Do "they" exist in your world?

[s/LaSH]

Arrows fly in predictable parabolas.

Using post-Renaissance mathematical techniques to predict those parabolae, evidently. In the medieval times we're supposedly emulating, the scientific opinion was that an object lofted up went in a straight path until it ran out of energy, then fell. Of course, anyone who's ever used a bow will go to great lengths to compare that theory to fertiliser. But if you're in the know, well, if I looked hard enough I could find some diagrams to show how this works. (With a few hours of looking, probably.)

There was a book with this (Greek physics model, if I recall correctly) as its basis. Interesting reading.

 

[jeffers]

Some other things that I forgot about my model:
- Magic is sentient.
- Nothing is possible without observation.
- There is no such thing as non-sentient automation.

In other words, if a tree falls in the forest, and no-one's around, it does NOT make a noise -- in fact, it can't even fall! (This is why the forest is full of Fey: to keep Nature working right.)
-- N

So a watched pot will boil? COOL!

 

[Gez]

Something fun about Nifft's "Nothing is possible without observation" rule. If you make sure noone observes something, it is then in stasis. You can't find better to preserve indefinitely books, for example. And you can safely forget your stew on the fire, it won't burn as long as you're away.

 

[Umbran]

I follow the "don't specify what doesn't need specifying" rule. Unless you intend for it to impact the flow of the game, coming up with an in-game technobabble is not in the GM's best interests. Leave it open and you can flex around that openness. Specify it, and you nail your foot to the floor, and can only move a little bit.

 

[Kareyev]

Years ago I ran a game in college. Several of the players were grad students in various sciences. One day after a very long physics exam I was running a game where a human wizard and a dwarven fighter fell a distance together. For some reason my sleep deprived brain came up with a description of the dwarf hitting the ground first as he weighed more.

After they got over their shock and horror the players started to try and correct my physics. Thanks to my lack of sleep and knowledge that I was completely outclassed in science by them I didn't even try to come up with an excuse. I just sat there, smiled, and said "oh really". They ended up throwing the dwarf and various objects over the side of the cliff finding different results every time. (well, the dwarf kept jumping, but that is another story).

I found little need for a consistant science in my fantasy. It is partially how I explain the lack of progress across the aeons. For those that want consistancy, they can pray to lawful gods. Perhaps this is how great empires rise. Perhaps that is why they stagnate and die as well.

 

[Tinker Gnome]

Yeah, even is I was a Physics major. I really would not care, but what do I know.

 

[darklight]

Bendris Noulg wrote: I've been using this for about the last 5 years... http://mimir.net/essays/planarphysics.html

Wow, thats very interesting and well put together. I especially like how it explains how life and 'unlife' and energy drain works.

In one of my homebrew worlds (that I have yet to play in, sadly) this would fit well. In this world the sun doesn't move, instead the energy it emits changes from positive (daylight) to negative (darkness). Most creatures use only one form of energy (as described in the essay) but some have evolved to the point where they utilise both positive and negative energy, essentially making them immortal, since they never 'spend' their inherent energy...

Hmm...I have to think some more on this...also how does magic fit the picure?

Oh, to answer the question: I hadn't really thought about it, but I suppose so, since I like 'scientific rationalization' for just about anything...

darklight

 

[reiella]

I personally don't bother to quantify or qualify them.

My world isn't too "real science" heavy, so there's no need for it in game.

So I guess the answer is "maybe, maybe not", depends on if it ever becomes an important issue in the world.

 

[Bendris Noulg]

Wow, thats very interesting and well put together. I especially like how it explains how life and 'unlife' and energy drain works.

Pretty much what I thought when I saw it. Since then, it's become the entire basis of my Alchemy and Sorcery (Elementalism) rules. Nice stuff, that Mimir site...

 

[Alhazred]

I'm running a CoC campaign set in 1920s Arkham and environs. Mythos-related stuff aside, atoms et al. exist as per the real world. Now, what Great Cthulhu chooses to do with those atoms et al. is another matter...hehehe