alsih2o said:Let's talk technology in your game world.
I am assuming, for this discussion, that you play in a pseudo-medieval/ren. world. Those of you playing pseudo-greeks or pseudo-cavmen have to make your own list.
With the powers of magic available I am wondering what technological developments are available in your world-
Magnifying glasses? Yes. PHB.
Telescopes? Yes. PHB.
Window glass? Yes, but magic's better. Many places have only shutters.
Windmills? Yes, rarely, in some areas.
Water pumps? Ditto.
Spectacles? Yes. Rare, expensive, and magical Cure Blindness is much preferred.
Compass? Yes, although the Druidic Orison Discern Direction invested within a magic item as unlimited uses/day is superior.
Longitude and latitude? Latitude is easily discernable, accurate to within 1 degree on stable ground, as a DC:5 Survival check. Longitude is understood by seafaring people, but its determination requires magic, as mechanical timepieces are not up to the degree of accuracy needed.
And, on a related note, where is medicine in your world?
Draining fluids? Yes.
Counting humours? No. This is a discarded theory, rarely used even in the back woods.
Leeches and bat poo? Perhaps used in some odd treatments, but not common.
Actual, detailed anatomy starting to step forward? Anatomy & Physiology are well established, and well known.
Lastly, what about maps? Are maps-
Common? In urban areas, for a price.
Correct? Definitely, over smaller areas (if reputable). Less so over longer distances.
Standardized? Depends upon the maker(s). There are dirrerent standards in different areas. The curvature of the earth is generally understood and compensated for.
Thanks, a little insight into your table always helps.
Magic IS the dominant technology, in "our" world. Trying to do things technologically is left to the poor, lower classes, shunners or magic (like "tree-huggers" who hate electronics, today), etc.
Telescopes, etc., are seen as interesting curiosities, but why would anyone but a "mundane" pursue it, when it only works line-of-sight, and Scrying is so much better? Thus, some things like microscopes, while they could be built, are not pursued.
Glass is common enough, but most folks get by without it. The Dwarves and Elves quickly developed it from obsidian and sand, and quickly learned to stain, tint, color, blow, and otherwise manipulate it. Why pay the price for it, though, when Glassee and Glassteel can so easily replace it, or make it better?
Spectacles have been invented, but, again, getting your vision problems permanently corrected is much preferred by all, so the technology is little used. It is not pursued, save by mundanes, and a few odd physicists.
Windmills and water pumps are rare, and used by Dwarves and Gnomes, mainly in their mines. Very rarely, Orcs might obtain them from these races, and be able to keep them running. Waterwheels are much more common.
Compasses can be made, but the liquid-filled, SEALED compass hasn't been invented, yet, so all compasses are the "wet" kind, which can be spilled. They are messy, and hard to use. the Discern Direction Orison is better, and not thrown off by magnets, etc., and at 500 GP (IIRC) is cheap enough for ships' captains. Most commoners can tell direction well enough, without paying for one... but if you're interested, you can buy a wet compass for 25 GP, or find a lodestone with DC:15 Knowledge (Nature) for free.
Latitude is easy, and a few better-educated commoners can tell you what theirs is, and how it figure it out, yourself. Longitude requires determining the precise time of noon, and comparing it to some other known point... This requires a highly accurate timepiece, which doesn't exist in the D&D world, because technological advancement has been slowed to a crawl by magic...
Magic has an answer, though, in the form of a perfectly accurate magical time-counter, which will cost you another 500 GP! Most captains have this installed in the same compass/chronometer as a standard unit (the navigator's map table, for instance).
In any case, with the aid of magic, circumnavigating the globe is certainly possible, many parts of the world have been explored, and mapping, current charting, etc., is underway.
Medicine:
Thanks to magic, the healing arts have been greatly advanced. The anatomy of Humanoids is certainly well understood, and even Abberrations are investigated. Basic physiology is well understood by the experts, although the exact inner workings of certain organs is still little understood.
The germ theory of diseases is well understood by all Clerics (hence Cure Disease, etc.), and cleanliness has trickled down to the common masses, more or less. Sanitation and hygiene are much improved because of this. Soap is common, for those that can afford it. Commoners make their own, with lye.
Mapping:
Maps are made, and Cartography is a science. There are still different projections (even today), and various map makers use different ones. All are accurate over short distances (if made by a reputable professional), but may become less so the further towards the edges you go. The map to the loony Dwarf's Gold Mine may be totally inaccurate, however!
In general, technology exists, but is practiced little more than channelling, crystals, or spellcasting is, in the modern world. Magic is the technology, of D&D. Science is left to the common man!
