Technomagics

In the rulebooks of Centuria the world beyond Umarald is touched upon but never visited in great detail. There has been forays into these realms, however, and one of the fundamental questions asked is

How does a magical world advance?

As Umarald is the birthplace of science and technology as we would recognize it, this implies the rest of Aladron has advanced in a different fashion: technomagics. Technological advancement not driven by science but by magics. 

Below follows a summary of the various types of technomagics that can be found in Aladron, outside of Umarald. 

Aeromechanics

Basically aeromancy artifacts are used to power various machinery. Civilizations that have developed aeromechanics can use this to power aircrafts, manufactories and even improve agriculture through weather manipulation. The main drawback compared to a scientific approach is that aeromechanics does not help solve issues with material limitations or provide knowledge in fields like aerodynamics or meteorology. Aeromechanics are used by the plains nations of Kamrak on the continent of Thamal.  

Aquamechanics

Basically hydromancy artifacts are used to power various machinery. Civilizations that have developed aquamechanics can use this to power manufactories and provide for transport, sanitation and much else. It can also be used to turn very arid areas habitable, though casting of hydromancy spells are more difficult in such regions. The main drawback compared to a scientific approach is that aquamechanics does not help solve issues with material limitations or provide knowledge in fields like mechanics or construction. Aquamechanics is the most wide-spread type of techomagic and has been developed in Managara, Anaku and Zhizni, Amara independently and then spread both east and west. 

Daemonmechanics

Daemonmechanics is a very versatile technomagic that imbues various artifacts with spellcasting demons that provide power. Civilizations that have developed daemonmechanics can use this to power golems, manufactories as well as various crafts on both land, sea and air. The main drawback is obviously the danger involved in using such dangerous magics on a large scale. The ability to design demonic commands to successfully bind the demons to the desired artifacts also limits the possibilities. Daemonmechanics have been developed semi-independently in the regions of  Allhamar and Caratha in Anaku - both places which does not solely rely on this approach but other technomagics as well.

Divinotech

Divination magic is used to further scientific knowledge. This is the type of technomagic which most resembles the scientific process found in Umarald, but it differs in that knowledge gained through divination is very contextual and it can often be difficult to understand the underlying principles behind the knowledge gained. While divinotech can yield advances in any field it is deeply dependent on magical research and the knowledge gaps it creates makes synergy effects between different projects rare. Divinotech has been developed in the region of Khumbakkla where it is however becoming less potent as age-old artifacts and processes are not fully understood by current generations and thus cannot be utilized to their full potential.

Evomechanics

Evocation artifacts are used to provide power sources, quite similar to electric engines. These can in turn be used to power factories, electric light, vehicles and weapons. Its main limitation is that it is in practice little more than a battery technology; while it provides the energy good scientific understanding is still required to put it to good use. Evomechanics has been developed in the empires of Khizan, Amara where it is used alongside vigotech. 

Geomechanics

Basically geomancy artifacts are used to power various machinery and golems. Civilizations that have developed geomechanics can use this to power manufactories and golems and even for large scale terraforming, such as tunneling. The main drawback compared to a scientific approach is that geomechanics does not help solve issues with material limitations or provide knowledge in fields like mechanics or construction and that it requires rather homogenous terrain to work well. Geomechanics has been developed in the Seven Lakes region of Thamal. 

Imperiotech

Imperiotech utilizes illusion magic mainly to control animals and to some extent people and can also help improve agriculture through light magics. Controlling various animals help to improve transportation, agriculture, construction work and much else but is limited to the capabilities of the animals and their handlers. It does not provide power directly and doesn't drive technological advancement in other areas. Imperiotech has been developed in Riddersmar in Thamal.

Necrotech

Harnessing the powers of necromancy, necrotech provide power through an undead workforce - but nothing as simple as merely raising a horde of zombies. Instead, undead creatures are designed and crafted for particular purposes at which they excel. Apart from manufacturing capabilities this can also be used to construct necrocomputers, necroviruses and, perhaps a bit surprisingly, various medical treatments. The main drawback of this type of technomagic is that is horrendously dangerous, but further drawbacks include relying on a supply of corpses, only driving limited scientific understanding and that the ability to design and command undead limits its applications. Necrotech has been developed by the Nakrath in Osigath, Amara, but is seen as evil by all its neighbors which tires to prevent the practices from spreading.

Phasmatech

Spirit magic is used to imbue artifacts with spirits. The spirits can then continue to act as advisors, preventing loss of knowledge and providing an almost endless number of thinkers and philosophers. Beyond this, a deep understanding of the Spirit Realm allows construction of portals which can be used for transportation. With the right conditions, the Spirit Realm itself can also act as a place for recreation. The main drawback of this type of technomagic is that it doesn't provide a power source and that an ever-increasing number of ancient advisors not always help drive society forward. It has been developed by the Valerygiath of Osigath, Amara. 

