What is a good way to integrate more modern technology into a fantasy world? I started out with a more medieval type realm within our modern one, but now i want to change it because the "medieval magical world" is WAY overused. Any tips?
I don't claim to be an expert writer, but here are some thoughts. First, how much magic is there? Do people avoid wizards/magicians/magic users or welcome them? Is everyone a magic user? If magic is widespread, consider replacing certain technologies with magics. If it's a rare power, maybe magicians know all about technology but choose magic instead. Second, consider how magic can work alongside/with technology. Can you use magic as an emergency iPhone charger? How does the presence of magic change the ways you use things? In my modern fantasy world, microwaves are all but obselete because everyone knows a few basic warming spells. You can say magic can't be used near electricity if you want to avoid complicated explanations, or spend a little extra time working out how it works. (Ha.) Hope this helps-
-Freya
Non-magic users (humans) don't know that magic users (casters) exist- think of it kind of like Harry Potter, where wizards exist, but muggles aren't aware of them. There is a LOT of magic in the world, as the earth kind of "produces" it. Casters live in their own countries away from regular humans, but their paths do cross when casters go out into the human world (which can be pretty often for some), but humans just automatically assume that there's nothing different about them.
So, the caster countries wouldn't have human based companies like Starbucks, Apple, Samsung, etc.
What kind of technology are you talking about? Something like cars or something more akin to robots and electricity?
@Mindful_Bison Along the lines of computers and electricity- they don't have a use for cars because they have portals.
Personally, unless magic is bad for technology, just add it on top of whatever era world you want. I had a similar problem where I wanted to write a fantasy world, but did not want to use the medieval stereotype. I changed the technology to a more industrial revolution like society, and added everything else back, with a few changes. Freyacat is right though, certain technologies would be replaced by more efficient magical alternatives. Who would create a lottery if people can actually se the future, that kind of thing. Ultimately though, do whatever you want.
I used a fantasy world style as well in my story, except it wasn't medieval, more along the lines of ancient Egyptian gods mixed with a steampunk aesthetic.
Thanks guys- I think I'm going to find a way to explain WHY they don't have certain things, and combine magic with a little bit more futuristic technology.
Thanks guys- I think I'm going to find a way to explain WHY they don't have certain things, and combine magic with a little bit more futuristic technology.
In mine, magic and gunpowder don't mix well so most people avoid guns. Some still use them though. Humans were at modern technology, then their world merged with a magical one, and it sent most electrical tech backwards but weapons only a little.
@DylanB My magic users don't use guns for a similar reason.
I need this.
I started out with a modern realm like ours but then edged in a magic system slowly. Of course, there's going to be differences, but I suggest briefly "forgetting" about the magic system and pushing in the technology system you desire into the world. Once you have the technology system, then push back in the magic and see how well, or badly, everything reacts. Erase the unwanted technologies and you're done.
You could pull a Monster Hunter and have "modern" technology executed in an archaic way. Bowguns are large firearms that rely on a crossbow system to activate the firing pin and trigger the primer on a bullet casing, and gunpowder is used heavily to get things done in terms of powering great weapons like the Dragonator, a large spear/pile bunker designed for skewering gigantic Elder Dragons that attack fortifications. They use pickaxes to hit buttons that move cannons or fire ballistae designed to restrain monsters, and they use monster parts to improve on their technology or make ridiculous things like the Demolisher, a Dragon-element cannon the size of a literal barge. However, that doesn't always work out like when the Frankenstien'd whole cartloads of monster parts to create the Equal Dragon Weapon, something that eventually destroyed the civilization that created it.
you could use magic as a all-around thing, but tech could be a sorta crumbled, forgotten conecept, but it is stil good to use