Most fantasy novels are set in Medieval or early Renaissance era settings. They have steel, swords, armor, and maybe even early firearms. However, this represents a small aspect of possibilities. What technologies and even what materials are available can have a dramatic effect on the feel of the world.

I purposely set my novels in a part of my world that is most familiar to fantasy readers. As a first time author, I wanted my world to be familiar enough for people to get immediately, but different enough so it was recognizable as my own. So, while I have heavy shields and plate armor, most people don’t wear such things because they are in a desert and it’s oppressively hot. I have swords, but there are an array of weapons available. Blacksmiths and forges are common, but there are also blast furnaces making more advanced steel as well. They have almost no wood to build with, so use stone for almost everything.

Far to the south and west in the great jungles is a country called Satala. They live in an area where there are massive rivers, huge amounts of wood, but almost no metal. They have stone available, but unlike Myos, it is in the form of gravels and rocks, not boulders or columns. They don’t have metal working professionals, but have master carpenters and have developed composite materials similar to concrete. Instead of metal armors, they use hardwood reinforced leathers. Instead of metal swords and shields, they use polished mahogany or ebony cleaver-style clubs as well as bows, staves, and blowguns. It may sound primitive, but look at the weapons of the Maori and Aztecs, who had similar limitations. These were used with devastating effect, even against Europeans who had firearms.

Don’t limit yourself to just weapons and armor. Agriculture, manufacturing, education, and even economic advancements can have a huge effect on the setting. A culture using hunting and gathering instead of crops will have a difficult time making large cities, so may not have advanced technology in other areas. However, that same culture may have very high levels of education and economic acumen, meaning they can take advantage of trade routes, deal with currency issues, or have the ability to finance large ventures or caravans.

You may even want to have technology levels when it comes to magic. Perhaps a culture never developed advanced weapons or materials because they are so magically adept. A country may have outlawed magic, but be a manufacturing powerhouse to prevent invasion by magic-using neighbors. Yet another country might use magic and other technologies in harmony, creating magically fueled ships or an army that wields wands instead of more conventional weapons.

Ultimately, technology should be used to increase the realism of the setting. If you have a major empire, they likely will be the most technologically advanced. If two countries are at war, they should be somewhat evenly matched, with the advantages of one being countered by the advantages of the other.

Thank you so much for reading this and your support! See you next week.