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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dr. Strangemonkey" data-source="post: 449467" data-attributes="member: 6533">Scientist=shaman=wizard?Well. I can't says as I agree.I mean is true that I don't have a very intimate knowledge of many machines in my life, but my great grandparents probably knew how to fix everything they owned, more or less, and they were living in a very technological society.The only reason I don't know how to fix most of the things I own now is that my society doesn't exactly encourage that knowledge in me and I, sad to say, tend to learn only what my society says are good options for me to learn.  Or rather we tend now to specialize in very specific knowledges which wasn't always the case v. technology.Now I do recognize that a lot of current model cars are way beyond home fixin at this point, but most computer and electronic problems aren't....Bla bla bla.So yes I do recognize that there is a sociological validity to the argument that scientists and wizards are similar, but I think the argument is very narrow even in that realm and certainly doesn't apply to well to the specific natures of magic and tech as known through DnD and the non-fictional world.Other differences:  very few people expect a scientist to have developed knowledge outside of his or her area of expertise.  Wizards and shamans tend to be generalists within their areas of expertise.  Even an illusionist knows a lot more than illusion spells and should have a good few skill points in profession and knowledge stuff.  Further even field work for scientists is a lot more specific and controlled than a wizards field work of acompanying a group of fighters on a venture.Magic is both more and less accessible.  Any family on your block could be dragon-blooded and start shooting out magic missles.  You and I could develop faith or be chosen and have the capacity to drive men off with the power of our gawd and heal the wounded with no chance of injury and all it takes is obeying the professional laws and sleeping regular.  Becoming a scientist is often far more involved, what with needing a good initial education to get the props to go to the good school to get the good education to go to grad school to maybe get the good job.On the other hand, a scientist can write out his theories and, as long as he or she isn't totally obtuse, pretty much communicate them to anyone who is familiar with the field.  A wizard who only knows second level spells ain't gonna get fireball save he or she has gained enough insight through both professional and general experience to have a mind open for the power.Also, I would argue that for most societies that believed in magic in our own world, magic made you think a lot more than tech does in ours.  I mean the perfect artifact is one whose controls you can near totally internalize as it simply does what you envisioning it doing.  Magic doesn't like to be forgotten or not thought about.  Superstition is always about making you more aware of your surroundings.  I mean would you at all notice if you spilled salt unless you thought it really bad that you did so?  Whereas I know of no superstition regarding typing keys that would require me to constantly pay attention to one key.Even in DnD magic always requires that you have to respecify spells everyday or keep careful track of how you use them.  A sword swings as well as it always does and you have a set chance of recovering arrows.</blockquote>

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