Any kingdom with noticeably fewer magic users than a rival is gonna hire alchemists (ie, scientists) to develop more powerful weapons that don’t require a magic user to wield and aim toward new weapons that can be trained with a timetable comparable to a spear/axe/sword and shield, and that cost not much more than a sword, at most, per unit.
Now, if more than, say, 70% Or more of people can learn basic magic, I can see a stagnation of tech.
I don’t think magic advancement would replace tech advancement unless magic is vastly more widely available than it is even in Eberron.
Any kingdom with noticeably fewer magic users than a rival is gonna hire alchemists (ie, scientists) to develop more powerful weapons that don’t require a magic user to wield and aim toward new weapons that can be trained with a timetable comparable to a spear/axe/sword and shield, and that cost not much more than a sword, at most, per unit.
Now, if more than, say, 70% Or more of people can learn basic magic, I can see a stagnation of tech.
Any violent explosion can make a gun. Or an engine.Depends on whether the Physical laws of the Fantasy World also work according to Earth like ones. We know in DnD World that Elemental Energy is real, that Alchemist can refine quintessence and create magical effects.
The prime example here is Lightning and Electricity - On Earth we know that copper and zinc in an acid will create an electric current however there is no guarantee that the same thing will happen in Fantasy Land. In Magic World Lightning is an Elemental energy that is summoned from the energized Plane of Air.
I also dont recall any evidence that Lightning in DnD can be conducted along wires.
Similarly do we know that a gunpowder weapons will work? iirc Alchemist Fire isnt violently explosive, nonetheless we do know that alchemist can create grenades that explode, so explosions at least can occur But can they be directed in a way that propels shells?
You’d have to wildly change how available those magics are to have them create a “revolution”.Well what are the main areas of technological advancement? On cursory thought, I'd say: warfare, mass production (especially of food), travel/transport, and communication, and later on information. All of these could be accounted for in a "magical revolution:"
Warfare: Rather than muskets and cannons, you could have wand-wielding wizards casting magic missiles and fireballs. Monsters instead of tanks, etc.
Mass production: Alchemists, artificers, and wizards creating constructs seems quite plausible. "Magical factories" with enslaved creatures, etc.
Travel/transport: Teleport and other spells. Permanent Gates, sky-ships, etc.
Communication: Sending stones and other devices and spells accomplish this quite easily. Similarly with information.
Now maybe the RAW wouldn't account for every little detail, but it would be fairly easy to fill in the gaps. A lot of it depends upon the specific campaign world, and how rare magic is. But my point is that if magic is common enough--and it doesn't even have to be as common as you say--then industrial tech might not be ever imagined, as it wouldn't be necessary.
Any violent explosion can make a gun. Or an engine.
If you want to hand wave tech just do so, don’t try to jump through hoops to get there. Eberron just says, “in this world magic advances more than tech, and is part of every day life, and no one is really trying to advance mundane tech.” It doesn’t try to make that make sense upon deep examination, it just asks the reader to either run with it, or change it in their campqign
You’d have to wildly change how available those magics are to have them create a “revolution”.
Anyone could ride a train across the continent in 1900. Once built, the train doesn’t have to have a super high price for a passenger, and anyone can be trained to operate it. Do you propose a world in which magic isthat common? If so, we agree. Make it so 70% or more of the population can cast spells, and magic can fully replace tech.
The approach "Magic for everyday commodities and more" is not new with Eberron btw.
There is one occurrence in Greyhawk material I remember, where it is said, that the chimney in a wizards home is fueled by a permanent wall of fire. And I think levitation elevators were a thing already in Menzoberranzan (For the non drow (slaves) who need to reach upper platforms of the typical Stalagmite houses there).
Pemanent light is being present in multiple dungeons for all kinds of settings.
Halruaa had airships way before Eberron, although with other principles.
Lord Robilar rides a mechanical horse, Rary has developed automatons which, besides being made of brass, really have much similarity to Eberrons iron defenders.
Anyone could ride a train across the continent in 1900. Once built, the train doesn’t have to have a super high price for a passenger, and anyone can be trained to operate it. Do you propose a world in which magic isthat common? If so, we agree. Make it so 70% or more of the population can cast spells, and magic can fully replace tech.
And yet wands still require a spellcaster to operate.The approach "Magic for everyday commodities and more" is not new with Eberron btw.
There is one occurrence in Greyhawk material I remember, where it is said, that the chimney in a wizards home is fueled by a permanent wall of fire. And I think levitation elevators were a thing already in Menzoberranzan (For the non drow (slaves) who need to reach upper platforms of the typical Stalagmite houses there).
Pemanent light is being present in multiple dungeons for all kinds of settings.
Halruaa had airships way before Eberron, although with other principles.
Lord Robilar rides a mechanical horse, Rary has developed automatons which, besides being made of brass, really have much similarity to Eberrons iron defenders.