Machinations of the Mechanicians

TippetsTX · 05-30-2019, 07:26 PM

I'm curious how much attention this unique (at the time) element of TFT got in people's campaigns... the Mechanician's Guild, artifacts, technology in general, etc. I don't recall it getting much love during our game sessions back in the day and I suspect that wasn't an uncommon predilection given the fact that it was an unusual aspect in most standard fantasy settings from that early era.

And for those that did embrace this element, how did (or does) it manifest in your games? Is it only in the form of advanced lost technology or is it presented as more steampunk-ish?

JohnPaulB · 05-30-2019, 09:08 PM

GUNS!

Balloons & Gyrocopters.

malchidael · 05-30-2019, 09:25 PM

They didn't appear much in our gaming, although they paid quite well for the return of a Mnoren "artifact" that turned out to be a standard lightbulb.

larsdangly · 05-30-2019, 09:32 PM

My campaigns make liberal use of blackpowder weapons, primitive telescopes, and other technologies from the latest renaissance and 17-18th centuries. These are the domains of the mechanicians.

Helborn · 05-30-2019, 09:52 PM

I have used both Harry Turtledove's "Agent of Byzantium," and L. Sprague DeCamp's "Lest Darkness Fall" as inspiration for how to use a Mechanician's guild. Also if you have David Hargrave's "Arduin Grimoire" and especially his Treasure cards, then you have a lot for the Mechanician's Guild to do. I never allowed the actual Treasure's to be used in the game, but as found stuff, they were great, especially since they were obviously valuable but no one had any idea how much they were worth, especially since they were often unique.

TippetsTX · 05-31-2019, 05:58 AM

BTW, who else thinks "Machinations of the Mechanicians" is a great title for an adventure?

Premise: The Mechanician's Guild has a line on an artifact that could change the balance of power on Cidri. Will it destroy magic or merely suppress it? Either way, the Wizard’s Guild has no intention of letting those crazy gearheads get their hands on it. And regardless of which group the players are working for, there is powerful figure working from the shadows that will go to great lengths to ensure the device is never found. The race is on!

JLV · 05-31-2019, 01:06 PM

That's an great idea! Plus, you could create the first ever TFT adventure DESIGNED for two separate parties -- one, pro-gearhead, trying to get the artifact for the Mechanicians' Guild, and two, pro-Wizard, hired by the Wizards' Guild to find, and if possible, bring the artifact to the Wizards' Guild "for proper disposition," while the Cult of the Withered Hand(TM) tries to simply destroy it because if it sees the light of day, they will NEVER be able to summon their elder outsider "god" (Boss Monster plus) to Cidri!

How cool would THAT be? ;-)

KevinJ · 06-01-2019, 11:42 AM

In my game world of Goranth there is an adversarial relationship between the Scholars and the Artificers. The Scholars are all bout 'pure knowledge' while the Artificers are all about applied knowledge. If you need history or math, go to the Scholars, if you need gear or gadgets you go to the Artificers.

Mind you, magic has only just made a resurgence in the world and neither the Scholars nor the Artificers know what to do with THAT. I require that Artificers must take Smithing as a talent as well so that they can actually make their own metal bits, although a good artificer would also have Carpentry for the wood stuff and maybe Leathercraft for flexible parts.

If YOU, as the GM, want players to be interested in Mechanicians and their guild then YOU and the GM need to make it interesting and make some choices into what kinds of machinery is available. If YOU, as a player, want to explore the Mechanicians and their guild then YOU, as a player, might want to do a bit of research into the kinds of technology to encourage the GM to add.

KevinJ · 06-01-2019, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TippetsTX

And regardless of which group the players are working for, there is powerful figure working from the shadows that will go to great lengths to ensure the device is never found. The race is on!

By that same token, the mysterious individual might be doing all they can to make this happen.

