Author: Jeb Boyt (---.tx.us)
Date: 06-26-2001 14:05
Whether you call it "Wizards & Wiseguys" or "Sorcerors & Speakeasies" this is a great idea for a setting. I particularly liked the idea of J. Edgar Hoover as a wizard coniving for control over the practice of magic in the U.S. I do have one major problem/concern/question about this setting, though - what about the First World War?
In a setting where magic reappears in 1908, does Europe go to war in 1914? Would the new magic provide the Austrians with warning of the assassination attempt on the Archduke Ferdinand? Would the new magic make military commanders more cautious in calling for war mobilization? (Likely)
With magic and no Great War in the '10s, you get a very different '20s. Would there be a Russian Revolution? If so, what role would magic play? How does the return of magic effect the Communist critique of industrial capitalism? What about the Ottomans? Does the return of magic slow or accelerate China's decline during the '10s and '20s? Does magic trigger the decline of the British Empire (uppity native wizards) or is it another tool to be used to ensure that the sun never sets on the Empire? Sure, there is Prohibition, but you likely don't have barnstorming and the rapid development of aircraft technology much less all of the social changes brought about by the War. With magic, would there be a crash in '29 followed by a world wide economic depression, or would the crash occur in the '10s in place of the War?
Perhaps by the '20s you do have the Great Powers growing confident in their understanding and use of magic so that they are again thinking of going to war. The lead up to a Great War in the early '30s would include much spying and some smaller conflicts where the use of magic in modern, industrial warfare was tested.
All in all, a great background for a Pulp Magic campaign.
Jeb
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