[Mkguild] Fwd: On stempunk

[Rimme the Weasel]

I've never seen MK as steampunk -- nothing is steam-powered, and searching
for "steam engine" turns up nothing. The closest would be automaton magic,
but as the name implies, Madog and other automatons are powered by magic,
not steam (or combustion engines in general). There is a trope called
Magitek that applies here, where mana and magic are substituted as energy
sources to mimic technology.

I think the major point of distinction is economic scale. Metamor Keep
still follows a medieval economy, where ruling power is very decentralized,
often with several overlapping jurisdictions and local lords vying for
power, while the world itself is a dangerous place. Lutin invasions are
still real threats to caravans. Secret magic societies frequently
destabilize local governments. There are the occasional plagues that wipe
out families and, presumably, entire villages. These instabilities prevent
mass-scale production of magic-powered goods, and the expansive trade
networks that define the mercantilist societies of our RL Renaissance.
Medieval Venice is a major exception, precisely because of their structured
aristocracy (the Grand Council) and their dominance of Adriatic sea routes
over pirates.

Steampunk, meanwhile, is inspired by the Victorian era, which has a strong
centralized state, a heavy bureaucracy, a relatively stable legal system,
and a huge working-age population. There is enough wealth and knowledge to
go around for a well-to-do genius to create their own scientific
inventions, mass produce them in giant factories, and embark on grand
expeditions in search of more wealth and knowledge, without having to worry
about untimely death or destruction.

Not to mention that magic is itself a limited resource -- it primarily
exists in three forms: sorcerous, ritualistic, and divine. (
http://mkworld.wikidot.com/tech:magic) The only form which can be scaled up
is ritualistic, which would still require a scale of education that most
medieval states didn't have.

I am not an expert in economics, but to summarize: steampunk may be
"creeping in", but it won't alter medieval society any more than talking
animal people did.
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