He (the player) hasn't discovered it yet.
Currently he is trying to obtain Steam Power Engines in Glorantha (ref: =
the recent thread about Steam Power in the HeroWars list).
But this request forced me (as a narrator) to think about a simple fact: =
regardless of the point whether you can obtain Steam Power in Glorantha =
by hot water or not (do Mostali use magical hot air or do they boil =
water in their steam devices?), there is little use for a single =
Technological Invention where the whole society is based on different =
premises.
Like in RW a unique genius like Leonardo didn't change his society, so =
in Glorantha a single man with innovative ideas faces a myriad of =
adverse conditions.
Or not? He is a hero and he is a PC so he should be given a possibility =
to implement his project.
The matter is still open.
Up to now, I reasoned that the Astronaut in my campaign can't use Steam =
to power Factory Plants (as the Player planned to do) because:
a) metal in Glorantha is too precious (bronze is abundant but =
metallurgically unfit to build a Steam engine with, at least so says my =
questionable insight on the matter; iron is scarce; maybe gold is more =
fit to build a steam engine with, given its relation with solar/fire =
elements?);
b) magic is widespread and it is more reliable than a Steam Engine =
(which resembles GodLearnerism or worse); so a lot of people adverse the =
project and advise magic solutions when the Astronaut experience and =
studies would suggest technology.
c) economy is primitive: you don't have a market for your manufactured =
goods; slaves give abundant manpower but no demand for goods; population =
is too thin and the costs/risks of trasports greatly exceed the =
advantage of concentrated mass production.
d) Steam is an inner world source of energy, but does it stirs any =
reaction from the other world too? How does local spirits or daimones =
react to the sensation of Steam Power? Do you need magical warding to =
prevent otherworldly jeopardizing? Is there a natural magical resistance =
in Glorantha for new sources of power, maybe in the 10W3 range? Does it =
obstacle the use of "natural" fonts of energy like carbon, oil or steam =
power?
the problem is stimulating, I think.
Ciao,
Gian
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End of Glorantha Digest
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