Boards›Story, Art, & Sound

The general level of technology in Valoran/Runeterra

SaltyToplaneGoat·2/14/2015, 10:07:17 AM·4 votes·1,404 views

This is something that bothers me for quite a while now: we know Piltover and Zaun are the most advanced states technologically. But what about the others? What is the standart in Demacia or Noxus? I highly doubt that they are still stuck in the middle ages - especially since both of them are allied with such a modern city state, enabling an exchange of technology.

From what I think one could date the technological level to a time that can be compared to 1910-1930 (+ magic). Think of the republic city in Avatar: Legend of Korra: The cars are super slow if taken by todays standarts and formed like boxes, the radio is the number one mass media, apart from a newspaper.

The number one cultural event in that case would be the theater (or opera, if you like cliche demacian drama).

But on the other hand you still have magic, as well as Hextech (which is the combination of magic and technology), making other things possible, such as phones or long distance communication.

So, just what does everyday life look like in this world? How far has medical technology proceeded? What are the main media? The mostly used method of long distance communication? How is progress and technology viewed in remote regions, such as Shurima?

Can please a Rioter answer this basic, world building questions?

4 Comments

Necrolegion892/15/2015, 4:49:11 AM2 votes

I think that the technology aspect of Valoran has some similarity to WW2.

All of these great nations have yet to plunge into world war so they do not know which technology is better. For all they know, Noxus technology is viewed by Noxians as superior to anything Demacia has and vice verse for Demacia. Not until they go to war with each other and test the effectiveness of their respective technologies will they get more interest in either further development or reverse engineering technology.

Now we can argue that Noxus and Demacia may or may not have some form of old tradition in fighting with swords and armor. Maybe its some sort of honorary thing?

As per how advanced their technology is? Well I think Valoran has, in some respect, more advanced technology than us.

The Void are a species able to bend space-time. The engineers behind this technology are perhaps interstellar. Not only that, but they also appear to have a great understanding in genetics, able to take an existing living frame and modify it, giving it a new purpose.

Viktor has been able to create artificial intelligence. Not only that, but also Orianna's father was able to achieve this as well. There can be many arguments to this too, but one thing is certain: Creating any form of artificial intelligence is almost like playing god. Both of these scientist were able to create life where it shouldn't have naturally existed. This is beyond our current computing technology atm.

Heimerdinger, Rumble, and Ziggs, are the equivalent scientist to Einstein, Newton, and others. Heimerdinger, possess an incredible understanding of math and physics. Rumble, also possess a great understanding of math, physics, and robotics. Ziggs posses a great understanding of physics. Together, all three of them were able to create the Mecha fighters and Rumble's Super Galaxy exo-suit.

As you can see, some of these technologies are more advanced than ours.

A Superb Villain2/16/2015, 3:32:51 PM1 votes

The inclusion of magic completely demolishes any attempts to make comparisons between our world and Runeterra. Sure, Zaun seems like an industrial city straight out of 1980's cyberpunk films, but then you have Noxus with blood magic, short-range teleportation (Leblanc), and runeswords (which possibly cut through much more than any normal metal has a right to). Even then, Zaun makes extensive use of magic in their technology (Techmaturgy).

Who is to say Darius' armor is not inscribed with runes that increase their resilience to blunt force (explosives) or penetration (bullets) when splashed with the blood of enemies? How effective is Jinx's Pow-pow when used against Garen's armor that may be made from a material with no real world equivalent? In terms of raw, technological progress, Demacia, Noxus, Freljord, and Shurima are well below Piltover and Zaun, but magic likely makes up for any discrepancy, perhaps even granting them an edge. Consider Urgot was created through techmaturgy, while Sion was reborn purely through magic. The latter is in a much better physical state than the former.

To be honest, you might have better luck throwing darts at a board than pinpointing Runeterra's level of technology.