[Magic] Development of Spell-based Magic through TL0

[Prince Charon]

Thinking about the effects of spells on Stone Age cultures: Imagine a Neolithic proto-civilization with some Earth Shamans who specialize in a few basic spells - Seek Earth -> Shape Earth -> Earth to Stone -> Stone to Earth, with maybe an older shaman who knows Predict Earth Movement if that's something they need to worry about frequently enough. They most likely don't use Earth to Stone to turn stone to metal, and indeed, their version of the spell might not be able to.

Construction is still difficult and tiring, but it isn't nearly as slow, and if they have Engineer (Civil)/TL0^, it's probably fairly safe. They probably still assemble buildings out of stone blocks (since shaping heavier quantities of earth is more tiring), but the blocks are whatever shape they need them to be, without the need to carve the stones.

Also, they likely skipped over the development of pottery, since making stone jars and such in whatever shape is required is easy for them. Stone weapons or tools are another matter, since the description in the book is vague beyond 'hard stone' that isn't gemstone - given the apparent importance of polished jade axes in the Neolithic, there might still be a market for toolmakers - or it may be that the mages just don't have time with the other stuff that they need to make or do.


Thoughts?