Technology in Krynn - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Technology in Krynn

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Apr 07, 2004 20:21:33 Well, I know that the Minoi are obviously the most technilogically advanced race on Krynn. Despite their inventions not working most of the time. But what about the rest of Krynn. To me, most fantas worlds hardly seem Medieval to me. The only reason it is viewed that way a lot is because some of the armor and weapons used are similar to what was used in the Middle Ages in out world. Most fantasy world seem to be more akin to the 1600s or even the 1700s to me. But, what is the general level of technology on Krynn?
#2
iltharanos
Apr 08, 2004 12:19:21
Originally posted by Gellion
Well, I know that the Minoi are obviously the most technilogically advanced race on Krynn. Despite their inventions not working most of the time. But what about the rest of Krynn. To me, most fantas worlds hardly seem Medieval to me. The only reason it is viewed that way a lot is because some of the armor and weapons used are similar to what was used in the Middle Ages in out world. Most fantasy world seem to be more akin to the 1600s or even the 1700s to me. But, what is the general level of technology on Krynn?

Hmm. I'm no history fiend, but I'd say most of Krynn is roughly equivalent to 14th century tech. The gnomoi of Taladas are a whole other matter. The Time of the Dragon 2nd edition boxed set actually describes their use of Windships (i.e. Zeppelins).
#3
baron_the_curse
Apr 08, 2004 20:09:29 Ansalon is a little hard to peg down with a tech level because it really depends on region. The architecture in cities like Palanthas and Neraka are advanced beyond medieval architectural limitations. Northern Ergoth I believe would be around the high Renaissance while Abanasinia is still toiling with medieval tools. Hopefully in the future we'll get a detail region book for DL.
#4
zombiegleemax
Apr 08, 2004 22:00:54 Heh heh heh. I had a few flintlock pistols and some cannon make an appearance in my game, and one of the players starting complaining and getting really mad about it. He kept saying "NO GUNS!" and said that he wanted to play in an early medieval campagn, where the most advanced weapon is a bow. We dismissed his complaints at the time, but later, while brooding over it in Evil DM Mode, I came up with a suitably Evil and Nasty Idea . Next session, I will say that a red dragon bursts out of somewhere and attacks. Then I will pause the game and voice the player's omplaints, and tell them that in keeping with that, I am suitably changing their weapons. All bows and crossbows are now short bows. All swords are short swords. All half-and-full-plate armor is now a breastplate, and chainmail/chain shirts are suitably reduced as well. Masterwork items are now regular items. All polearms are now spears of the appropriate type. All axes are handaxes. Hoopaks are now quarterstaves. Now back to our regularly scheduled massacre.

The lesson here: Don't criticise your DM's decisions. It might bite you in the butt someday.
#5
zombiegleemax
Apr 11, 2004 22:34:07 And then thrown in the middle are Gnomes who come up with some
crazy stuff all the time. It seems that Krynn cannot be related very well
with our time period as it seems some things have made an appearance, while
other things have not. Advanced sea ships, Tarsis? That was BEFORE the cataclysm
so I would assume some advances would be made in the 300 years leading UP to
the War of the Lance. The world serves its own purposes(authors) it seems :-)
#6
darthsylver
Apr 12, 2004 14:40:57 Yes I would definitely say that the gnomes of Taladas are way ahead of the game in terms of technology.

At the time of the printing of "Time of the Dragon" IIRC it was set for the the time period just prior or just after the war of the lance. It has now been what 72 years? I don't even want to imagine what the gnomes might have cooked up by now.
#7
zombiegleemax
Apr 12, 2004 22:07:55 Here about how I do the tech level of Krynn, this is just a guideline, of course gnomes would be more advanced.

Age of Starbirth: Well...none.
Age of Dreams: Stone Age to mid Medieval.
Age of Might: Mid Medieval to Renaissance.
Age of Despair: Dark Age to Renaissance.
Age of Mortals: Mid Medieval to (maybe) Renaissance, I'm not sure.

So, you see, major disastors, like the Cataclysm, the Second Cataclysm, etc., set the world back a few levels.
#8
zombiegleemax
Apr 14, 2004 9:40:59 Aren't the League Minotaurs of Taladas the most technologically advanced nation on the planet? I seem to recall that they had access to spelljamming tech, among other things.
#9
iltharanos
Apr 16, 2004 2:40:59
Originally posted by Twilight Herald
Aren't the League Minotaurs of Taladas the most technologically advanced nation on the planet? I seem to recall that they had access to spelljamming tech, among other things.

I wouldn't say spelljamming is necessarily indicative of greater technology. It's simply a different magical mode of travel. The Time of the Dragon boxed set specifically stated that the gnomish civilization of Taladas is likely the most technologically advanced one on the planet.
#10
quentingeorge
Apr 16, 2004 18:01:12 I've never understood the aversion fantasy worlds have to primitive firearms.

I mean, in the fifteenth century, cannons were already being widely used - like the absolutely huge one they used to breach the walls of Constantinople.

Gunpowder is less anachronistic than a lot of things slipped into medieval fantasy (ie bound printed books, galleons etc)

Why the hate?
#11
zombiegleemax
Apr 18, 2004 10:30:15 Well, the DM'S GUIDE does open the door for use or Renaisance level weaponry, namely muskets and pistols.

