[quote=@Legion02] Okay so I got this rather silly idea I adopted from a book: With gunpowder and all that, what if mages adapt themselves? I got this wicked idea of earth sorcerers now slowly learning concepts and ideas like magnetism and how to manipulate ores and such. Making them something I'd call Technomancers. Technomancers would be pilots of certain mecha's holding them together with the aid of magical crystals, magnetism but also tech like gears and such. (They'd also control steam to an extend) Another idea I have as Gunpower mages. Basically fire mages that learned to draw power from gunpowder. Basic gunpowder mages could burn gunpowder to put force behind an object already propelled by gunpowder. AKA: they can make muskets more effective with far longer range. More advanced Gunpowder mages would be able to detonate gunpowder further away from them. Very good gunpowder mages would be able to control the trajectory of gunpowder fire objects using gunpowder (like changing the direction a little or putting more power behind it mid-flight). Still, with the obvious limits like: distance, force, personal ability and available gunpowder (For those who know, I got this idea from Promise of Blood). [/quote]Magic operates by spells, rituals and mystic procedures. Magic is something which requires the knowledge of supernatural and abusing this to your own devices. What you describe above is closer to people with superpowers and abusing that with their scientific knowledge. Try to spice these up with some mysticism. Instead of detonating gunpowder with thought just let angry spirits haunt shells and instruct them to detonate when enemies are near. Instead of mages using muskets being far more effective combine ancient runes to direct the flame more efficiently to the forward direction. Mechs might work due to them effectively being golems which the mage pilots as its master. Also perhaps you can spice this up with creative drawbacks like fire spirits refusing to obey during the rain or that sun runes which direct exhaust gases won't work during the night or that golem-mechs run amok if they lost their maker. In the end magic and equipment imbued by them is also pricey as hell. The reason magicians are on the decline is both because technology is way cheaper and because magic knowledge is passed on for many generations and most magic users can't just adopt to the changes. They represent traditions and old values which the new world is in process of throwing away. Your people apparently did adapt and that's fine for contrast with others. For example my nation have alchemy ruling over science with its unique ups and downs. I just ask you to both spice this up while making it balanced out then you'd be fine.