TheThan
2012-02-07, 03:32 PM
So I’ve starting a little creative writing project that sort of focuses on this concept. I’ve spoilered the back story so you don’t have to read it if you’re not interested.
background
The background for the story, is that it is a post apocalyptic wasteland. The reasons, nobody quite knows, they only have vague knowledge that technology caused it. Over the years this has lead to widespread belief that nearly all forms of technology is not only dangerous, but evil. A religion has sprung up around the concept. Now any sort of technology beyond a specific level is considered evil, and using it punishable by banishment into the desert (basically a death sentence). This religion has such strong control over the various colonies that technology has in effect become magical to most people.
Enter mages. Mages are people who roam the desert and ruins of the previous society in search of artifacts. They know and understand the technology (at least how to use it). They travel and adventure and generally are equivalent to PC status. “Normal” people see them as being able to use magic, and generally fear them, even when they help out.
Now one thing I wish to put into the story is that notion that people only really see what they want to see. So when a mage pulls out a flashlight to see in the dark, an observer wouldn’t actually see him use a flashlight, instead he would see the mage cast a light spell.
What I’m looking for is to create a list of objects/tools/equipment that can simulate DnD style spells to some degree for use in my little story. They don’t have to be an exact fit, but they have to at least produce a similar effect. So far here is the list I’ve come up with, but I'm not satisfied with what I have, I know there is more out there than that. So if you have any ideas feel free to post them here.
list of stuff.
items
{table=head]item|Spell
Acid splash| a vial of acid
purify food and drink| water purification tablets
Flare| a flare gun
light/daylight| a flashlight
message| two way radio
sleep| sedatives
Burning hands| flamethrower
shocking grasp| a taser
disguise self| makeup kit
ventriloquism| two way radio/speaker
mage armor/shield| body armor
fog cloud/obscuring mist| smoke bombs
daze monster| flash bang
shatter| tuning fork
know direction |compass
cure wounds |first aid kit/medical supplies
knock| skeleton key/lock pick set
pyrotechnics| fireworks
clairvoyance| binoculars
fireball| explosives (tnt etc)
cloud kill| chemical weapons
finger of death/power word kill | guns
power word blind | tear gas
Charm person |aphrodisiac
invisibility| camoflauge/ghillie suit/active camouflage system
feather fall| parachute
alarm| motion sensor alarm
hideous laughter| laughing gas
buff spells like bull’s str/haste |illegal drugs like cocane, pcp, speed etc
spider climb | suction pads/magnets
darkvision | night vision goggles
far stride/mount/phantom steed | bicycle/moterbike
grease | vial/can of lard
[/table]
I might eventually turn this into a campaign setting, so every little bit helps.
[edit] added stuff to my list.
background
The background for the story, is that it is a post apocalyptic wasteland. The reasons, nobody quite knows, they only have vague knowledge that technology caused it. Over the years this has lead to widespread belief that nearly all forms of technology is not only dangerous, but evil. A religion has sprung up around the concept. Now any sort of technology beyond a specific level is considered evil, and using it punishable by banishment into the desert (basically a death sentence). This religion has such strong control over the various colonies that technology has in effect become magical to most people.
Enter mages. Mages are people who roam the desert and ruins of the previous society in search of artifacts. They know and understand the technology (at least how to use it). They travel and adventure and generally are equivalent to PC status. “Normal” people see them as being able to use magic, and generally fear them, even when they help out.
Now one thing I wish to put into the story is that notion that people only really see what they want to see. So when a mage pulls out a flashlight to see in the dark, an observer wouldn’t actually see him use a flashlight, instead he would see the mage cast a light spell.
What I’m looking for is to create a list of objects/tools/equipment that can simulate DnD style spells to some degree for use in my little story. They don’t have to be an exact fit, but they have to at least produce a similar effect. So far here is the list I’ve come up with, but I'm not satisfied with what I have, I know there is more out there than that. So if you have any ideas feel free to post them here.
list of stuff.
items
{table=head]item|Spell
Acid splash| a vial of acid
purify food and drink| water purification tablets
Flare| a flare gun
light/daylight| a flashlight
message| two way radio
sleep| sedatives
Burning hands| flamethrower
shocking grasp| a taser
disguise self| makeup kit
ventriloquism| two way radio/speaker
mage armor/shield| body armor
fog cloud/obscuring mist| smoke bombs
daze monster| flash bang
shatter| tuning fork
know direction |compass
cure wounds |first aid kit/medical supplies
knock| skeleton key/lock pick set
pyrotechnics| fireworks
clairvoyance| binoculars
fireball| explosives (tnt etc)
cloud kill| chemical weapons
finger of death/power word kill | guns
power word blind | tear gas
Charm person |aphrodisiac
invisibility| camoflauge/ghillie suit/active camouflage system
feather fall| parachute
alarm| motion sensor alarm
hideous laughter| laughing gas
buff spells like bull’s str/haste |illegal drugs like cocane, pcp, speed etc
spider climb | suction pads/magnets
darkvision | night vision goggles
far stride/mount/phantom steed | bicycle/moterbike
grease | vial/can of lard
[/table]
I might eventually turn this into a campaign setting, so every little bit helps.
[edit] added stuff to my list.