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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jester47" data-source="post: 753738" data-attributes="member: 2238">Re: ReThe thing is these "historical human civs" are barely recognizable (unless you use the novels, then they are blatant).  Mongol like warriors, Barbarians from the north, Lands ruled by a just king, Islands inhabited by Pirates, Lands of Pharohs and desert tombs, Arabian Nights are all legends and stories that became staples of Sword and Sorcery.  In the original Conan stories there were the Hyrkanians.  Conan himself is a northern barbarian.  They had desert nomads knights in armor, mediterranian civs, pirates, jungles etc.  I think what we assume is historical in FR is in actuality legendary as legends are a kind of myth.Not really.  Two points. 1) Magic balances itself out.  For every magical action there is an equal and opposite reaction. 2) Electricity does not change its properties based on who or what is arround to influence an active current.  Magic does.  Thus it is more unpredictable, and this unpredictability keeps it from working like a technology.  That is why most spell effects (in almost all literature) are short or instant.  First I would liken running a magic shop to running a game store.  Not everyone is interested in the product, most want to stay away from it.  It is hard to turn a profit unless you have a loyal customer base, most fold after about two years, etc etc.  Besides, most magic based services would cater to the privlidged.  For instance, to bring in Berandor's example, the magical shipping company.  Aurora's aint FedEx.  I would make it an emergency logistical support system for agents of cormyr that will allow some people (mainly those who can afford it) to do shipping through them, for a price.  I think you would see the use of magic in public works, no doubt, but there would still be a sinister side to it, the constant what if in the back of lots of peoples minds...  However things like travel cloaks are more often then not are, again, a privlidge of wealth and status.  Magic has a way of running down and corrupting (itself and others).  It must never be confused with technology because magic when allowed to operate for extended periods of time is influenced by outside forces through sheer presence.  The price (monetary and catastrophic) of magic is directly related to how long the effect lasts and what that effect does.   Thats why most spells are so short.  Thats why mythals are so screwy.  Thats why you get magic swords and (rarely) magic walls.  Why get a magic seige tower when you just enchant a giant give him full plate and make him wear a backpack filled with soldiers?  When used on a large scale in things like civic works that cost becomes quite extreme.  What happens when this goes haywire or gets shut down by a magical accident or sabotage (as it most likely will)?Aaron.</blockquote>

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