I'm not sure, but it seems like the magic-as-technology issue isn't so much a product of the "scienceness" of magic as it is the ease of
enchantment.
As I recall, making magic items was supposed to be *really* difficult and time-consuming in second edition, and thus the products more scarce. Third edition
(at least as I read the rules) made it much easier, and regular access to magic items more expected. (When 3E came out, I still went to gaming conventions
periodically and played in a few RPGA games. It appeared to me from the way the rules were set up that an effective way for a person with a frequently-played
wizard to keep their character at the level for regular RPGA adventures would be to keep making things like rings of wishes and other high xp cost magic
items... Which struck me as awfully bizarre.)
-Morgan. Thinking about this influenced some of Alexis's thoughts about enchantment in my CoH writing.
enchantment.
As I recall, making magic items was supposed to be *really* difficult and time-consuming in second edition, and thus the products more scarce. Third edition
(at least as I read the rules) made it much easier, and regular access to magic items more expected. (When 3E came out, I still went to gaming conventions
periodically and played in a few RPGA games. It appeared to me from the way the rules were set up that an effective way for a person with a frequently-played
wizard to keep their character at the level for regular RPGA adventures would be to keep making things like rings of wishes and other high xp cost magic
items... Which struck me as awfully bizarre.)
-Morgan. Thinking about this influenced some of Alexis's thoughts about enchantment in my CoH writing.