Brinens and Things

flameraven:

rainbow-femme:

I’m sick of magical worlds with no technology. I want fairy run coffee shops where you can get a latte with a shot of charisma, because you’ve got a big presentation you’re worried about, or witches working at Apple selling phones that automatically appear in your pocket if you accidentally leave it somewhere, or psychics running hair salons who always know how you want your hair to look, or aura reader therapists. I just really want normalized magic in modern society

Practical magic is something we need more of, and not just in modern settings. Because here’s the thing. Fireballs are cool and all, but think about the possibilities of creating an endless supply of fresh clean water would have on a medieval-era society. Think about cold spells being used for refrigeration, and plant magic being used to secure and increase the yearly harvest. Think about heat spells providing warmth without having to burn coal or oil. Think about teleportation spells being used to transport food and supplies in the dead of winter. Think about the implications of language spells that grant the ability to read long-dead languages. Think about the potential of magic-based medical care (including birth control)! There are so many possibilities that are way more interesting than magic missiles.

Whenever a new technology shows up, humans are usually mostly interested in using it for food, shelter, sex, and war. Fantasy settings like to cover that last one a lot, but totally neglect the rest. I think that’s a shame. Granted, the existence of magic would probably quickly elevate a society out of medieval-era subsistence, so you couldn’t get your pleasant pastoral English countryside pastiche. But at this point, shouldn’t we be thinking of more varied stories anyway?