What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech
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@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
Any one have a book recommendation for something sci-fi but also fantasy? Anything good in that space?
Perhaps you have an example or two that you have read and enjoyed to help us along?
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@wirestyle22 Book of the New Sun Gene Wolfe
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@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly You ever read incarnations of immortality?
Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained are my favorite pair from Peter F Hamilton. Most of his stuff is an amalgamation of sci-fi and fantasy.
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@travisdh1 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly You ever read incarnations of immortality?
Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained are my favorite pair from Peter F Hamilton. Most of his stuff is an amalgamation of sci-fi and fantasy.
Thanks.
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@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
Any one have a book recommendation for something sci-fi but also fantasy? Anything good in that space?
They're in the B range of books, but L.E. Modesitt's Timegod series might fit that category. Sort of. I think you're going to have to go to books written prior to 2000 or so to find a space where people thought more imaginatively. Most writers today feel that they have to thoroughly explain their worlds and have them hang together, so it is difficult to find blendings of magic and SciFi.
I'm trying to find examples of it done well because my friend and I are designing an isometric RPG together for fun that fits that genre. The more I find, the more ideas I'll have about how it should be done. Thanks!
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@wirestyle22 I recommend this series. I thought it was excellent.
Death Gate Cycle -
@jmoore said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 I recommend this series. I thought it was excellent.
Death Gate CycleI might have to reread those. It has been a long time.
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@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
Any one have a book recommendation for something sci-fi but also fantasy? Anything good in that space?
They're in the B range of books, but L.E. Modesitt's Timegod series might fit that category. Sort of. I think you're going to have to go to books written prior to 2000 or so to find a space where people thought more imaginatively. Most writers today feel that they have to thoroughly explain their worlds and have them hang together, so it is difficult to find blendings of magic and SciFi.
I'm trying to find examples of it done well because my friend and I are designing an isometric RPG together for fun that fits that genre. The more I find, the more ideas I'll have about how it should be done. Thanks!
So you want a technical world where magic works? Or a fallen magical society where technology is their past?
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@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
Any one have a book recommendation for something sci-fi but also fantasy? Anything good in that space?
They're in the B range of books, but L.E. Modesitt's Timegod series might fit that category. Sort of. I think you're going to have to go to books written prior to 2000 or so to find a space where people thought more imaginatively. Most writers today feel that they have to thoroughly explain their worlds and have them hang together, so it is difficult to find blendings of magic and SciFi.
I'm trying to find examples of it done well because my friend and I are designing an isometric RPG together for fun that fits that genre. The more I find, the more ideas I'll have about how it should be done. Thanks!
So you want a technical world where magic works? Or a fallen magical society where technology is their past?
More like Cyberpunk with mysticism/religion that is "real" -- affecting peoples digital selves. It's still being developed though. A lot could change. I'd have to figure out how to deal with people who have no enhancements in a creative way mechanically within the game rather than making them immune or simply never including a character that is au natural.
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@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
Any one have a book recommendation for something sci-fi but also fantasy? Anything good in that space?
They're in the B range of books, but L.E. Modesitt's Timegod series might fit that category. Sort of. I think you're going to have to go to books written prior to 2000 or so to find a space where people thought more imaginatively. Most writers today feel that they have to thoroughly explain their worlds and have them hang together, so it is difficult to find blendings of magic and SciFi.
I'm trying to find examples of it done well because my friend and I are designing an isometric RPG together for fun that fits that genre. The more I find, the more ideas I'll have about how it should be done. Thanks!
So you want a technical world where magic works? Or a fallen magical society where technology is their past?
More like Cyberpunk with mysticism/religion that is "real" -- affecting peoples digital selves. It's still being developed though. A lot could change. I'd have to figure out how to deal with people who have no enhancements in a creative way mechanically within the game rather than making them immune or simply never including a character that is au natural.
Video game, boardgame, or tabletop rpg?
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@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
Any one have a book recommendation for something sci-fi but also fantasy? Anything good in that space?
They're in the B range of books, but L.E. Modesitt's Timegod series might fit that category. Sort of. I think you're going to have to go to books written prior to 2000 or so to find a space where people thought more imaginatively. Most writers today feel that they have to thoroughly explain their worlds and have them hang together, so it is difficult to find blendings of magic and SciFi.
