AFistfulofBalderdash
Scribe
Just a general discussion about the topic of firearms in fantasy. I've occasionally encountered the stigma from classical fantasy readers that the moment I mention guns in a fantasy setting that they write off any display of my talent or potential and say I should 'throw my world into the Generic Sea' and write sci-fi. Mostly because they can't take a world seriously that has projectile weapons a grade above a crossbow.
Now, disregarding that harsh statement, let's have a discussion on this. A survey of attitudes if you wish. And a statement on what you think about guns in fantasy. And let's assume the fantasy is classical enough that it has some form of magic(no matter how inefficient or powerful) with distinct cultural differences across a world of varying geography.
I'm also not limiting the range of weapons we're talking about either. From muskets to battle-rifles, all is fair game here. I tend to see that when the concept of guns are introduce, it tends to immediately color the person's perception and exceptions on what they'll see. Namely, they imagine the generic, snarky woman or man armed to the teeth with guns, doing trick shots as they kill orcs by the truck-load.
===================================================================================
Just to get the topic going, I'm using a small example from my world (no lore attached or anything). The reasons that firearms exist are tied deeply to the lore and because of that, one faction has advance 200 years ahead of anyone else. We're talking knights fighting against Napoleonic line formations with cannons in back and men carrying rifled muskets at the front. This of course should be a massacre in favor of gunners. But said knights are essentially super-human killing machines that can not only ignore most injuries that could kill a human instantly, but use "Hexerei" which for you uninitiated mates is "magic".
The reason why I do this is to keep an equal but contrasting struggle between these two factions. Either one can win in the right conditions, and when they meet it tends to be a colossal rumble on both ends.
This is one of the whole themes of my world "The clash of reality and myth". Guns are merely a symbol here, a symbol of the approaching industrial revolution that is encapsulating the world. The age of the knight is ending along with the Days of Yore. That time of mythic curses and ancient blades are fairy tales in this world quickly aging. Cold Wars and more modern issues take precedence over Dark Lords or marauding hordes. Even the knights who choose to use Hexerei are coupling it with guns instead of their crossbows.
It is a way to show the reader that the romanticized glory days of this world are passed. That though swords, bear cavalry, and catapults are still used, those times when these elements came together on massive open fields are nearly a thing of the past. Heroes who sloughed through entire armies are depicted as retired, stubborn men that fall to their hubris. And weapons that once held so much meaning are bitterly clung to over the thunderous muskets.
All of my plot-treads have some of this flavoring in them. The whole 'discovery' of guns (from the prospective of this knightly faction) was basically thirty years back which is the first time these two faction met. Before then neither had an idea the other existed and now both of them have to adapt to the other side's unorthodox approach to warfare.
I use the gun as a symbol in this world, not just as a weapon. Wherever it is present in the hands of militia, the environment is safer, but far less mystifying. Those who carry these weapons deeply contrast their surroundings when they step into the unknown. The Gun (and by extension technology) is shown to be the death-note of myth but the cradle of a new civilization.
To me, I keep this idea in the reader's head. From the onset, this is still very much a fantasy world you're reading about, but you know what the musket became.
And funnily enough, the main plot has nothing to do with the struggle of technology and magic, it's just one of the many issues I use to color the world the main protagonist lives in. It's an issue I can write about later if I desire, but as a world-building element I think it adds a struggle into the very nature of the world.
===================================================================================
I'm keeping this as concise as possible since I do have a contest story I should be proof-reading . I just figured this topic would be interesting enough. Post whatever you think about guns in a fantasy world. Is there a limit where you no longer consider it fantasy. Or do you just hate the aspect of it in any form?
Now, disregarding that harsh statement, let's have a discussion on this. A survey of attitudes if you wish. And a statement on what you think about guns in fantasy. And let's assume the fantasy is classical enough that it has some form of magic(no matter how inefficient or powerful) with distinct cultural differences across a world of varying geography.
I'm also not limiting the range of weapons we're talking about either. From muskets to battle-rifles, all is fair game here. I tend to see that when the concept of guns are introduce, it tends to immediately color the person's perception and exceptions on what they'll see. Namely, they imagine the generic, snarky woman or man armed to the teeth with guns, doing trick shots as they kill orcs by the truck-load.
===================================================================================
Just to get the topic going, I'm using a small example from my world (no lore attached or anything). The reasons that firearms exist are tied deeply to the lore and because of that, one faction has advance 200 years ahead of anyone else. We're talking knights fighting against Napoleonic line formations with cannons in back and men carrying rifled muskets at the front. This of course should be a massacre in favor of gunners. But said knights are essentially super-human killing machines that can not only ignore most injuries that could kill a human instantly, but use "Hexerei" which for you uninitiated mates is "magic".
The reason why I do this is to keep an equal but contrasting struggle between these two factions. Either one can win in the right conditions, and when they meet it tends to be a colossal rumble on both ends.
This is one of the whole themes of my world "The clash of reality and myth". Guns are merely a symbol here, a symbol of the approaching industrial revolution that is encapsulating the world. The age of the knight is ending along with the Days of Yore. That time of mythic curses and ancient blades are fairy tales in this world quickly aging. Cold Wars and more modern issues take precedence over Dark Lords or marauding hordes. Even the knights who choose to use Hexerei are coupling it with guns instead of their crossbows.
It is a way to show the reader that the romanticized glory days of this world are passed. That though swords, bear cavalry, and catapults are still used, those times when these elements came together on massive open fields are nearly a thing of the past. Heroes who sloughed through entire armies are depicted as retired, stubborn men that fall to their hubris. And weapons that once held so much meaning are bitterly clung to over the thunderous muskets.
All of my plot-treads have some of this flavoring in them. The whole 'discovery' of guns (from the prospective of this knightly faction) was basically thirty years back which is the first time these two faction met. Before then neither had an idea the other existed and now both of them have to adapt to the other side's unorthodox approach to warfare.
I use the gun as a symbol in this world, not just as a weapon. Wherever it is present in the hands of militia, the environment is safer, but far less mystifying. Those who carry these weapons deeply contrast their surroundings when they step into the unknown. The Gun (and by extension technology) is shown to be the death-note of myth but the cradle of a new civilization.
To me, I keep this idea in the reader's head. From the onset, this is still very much a fantasy world you're reading about, but you know what the musket became.
And funnily enough, the main plot has nothing to do with the struggle of technology and magic, it's just one of the many issues I use to color the world the main protagonist lives in. It's an issue I can write about later if I desire, but as a world-building element I think it adds a struggle into the very nature of the world.
===================================================================================
I'm keeping this as concise as possible since I do have a contest story I should be proof-reading . I just figured this topic would be interesting enough. Post whatever you think about guns in a fantasy world. Is there a limit where you no longer consider it fantasy. Or do you just hate the aspect of it in any form?