on a group called the Technomancy. They seem to have been experimenting on clockwork, but since he vanished, nothing ever came of it. Andrew > Jefferson > http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/Exq_Main.html > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net. > ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
Andrew Janssen wrote: > spinning wheels almost certainly exist. As for mechanical clocks, I've > done some rooting in the archives, and before he vanished, the old > Tanimbar player spent a few actions on a group called the Technomancy. > They seem to have been experimenting on clockwork, but since he > vanished, nothing ever came of it. I should qualify that last statement: nothing officially came of it. Since Tanimbar hasn't had a player since 1436, it's entirely possible that in the past sixteen years, mechanical clocks have been invented. Their accuracy is probably crummy, tho. Andrew > > Andrew ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
Jefferson wrote: > And put us all on the same page for discussion purposes. I have my own > tech scale, which can be found at > http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/devrate.htm Nice. Although the progression, especially on the magic/psion/etc. scales on the medium-to-high levels is too rigid for my taste. I mean, there are so many alternate paths with things that are totally up to GM definition... >>Building and construction: dependent on the culture, from 10 to 20, >>but mostly upto 13. Most fantastical buildings constructed with the aid >>of magic. > > > OK, basically 13, but with magical improvements allowing 20 in some cases? Yes. > Yep. I was judging things much lower, at around 1100 Europe. Instead, > things are closer to 1400 Europe. On my tech rating system (see above) > that's a major difference (2.8 to 3.8). Which means that clear glass is > available (though spectacles have not been invented) along with double > entry bookkeeping and positional mathematics. What about spinning wheels, > mathematical symbology, and mechanical clocks? Clear glass: yes. Double entry bookkeeping: well, perhaps in the more advanced merchant guilds. I mean, this is a process, not a technology. Positional math: yes. Spinning wheel: yes. Mathematical symbols: yes. Mechanical clocks: I'd say Andrew is right about this. Some trials, but water clocks etc. are still far more reliable. juuso ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
Juha Vesanto wrote: > Jefferson wrote: > >>And put us all on the same page for discussion purposes. I have my own >>tech scale, which can be found at >>http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/devrate.htm > > Nice. Although the progression, especially on the magic/psion/etc. > scales on the medium-to-high levels is too rigid for my taste. > I mean, there are so many alternate paths with things that are totally > up to GM definition... Yes. One change that's in process (and scarcely begun) is merging the psionic rating into the arcane rating and replacing it with a power rating to determine how effectively the other ratings are applied. What sort of arcane paths do you see? Jefferson http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/Exq_Main.html ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
Jefferson wrote: > What sort of arcane paths do you see? Just about ANYthing. Do you happen to have the first Aria book? There's a section on magic, which lists possible magical effects (well, they call them "temper aspects", but that's Aria for you...): anchor, build, chain, delay, contagious, diminish, extend, imbed, invited, maintain, mechanism, overpower, removed, sophistication, widen, ... there are others. I'm not going to describe them, but essentially they are different kinds of properties which allow magic to be varied / developed in various ways. And for ANY given system of magic, ANY of these effects can be easy, hard or impossible. And I'm not taking any magic fundamentals into account at all (spirit/energy/matter, elements, time-space, etc.). juuso ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
Is magic a renewable or finite resource? Might sound strange, but in the 70s a science-fiction writer (Larry Niven maybe, not sure) wrote about a pre-historic world in which magic was "running out" much like fossil fuels are slowly doing now. In the short story, the magical island of Atlantis fell beneath the waves because magic ran out in that area. The general idea was that magical energy was a finite resource, and once it was used up in a particular area, then magical creatures could not exist there, and magic could not be used there. I don't think things would work exactly like that in Celandra, given its relationship with the Dreaming, but is it an infinite resource so to speak? And concerning Dreaming creatures, it seems to me that after they have travelled across into Celandra, they begin to become far more physical/biological based creatures than magical/essence based ones. Thus, they adapt to the physics of Celandra, and the physics of Celandra adapt to them. Perhaps that is also why dragons are no longer as common, being unable to fully adapt to the reality of Celandra (unable to fully "celandranise"). Ibrahim ================================ Confidentiality Statement and Disclaimer ================================ This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and contains information that is privileged and confidential. If you, the reader of this message, are not the intended recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this communication. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by return email and delete the original message. Thank you. ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
Ibrahim wrote: > Is magic a renewable or finite resource? This is a very good question. My first answer is that magic isn't a resource at all, but I don't know if that's official. So, on Celandra, asking that question is like asking, "Is dance a renewable or finite resource?" Dance and magic are methods, not resources, and thus unrestricted. However, this does lead to further questions. "Is the physical power produced by magic renewable or finite?" is the first one that comes to my mind. I don't think we can answer that sort of question at this point. Jefferson http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
