Do you mix high fantasy and sci-fi?

+5 Keyboard! · Oct 22, 2007

The project I'm working on for WotC got me wondering how people feel about mixing traditional fantasy and science/technology in their games. For example, would you allow a player to find a laser rifle in your fantasy campaign? How about stumbling on a strange research facility of a long lost race of technologically advanced people? Or do you like keeping the two genres firmly in their respective places?

Shroomy · Oct 22, 2007

I don't mind a little bit of sci-fi in my fantasy and I think there have been some really good examples released recently: WotC's "Return to the Temple of the Frog," Paizo's Seven Swords of Sin, and Goodman Game's Talons of the Horned King.

BTW, I really enjoyed Gallery of Evil.

palleomortis · Oct 22, 2007

I have never personally mixed them (So I checked what I though would be most appropriet), so I can't really say from experience, but I think it would keep it a bit more clean cut not to. It seems like the kind of thing that would really mess up the mind set of MY game. That is to say, it might work if it was WELL though out, but I presonally probably would wind up buthering it.

Olgar Shiverstone · Oct 22, 2007

Though I played Expedition to the Barrier Peaks back in the day and enjoyed it as an odd diversion, the campaign never really recovered from the introduction of stun grenades and blaster rifles. I think you can pull it off once under the "any sufficently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" rule, but not on a sustained basis.

I'm now of the "Blech, keep them separate" opinion. And I lump psionics in with the sci-fi that shouldn't be mixed with high fantasy.

Turjan · Oct 22, 2007

Olgar Shiverstone said:
Though I played Expedition to the Barrier Peaks back in the day and enjoyed it as an odd diversion, the campaign never really recovered from the introduction of stun grenades and blaster rifles.

I like the mix. A few stun grenades are used up quickly, and a blaster rifle will stop working soon. End of episode.

Rodrigo Istalindir · Oct 22, 2007

Olgar Shiverstone said:
Though I played Expedition to the Barrier Peaks back in the day and enjoyed it as an odd diversion, the campaign never really recovered from the introduction of stun grenades and blaster rifles. I think you can pull it off once under the "any sufficently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" rule, but not on a sustained basis.

I'm now of the "Blech, keep them separate" opinion. And I lump psionics in with the sci-fi that shouldn't be mixed with high fantasy.

What he said. Except for the psionics -- Deryni 'magic' is fantasy enough for me.

Doug McCrae · Oct 22, 2007

Looks like magic but it's all (woolly) science. Example: Gamma World - works
Mostly tech with a bit of magic. Example: Superhero - works
Some magic looks like technology but it's all really magic. Example: Eberron - works
A fantasy world with some subtle unrecognised technology. Example: Conan - works
Blatant tech, like keycards, robots and blaster rifles introduced into a previously all magical fantasy world. Example: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks - doesn't work

Expedition gets it badly wrong. The tech is far too blatant for the world of Greyhawk as it had been presented up to that point. Despite the kitchen sink quality of D&D, it was kitchen sink fantasy, not unlimited kitchen sink. Expedition jarred, like a crashed spaceship in Middle-Earth.

Klaus · Oct 22, 2007

+5 Keyboard! said:
The project I'm working on for WotC got me wondering how people feel about mixing traditional fantasy and science/technology in their games. For example, would you allow a player to find a laser rifle in your fantasy campaign? How about stumbling on a strange research facility of a long lost race of technologically advanced people? Or do you like keeping the two genres firmly in their respective places?

Sometimes:

(Psi)SeveredHead · Oct 22, 2007

I've put fantasy into a sci-fi setting on rare occasion. I usually didn't care for it, but it's easier to leave the magic in converted Shadowrun adventures.

I haven't (and will never) put sci-fi into fantasy. There's no realistic way to transmit it, short of aliens.

CanadienneBacon · Oct 22, 2007

I've always wrinkled my nose at science fiction gaming but I recently saw a PbP concept for a d20 Modern game that included psionics. The DM suggested the game could or would have a Heroes flavor to it. I thought that was a pretty cool idea. And I'm not a fan of psionics!

Do you mix high fantasy and sci-fi?

Do you mix high fantasy and sci-fi?

Yes, I like to mix them together equally and frequently

I mixed in a little bit of sci-fi in my games occasionally

I've mixed the two once or twice, but didn't care for it

Never! The two belong in their own respective games

+5 Keyboard!

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