Technology levels

Kindling · January 11, 2009, 05:53:09 PM

Thoughts have been spinning around in my head lately, about the ideas of having cultures with vastly different levels of technology in the same game world.

What is everyone's thoughts on this concept? Has anyone tried it? Has it turned out well? What method of implementing and justifying it have you favoured or would you favour if you tried it?

I have this mental image of some tattooed, loinclothed barbarian/tribesperson type character packing some high-tech heat that he stole from the last power-armoured stormtrooper he ambushed.

Also, has anyone delved into the realms of futuristic technology existing in the same setting as spellcasting?

SilvercatMoonpaw · January 11, 2009, 05:55:22 PM

Would you like to hear from people who've actually managed to run this by players, or just anyone who's had the thought?

Kindling · January 11, 2009, 05:56:23 PM

Both/either, if you please, sir.

Llum · January 11, 2009, 06:26:26 PM

The main thing about different tech levels you have to realize is that there will be a bleeding of tech from the higher tech to the lower tech. At an increasingly higher rate as the gap gets bigger, until you hit a cut off point where the lower tribe can't use the tech.

Ex: They will do whatever they can to get their hands on advanced firearms, but won't do jack with holographic eye implants.

Magic and Tech can co-exist pretty well. Ether in opposition (Magic series by Ilona Andrews) or together (Gnomes+Belves in WoW)

Nomadic · January 11, 2009, 07:24:18 PM

Well the technology levels on Meishgon vary wildly due to separation of cultures. The city states of Karros have access to standard medieval fare (chain mail, pikes, swords, arrows, and the like). Meanwhile another place I am working on has, because of its circumstances, managed to thrust forward technologically. They have access to things like plate mail, crossbows, and crude cannons. The reason the technology doesn't seep over to Karros is because of the vast ocean which is still considered too treacherous to cross by most (so few have crossed that either side generally sees the other as a mythical place created by tall tales).

Steerpike · January 11, 2009, 08:07:00 PM

[blockquote=Kindling]I have this mental image of some tattooed, loinclothed barbarian/tribesperson type character packing some high-tech heat that he stole from the last power-armoured stormtrooper he ambushed.[/blockquote]This makes me think of Firefly somewhat. For those not familiar with it, its basically a space western - the elites have a very high level of technology (silvery futuristic cities, huge ships, laser weapons, widespread medical care, etc), whereas those along the frontier have technology not far above that of the wild west, although they still have limited access to ships and some other high-level tech. The gap is purely economic, but leads to some very interesting scenarios. For the frontiersmen ("Browncoats"), basic necessities are treasure - food, cattle, etc. Things that inhabitants of the Core Worlds take for granted (easy access to medicine, for example) are dearly coveted on the poorer planets/moons.

LordVreeg · January 12, 2009, 10:37:46 AM

I also need to point towards the sipping back issue with tech.

Dicovery and rediscovery is inevitable, and until a critical mass of information storage is developed, it is certainly possible (and indeed, happened on our own planet, see the antikythera mechanism, created at a time period wher many cultures had trouble putting together a two story building).
Reality actually followed Nomadics post above, with great space and geography inhibiting the infectious rate of progress.

However, the wide disparity Kindling is describing does need an extternal source justification, as cultural diffusion would force a group with much higher tech to absorb a much lower tech group if they were in any proximity or contact.

Epic Meepo · January 12, 2009, 04:05:04 PM

Quote from: Vreeg's Barolo...see the antikythera mechanism...

That thing is freakin' awesome! Now I want to play a campaign set in a steampunk version of ancient Greece.

Ghostman · January 12, 2009, 05:08:37 PM

I will have some fairly large technological gaps between peoples in my Savage Age setting. I'm primarily explaining them through distance and difficulty of communications (in case of Mankind and some other races) or by inhuman mindset being unable to adopt all things (in case of some races). As in the real world, the surrounding environment will have a very powerful influence on the development and spreading of technologies. Something as seemingly simple and common as the plough isn't likely to be invented in a place that doesn't have domesticated animals that could be harnessed to pull it.

Quote from: Epic Meepo
Quote from: Vreeg's Barolo...see the antikythera mechanism...
That thing is freakin' awesome! Now I want to play a campaign set in a steampunk version of ancient Greece.

I wouldn't dub that particular mechanism steampunkish though.

Some greeks actually did experiment using steam "power" in one form or another, but all these inventions were just interesting but ultimately useless gadgets. They had neither the necessary metallurgy nor economic motivation to make a working steam engine.

Not that you couldn't just ignore/change that for your campaign ;)

Nomadic · January 12, 2009, 05:18:58 PM

Quote from: GhostmanSome greeks actually did experiment using steam "power" in one form or another, but all these inventions were just interesting but ultimately useless gadgets. They had neither the necessary metallurgy nor economic motivation to make a working steam engine.

Not that you couldn't just ignore/change that for your campaign ;)

Just take away their slaves hehe.

Matt Larkin (author) · January 12, 2009, 07:13:18 PM

One thing you have to think about is how technology would evolve to such varying degrees.

The advanced society probably needs trade, while the primitive society needs to be cut off.

Of course, religious proscription could account for some of this.

Scholar · January 14, 2009, 02:10:59 PM

Quote from: KindlingThoughts have been spinning around in my head lately, about the ideas of having cultures with vastly different levels of technology in the same game world.

What is everyone's thoughts on this concept? Has anyone tried it? Has it turned out well? What method of implementing and justifying it have you favoured or would you favour if you tried it?

werl... most prominent example would be the real world. starting in the late 19th/early 20th century when aboriginal african tribespeople came into contact with white colonialists armed with automatic weapons. it did not go well. that technological gap still exists today (or has gotten even bigger), all the way to dropping laser guided bombs on people in mud huts who are armed with swords and rpgs. so yes, vastly different tech levels can exist, but it'll mess up a lot of people.

Quote from: KindlingAlso, has anyone delved into the realms of futuristic technology existing in the same setting as spellcasting?

not in the form of creative writing, but i have played cthulhutech and iron kingdoms. you can get it to work in a believable way, but it takes a lot of effort, so you might want to check out those two. :)

EvilElitest · January 15, 2009, 09:53:31 AM

One thing to bear in mind through is how technology spreads. Take precolonial africa, or Japan after the Black Ships. If a high tech nation exists, you cna exepect it to dominate the other societies or they will somehow try to get there hands on the higher tech. You always have to be careful about making societies where two societies exist side by side, but with little interaction in terms of technlogly. For example, if you have a bronze age society next to an High middle age society, you need to consider how much technology overlapps and is taken/stolen by the lesser tribe

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Technology levels

Kindling

SilvercatMoonpaw

Kindling

Llum

Nomadic

Steerpike

LordVreeg

Epic Meepo

Ghostman

Nomadic

Matt Larkin (author)

Scholar

EvilElitest