Pyromechanics

Basically pyromancy artifacts are used to power various machinery. Civilizations that have developed pyromechanics can use this to power various vehicles, weaponry and manufactories.  The main drawback compared to a scientific approach is that pyromechanics does not help solve issues with material limitations or provide knowledge in fields like mechanics or ballistics. Pyromechanics were developed in Thessia and was inspired by the developments in Umarald. It has since spread to Caratha, Anaku as well. 

Regomechanics

Enchantment artifacts are used on a large scale to provide improved materials and tools. It is an iterative process where the improved tools and materials can be used to create yet more improved tools and materials and so on. It is however not an approach that provides means for mass production nor reduce the need for manual labor. Regomechanics have been developed in the various nations found in Kyngaard and Varangaard, Thamal. 

Regotech

Enchantment artifacts are used to provide power sources, driven by pure magic. These can in turn be used to power factories and vehicles. Its main limitation is that it is in practice little more than a battery technology; while it provides the energy good scientific understanding is still required to put it to good use. Also, using enchantment magic to provide power requires very advanced magical skill. Regotech has been developed in the region of Farreich, Thamal. 

Vigotech

In Vigotech, biomancy is applied to create various organic materials and even to design new forms of life. The latter is usually achieved by taking an existing species and then transforming it for desired effects (such as making it docile and able to be handled by humans). Vigotech allows for replacing a multitude of metals and other hard-to-come-by materials with cultivated crops. It can also be used to develop medicines and even biomodification. Vigotech is a powerful technomagic as it utilizes the already complex biological machinery found in life. Its main drawback is that any new developments take a very long time if potentially devastating side-effects are to be avoided. Vigotech has been developed in the empires of Khizan, Amara from where its usage has spread to Allhamar, Anaku. 

Game Master's Atlas

Not quite sure where it started, but somehow I ended up with an expansion module to give a short description of all the various regions of Aladron. The idea of this Atlas however is not to connect all the dots but rather supply threads and hints that a game master can use to create an interesting setting outside of Umarald that still feels connected to the rest of the world.

It is at 27 pages perhaps better used as a dictionary than a read-through, though that is left to the choice of the reader. As usual it can be found on the downloads page.

Aladron Continents: Thamal

Finally finished the huge continent of Thamal, situated east of the land of Umarald (which serves as the setting for the Centuria game).

The original map can be seen in the lower left corner as a reference. The sheer scale of the continent was a bit challenging and at first progress appeared to be very slow...

Thamal is the continent of origin for the gothic civilization so the westernmost parts are intended to provide a suitable landscape with mountains, fjords and other terrain elements to create a European-style small kingdoms setting. Going rather free-style from there, a massive mountain range was decided to divide the rest of the continent into a northern and southern section as well as three vertical sections.

The end result is a continent with large jungles, massive mountains and several inland lake regions providing ample material for exploration and discovery of unknown civilizations. Humans are intended to inhabit the northern and western parts while the south and east is home to giants, trolls and other creatures which makes it difficult for humans to gain a foothold.

Bigger, better, photoshop cramp

Next up on the mapping duty is the continent of Thamal. Actually it is only about half of a planet-wide continent but it is non the less big. The Waipuku paintjob took a few weeks and being larger than the region of Umarald felt like a challenge. Thamal - well Thamal is bigger than Waipuku. About four times as big actually, so it is taking its toll...

Still, it is taking shape so here comes a teaser image with the Umarald map thrown in for comparison!

Aladron Continents: Waipuku

Just finished the first continent of the planet Aladron outside of Umarald. It is Waipuku - a great landmass in the tropical zone mostly covered by jungles, large deserts and some open plains. The continent is the ancestral home of the waipuku people, from which it gets its name. It is also the ancestral home of the orcs who battle the humans for control over the lands.

Nations, history and trivia is all unofficial for now, with the exception of what is outlined in the Age of Knowledge Rule Book. Prioritizing getting some color on the other continents a thorough description will therefore have to wait - and also the continent will feature in an upcoming test campaign that will give it more life over the coming months.

New Year and a New World

First of all, Centuria wishes everyone a Happy New Year!

Secondly, to give a hint of things to come here is a picture of some work in progress:

Its the continent of Waipuku in the making. Several hours in Photoshop remaining but expect a finished map to appear in a not too distant future. Then for the other (even bigger) continents... Ah, well lets take a break to celebrate 2016!

Creating a world

The two continents of Umarald not big enough for you? Well, here comes a first-time image of the entire planet of Aladron! The size of the earth is marked with blue background for comparison and you just might find the already described parts in the center if you look real close!