In my DragonLance campaigns, the Dwarfs have already uncovered the secrets of gunpowder. To keep things on balance, the elements for creating gunpowder on Krynn are extremely rare, found only in the dwarf realms and need the aid of priests of Reorx to actually create. My explanation is that after the Cataclsym and the Night Of Doom, when all the True Priests leave Krynn, that the Dwarves lose the secret of GUnPowder in the process.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Apr 07, 2004 20:21:33	Well, I know that the Minoi are obviously the most technilogically advanced race on Krynn. Despite their inventions not working most of the time. But what about the rest of Krynn. To me, most fantas worlds hardly seem Medieval to me. The only reason it is viewed that way a lot is because some of the armor and weapons used are similar to what was used in the Middle Ages in out world. Most fantasy world seem to be more akin to the 1600s or even the 1700s to me. But, what is the general level of technology on Krynn?
#2 iltharanos Apr 08, 2004 12:19:21	Originally posted by Gellion Well, I know that the Minoi are obviously the most technilogically advanced race on Krynn. Despite their inventions not working most of the time. But what about the rest of Krynn. To me, most fantas worlds hardly seem Medieval to me. The only reason it is viewed that way a lot is because some of the armor and weapons used are similar to what was used in the Middle Ages in out world. Most fantasy world seem to be more akin to the 1600s or even the 1700s to me. But, what is the general level of technology on Krynn? Hmm. I'm no history fiend, but I'd say most of Krynn is roughly equivalent to 14th century tech. The gnomoi of Taladas are a whole other matter. The Time of the Dragon 2nd edition boxed set actually describes their use of Windships (i.e. Zeppelins).
#3 baron_the_curse Apr 08, 2004 20:09:29	Ansalon is a little hard to peg down with a tech level because it really depends on region. The architecture in cities like Palanthas and Neraka are advanced beyond medieval architectural limitations. Northern Ergoth I believe would be around the high Renaissance while Abanasinia is still toiling with medieval tools. Hopefully in the future we'll get a detail region book for DL.
#4 zombiegleemax Apr 08, 2004 22:00:54	Heh heh heh. I had a few flintlock pistols and some cannon make an appearance in my game, and one of the players starting complaining and getting really mad about it. He kept saying "NO GUNS!" and said that he wanted to play in an early medieval campagn, where the most advanced weapon is a bow. We dismissed his complaints at the time, but later, while brooding over it in Evil DM Mode, I came up with a suitably Evil and Nasty Idea . Next session, I will say that a red dragon bursts out of somewhere and attacks. Then I will pause the game and voice the player's omplaints, and tell them that in keeping with that, I am suitably changing their weapons. All bows and crossbows are now short bows. All swords are short swords. All half-and-full-plate armor is now a breastplate, and chainmail/chain shirts are suitably reduced as well. Masterwork items are now regular items. All polearms are now spears of the appropriate type. All axes are handaxes. Hoopaks are now quarterstaves. Now back to our regularly scheduled massacre. The lesson here: Don't criticise your DM's decisions. It might bite you in the butt someday.
#5 zombiegleemax Apr 11, 2004 22:34:07	And then thrown in the middle are Gnomes who come up with some crazy stuff all the time. It seems that Krynn cannot be related very well with our time period as it seems some things have made an appearance, while other things have not. Advanced sea ships, Tarsis? That was BEFORE the cataclysm so I would assume some advances would be made in the 300 years leading UP to the War of the Lance. The world serves its own purposes(authors) it seems :-)
#6 darthsylver Apr 12, 2004 14:40:57	Yes I would definitely say that the gnomes of Taladas are way ahead of the game in terms of technology. At the time of the printing of "Time of the Dragon" IIRC it was set for the the time period just prior or just after the war of the lance. It has now been what 72 years? I don't even want to imagine what the gnomes might have cooked up by now.
#7 zombiegleemax Apr 12, 2004 22:07:55	Here about how I do the tech level of Krynn, this is just a guideline, of course gnomes would be more advanced. Age of Starbirth: Well...none. Age of Dreams: Stone Age to mid Medieval. Age of Might: Mid Medieval to Renaissance. Age of Despair: Dark Age to Renaissance. Age of Mortals: Mid Medieval to (maybe) Renaissance, I'm not sure. So, you see, major disastors, like the Cataclysm, the Second Cataclysm, etc., set the world back a few levels.
#8 zombiegleemax Apr 14, 2004 9:40:59	Aren't the League Minotaurs of Taladas the most technologically advanced nation on the planet? I seem to recall that they had access to spelljamming tech, among other things.
#9 iltharanos Apr 16, 2004 2:40:59	Originally posted by Twilight Herald Aren't the League Minotaurs of Taladas the most technologically advanced nation on the planet? I seem to recall that they had access to spelljamming tech, among other things. I wouldn't say spelljamming is necessarily indicative of greater technology. It's simply a different magical mode of travel. The Time of the Dragon boxed set specifically stated that the gnomish civilization of Taladas is likely the most technologically advanced one on the planet.
#10 quentingeorge Apr 16, 2004 18:01:12	I've never understood the aversion fantasy worlds have to primitive firearms. I mean, in the fifteenth century, cannons were already being widely used - like the absolutely huge one they used to breach the walls of Constantinople. Gunpowder is less anachronistic than a lot of things slipped into medieval fantasy (ie bound printed books, galleons etc) Why the hate?
#11 zombiegleemax Apr 18, 2004 10:30:15	Well, the DM'S GUIDE does open the door for use or Renaisance level weaponry, namely muskets and pistols. In my DragonLance campaigns, the Dwarfs have already uncovered the secrets of gunpowder. To keep things on balance, the elements for creating gunpowder on Krynn are extremely rare, found only in the dwarf realms and need the aid of priests of Reorx to actually create. My explanation is that after the Cataclsym and the Night Of Doom, when all the True Priests leave Krynn, that the Dwarves lose the secret of GUnPowder in the process.