The Addition of Magic

[AmadeoAlgeddon]

"Those who revel in the brilliance of the Sun,"

I have not read a lot of steampunk works, but have seen movies with steampunk themes and seen plenty of artwork about them. I have played quite a few steampunk themed games as well. When it comes to magic and steampunk, I have noticed that steampunk usually ends up with magical properties. Like the Aether someone mentioned earlier, that is technically a magical energy of sorts, though someone else said it was chemicals and science. Not in any works I've seen, wether steampunk or not. It is an unstable substance that is very magical, and in some games is used to somehow make healing/regen potions. I forget the details on that one. Also, in my opinion of the question at hand, Yes magic does go well with steampunk, as long as you don't take it too far, because then it is more like a world of magic with a steampunk twist. I like the steampunk contraptions and weapons that can explain what they use to power themselves, but their power sources cannot always be explained. True, most steampunk devices run off of, you guessed it, steam! But not all of them. Some gather electricity, or some other form of energy to run on, or to attack with. Also wonder how those Steampunk automatons work? If you look at their brains, or other inner workings, there is no computers, and not usually any noticable source of artificial intelligence either, and they cannot do half the things they do on clock work or steam power alone. So how do they do it? In a few works I have read, they sometimes have a trapped soul, or some other conciseness to drive them, though not too often. Only occasionally. So otherwise, how do they run? Who knows. In some other mechanisms, there is usually an unnatural, or glowing power source in the chest or head of the creation, and if you look closely, it is way to far advanced for modern day science, and is quite often on par with, or surpasses cyberpunk technology. But also usually isn't at all related to such. So the only other explanation? Magic! Then you have those machines that fly using impossible implements, like large paddles that slowly flap a ship through the air? Well, there may be vents on the bottom that let out steam to keep the ship aloft, but quite often, (take a guess?) have a glowing power source underneath or within that keeps them afloat in the air. Then you have the weapons that don't shoot solid ammunition. What do they use? Compressed air shots? Not really, though not impossible. Glowstick solution? Err, what are we talking about here? Steampunk and magic, right? Thought so. A fair amount of steampunk weapons use Aether and a few other magical energies to fire. And a lot of other contraptions as well, like gaia's 'doc's harness'? It could use something other than a magic source, but otherwise, there isn't a lot that would power such a thing other than tapping into the wearers soul or something along those lines. And even doing that would be magic realted is some sense of the action. Anyways, there is my 'opinion' on this particular matter. I would have added more, but this rant must end, for I have also forgotten what else I was going to add. I hope this sheds some small light on anyone who makes it this far to read this post, and keep in mind, my opinions are based off of the opinions and supposed 'facts' of others that I happen to agree with, so if anyone disagrees with me, you are disagreeing with a vast group of people as well. Also remember, the world of steampunk is an invention of the imagination, for it does not truly exist, and can pretty much be whatever we want it to be. (though there are contraptions that are an exception to what I just said. The crank automobile for instance is an interesting invention that falls into the category of steampunk. Though a more clockwork version or one complete with giant boiler in back and belching steam everywhere it goes would be much more fitting to a steampunk setting). Lol, sorry again. This time the rant/blather is over. Thanks for taking time to read this, those who have.

"Should take time to dance under the Moon"

 

[AmadeoAlgeddon]

HellCatMurasame

Does it really matter, Steam punk is that which never ocured, its fiction for steams sake. If you can explain an action, magic or otherwise it does not matter. And who in there right mind takes five paragraphs to state their opinion, I dont have time to read that; speak your two cents and begone with you.

"Those who revel in the brilliance of the Sun,"

Oh, and sorry for stating my opinion in so many words. I get carried away sometimes!

"Should take time to dance under the Moon"

 

[AmadeoAlgeddon]

Rukario_Rue

Well, as I've said before, it really isn't a question of whether or not magic has a place in Steampunk or not. As someone else said, you will find magic included everywhere, even in super futuristic sci-fi. The real question is how much magic can you have and still consider it Steampunk, as opposed to fantasy with steam machines, or even "Spellpunk". For a setting to be Steampunk, the driving factor in society...the predominant methodology, if you will...must be steam power. Magic may only be added to the point that it remains uncommon/inferior in relation to steam mechanisms.

If you're average citizen can get a flying broom, for instance, a steam-powered vehicle has very little relevance. Tesla coils and steam-driven generators are superfluous next to people who can make bolts of lightning from their hands. So, for magic to exist in a setting that is still recognizably "Steampunk" one (or more) of several things must happen. Magic must be either more dangerous and/or difficult to use than technology, hard to learn/a rare genetic trait, or in some other way more costly or inefficient than steam tech. Without these limitations, there is no reason why a steam age will occur...magic will simply be a better choice.

Of course, there can be exceptions to this. Certainly, it is not unknown for a less-viable option to be picked over the more feasible choice for one reason or other. Of course, in this case magic will have another, different reason, for being less used than steam...appeal. It might be that a strong religious viewpoint in the setting keeps magi from being common/accepted, while steam (though less reliable) has no social stigma attached to it. Or there may be an emotional or legal component, usually stemming from a great incident, such as a horrible accident or devastating war, in the past that has left the people wary of magic. My own story setting uses this to explain the lack of internal combustion technology, establishing the same as having been outlawed after a laboratory studying it had an accident which nearly leveled a major city. Or in our own world, names like Chernobyl and Three Mile Island remind people of horrible disasters which have caused the world to recoil from nuclear power, despite any of the potential benefits it might hold. If "high-magic" had suffered a similar reputation, it too would go almost unpracticed. It is that lack of practice, the prevailing rarity of magic, no matter its cause, which is the difference between "Steampunk with magic" and "fantasy with steam".

In your first two paragraphs, true! And as Elcia said, I've noticed a lot of Steampunk does harness a bit of magic, or alchemy, which is a magical science really. I wish I had thought of that sometime during my rant earlier. True, if someone can do anything using magic, why bother with technology? Because the people can't use magic themselves, or very very few can, and even those who can use magic, because of the world they live in, they know how to use technology as well, and sometime incorporate magic with it. Like alchemists making potions or some other element that strengthens the structural integrity of their creations. Make a automaton, or some such construct that could not normally hold itself together, but with alchemy, or some other minor spell like ability, one could strengthen the metal and joints and things so the construct would be able to move about like a normal person, though a lot heavier and clearly not natural. There is also the alchemical ability to turn lead and stuff to gold, coal to diamonds, and other such feats that would otherwise be impossible. The mad scientists in steapunk or horror movies that have all the vials, beakers, and other various gizmos with strange liquids running through them? Alchemy! We use alchemy in real life to, but with less magical results. So, did I miss anything?