05-30-2019, 07:26 PM	#1
TippetsTX Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: North Texas	Machinations of the Mechanicians I'm curious how much attention this unique (at the time) element of TFT got in people's campaigns... the Mechanician's Guild, artifacts, technology in general, etc. I don't recall it getting much love during our game sessions back in the day and I suspect that wasn't an uncommon predilection given the fact that it was an unusual aspect in most standard fantasy settings from that early era. And for those that did embrace this element, how did (or does) it manifest in your games? Is it only in the form of advanced lost technology or is it presented as more steampunk-ish? __________________ “No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife between the shoulder blades will seriously cramp his style.” -Vladimir Taltos

05-30-2019, 09:08 PM	#2
JohnPaulB Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Portland, Maine	Re: Machinations of the Mechanicians GUNS! Balloons & Gyrocopters. __________________ - Hail Melee Fantasy Chess: A chess game with combat. Don't just take the square, Fight for it! https://www.shadowhex.com

05-30-2019, 09:25 PM	#3
malchidael Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Near Milwaukee, WI	Re: Machinations of the Mechanicians They didn't appear much in our gaming, although they paid quite well for the return of a Mnoren "artifact" that turned out to be a standard lightbulb.

05-30-2019, 09:32 PM	#4
larsdangly Join Date: Dec 2017	Re: Machinations of the Mechanicians My campaigns make liberal use of blackpowder weapons, primitive telescopes, and other technologies from the latest renaissance and 17-18th centuries. These are the domains of the mechanicians.

05-30-2019, 09:52 PM	#5
Helborn Join Date: Aug 2005	Re: Machinations of the Mechanicians I have used both Harry Turtledove's "Agent of Byzantium," and L. Sprague DeCamp's "Lest Darkness Fall" as inspiration for how to use a Mechanician's guild. Also if you have David Hargrave's "Arduin Grimoire" and especially his Treasure cards, then you have a lot for the Mechanician's Guild to do. I never allowed the actual Treasure's to be used in the game, but as found stuff, they were great, especially since they were obviously valuable but no one had any idea how much they were worth, especially since they were often unique. __________________ Helborn

05-31-2019, 05:58 AM	#6
TippetsTX Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: North Texas	Re: Machinations of the Mechanicians BTW, who else thinks "Machinations of the Mechanicians" is a great title for an adventure? Premise: The Mechanician's Guild has a line on an artifact that could change the balance of power on Cidri. Will it destroy magic or merely suppress it? Either way, the Wizard’s Guild has no intention of letting those crazy gearheads get their hands on it. And regardless of which group the players are working for, there is powerful figure working from the shadows that will go to great lengths to ensure the device is never found. The race is on! __________________ “No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife between the shoulder blades will seriously cramp his style.” -Vladimir Taltos

05-31-2019, 01:06 PM	#7
JLV Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Arizona	Re: Machinations of the Mechanicians That's an great idea! Plus, you could create the first ever TFT adventure DESIGNED for two separate parties -- one, pro-gearhead, trying to get the artifact for the Mechanicians' Guild, and two, pro-Wizard, hired by the Wizards' Guild to find, and if possible, bring the artifact to the Wizards' Guild "for proper disposition," while the Cult of the Withered Hand(TM) tries to simply destroy it because if it sees the light of day, they will NEVER be able to summon their elder outsider "god" (Boss Monster plus) to Cidri! How cool would THAT be? ;-)

06-01-2019, 11:42 AM	#8
KevinJ Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Arizona	Re: Machinations of the Mechanicians In my game world of Goranth there is an adversarial relationship between the Scholars and the Artificers. The Scholars are all bout 'pure knowledge' while the Artificers are all about applied knowledge. If you need history or math, go to the Scholars, if you need gear or gadgets you go to the Artificers. Mind you, magic has only just made a resurgence in the world and neither the Scholars nor the Artificers know what to do with THAT. I require that Artificers must take Smithing as a talent as well so that they can actually make their own metal bits, although a good artificer would also have Carpentry for the wood stuff and maybe Leathercraft for flexible parts. If YOU, as the GM, want players to be interested in Mechanicians and their guild then YOU and the GM need to make it interesting and make some choices into what kinds of machinery is available. If YOU, as a player, want to explore the Mechanicians and their guild then YOU, as a player, might want to do a bit of research into the kinds of technology to encourage the GM to add. __________________ So you've got the tiger by the tail. Now what?