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What level and type of technology are you ok with?

NerrorNerror Member, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
edited June 8 in General Discussion
Ingame technology on Verra, mind you :smile:

What would you like to see and where do you draw the line?

Currently the plans are no gunpowder, no combustion engines, and no steam tech. We will be getting siege weapons and ship weapons like giant potion launchers. We'll have airships.

It's a high fantasy game, which means magic is prevalent and abundant. Some high fantasy settings, like Warhammer, also have a high level of technology, often fusing magic and tech, so one doesn't rule out the other at all. There are many other examples of this, of course.

From the thousand years on Sanctus without magic technology might have evolved, but it's also possible the gods kept it in check or that they just focused on what they knew.

So, if you became Steven for a day, what design changes with regards to technology would you make? If any.
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Comments

  • arkileoarkileo Member, Founder, Kickstarter, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    I'm a sucker for gunpowder weapons, give me a smokey arquebus, just without the long reload time
  • SolmyrSolmyr Member
    I'm okay with everything up to ~1700s era of tech. So early firearms, maybe some rudimentary engines. Doesn't matter whether it uses steam, gunpowder, or magic, technology is technology.

    I'm also not entirely sold on the potion launcher idea as a replacement for cannons, but I'll have to see and hear them first to be sure.
  • LudulluLudullu Member, Alpha Two
    I'd only go as far as grappling hooks for ships. That's it. Airships are fine, but definitely no guns/powder/etc.
  • No Guns, No Powder, no Gunpowder. If it's launched then only by using tension force e.g bow and arrow or similar but bigger scale siege weapons, BUT if crafters can summon siege golems to break the gates or the side wall of the castle then I wouldn't mind if there would be some steam coming out of their heads or asses for that matter..
  • SengardenSengarden Member, Alpha Two
    I'm honestly fine with rudimentary guns. I think they work fine in a fantasy game like WoW. They aren't machine guns, they don't have precision accuracy. They're just old school rifles. Same with cannons on ships. The main issue with introducing gunpowder is that it leads to having cannons at sieges, which can pretty effectively demolish even the heaviest of your typical medieval fantasy castle defenses.

    That being said, we need a method by which we can have ship to ship combat, and I don't see a way to do that without cannons which wouldn't have the same implications on siege warfare. (Magic cannons that don't work as well on stone for some reason?) If cannons are in the game at all, it would indicate that guns wouldn't be much further along, and it would be pretty silly to have one without the other.

    I also think (not for player use) that pseudo-advanced weaponry like flamethrowers/grenades and things could be wielded in niche cases by NPC characters that have a science/alchemy background. I think engineers and alchemists creating lightly fantasized, medieval-ized versions of advanced weaponry is fun.
  • nanfoodlenanfoodle Member, Founder, Kickstarter, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    For me any tech that's that does not use gun powered, gas or steam.
  • LegiLegi Member, Alpha Two
    No gunpowder. Gunpowder/Steampower for me is the time where high fantasy starts losing its flair.
  • ApokApok Member, Braver of Worlds, Kickstarter, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    how are we supposed to have ship battles with no gunpowerder
  • nanfoodlenanfoodle Member, Founder, Kickstarter, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    Apok wrote: »
    how are we supposed to have ship battles with no gunpowerder

    Magic cannons that shoot Ice blasts, Fire or Magma. Just off the top of my head.
  • RuerikRuerik Member, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    Certainly dating myself with this. But the balance the old RPG game Arcanum had between magic and technology was a good fit that still had a high fantasy feeling to it.

    Steam engines was the height of technology, with extremely basic gunpowder and cannons available.
    Which would break frequently when there was a mage nearby, because fantasy.
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  • nanfoodlenanfoodle Member, Founder, Kickstarter, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    Taerrik wrote: »
    Certainly dating myself with this. But the balance the old RPG game Arcanum had between magic and technology was a good fit that still had a high fantasy feeling to it.

    Steam engines was the height of technology, with extremely basic gunpowder and cannons available.
    Which would break frequently when there was a mage nearby, because fantasy.

    That's not what High Fantasy means. It's also means at the time of High Fantasy. The thing that dominates and rules, is anything Magic.
  • With no gunpowder in mind, i will gladly take magically powered Muskets and Cannons.
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    Aren't we all sinners?
  • VoeltzVoeltz Member
    Only thing I'm worried about is no cannons for ship battles. Idk about the whole potion launcher thing, sounds lackluster tbh. I'd also be ok with black powder rifles as an alternative to bows. Warhammer and Warcraft have them, so could Ashes. I think it's cool to have primitive black powder, nothing crazy. And I don't see why it's a crazy notion when airships are already planned.
  • XeegXeeg Member, Alpha Two
    Nerror wrote: »
    So, if you became Steven for a day, what design changes with regards to technology would you make? If any.

    smartphones and hoverboards
  • VoeltzVoeltz Member
    edited June 9
    Wait a second.. don't they have fireworks in game already or are those magic fireworks? If that's the case, they could use magic cannons instead. I could see that working too.
  • GrilledCheeseMojitoGrilledCheeseMojito Member, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    I don't think I'd be okay with guns in Ashes because so much of the world clearly relies on magic already. It's very hard to ride the line, and often when you do incorporate a gun into a fantasy RPG it ends up being more like a distinct flavor of crossbow than anything else.

    If gunpowder is introduced, it should be pretty limited in scope (cannons/slow player firearms only). Plus, with Ranger abilities you can definitely fire quite fast already.

