D&D 5E (2024) Building A Contemporary Fantasy Setting For 5.5E

[Reynard]

It would depend on how obvious those magical elements were to the average person. You could have a retail store, for instance, that looks ordinary to a non-spellcaster. But to a spellcaster using Sight, they could see the security glyphs and runes that cover the outside and inside of the building that deter shoplifters. They could also use Feel to sense spells such as Linger, that put customers into a state of ease and make them stay a little longer at the store just so they might buy something.

Subliminal Magic.

Right, but that wasn't was was posited in the post I quoted.

For example, Bright makes no sense with orcs and elves and dragons, but history is essentially the same (as far as we know).

 

[Corinnguard]

For example, Brighton makes no sense with orcs and elves and dragons, but history is essentially the same (as far as we know).

True, their presence in a setting that resembles ours in almost every way raises questions about historical differences between our world and a world that looks like ours but isn't. But how often is history brought up in a contemporary fantasy story?

A character in a contemporary fantasy setting is a tour guide, not a history teacher.

 

[Reynard]

True, their presence in a setting that resembles ours in almost every way raises questions about historical differences between our world and a world that looks like ours but isn't. But how often is history brought up in a contemporary fantasy story?

A character in a contemporary fantasy setting is a tour guide, not a history teacher.

I think that is why most contemporary fantasy leans into either a secret world, or one that is isolated from most of society. Full integration of high magic throughout human history demands acknowledgement in historical events.

 

[Remathilis]

I think that is why most contemporary fantasy leans into either a secret world, or one that is isolated from most of society. Full integration of high magic throughout human history demands acknowledgement in historical events.

And you aren't even safe with that. You could absolutely end up with the problem of "Wizarding World doesn't stop Hitler in order to keep magic a secret" problem.

I really only see two options as viable if KISS is a requirement.
1. Marvel Method: the world doesn't react logically to the supernatural elements around it and instead stubbornly reflect our own Earth of the given moment with fantasy layered on top.
2. Final Fantasy Method: a fantasy world somehow manages to mimic the advancement of technology to the 21st century despite the magical equivalent being available.

Both require a heavy suspension of disbelief, and the Rule of Cool overtakes any local conclusions that a world where reliable magic would exist. You just gotta believe Steve Jobs knew about the message cantrip and still decided to invent smartphones.

 

[Corinnguard]

I think that is why most contemporary fantasy leans into either a secret world, or one that is isolated from most of society. Full integration of high magic throughout human history demands acknowledgement in historical events.

Or leans into presenting the setting from a first-person point of view. To you or me, what matters is what is happening in the here and now, and in our immediate vicinity.