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Message: <blockquote data-quote="s/LaSH" data-source="post: 887277" data-attributes="member: 6929">Assuming the metaphysical quality of magic use is no different to metal use, a medieval society as commonly seen in RPGs would probably have a few restrictions on magic.- No magic use in towns (or at least on the streets); town guards would include mages as well. In your own home and outside the walls, it's probably OK.- Magic use in war is probably OK. Consider the Crusades. If wizards existed in the world at that time, would they have seen use? Yes. Banning battle magic would be about as effective as banning the horse - the next warlord who wanted to conquer his neighbour would hire a wizard and answer anyone who came to dispute his decision with a quick fireball.- Remember, magic evolved alongside standard weapons technology. The gone-but-not-forgotten Fantasy Arms Race took a stab at this. World-shattering magical power wasn't seen too often - most of the magic-enhanced battle tactics involved superior intelligence (through scent-enhanced warriors, shrouding the battlefield in mist, or griffin riders). Magic is part and parcel of a fantasy culture - nobody thinks twice about it, just like nobody thinks twice about big men with swords asking for taxes.- Finally, if the carnage does get too overwhelming, magic isn't the only way to cause horrible damage - a single high-level fighter can battle all day and pile up loads more bodies. If this gets to be a problem, a society can be labelled 'enlightened' and compared to modern Western culture insofar as they rarely start wars with each other. They'll still kick anyone who challenges them really, really hard, but they won't go looking for a fight. Anything else is utopian daydreaming, IMHO.</blockquote>

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