    I think fundamentally we need to think of things in Ashes as working differently due to the magical component. I expect Scientific Nodes could reach technology that looks post-steam era, but is actually driven by harnessing various magical energy. That sort of thing I think can be quite interesting.
    Grilled cheese always tastes better when you eat it together!
  • daveywaveydaveywavey Member, Alpha Two
    Nerror wrote: »
    Ingame technology on Verra, mind you :smile:

    What would you like to see and where do you draw the line?

    Currently the plans are no gunpowder, no combustion engines, and no steam tech. We will be getting siege weapons and ship weapons like giant potion launchers. We'll have airships.

    I don't even want the airships.
    This link may help you: https://ashesofcreation.wiki/


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  • SengardenSengarden Member, Alpha Two
    I remember them discussing the whole potion launcher thing for ship battles at one point, and it never really sounded impactful enough for me. Unless the "potions" are actually just vials full of highly explosive liquid - that would sort of be the equivalent to shells.

    I'm sure there could be the equivalent of "ship battle CC" potions, but that's not nearly as fun as blowing your enemy to smithereens. Otherwise, you'd basically just need some crazy compound slingshots for round shot or something. Not even sure if that would work. So I'm not sure how you're supposed to apply blunt force to penetrate the enemy hull.

    Magic cannons sound... a bit weird, to be honest. I'd need to see a functioning concept before I'd be able to say anything about it for sure, but I'm having a hard time imagining what that looks like and how it logically functions regardless of the user. If there are magic cannons, why not magic guns? Magic cannons to defend your node with, or to bring with you to launch a siege? It's hard to find innovative solutions that don't just become the best solution for too many things.
  • It would be really great with gunpowder weapons. Cannons, rifles etc. Would be awesome.
  • GithalGithal Member
    Am i the only one who thinks some abandoned ruins with robots technology will be fine? :D
    Tho i am against modern warfare like Helicopters/tanks/trains/cars and ect.
  • SolvrynSolvryn Member, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    Nerror wrote: »
    Ingame technology on Verra, mind you :smile:

    What would you like to see and where do you draw the line?

    Currently the plans are no gunpowder, no combustion engines, and no steam tech. We will be getting siege weapons and ship weapons like giant potion launchers. We'll have airships.

    It's a high fantasy game, which means magic is prevalent and abundant. Some high fantasy settings, like Warhammer, also have a high level of technology, often fusing magic and tech, so one doesn't rule out the other at all. There are many other examples of this, of course.

    From the thousand years on Sanctus without magic technology might have evolved, but it's also possible the gods kept it in check or that they just focused on what they knew.

    So, if you became Steven for a day, what design changes with regards to technology would you make? If any.

    Arcane Tech like that is planned will be fine within the context of Ashes of creation.

    I'd like to see actual siege weapons, artillery, firearms, etc within the context of Arcane tech and high fantasy. Doesn't have to involve crude low fantasy tech at all.

  • NerrorNerror Member, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    daveywavey wrote: »
    Nerror wrote: »
    Ingame technology on Verra, mind you :smile:

    What would you like to see and where do you draw the line?

    Currently the plans are no gunpowder, no combustion engines, and no steam tech. We will be getting siege weapons and ship weapons like giant potion launchers. We'll have airships.

    I don't even want the airships.

    They will be super rare, so you have that going for you. Basically only between two science metros.
  • TheDarkSorcererTheDarkSorcerer Member, Alpha Two
    edited June 10
    I am personally against it. But wouldn't mind a class that focuses on traps, colored poison grenades made with herbs etc (Sorta like James Cameron's Avatar Way of Water)
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  • DygzDygz Member, Braver of Worlds, Kickstarter, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    Rangers currently have a Machine Gun and Laser Rifle, so....
    Seems like anything should be possible.
  • tautautautau Member, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    I like it exactly at the tech level that the devs are planning. No gunpowder, so steam power, no rubber bands or flatulence cannons, please.

    To clarify, I am ok with flatulence in the game, but not projectile flatulence. Though using it as a short-term poison area attack is ok,,,but not in the mountains or at sea where it is windy.
  • MongkhaiMongkhai Member
    No guns please.
  • KilionKilion Member, Alpha Two
    I've seen enough steam punk elements in fantasy games already. Alchemy is the furthest I am am willing to go on that.
    Now, as for the airships: If I understand it correctly those are limited to two Tier 6 Nodes running a shipping service. So basically they are the result of technological progress, right? That makes sense to me, especially since most people on Verra would probably have focused on finding out how the freaking harbingers could fly, rather than creating flying air sacks.
    Equally, I'd have no problem with a VERY limited number of "gun powder" type of siege weapons.
    For ships, I just hope we get ballistas and flings that can toss alchemic fire on enemy ships XD

    So a minimum amount of steampunk for me please.
    The answer is probably >>> HERE <<<
  • DiamahtDiamaht Member, Braver of Worlds, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    I might be in the minority here but I actually really enjoy the steam punk setting of games like final fantasy.

    I'm good with single shot pistols and steam engines. That would be my cap.
  • DygzDygz Member, Braver of Worlds, Kickstarter, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    Steampunk is my favorite Fantasy setting.
    Gaslamp is a very nice second sibling. (Nightingale)
    But, D&D/Pathfinder settings are also fun - and the typical RPG setting.
  • MybroViajeroMybroViajero Member, Alpha Two
    edited June 11
    LOTR Technology

    Perhaps with a lot more magical implementations/technology but overall a more LOTR style.
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