We could also have priests with create food and water spells. But if you have that why live the difficult life of a pastoralist?Well if you have Star Trek Replicators...
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Is it possible to have a pastrolist society that is also industrial? If so how?
- Thread starter Shades of Eternity
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Shades of Eternity
Legend
MGibster
Legend
@Shades of Eternity was thoughtful enough to post what a pastoral society was, but what then is an industrial society?
en.wikipedia.org
For industrialization, you really need a society where food production is so efficient that a significant portion of the population doesn't have to engage in it directly. In the United States right now, only about 2% of the population is directly involved in producing the food we eat. Though I've been hearing that statistic for 30 years now, so maybe it's changed. I don't think it's possible for a society to be both pastoralist and industrial at the same time. But we're talking about settings for an RPG, so we can make things work with magic and technology I guess.
What if it only took 2% of the population to maintain the industrial society? i.e. It only takes a tiny portion of the population to maintain the infrastructure necessary for an industrial society? Why would a significant portion of the remaining people lead a pastoral lifestyle?
Industrial society - Wikipedia
For industrialization, you really need a society where food production is so efficient that a significant portion of the population doesn't have to engage in it directly. In the United States right now, only about 2% of the population is directly involved in producing the food we eat. Though I've been hearing that statistic for 30 years now, so maybe it's changed. I don't think it's possible for a society to be both pastoralist and industrial at the same time. But we're talking about settings for an RPG, so we can make things work with magic and technology I guess.
What if it only took 2% of the population to maintain the industrial society? i.e. It only takes a tiny portion of the population to maintain the infrastructure necessary for an industrial society? Why would a significant portion of the remaining people lead a pastoral lifestyle?
Do you mean "pastoral" in the technical sense of herders, or do you mean pastoral, like Bilbo Baggins and the Shire was pastoral?
I think several of the answers here amount to "No, you need to get to post-industrial tech before you can have humans generally living a pastoral life with industrial levels of manufactured goods."
See Stargate SG-1 episode, “The Nox”.
How about the Ithorians from the Star Wars EU? They keep their planet protected by living in floating herd ships, keeping all tech/industry off the surface and leaving the planet as pristine as possible.
You could also say Project Genesis from Star Trek 2 and 3 was a failed attempt.
You could also say Project Genesis from Star Trek 2 and 3 was a failed attempt.
aramis erak
Legend
In the Pacific Northwest, in the late 19th and early 20th C, not a few farmers had lathes and tools for turning both metal and wood; most had at least access to a blacksmithy in the nearby town, if not having their own forge, hammers, and anvil on their farm. The reliance upon horses and hard sutfaces lead to having to shoe them, and many kept the tools to do so, even if they usually hired the town farrier. Many also made their own hinges, latches, and nails, as those can be done with just the brazier, hammer, tongs, anvil, and metalstock.
The rise of additive metal fabs (usually laser sintered) and computer automated milling may see a return to farmers making their own parts... but the nature of farming is such that many farmers are having to sell out to corporate farms...
It's very plausible to me that colonies of modern or post-modern groups may have such local automated manufacturing tools and remain industrially capable but at artisanal production rates. A farm town can support (if shipping is a major factor) a part time tire fabricator/retreater, a frame fabricator, possibly even a small smelter.
The rise of additive metal fabs (usually laser sintered) and computer automated milling may see a return to farmers making their own parts... but the nature of farming is such that many farmers are having to sell out to corporate farms...
It's very plausible to me that colonies of modern or post-modern groups may have such local automated manufacturing tools and remain industrially capable but at artisanal production rates. A farm town can support (if shipping is a major factor) a part time tire fabricator/retreater, a frame fabricator, possibly even a small smelter.
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