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In the name of SCIENCE! Hextech, Hexchem and Techmaturgy of modern Runeterra.

Ixinar·9/18/2013, 2:12:06 AM·5 votes·2,277 views

So, I really, really want to gather some more opinions and point out how the overall view of one of the biggest underlying breakthroughs of Runeterra is being presented.

I still don't know what is the major difference between Hextech and Techmaturgy.

My current point of view is:

  1. Hextech is using magic (spell) to make machine behave how creator want. Enchanting, in other worlds. So we take something 'normal', cast a spell/engrave a rune into it, and it behaves how we want and technical limitations aren't necessarily a problem. Practical aplication: If it breaks, go to a mage, not an engineer.

  2. Techmaturgy is the art of building and utilizing devices with magic serving as power source. Most of them give extraordinary effects but work on scientific principles and don't necessarily require spellcaster to be involved, other than providing some form of energy (be it a hextech core, or some other perpetual motion thing to an elemental) So, on Earth, we strived with many different power sources, be it external, like water, or internal, as springs in clocks, or currently, batteries (simplifying of course). Major thing is, if the 'core' of the device isn't damaged, you probably need just someone with right tools to help you with the device.

Problem is, some things presented in the world doesn't support above line of thinking. Are Vi gloves powered by some arcane means, to fit techmaturgy? What about Viktor's hand or Blitzcrank? Can magic of Runeterra in itself create a conciousness, or maybe magic serves as a conduit to do basically small scale summoning, and Blitz got self aware because some primal 'soul' got attached to that body? There is so many unexplained things that it makes the world feel a little bit inconsistent, especially when graphics say 'we wanted it to feel hextech' <- what does that even mean?! Is Hextech sinister in some way? What is it's identity? Are there people in Valoran supporting one over the other, or are they just 'it works' kind of practical people? And how the Ionian traditions fit into it, with their deep mysticism and spiritual enlightment creating obviously magical devices?

7 Comments

Riotmoltovcarrot9/19/2013, 1:16:05 AM4 votes

http://i.imgur.com/DlX9aJD.jpg

I am also curious about these details. Inquiring minds want to know!

FreestyleKneepad9/18/2013, 7:54:04 AM2 votes

Vi's gloves seem like prime examples of hextech to me: she's an engineer, she built the gloves themselves. From a mechanical standpoint and a design standpoint, the gloves look and act very much like they might without magic: they'd just be heavy as all get out. It seems to me like the hextech is there to make them wieldable (is that a word?) and slightly more powerful, but overall the gloves could work just fine on their own if Vi was strong enough to support their weight.

Pryotra10/10/2013, 11:13:50 PM1 votes

My way of seeing it is:

  1. Hextech - Specialty of Piltover. Really just inventions with a special (possibly magical) power source. Mostly used in piltover. Fairly safe (usually) and sustainable. For example, Heimerdinger's Everything, Vi's gauntlets, Jayce's Hammer, Ziggs Bombs, Etc.

  2. Techmaturgy - A true combination of magic and machine. Enchanting, summoning, and controlling Tech and more all fall under this. Mostly used in Zaun. Pretty dangerous/hazardous to environment. Examples include, Blitzcrank, Viktor, Urgot, etc.

  3. Clockwork - Requires winding, fairly jerky, only 1 known creation (so far). Only example is Oriana. She is special, being neither Hextech or techmaturgic.

I Feel that seeing as Piltover actually cares about runeterra, I highly doubt it would use something incredibly hazardous. Even ziggs bombs don't hurt the environment outside of the actual boom, where as who knows what emissions Urgot gives off (better to not think on that one).