Well so one big hang-up for me is the blurring of science/technology and magic, both sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic and its converse. But I am just being a nerd there so let’s skip that.
This is such a huge thing though. So many people today don't want Magic to be Magic. They want a setting that is Magic-Punk. Magic as a technology, as a science, and as a resource.
What is the point of magic if not an exploration of a reality that is not our own? Why in the hell would mages be content to slave away under the shackles of capitalism? (speaking here of setting where mages are often just more efficient labors, in some settings replacing able-bodied people as the proletarian class entirely!) If these mages are so powerful and common they can constitute an entire working class, then at least be realistic an interesting; the cities would devolve into gang warfare and lawlessness almost immediately. the average worker has guns for hands!!
I tend to be into fae-wildy, Kind Of Other Dimensions But Incomprehensible To Us, Chaos Magick-y type stuff.
That's how I see it. Why even bother calling it "magic" instead of the Force or something if it's supposed to be easily measurable, quantifiable, and repeatable with predictable results in a laboratory environment?
Disclaimer: Yes, I know the Force was originally more "magical" but that ship sailed as soon as midi-chlorians and "balance in the Force" enlightened centrism became a thing in the franchise.
Disclaimer: Yes, I know the Force was originally more “magical” but that ship sailed as soon as midi-chlorians and “balance in the Force” enlightened centrism became a thing in the franchise.
There's some interesting exploration of the Force being more than just a dark/light thing in SWTOR. There are mentions of how other cultures see their Force users as servants of their gods, completely absent of any dark or light distinction. Also, the Knights of Zakuul see the Force as a reward for serving justice. There are some really interesting ideas that I wish the mainstream part of the franchise explored more.
As long as it doesn't wander into "I want dark side powers but don't judge me, maaaaaan" enlightened centrist territory, sure. Sounds fun. The Jedi and Sith have an ideological duopoly and that isn't cool.
It's more "The Jedi ideology won't stop you from being an asshole, and the Sith ideology can be liberatory." The entire Sith Inquisitor path is about an ex-slave rising to power, and you can lean heavily into the Sith path as a way of overcoming oppression (to the point you end up openly against the Sith Empire but the Sith base rank on power so it's not like they can stop you).
Meanwhile, a Jedi's over-focus on detachment from worldly desire ends up with them destroying everything they wanted, the lives of the people that love them, and the entire political project of the republic on that planet, leaving your Sith character to snark at how you're a better Jedi than they are.
This is such a huge thing though. So many people today don't want Magic to be Magic. They want a setting that is Magic-Punk. Magic as a technology, as a science, and as a resource.
What is the point of magic if not an exploration of a reality that is not our own? Why in the hell would mages be content to slave away under the shackles of capitalism? (speaking here of setting where mages are often just more efficient labors, in some settings replacing able-bodied people as the proletarian class entirely!) If these mages are so powerful and common they can constitute an entire working class, then at least be realistic an interesting; the cities would devolve into gang warfare and lawlessness almost immediately. the average worker has guns for hands!!
I tend to be into fae-wildy, Kind Of Other Dimensions But Incomprehensible To Us, Chaos Magick-y type stuff.
That's how I see it. Why even bother calling it "magic" instead of the Force or something if it's supposed to be easily measurable, quantifiable, and repeatable with predictable results in a laboratory environment?
Disclaimer: Yes, I know the Force was originally more "magical" but that ship sailed as soon as midi-chlorians and "balance in the Force" enlightened centrism became a thing in the franchise.
There's some interesting exploration of the Force being more than just a dark/light thing in SWTOR. There are mentions of how other cultures see their Force users as servants of their gods, completely absent of any dark or light distinction. Also, the Knights of Zakuul see the Force as a reward for serving justice. There are some really interesting ideas that I wish the mainstream part of the franchise explored more.
As long as it doesn't wander into "I want dark side powers but don't judge me, maaaaaan" enlightened centrist territory, sure. Sounds fun. The Jedi and Sith have an ideological duopoly and that isn't cool.
It's more "The Jedi ideology won't stop you from being an asshole, and the Sith ideology can be liberatory." The entire Sith Inquisitor path is about an ex-slave rising to power, and you can lean heavily into the Sith path as a way of overcoming oppression (to the point you end up openly against the Sith Empire but the Sith base rank on power so it's not like they can stop you).
Meanwhile, a Jedi's over-focus on detachment from worldly desire ends up with them destroying everything they wanted, the lives of the people that love them, and the entire political project of the republic on that planet, leaving your Sith character to snark at how you're a better Jedi than they are.
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