[ShadowsOfEurope] Where's the Magic? Options

[Pelaka]

Reading SoE I see alot that I really like. However, I'm disappointed with how mundane Europe feels. Except for a few minor points the future history of Europe is completely mundane. This could just as easily be the setting of a cyber-punk game. Dragons don't enter into the world except as business men with particually bad reputations. Most of the social distructions caused by the awakening could easily be explained as disruptions caused by VITAS (that occured at the same time coincidently enough). The few magical disasters/events could be changed to eco-disasters and the text would read almost the same (such as Britany or the astral volcano). The Papal storyline could have just as easily been about conservative vs moderate stances on genetic/cyber technologies. The revivals of pagan religions could just as easily have been an explosive growth of mundane cults driven by the inability of the established roman catholic and protestant religions to respond to the sweeping social changes (metas, VITAS, wars, dehumanizing effects of cybertechnology).

Yes, there are some exceptions. The Pendragon and the ley lines in England. The elves in Ireland. But they are minor.

When I read the background on the Americas or Australia its clear how magic completely reshaped the hemisphere. The NAN from the Great Ghost Dance. The Aztechnology magical conspiricy. The rise of Amazonia. The mana storms in the Outback.

Now read SoE. It really feels like a different game.

Maybe the fey plotline is leading up to something. Or there could be something more to the revivals of the pagan religions... but I really think we need more of a magical "hook" then what we were presented.

Pel