I'm trying to find examples of it done well because my friend and I are designing an isometric RPG together for fun that fits that genre. The more I find, the more ideas I'll have about how it should be done. Thanks!
So you want a technical world where magic works? Or a fallen magical society where technology is their past?
More like Cyberpunk with mysticism/religion that is "real" -- affecting peoples digital selves. It's still being developed though. A lot could change. I'd have to figure out how to deal with people who have no enhancements in a creative way mechanically within the game rather than making them immune or simply never including a character that is au natural.
Video game, boardgame, or tabletop rpg?
Video game done in Unity
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@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
Any one have a book recommendation for something sci-fi but also fantasy? Anything good in that space?
They're in the B range of books, but L.E. Modesitt's Timegod series might fit that category. Sort of. I think you're going to have to go to books written prior to 2000 or so to find a space where people thought more imaginatively. Most writers today feel that they have to thoroughly explain their worlds and have them hang together, so it is difficult to find blendings of magic and SciFi.
I'm trying to find examples of it done well because my friend and I are designing an isometric RPG together for fun that fits that genre. The more I find, the more ideas I'll have about how it should be done. Thanks!
So you want a technical world where magic works? Or a fallen magical society where technology is their past?
More like Cyberpunk with mysticism/religion that is "real" -- affecting peoples digital selves. It's still being developed though. A lot could change. I'd have to figure out how to deal with people who have no enhancements in a creative way mechanically within the game rather than making them immune or simply never including a character that is au natural.
And...digital selves, meaning a Shadowrun type interface where a person is effectively completely in the virtual world when they're jacked in?
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@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
Any one have a book recommendation for something sci-fi but also fantasy? Anything good in that space?
They're in the B range of books, but L.E. Modesitt's Timegod series might fit that category. Sort of. I think you're going to have to go to books written prior to 2000 or so to find a space where people thought more imaginatively. Most writers today feel that they have to thoroughly explain their worlds and have them hang together, so it is difficult to find blendings of magic and SciFi.
I'm trying to find examples of it done well because my friend and I are designing an isometric RPG together for fun that fits that genre. The more I find, the more ideas I'll have about how it should be done. Thanks!
So you want a technical world where magic works? Or a fallen magical society where technology is their past?
More like Cyberpunk with mysticism/religion that is "real" -- affecting peoples digital selves. It's still being developed though. A lot could change. I'd have to figure out how to deal with people who have no enhancements in a creative way mechanically within the game rather than making them immune or simply never including a character that is au natural.
And...digital selves, meaning a Shadowrun type interface where a person is effectively completely in the virtual world when they're jacked in?
Or Johnny Mnemonic. Yeah sort of.
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@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
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@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
Well, you have Clarke's third law to lean on. All you have to do then is clothe the character's technical actions in religious trappings and it becomes a mystical act in character. I'm not sure what you mean by a person without enhancements. Would they not be able to jack in then, or is the level of a person's "holiness" measured by the number of cybernetics they sport?
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@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
Well, you have Clarke's first law to lean on. All you have to do then is clothe the character's technical actions in religious trappings and it becomes a mystical act in character. I'm not sure what you mean by a person without enhancements. Would they not be able to jack in then, or is the level of a person's "holiness" measured by the number of cybernetics they sport?
I meant if "magic" is only manifested inside of this digital world humans created, it stands to reason that a person that is normal, ie un-upgraded/zero enhacements would be completely unaffected by it. This creates problems mechanically within the game. If I do go with religion, which is the plan right now, I think the more cybernetic you are the more it shows your dedication
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@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
Well, you have Clarke's first law to lean on. All you have to do then is clothe the character's technical actions in religious trappings and it becomes a mystical act in character. I'm not sure what you mean by a person without enhancements. Would they not be able to jack in then, or is the level of a person's "holiness" measured by the number of cybernetics they sport?
I meant if "magic" is only manifested inside of this digital world humans created, it stands to reason that a person that is normal, ie un-upgraded/zero enhacements would be completely unaffected by it. This creates problems mechanically within the game
Why does it have to only manifest in the digital world? If a person has the implants to transfer their consciousness to a digital world wouldn't they also have the capabilities to affect systems in the real world? Or, if they don't "jack in" or are digital athiests they could still have the means (perhaps not cybernetic) to alter external systems. E.g. shutdown security systems, overload power conduits, etc.
