Magic vs. Technology

[metalcore42]

Two scenarios:
1)Reality
Winner: Science

2)Magic Exists
Winner: (Likely)Magic


Overall: Science(due to superior overall success rate)

 

[D-Cypher]

Technomage.

 

[DeathChairOfHell]

i'm gonna go with... magicology. a hybrid thing. sort of. which means a unicorn laz0r that shoots A-bomb sparkle. if that's forbidden... magic

"Abra Kadabra makescientistsandtechnologygoaway!"

 

[DeathChairOfHell]

Magic this:

Good luck with that.

lol

 

[martin's a madman]

Well, neither of them follow rules when it comes to fiction. Someone can simply say "Scientists developed a device that nullifies magical powers" and someone could say "I've developed a spell to make technology fail disastrously". So, both? Neither?

 

[Ravenkliff]

from ANY story? well then that's tough because people are always making crap up and there's a million billion one-ups. Gun-Magic Missle-ICBM- Goku's Spirit Bomb- Death Star- Infinity Gauntlet - Temporal Disruption Bomb
on and on and on
i'd say magic wins at some point though, cause u can just say "Yeah, the universe ended."
"but how d-"
"magic."
"yeah, but you have t-"
"MAGIC!!!"

 

[paragon1]

I do believe there's a novel based on this idea, but I cannot recall the name.

Anywho, if something like this happened, I would simply take the inevitable disgruntled factions from both sides and unite them into an unstoppable fighting force!

Teleport spell + nuke= instant win

 

[Lotet]

Technology, I'll take a page from Galactic Civilizations and bring up the Terror Star, it's like the Death Star except better. We use the Technology that we were supposed to use on making new Planets and Solar systems using a huge artificial gravitaional field but finding that much floating mass floating about was too difficult so we place the field in an enemy Solar system and the entire race is, well, use your imagination, with the ability to destroy suns then even Global class magic can't save you

also, remember that even a mage that doesn't have to chant for a spell still has to prepare for anything big, training goons to use firearms and vehicles is a lot faster than learning how to use a fireball

 

[SulfuricDonut]

Magic because magic wouldn't have to obey any of the laws of science so they could do literally anything, while the science dudes would be stuck having to follow rules.

Wait a minute... Why to mages have to do all those rituals and say magic words and such if there aren't any rules? If magic doesn't have to obey any rules, then how can anyone make it do anything? You're just as likely to kill yourself as your enemy or make Oobleck fall from the skies.

And if magic does obey logical, consistent rules, doesn't that put it in the domain of science's methodological studies?

Exactly. In most D&D settings, magic users spend their entire lives studying magic and testing new types of magic and constantly learn new things. Even the most powerful wizards don't know everything about magic, but they pass on their knowledge to other mages in the hope that they will continue the study and learn more, then they pass their information to the next generation, and so on...
...which is the EXACT same process as science is it not?

When you compare a high-level D&D spell such as say... a fireball, with a technologically advanced weapon like say... a bomb, do they not result in the same outcome?

The apparent answer then is that magic IS a science, and progresses the same way modern technology does, so in a battle, neither side would have the advantage. Like most wars, strategy and morals will decide who dies quicker. In the end everybody loses though.

 

[Lotet]

Like most wars, strategy and morals will decide who dies quicker. In the end everybody loses though.

lose? what about the spoils of war? the opposing faction would HAVE to have something useful/valuable no? plus I'm pretty sure the Techies can get way more soldiers than Mages can summon servants. unless the Mages allow guns, wouldn't that be nice. I mean, the pistol isn't the most deadly weapon but there are many advantages to keeping it at hand, for this reason I think many mages would bring a firearm of some kind, it could save thier life

 

[Zhalath]

The guy who makes Magitek wins.

 

[KeiKun]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and go for both?
In the Role Playing series Rifts there is a character class that uses magic to enhance technology.

Conclusion: Magically enhanced Technology Wins.

 

[The DSM]

Well isnt Science a kind of magic?

OT: Magic, I choose pyromancy, I burn stuff

Necromancy. I control undead!

OT: Magic if it involves necromancy, technology if it doesn't

But the undead BURN.

And im a natural pyromanic, im in my element, literally.

 

[Burst6]

Science. Because noone can outsmart a bullet, especially flimsy mages.

 

[cheese_wizington]

Technology: SUPAR LAZERS

Magic: Go Poof

Technology: Poof

 

[Amnestic]

Well isnt Science a kind of magic?

OT: Magic, I choose pyromancy, I burn stuff

Necromancy. I control undead!

OT: Magic if it involves necromancy, technology if it doesn't

But the undead BURN.

And im a natural pyromanic, im in my element, literally.

They do indeed. Sometimes that's the point. [http://static.desktopnexus.com/wallpapers/40945-bigthumbnail.jpg]

What's scarier than a skeleton? A skeleton that's on fire.