So this is a question that is probably got its origin in Anime.
There is a sub-genre of fantasy where you find typical armored knights, dragons, elves living in tree house, but they all use magic to create modern, or even futuristic technologies.
Things like knights on robot horses, or inside mecha suits, plumbing, glowing crystal lamps, AI robots as a playable race (this one is pretty common), or even trains, planes, and automobiles, and even airships.
The final fantasy video games often go that route.
Which game would you try if you wanted to be in this genre.
I expect there will be three types. Generic RPG's that can do anything because that's what they do. Specific games already written for this niche game setting, or supplement books to a pure fantasy RPG that turn it into that niche.
I'm not a big fan of that third type. I know people love to make supplement books for their favorite games, probably D&D, but I like the other two more. That's a bit hypocritical of me as I like Palladium books, and there are at least three supplement books so you can play in other settings like Phase World, Mutants in Orbit, and Wormwood.
But for a magi-tech setting, I'm still unsure where to look.
The Exalted setting has this, although the current "Age" has fallen from the heights of the past. Now, even if you love the setting, prepare to be repelled by the rules...
At the generic level, tag based games like Fate, PDQ, or Otherscape will gladly do that. I love Fate Accelerated Edition for quick hacks.
At the system level, I'm currently running a Fabula Ultima game and it can hands down do the magi-tech thing with the core book and there are also high fantasy and techno-magic source books that can crank the base game up to 11.
In Fabula, there is a lot of world building done in session zero, so each group's campaign will be different. For example, in mine, there is no gun powder. The guns in the game use elemental magic/crystals to summon stone shot propelled by water + fire + air = steam. Thus the starting kingdom has smooth bore sub-sonic firearms.
Radiance (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/105102/radiance-players-guide-a-complete-roleplaying-game-in-the-age-of-electrotech) is the first thing that pops into my head, if you don't mind a chunkier ruleset. Eberron and Fabula Ultima too, of course.
Magic-tech is incorporated into my Land of a Thousand Towers campaign. Being a post-apocalyptic setting in the mode of Dying Earth and RPGPundit's Last Sun, there's other forms of tech as well. I can only best describe it as shown here:
https://www.therpgsite.com/design-development-and-gameplay/land-of-a-thousand-towers-a-gonzo-game-world/ (https://www.therpgsite.com/design-development-and-gameplay/land-of-a-thousand-towers-a-gonzo-game-world/)
So off the top of my head I know sword world 2.0 and 2.5 have some of this but I'm not familiar enough with the setting to have full details. I know guns are straight up enchanted bullets because in setting they don't have gun powder yet.
As an aside, it's always surprised me that there isn't a major RPG using the aesthetic style of Final Fantasy VI-X, with the whole retro-futurist fantasy thing, with the characters dressed in modern streetwear, cars and art deco architecture, but still with magic and melee weapons. Those games were hugely popular and still are. Fabula Ultima is probably the closest, but aesthetically it seems to be more based on modern JRPGs like the "Tales of" or "Granblue" series.
I suppose that Final Fantasy style clashes with the realist sensibilities of most major RPGs. It's kind of hard to come up with a ruleset where going around in cargo shorts and fighting with a spear makes sense if you could instead choose to wear power armor and use a machine gun. The disconnected turn-based combat in those old JRPGs adds a level of unreality that helps suspend your disbelief on the illogic of it all. It seems like most anime-inspired RPGs go in the direction of more abstracted or story-game style mechanics, and that's probably not a coincidence.
Fabula Ultima was one of the games I thought of. However, I thought it was on our collective shit-list because it has pronouns on the character sheet.
I'm not as harsh about that stuff as some people. I'll roll my eyes, but it's nothing I can't ignore. Honestly, only overt woke games like Thirsty Sword Lesbians (half lesbian dating game) or Coyote & Crow (Native American designer said it's not for whites, then backtracked when it wouldn't sell) are games I'll steer clear of.
I do have its free QuickStart rules. I'll give it another look.
Radiance wasn't one I thought of. I have it because the PDF is free.
Free Radiance RPG on DTRPG (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/105102/radiance-players-guide-a-complete-roleplaying-game-in-the-age-of-electrotech)
Heh, I may disagree with 90% of the fan base (and the author), but I do like the game. The guy did nail the JRPG vibe that I was looking for in a game of that genre.
