Mixing 'magical' technology with 'antique' real technology?

[Naruzeldamaster]

So my setting for my story is very much a 'high' fantasy setting, Elves/Dwarves/Orcs the works.
But I'm thinking of having 'antique' technology, that's closer to what we use today, and magical technology.
I'm fairly certain this is common, but I'm wondering how far I can push the 'normal' technology before it gets to be 'too much'

 

[ThinkerX]

This is something of a theme in my books.

I was irked at the static tech level in most fantasy settings. At the same time, I was researching ancient tech, notably Simak's 'The Ancient Engineers.' He made a telling observation: the ancient Romans/Greeks had the knowledge and ability to transform into a technological society, but their leaders chose not to do so because their wealth was largely in people (slaves). Mechanisms that could replace slaves reduced the value of those slaves. This dichotomy applies to other societies that rely on slave labor - ANYTHING that reduces the value of those slaves is not tolerated....except in extreme need.

In the Solarian Empire, you have the provinces south of the Mare Imperium that are mostly slave states, highly resistant to anything new. Northwest, you have the half-civilized Avar (quasi-Celtic), the erudite populace of Carbone (ancient Greece), the Heartland (Imperial Rome), and Equitant (fringe industrial state). One of the more enlightened Emperors got Carbone's scholars to collaborate with Equitant's artisans, which sparked something of an industrial revolution, resulting in things like the printing press, signal towers, telescopes, microscopes, and clockwork mechanisms. The aristocracy saw many of these creations as a 'useful threat,' placing some (printing press, signal towers) under direct imperial control, while restricting the rest to the upper crust as 'toys.' This worked (sort of) for most of two hundred years until the Traag War hit, and the aristocracy unleashed Equitant and Carbone, setting off a major social upheaval.

As to magical technology, there are two main categories:

First, there are a lot of semi-functional leftovers from the now-vanished, 'ancient aliens' floating around. When they work, these devices are straight out of Star Trek. Keeping them working...is difficult. Many function poorly, if at all. Today, you have a blaster that can punch a hole through a castle wall. Tomorrow, it's junk, or it blows up.

Long ago, the ancient aliens genetically imbued select humans, goblins, and others with enhanced PSI ability (Magic). Their descendants still make potions, create alarm spells, and whatnot.

 

[Queshire]

Hm. It really depends on what your goals are. A wizard in a robe & pointy hat and their plate armor knight companion walking past a row of vending machines will inevitably affect the tone of the story, but if you're aiming for that altered tone then it's not really too much is it?

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

This is something of a theme in my books.

I was irked at the static tech level in most fantasy settings. At the same time, I was researching ancient tech, notably Simak's 'The Ancient Engineers.' He made a telling observation: the ancient Romans/Greeks had the knowledge and ability to transform into a technological society, but their leaders chose not to do so because their wealth was largely in people (slaves). Mechanisms that could replace slaves reduced the value of those slaves. This dichotomy applies to other societies that rely on slave labor - ANYTHING that reduces the value of those slaves is not tolerated....except in extreme need.

In the Solarian Empire, you have the provinces south of the Mare Imperium that are mostly slave states, highly resistant to anything new. Northwest, you have the half-civilized Avar (quasi-Celtic), the erudite populace of Carbone (ancient Greece), the Heartland (Imperial Rome), and Equitant (fringe industrial state). One of the more enlightened Emperors got Carbone's scholars to collaborate with Equitant's artisans, which sparked something of an industrial revolution, resulting in things like the printing press, signal towers, telescopes, microscopes, and clockwork mechanisms. The aristocracy saw many of these creations as a 'useful threat,' placing some (printing press, signal towers) under direct imperial control, while restricting the rest to the upper crust as 'toys.' This worked (sort of) for most of two hundred years until the Traag War hit, and the aristocracy unleashed Equitant and Carbone, setting off a major social upheaval.

As to magical technology, there are two main categories:

First, there are a lot of semi-functional leftovers from the now-vanished, 'ancient aliens' floating around. When they work, these devices are straight out of Star Trek. Keeping them working...is difficult. Many function poorly, if at all. Today, you have a blaster that can punch a hole through a castle wall. Tomorrow, it's junk, or it blows up.

Long ago, the ancient aliens genetically imbued select humans, goblins, and others with enhanced PSI ability (Magic). Their descendants still make potions, create alarm spells, and whatnot.

The thing with my idea, I don't want it to be 'oh ancient humanity was real and suddenly we became magic one day' which, SO many stories have done.
I want the 'antiques' (Regular TV's, microwaves etc) to be novelties that the magical people thought of before they realized they could do so much more by adding magic to it.

Aliens are cool and all, but they don't really fit in my story, even if those aliens were ordinary humans with no magic powers.

Although I do have one Magical Clan where that could fit, they're a human clan of Mages that have been around forever almost.

Hm. It really depends on what your goals are. A wizard in a robe & pointy hat and their plate armor knight companion walking past a row of vending machines will inevitably affect the tone of the story, but if you're aiming for that altered tone then it's not really too much is it?

Well for one it's a comedy to the point of using wingdings font for the God language (when it's used around characters who don't also speak God language) of the story, a lot of the characters are very self aware of many factors.

Also One of the clans is literally called the L33T Clan and their whole thing is developing technology, both magical tech and 'regular' tech, the tone isn't entirely my concern for this story (Though most of the characters do take serious moments seriously, if that makes sense?)

 

[ThinkerX]

The thing with my idea, I don't want it to be 'oh ancient humanity was real and suddenly we became magic one day' which, SO many stories have done.
I want the 'antiques' (Regular TV's, microwaves etc) to be novelties that the magical people thought of before they realized they could do so much more by adding magic to it.

Aliens are cool and all, but they don't really fit in my story, even if those aliens were ordinary humans with no magic powers.

Although I do have one Magical Clan where that could fit, they're a human clan of Mages that have been around forever almost.

No, the 'ancient aliens' were most definitely not human...or even humanoid. The main bunch resembled erect caterpillars.' And in the time the stories are set, they are basically myths to most folks.

 

[pmmg]

No, the 'ancient aliens' were most definitely not human...or even humanoid. The main bunch resembled erect caterpillars.' And in the time the stories are set, they are basically myths to most folks.

So true!