I wasn't sure where to put this post, so I semi-arbitrarily chose history. I'm trying to decide on what level of technology to put in my world. I want it to be medieval in some aspects, but I'm considering making their weapons and/or transportation tech a little more modern. What do you guys think? Would rifles/steam-powered vehicles be out of place in a medieval fantasy setting or would it be a good twist on the classic fantasy world?

I think you can. But then others might disagree. I am the one who has droids in one of my fantasy books.

I agree with Sir Emeth. As long as you integrate the technology believably into the world, I see no reason why you can't have it in there. Just be sure to work it in as part of the world, have a rough idea of how and when it was developed in relation to your story (i.e.-if it's still relatively new at the time of your story, you wouldn't want to have it globally present without some idea of how it became so in such little time). You might even delve into an explanation of how those discoveries came about while others haven't (not a suggestion, just a possible thought).

In Christ,
Jordan

I don't see anything wrong with, as long as you know how it came about. Of course, you would have to figure out some way for them not to have kept advancing out of the castle age because with invention of gunpowder comes cannons. Exactly how technologically advanced are you thinking, 1600's, 1700's, 1800's, 1900's, or modern? They later the time period, the harder it will be.

Griffin - as far as time period goes, I'll probably make my own combination of technologies and not necessarily follow an earth based timeline. That way I'll have a more unique feel to my world. I'm still not sure exactly what kind of tech I want, but I was considering almost a steampunk feel. Then again, I might just go with swords and horses.

Makes sense. Steampunk sounds good.

You aren't necessarily confined to advancing technology at the same pace as earth's, either...that's one of the cool things about fantasy. For example, you can make your world's transportation be like 1800's era while they still use swords and bows and arrows etc, and cannons aren't even around. Just because things progressed fairly evenly on earth doesn't mean they have to in our worlds.

In my story I'm toying with the idea of giving the world some more advanced ships (such as like clipper ships and early steam boats) while still on land having them fight with swords and the traditional fantasy stuff. The idea is that this one island nation developed these boats for trade and commerce...weapons invention just hasn't progressed as far...

Yeah, that's the sort of history I'm looking at, I think. Maybe have some advanced vehicles, but medieval weapons, or even fairly advanced weaponry without advanced vehicles... still thinking about it. And technology doesn't have to look or work exactly the same in fantasy, either, so the only limit is my creativity.

Go right ahead. My fantasy has rather advanced construction skills, which is why there are really big forttress cities. It also has 17th century sailing ships armed with ballistas. You just need to combine the advanced with the non-advanced tech. So, perhaps rifles and steampunk era-ish technology with medevial tactics, government, and way of life.

Varon, you hit the nail right on the head, that's exactly what I'm looking for! It's nice to see it written out in a concise sentence... Definitely think I'm going to go for that feel.

Cool, I'm glad i could too. It'd be an interesting setting, very interesting.

Just wanted to pull this up again since it's an intriguing topic. Does anyone have more advanced technology in their worlds? (Other than Sir Emeth's droids, of course, and Elanhil's guns )

eruheran

Well, given that some of my ideas set in Rhoive fit into a futuristic fantasy setting rather than a medieval one...

For the most part, my more detailed ideas don't have much in the way of more advanced technology, but I do have one story idea where I've been thinking about introducing gunpowder and guns.

*pops in out of nowhere* No guns in my book. Crossbows, though, but no guns. *pops back into nowhere*

I do in my sci-fi and near-future war novels, but not in my fantasy.

In my story, have just discovered gunpowder and have an early form of grenade, but no one has thought of guns yet.

I think that it would be an excellent twist! Most people would not expect to see that so it is a great idea! But also remember, do not make them too futuristic or else it would be science fiction. Hope that helped!

Quartorlen is in a mostly dark ages state, but when the shieldsfell invaded, they brought western (literally) technology, which consisted of paved roads, a structured army, crossbows, canned foods, easily defensible and constructible forts, scissors and the like. Their culture could be described as a little bit Roman, a little bit Viking, and a whole lot of Cowboy (with shields and maces, of course )
Also, gunpowder (which can be made of bat dung, sulfur and ash, btw), is known to some folk in Quartorlen, though it hasn't been developed enough to use as a weapon. Explosives will probably show up in later stories.

So slightly different then your average fantasy, but probably not enough to be considered steampunk. But I wanted to make the flow of technology realistic, and have it come from somewhere, and be going somewhere, rather than just showing up fully developed in an underdeveloped world.

I understand, and you have a point!