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@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
Well, you have Clarke's first law to lean on. All you have to do then is clothe the character's technical actions in religious trappings and it becomes a mystical act in character. I'm not sure what you mean by a person without enhancements. Would they not be able to jack in then, or is the level of a person's "holiness" measured by the number of cybernetics they sport?
I meant if "magic" is only manifested inside of this digital world humans created, it stands to reason that a person that is normal, ie un-upgraded/zero enhacements would be completely unaffected by it. This creates problems mechanically within the game
Why does it have to only manifest in the digital world? If a person has the implants to transfer their consciousness to a digital world wouldn't they also have the capabilities to affect systems in the real world? Or, if they don't "jack in" or are digital athiests they could still have the means (perhaps not cybernetic) to alter external systems. E.g. shutdown security systems, overload power conduits, etc.
Going back to another L. E. Modesitt book, the Parafaith War, he has something happen like that except it is a person from a more advanced society using his implants to attack and subvert the systems in a church in order to alter their religion.
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@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
Well, you have Clarke's first law to lean on. All you have to do then is clothe the character's technical actions in religious trappings and it becomes a mystical act in character. I'm not sure what you mean by a person without enhancements. Would they not be able to jack in then, or is the level of a person's "holiness" measured by the number of cybernetics they sport?
I meant if "magic" is only manifested inside of this digital world humans created, it stands to reason that a person that is normal, ie un-upgraded/zero enhacements would be completely unaffected by it. This creates problems mechanically within the game
Why does it have to only manifest in the digital world? If a person has the implants to transfer their consciousness to a digital world wouldn't they also have the capabilities to affect systems in the real world? Or, if they don't "jack in" or are digital athiests they could still have the means (perhaps not cybernetic) to alter external systems. E.g. shutdown security systems, overload power conduits, etc.
Yes but that's not exactly what I mean. Let's put it in D&D terms. If I cast fireball on you, it's a physical thing that hits an area. It's "real". In this game, it's not a physical thing unless I want to make it physical. It's kind a question of how I want to flavor magic within the game. Nothing about that would stop them from being able to hack systems and bring stuff down etc.
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@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
Well, you have Clarke's first law to lean on. All you have to do then is clothe the character's technical actions in religious trappings and it becomes a mystical act in character. I'm not sure what you mean by a person without enhancements. Would they not be able to jack in then, or is the level of a person's "holiness" measured by the number of cybernetics they sport?
I meant if "magic" is only manifested inside of this digital world humans created, it stands to reason that a person that is normal, ie un-upgraded/zero enhacements would be completely unaffected by it. This creates problems mechanically within the game
Why does it have to only manifest in the digital world? If a person has the implants to transfer their consciousness to a digital world wouldn't they also have the capabilities to affect systems in the real world? Or, if they don't "jack in" or are digital athiests they could still have the means (perhaps not cybernetic) to alter external systems. E.g. shutdown security systems, overload power conduits, etc.
Yes but that's not exactly what I mean. Let's put it in D&D terms. If I cast fireball on you, it's a physical thing that hits an area. It's "real". In this game, it's not a physical thing unless I want to make it physical. It's kind a question of how I want to flavor magic within the game. Nothing about that would stop them from being able to hack systems and bring stuff down etc.
I'm probably not getting a full picture of what you're going for, but it sounds like a narrative problem and not a mechanical one (at least not yet).
Why would a cyber-athiest care about the magic of a digital world if they can just shoot one of the faithful? What level of separation are you thinking there would be between the digital and real? It is very hard to emphasize both. You can have a real world that impinges on the digital one (Ready Player One), or a digital one that impinges on the real (can't think of an example right off), but having both be as important as the other gets to be pretty hard to encompass within one game/story.
Going back to how you can narratively establish cybernetics being able to extend magical powers, nanites are an incredibly useful means to make this happen. Cybermage casts fireball. Actually, he is expelling high speed nanites who fly at his target and create a brief plasma globe around the target and immolating themselves in the process.
