I have an alt that really fits a technomancer/tinker build mog wise and look wise. I just want to know if there is anything lore wise, or opinions on this matter.
Not that I have ever heard of or seen in the lore. Although… we don’t know everything about what’s ahead for us all.
Maybe a mage with a Mechagnome’s caliber of technical ingenuity? Like, behind the curtain it’s a fusion of master engineering and enchantment/charm schools of magic to manipulate devices.
I used to play with a fellow who was a goblin shaman that had some high-tech style totems to facilitate his connection to the elements and I thought that worked well! I’m imagining something similar but with arcane.
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That was something I was thinking the part I am quoting right here.
And from what I am gathering from other games/realms is that arcane seems to be a key school of magic can aid in finding machinery. I will report back here to what I have put together and maybe I can get pointed in a further “right direction”.
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Hm if it requires a talent to “find” technology… maybe a shaman would be more adept than a mage? I guess it depends on the kind of technology they’re seeking to manipulate.
I say this because some technology in Azeroth is powered by elements, most especially electricity. And many devices in Azeroth are made up from metals, which start as ores, which come from the earth. With that knowledge, a connection to the elements would probably be a greater boon than a connection to the arcane.
That said, there are also technologies in Azeroth that seem to be powered by more arcane magic. I’m know there are more examples but right now all that’s coming to mind are the arcane constructs used by Blood Elves. And some of the more unexplained technologies, especially big-brain stuff like Titan facilities, there’s gotta be a degree of elements and arcane operating in tandem.
My original suggestion of a master-engineer mage is from the direction of:
“This is a character with an exceptional understanding of engineering and a highly dexterous control over arcane magic. Combining these two specialties, this character is capable of manipulating technology, especially at a distance, to their benefit by charming and enchanting the components within any piece of technology that they encounter.”
Tarscale covered the majority of the theory. For specific examples we have:
Titan Discs and Titan tech seems to have an “anachronistic tech” or… Stonepunk? Neoclassical punk? (Is that a thing?) aesthetic, stone circuit designs, magic infused tablets and similar devices, such as the Discs of Norgannon (Effectively Magic Hard Drives) and the more recent Forge at Tyrhold with the process to revive Tyr. Titan programming seems to be Logic pattern based with verbal/written interfaces with a magical coding system, considering how you interact with artificial/programming constructs such as the Lorekeeper of Norgannon and the Tribunal of Ages. Good if you want a more mystical ‘Technomancer’ who uses Titan AI projections, constructs, and hefty relics imbued with databases of ancient knowledge.
Gnomish and Goblin Engineering get closer if you want a Steampunk Technomancer, and Forsaken have the “Mad-Science/Gothic” theme. Goblin engineering, the kind that explodes (the best kind), tends to rely on chemistry and natural sciences. Most mad-science biology tends to be more Goblin Engineering based, like with Subject 9 or Death magic based, like with Thaddius or more seasonally the Crown Chemical Co (Ex: Apothecary Hummel).
Gnomish/Mecha-Gnome tech tends to be more in tune with realistic engineering with magical power sources, a mix of Teslapunk and Cyberpunk, developing things like primitive circuit boards, vehicles, and wireless communication devices - they seem to have the mechanical knowhow to satisfy the engineering component, but there does not seem to be wide-scale acceptance or utilization of their tech. I guess the world is an anachronism to a Gnome when you consider the wonders of Gnomeregan or Mechagon (Gnomeregan seems to have a more industrial Steelpunk vibe, whereas Mechagon has a more… I guess loftier or evolved but similar aesthetic?)
Ah! The word I was looking for is Retrofuturism. Gnomish design is primarily Retrofuturism.
Each of the above can support a ‘Technomancer’ interpretation of engineering and magic, since they all combine the two naturally. You could probably RP that your spells as a Mage all come from devices (Fire guns, etc). The physical effects wont sync, but the stories can still happen, and there are actually engineering toys and such that thematically do the same thing for many of them (Your Pyroblast is a mortar shell). Easier as a Hunter, you have the elemental ammo enchantments from… BFA?
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It’s called being an engineer and a mage.
Lore wise the race that comes closest to this are the Draenei with the two Gnome races sharing second place with Goblins.
Blizzard even when presenting it supposedly seriously tends to play technology as a joke. So make your own lore. Remember it’s not the gadgets that make the character… it’s the other way around.
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Best way would be make a mage and then take engineering as a crafting skill. The icing on the cake? Make the character a mechagnome. Thinking about this has me wanting to make one now.
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