09-19-2014, 09:27 AM
What do you think about it? I believe at some point we've had a discussion thread or discussion threads on what technology is present in the game (feel free to further discuss that here), but what do you guys think about how technology is presented, particularly as RPers?
Personally I think that the nature of technology in WoW's setting is erroneously presented because it remains in one racial group despite alliances and open international trading, and that the reason it is presented in this fashion is because they want to keep racial identities distinct in order to allow players to attract players to certain races because the audience is into different settings. Players who love a tech atmosphere tend to be attracted to Gnomes for example, although technology is present in all races (but only Gnomes and Goblins are portrayed as TECHNOLOGICAL if you know what I mean). For this reason, what we see in game will be the segregation of technology, which is very obvious in the factional capitals (Orgrimmar and Stormwind), although in Stormwind it's especially apparent. Also, since this is physically how it would always appear in the game there's no way we could do something like customizing the lore regarding technology due to models and stuff...and different opinions on technology (people might think I'm talking just about TECHNOLOGY here but I'm not). But right now the whole custom lore idea for the server is making me think about things that I don't like in the lore as it is now, even though there are some topics like this one that are too vague to really go anywhere.
Magitek is also somewhat apparent in places like The Exodar, Silvermoon, and Dalaran. And in Gnomeregan and Ironforge. So magical-based technology and magic itself also applies here, although it's somewhat different depending on what it is being used for and in each case it's very distinct. I think that Dalaran in particular is much more favorable of the idea that means of producing something (through magic and magic technology in this case) can come together and actually mix.
Either way, one of the things I have become interested in lately is international communication and its relationship with technology, and as somebody who really enjoys the exploration of intercultural RP, I find it harder to make it feel authentic when technology (and magic in this setting) is present in one culture only finds itself being established in an allied culture in certain cases. Magic also applies to religion in the setting too so that's something to consider. Or could I be more loose in interpreting some of these things and how I (and maybe other people) could apply them to RP?
I also kind of tempted to make a thread about WoW's portrayal of culture and intercultural relations. That'd be an interesting discussion.
Personally I think that the nature of technology in WoW's setting is erroneously presented because it remains in one racial group despite alliances and open international trading, and that the reason it is presented in this fashion is because they want to keep racial identities distinct in order to allow players to attract players to certain races because the audience is into different settings. Players who love a tech atmosphere tend to be attracted to Gnomes for example, although technology is present in all races (but only Gnomes and Goblins are portrayed as TECHNOLOGICAL if you know what I mean). For this reason, what we see in game will be the segregation of technology, which is very obvious in the factional capitals (Orgrimmar and Stormwind), although in Stormwind it's especially apparent. Also, since this is physically how it would always appear in the game there's no way we could do something like customizing the lore regarding technology due to models and stuff...and different opinions on technology (people might think I'm talking just about TECHNOLOGY here but I'm not). But right now the whole custom lore idea for the server is making me think about things that I don't like in the lore as it is now, even though there are some topics like this one that are too vague to really go anywhere.
Magitek is also somewhat apparent in places like The Exodar, Silvermoon, and Dalaran. And in Gnomeregan and Ironforge. So magical-based technology and magic itself also applies here, although it's somewhat different depending on what it is being used for and in each case it's very distinct. I think that Dalaran in particular is much more favorable of the idea that means of producing something (through magic and magic technology in this case) can come together and actually mix.
Either way, one of the things I have become interested in lately is international communication and its relationship with technology, and as somebody who really enjoys the exploration of intercultural RP, I find it harder to make it feel authentic when technology (and magic in this setting) is present in one culture only finds itself being established in an allied culture in certain cases. Magic also applies to religion in the setting too so that's something to consider. Or could I be more loose in interpreting some of these things and how I (and maybe other people) could apply them to RP?
I also kind of tempted to make a thread about WoW's portrayal of culture and intercultural relations. That'd be an interesting discussion.