The Techlock & Magi-Tech

[squakhawk 7888]

The Techlock & Magi-Tech

This thread explains the Story Team stance on the techlock and magi-tech.

 

 

Techlock

“Techlock” is a term which fundamentally defines what technology we have on the server. Given we are a fantasy medium with the best interests in mind, we have created a Techlock https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/192604-the-techlock-hub-page/ which supplements how we limit and define what we have on the server. Often, people will justify some sort of time period excuse. Such as, “We have cannons, and the chinese civilizations had made guns back in 800, so why can’t we have guns?”

 

Simply put, in all terms and arguments, no. Although we have some suspended disbelief on the server, there are bad actors out there. We do not allow obscure or extremely dated technologies which seek to loophole or break techlock. We have a strictly defined techlock which limits things such as Gunpowder and its applicability, and what real world elements are on the server. Please, do not overthink things. Do not try to “science” too hard on what we have, we are a fantasy medium with constraints on realism. The Techlock in general is meant to provide a reasonable, sustainable boundary for which we can maintain a unique fantasy setting without ebbing too close to reality. 

 

 

Furthering on “science”-ing too hard, this server is a wonderful foundation for creativity and artistic expression. While some may love the detail you might go into regarding some very in-depth smithing roleplay, keep in mind much of the server has little interest or knowledge in so. Following that, writing anything involved with inventions or techlock should be kept simple and understandable, easily digestible so that anyone on the server could read it comprehensively.

 

When making inventions, keep the techlock in mind and try to make unique items which don't exist simply to break the techlock, but introduce an interesting contraption on the server. Think outside the box, think like an inventor. 

 

 

---

 

 

Magi-Tech

Magi-Tech is essentially magical technology, which can bypass the techlock in some cases (dependent on what the magi-tech is emulating). However, this does not mean that the server should dive into science fiction territory or go too advanced. Things like AI have been on the server, which was rather out of place and has since been culled. New inventions with magic aiding in the process is fine, so long as it is creative and not just imitating real life technology. In the past this has meant computers, particle accelerators (seriously), sno-cone machines, etc. Try and keep it tasteful, and unique. You have an entire fantasy world where you can do and make whatever you want, to just copy real-life inventions is so dull. Try to put some pizazz into it, some fantasy, put some thought and creativity with the lore we have in our universe. You’re granted that leeway, that magic simply makes things work- take that and run with it. Don’t try and over-science something with magic, as that’s against the nature of magic itself. Alchemy is perfect for these types of things, and works, with things like Smoggers and Animii acting as slightly techlock breaking, but highly fascinating and well crafted lorepieces.

 

When writing magi-tech, consider what would happen if someone unfamiliar with the lore involved got their hands on it. An arcane cannon, are these just better than regular cannons? Do they require a mage to use, so that they don’t powercreep cannons? Think of how you would use enchantments, and think of how you could make your magi-tech useable, or unusable, to the majority. Avoid ‘gatekeeping’, for things that reasonably anyone could use, and define exactly what it is someone can’t use certain magi-tech. Keep it flavorful, keep it fun, and stick to a theme rather than an effect you are simply trying to justify writing a lore to make happen.