Arcanarms
Arcanarms are one of the most popular weapons worldwide. In a world where everyone has magic, a weapon that allows full use of magic without training is a valuable and powerful thing. Arcanarms act on a unique premise - by simply pulling a trigger, your magic is collected from your body, collecting at a point on the weapon called the focus. From here, the weapon's shape and mechanics shape how the magic is launched, often in a straight line, burst, or cone-shaped blast.
Arcanarms aren't ancient, but aren't new. They've existed for about 500 years, give or take. Certainly refined, Arcanarms now occupy an interesting niche in weapons - more convenient and easier to use then firearms, with more range and power in an untrained hand then a normal weapon. The limit to this is, of course, one's mana. Spellcasters can pick up a civilian-class Arcanarm and fire it for minutes - but an ordinary merchant could fire maybe ten.
The reason why spellcasters don't simply use arcanarms is simple - a lack of flexibility and power. Arcanarms usually have a single setting for fire strength, pattern and aspect (if any). While some spellcasters do carry the weapons for convenience, many carry it for a different reason - the art behind an Arcanarm. With simple pieces and some magical tinkering, those that are familiar with their magic can create a weapon that's an art piece, that's as familiar to them as a limb. Add the custom look and build of the weapon, and you have a community of Arcanarms artists across the realms.
Arcanarms themselves are fairly simple to understand - The trigger must be made of some magically conductive material - such as most metals or plastics; The barrel must have a directional flow for magic to follow; and the focus must shape the magic in some way. However, craftspeople can work for years on Arcanarms and still learn new techniques - which leads to the innovation of future Arcanarms.
Arcanarms also have the unique advantage of not technically requiring ammo for larger weapons. Siege and ship-to-ship Arcanarms can operate with no power source - technically. Crew that man these weapons need to be trained so that their mana reserves deepen.
Arcanarms aren't ancient, but aren't new. They've existed for about 500 years, give or take. Certainly refined, Arcanarms now occupy an interesting niche in weapons - more convenient and easier to use then firearms, with more range and power in an untrained hand then a normal weapon. The limit to this is, of course, one's mana. Spellcasters can pick up a civilian-class Arcanarm and fire it for minutes - but an ordinary merchant could fire maybe ten.
The reason why spellcasters don't simply use arcanarms is simple - a lack of flexibility and power. Arcanarms usually have a single setting for fire strength, pattern and aspect (if any). While some spellcasters do carry the weapons for convenience, many carry it for a different reason - the art behind an Arcanarm. With simple pieces and some magical tinkering, those that are familiar with their magic can create a weapon that's an art piece, that's as familiar to them as a limb. Add the custom look and build of the weapon, and you have a community of Arcanarms artists across the realms.
Arcanarms themselves are fairly simple to understand - The trigger must be made of some magically conductive material - such as most metals or plastics; The barrel must have a directional flow for magic to follow; and the focus must shape the magic in some way. However, craftspeople can work for years on Arcanarms and still learn new techniques - which leads to the innovation of future Arcanarms.
Arcanarms also have the unique advantage of not technically requiring ammo for larger weapons. Siege and ship-to-ship Arcanarms can operate with no power source - technically. Crew that man these weapons need to be trained so that their mana reserves deepen.
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