Re: [HoE] Partially digested answers

[AJSolis@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/18/99 2:14:22 AM Central Daylight Time, ford@jps.net 
writes:

> 
> Some mad scientist inventions, at least, are powered by manitou.  Someone
> once envisioned a non-mad scientist carefully studying a mad scientist's
> blueprints, realizing that it couldn't possibly work, and thus stumbling
> upon the arcane nature of mad science...
>  
   Well, in my theory anyway, that is the "savages with the car" theory.  
With some exceptions (I somehow doubt that alchemy relies too heavily on any 
scientific principles), the device is just too advanced and quite possibly 
based on currently unknown principles of science.  Back in the stone ages, or 
even the dark ages, a car would be a magical item of the highest order.   
   Also, the explanation for where the manitou got the inspiration for the 
devices also lends credence to that theory, since according to that the only 
way a manitou could give a mad scientist the inspiration for a time machine 
is because someone invented a time machine. Hence, a mad scientist can build 
a time machine because it would have gotten invented anyway, the same for a 
flame-thrower or a motorcycle.  And the fact that a time machine was listed 
as an example mean someone invented it, if not a mad scientist than a normal 
inventor.
   Not that I am arguing that all mad scientist inventions are limited to 
science, the potions of the alchemist seem to be a precedent for the 
technomagic of the junkers in my opinion, but even in that case it seems to 
be the science of magic.