Magic and Hard SF

AlexanderHowl · 09-16-2019, 12:24 PM

Exactly. Shadowrun has an entire world that functions on the interaction between technology and magic, and you would do worse than following their lead. A few things to determine:

First, you should probably determine the source of the phenomenon. Is it a byproduct of fusion? If so, why is it only now occurring? If not, what is the source?

Second, you should probably determine manipulation. Is it something that can only be manipulated by biological organisms? Is it something that can be manipulated by digital entities? Is it something that can be manipulated by machines?

Third, you should probably determine the hard limits and soft limits of magic. Hard limits are things that are impossible for magic to do while soft limits are things that are merely impossible for magical practitioners to do. The former sets the tone for magic while the latter sets the tone for magical practitioners.

For example, you could have magic being a byproduct of fusion that was undetectable until TL12 because of the 'noise' produced by EM and gravity. While biological organisms are capable of learning to channel magic because they unknowingly evolved in a magical field, digital entities and mechanical objects are incapable of using magic. Magic cannot violate conservation of mass or energy and is incapable of teleportation or time travel. Magical practitioners are incapable of channeling more magical energy than the equivalent of (Will^[Magery]) kW.

09-16-2019, 12:24 PM	#6
AlexanderHowl Join Date: Feb 2016	Re: Magic and Hard SF Exactly. Shadowrun has an entire world that functions on the interaction between technology and magic, and you would do worse than following their lead. A few things to determine: First, you should probably determine the source of the phenomenon. Is it a byproduct of fusion? If so, why is it only now occurring? If not, what is the source? Second, you should probably determine manipulation. Is it something that can only be manipulated by biological organisms? Is it something that can be manipulated by digital entities? Is it something that can be manipulated by machines? Third, you should probably determine the hard limits and soft limits of magic. Hard limits are things that are impossible for magic to do while soft limits are things that are merely impossible for magical practitioners to do. The former sets the tone for magic while the latter sets the tone for magical practitioners. For example, you could have magic being a byproduct of fusion that was undetectable until TL12 because of the 'noise' produced by EM and gravity. While biological organisms are capable of learning to channel magic because they unknowingly evolved in a magical field, digital entities and mechanical objects are incapable of using magic. Magic cannot violate conservation of mass or energy and is incapable of teleportation or time travel. Magical practitioners are incapable of channeling more magical energy than the equivalent of (Will^[Magery]) kW.