In the world of Arcanum there are two opposing forces, those of Technology and Magick. Technology works with the laws of nature while magick works to subvert it.
Technology in Arcanum utilizes the laws of nature and does not bend them, thus it lends itself to common use and widespread popularity. From the simple lever, inclined plane, and wheel come all more advanced technology, as they are just an extension of these basic machines. Complexity and efficiency of technological items comes from them being greater than the sum of their parts. This is something that anyone can master, given a sufficiently high Intelligence.
However, technology may not always work properly in a magickal field. Gears bind, springs warp, friction disappears or becomes impossibly high, chemical reaction go haywire, etc. This applies even to items that one deems helpful like armor and weapons, if the user or the recipient has a high magickal Aptitude.
The ways to use Technology in Arcanum, are as follows:
- Learning from 8 Technological Disciplines which contain 7 degrees each.
- Finding and/or buying Schematics.
- Becoming proficient in the Technological Skills.
- Using Technological Items.