Jefferson wrote: > Ibrahim wrote: > > >>Is magic a renewable or finite resource? > > > This is a very good question. My first answer is that magic isn't a > resource at all, but I don't know if that's official. To my mind(and following my earlier remarks), magic in the first sense isn't a resource, it's a force, like the four forces in our universe. As Jeff points out, when used in its second sense, magic is a method, not a resource. > So, on Celandra, asking that question is like asking, "Is dance a renewable > or finite resource?" Dance and magic are methods, not resources, and thus > unrestricted. > > However, this does lead to further questions. "Is the physical power > produced by magic renewable or finite?" is the first one that comes to my > mind. I don't think we can answer that sort of question at this point. Well, I think it'd only be an issue for Essence Magic. Essence magic casters gather essence from the objects around them, reshape the essence, and then release the reshaped essence, casting the spell. Most of the energy to do this comes from the caster--major spells are about as tiring as running a 100-meter dash, and the fatigue hits rapidly enough that many casters end up having to 'sit down before they fall down', but they recover normally. The energy being expended isn't magic, it's metabolic(althought that may be a false distinction in Celandra). So, I'd say that on a human scale, the power is renewable. Authority Casters, on the other hand, just invoke their authority, no energy expended on their part. Andrew > Jefferson > http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/ > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net. > ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
Juha Vesanto wrote: >Jefferson wrote: > > >>And put us all on the same page for discussion purposes. I have my own >>tech scale, which can be found at >>http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/devrate.htm >> >> > >Nice. Although the progression, especially on the magic/psion/etc. >scales on the medium-to-high levels is too rigid for my taste. >I mean, there are so many alternate paths with things that are totally >up to GM definition... > > > >>>Building and construction: dependent on the culture, from 10 to 20, >>>but mostly upto 13. Most fantastical buildings constructed with the aid >>>of magic. >>> >>> >>OK, basically 13, but with magical improvements allowing 20 in some cases? >> >> > >Yes. > > > >>Yep. I was judging things much lower, at around 1100 Europe. Instead, >>things are closer to 1400 Europe. On my tech rating system (see above) >>that's a major difference (2.8 to 3.8). Which means that clear glass is >>available (though spectacles have not been invented) along with double >>entry bookkeeping and positional mathematics. What about spinning wheels, >>mathematical symbology, and mechanical clocks? >> >> Are we assuming that all of Qaiyore is following the same pattern of technological development? The 4 major civilisations of Eurasia - the West, Islam/ME, India and China all were technological innovators and leaders at different periods in time. I'd say that Torphan, as the other major civilisation, could be significantly more advanced in certain areas (and likewise, significantly backward in certain other areas). The same could be said of other distinct cultural regions, like the Razanian coast, Celpalar, Bel'Adne, Kaeir-Taltheran-Morvali, the Hisarian Empire, Milakanur. What might happen if say the Milakanuri discovered a means to counter or negate magic or magical spells? Technological change does not need to be major to have major effects. Consider the development of the heavy plow in central Europe in the 5th-6th century CE (the date might be slightly off) - it allowed farmers north of the mediterranean to properly plow the heavy, dark soil of northern Europe for the first time. This meant that for the first time, non-mediterranean Europe could produce more food that mediterranean Europe (who had used light plows for millenia on soft, but less fertile soil). A growth in food production led to a population growth that had a major long term impact on political relations in the Mediterranean-Western Europe (France-Germany-etc could produce more food than Andalus-North Africa-Middle East for example), as well as ensuring that the Germanic societies in western and central Europe would be important for many centuries. Ibrahim ================================ Confidentiality Statement and Disclaimer ================================ This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and contains information that is privileged and confidential. If you, the reader of this message, are not the intended recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this communication. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by return email and delete the original message. Thank you. ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
Ibrahim wrote: > Are we assuming that all of Qaiyore is following the same pattern of > technological development? Definetly not. > What might happen if say the Milakanuri discovered a means to counter or > negate magic or magical spells? Sorry, but htat just doesn't happen. It sounds to me the same as "someone discovers a means to negate technology". > Technological change does not need to be major to have major effects. True. But this is exactly why I like to deal with history and technology in story-telling manner, rather than according to a strict set of rules. juuso ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
Juha Vesanto wrote: >Ibrahim wrote: > > >>Are we assuming that all of Qaiyore is following the same pattern of >>technological development? >> >> > >Definetly not. > > > >>What might happen if say the Milakanuri discovered a means to counter or >>negate magic or magical spells? >> >> > >Sorry, but htat just doesn't happen. It sounds to me the same >as "someone discovers a means to negate technology". > > Just an example. Not intended for game use. : ) > > >>Technological change does not need to be major to have major effects. >> >> > >True. But this is exactly why I like to deal with history >and technology in story-telling manner, rather than according to >a strict set of rules. > > Well, fair enough Juuso. ================================ Confidentiality Statement and Disclaimer ================================ This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and contains information that is privileged and confidential. If you, the reader of this message, are not the intended recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this communication. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by return email and delete the original message. Thank you. ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
Jefferson wrote: > Juuso, > > Andrew and I are suffering from a fundamental disagreement on the level of > technology on Qaiyore. I've posted the relevent pages from _Aria_ on the > website so that we can all be looking at the same information. The difference > seems to lie in what the advanced metallurgic technological base constitutes. > Is it 12 on "Dominant Materials" or 15 on "Power & Manufacturing?" I'm > afraid we need a definative ruling. > After having spent that long strategic action on developing new forms of steel, I'd say that Sedonians could be as high as 15 on the dominant material scale, although that would represent "high tech"--13 would perhaps better represent common use. They're definitely a 14 on the power source scale, with the chance of reaching 15 in the mid-term future. As for the miscellaneous scale, I agree with Ibrahim, generally a 13, but spiking to a 15-17 range *only* in the areas of herbal medicine and sewer construction, and to the 18-20 range *only* for illuminated manuscripts. Andrew > Jefferson (Exquaestio) > http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/ > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net. > ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.