Actually, the arcano-engineer approach is what I would have expected from Doug, given that Bob is his creator.
I mean, seriously, this is a man who writes GURPS sourcebooks. If there's ever a system that breaks magic down into a series of definite, hard rules, its GURPS.
On a completely seperate note, I think it's also a reflection of the "arcane" nature people apply to modern technology - aka the "High tech looks magic, high magic looks tech" rule.
As a general rule, people don't know HOW technology works (like your computer), just that they work. They know that someone with sufficient education and experitise knows how tech works, and how to build it.
I think the psychological aspect of that leaks into our fantasy and sci-fi. Look at most of the more recent movies, anime and video games - magical circles, major constructs, and other "high magic" looks an awful lot like uber-tech. Uber-tech looks an awful lot like magic.
Wow. Big lecture.--
Christopher Angel, aka JPublic
www.yggdrasil.org
I mean, seriously, this is a man who writes GURPS sourcebooks. If there's ever a system that breaks magic down into a series of definite, hard rules, its GURPS.
On a completely seperate note, I think it's also a reflection of the "arcane" nature people apply to modern technology - aka the "High tech looks magic, high magic looks tech" rule.
As a general rule, people don't know HOW technology works (like your computer), just that they work. They know that someone with sufficient education and experitise knows how tech works, and how to build it.
I think the psychological aspect of that leaks into our fantasy and sci-fi. Look at most of the more recent movies, anime and video games - magical circles, major constructs, and other "high magic" looks an awful lot like uber-tech. Uber-tech looks an awful lot like magic.
Wow. Big lecture.--
Christopher Angel, aka JPublic
www.yggdrasil.org