Quote from: zircher on April 14, 2025, 06:42:57 PMHeh, I may disagree with 90% of the fan base (and the author), but I do like the game. The guy did nail the JRPG vibe that I was looking for in a game of that genre.
Oh, let me be clear. I will play Fabula Ultima.
I just think including pronouns on the character sheet is stupid. It irritates some people, and for what? It is there for no benefit.
The best video game for this was Arcanum of Steamworks and Magic Obscura from 2001
nothing I have seen in any other video game or TTRPG comes close to the depth and creativity in integrating technology and magic in a single game world.
I've often wondered what TTRPGs are closest to it
I just want to highlight how weird the rabbit holes going down this one can be.
I have been playing and talking shop for RPGs for the better part of two decades now. I'm definitely not the most experienced person in the room, but I'm also not exactly a newcomer. When you asked for Magi-tech RPGs I drew a complete blank. I know several RPGs with lost tech backgrounds, but none where magitech is front and center.
Duck Duck Go to the rescue, I see.
In my meanderings, I found The Magitech Chronicles, which appears to be an indie novel author converting his own books into supplements for a custom D6 pool system. This setting seems way higher on the tech ladder than you are looking for. I'm not familiar enough with it to comment.
And then I found Genius: The Transgression. A game where the New World of Darkness core system is strong-armed into running a mad scientist version of Mage: The Ascention, with insanity elements from Call of C'thulu stapled on for good measure. Because mad science, yo.
Holy cow, that pitch, man. I hate almost every single thing you chose to work with there, and the game somehow still sounds like crazy fun.
Yeah, I think that this is a pretty unexplored space, but my goodness does some weird stuff exist down this rabbit hole.
Quote from: weirdguy564 on April 14, 2025, 09:31:57 AMSo this is a question that is probably got its origin in Anime.
Magitech goes way back. Anime got it from D&D who got it from old stories. You see it in old pulps fairly often.
A friend of mine did a conversion of AD&D to a post apoc magi-tech setting by converting things like magic items into technological equivalents.
TSR way back actually did an Amazing Engine setting called Magitech.
wotc in Polyhedron had a d20 Modern setting/system called Mecha Crusade that was Gundam-esque and could easily be rethemed to magic. Which is apparently what was done for a published version.
Quote from: blackstone on April 14, 2025, 11:30:13 AMMagic-tech is incorporated into my Land of a Thousand Towers campaign. Being a post-apocalyptic setting in the mode of Dying Earth and RPGPundit's Last Sun, there's other forms of tech as well. I can only best describe it as shown here:
https://www.therpgsite.com/design-development-and-gameplay/land-of-a-thousand-towers-a-gonzo-game-world/ (https://www.therpgsite.com/design-development-and-gameplay/land-of-a-thousand-towers-a-gonzo-game-world/)
Seconded for Land of a Thousand Towers. Really an awesome setting filled with Magic...and Tech, and mutants and Fantasy. And it fits into a B/X ruleset (which you must supply) or run/make your own rules.
Comes with a mega-dungeon called Anomalous Subsurface Environment. Found on Lulu. Link:
https://www.lulu.com/shop/patrick-wetmore/ase1-anomalous-subsurface-environment-pdf/ebook/product-qk2dy9.html?srsltid=AfmBOoox6Pj5Hxs6zpKSn5qv9bdlWVIawS6tLGCRP0bqwx7Yk6gXu7_g&page=1&pageSize=4
Since you didn't specify...
Make your own - /tenbones blah blah blah Savage Worlds SWADE Core with SWADE Fantasy Companion and Sci-Fi Companion... go hogwild. /blah
Psionic Magi-tech Spacemarine Commandos vs. Alien Necrosorcerers from the Null-Dimension. You can literally refluff and create any flavor of Magic+Sci-fi you could want on the chassis.
Attack on Titan-sized Kaiju Steampunk Borgs vs. Psiberknights on their atomic rocket-chariots powered by mystical crystals from the heart of Thargia-Prime? NO PROBLEM!
There's also Girl Genius which I think is powered by GURPS 4ed.