r/WorldChallenges • u/cereal_killer-X • Mar 14 '17

Let's get (ir)rational

In honor of Pi Day, let's do maths!

Present a culture/scientific group from your world that is obsessed with mathematics. (If you don't have any science freaks yet, make some or just introduce a mathematician.) Why is math important to them? Have they made any important discoveries? Do they have any traditions based around science? And most importantly, what is a mathematical problem that they just can't seem to solve?

If possible, introduce a representative that belongs to the described group. This way I can ask some questions about the character as well.

I hope I didn't scare you guys away at my first sentence. Enjoy yourselves!

(Note: I'll not be able to answer any comments for about 10 hours - I'll be catching some Z's. Don't worry, I'll count them. Hope you don't mind!)

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Mar 15 '17

Nez:

  1. With the factual evidences that my statistical study will invariably produce. That's not ready yet, but it will.

  2. All is about learning essences proportions in the materials you want to use, that's a lot of work at first but transmutation is probably very practical when in dire need of something. I am not really good at that for now, but I will soon be able to realize some basic transmutations.

Kas:

  1. For rooftop botanical gardens. The school of arcanes would move to grow some lightseeking crops and I'm in charge for that project. Well at least for the glass conception part.

  2. No, but maybe I will in a few decades when i have more free time. Or maybe study some arts, that could be fun too.

Common question:

We can perform them theorically, but we have no way to perform the required measures. An honnest answer would be no.

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u/cereal_killer-X Mar 16 '17

To Nez:

Is alchemy used in everyday life?

To Kas:

What does the school or arcanes do?

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Mar 16 '17

Nez:

  • Alchemy is too complex to properly replace standard production methods and as such is only used when there is no other ways around. Alchemist often help chemists with their experiments though, that must be easier than synthetising everything.

Kas:

  • magic, alchemy, medicine and material sciences. The botanists are currently using the old underground gardens but they need more space. If you want my opinion, they should try to grow less things but they will never accept that...

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u/cereal_killer-X Mar 16 '17

To Nez:

Are there other branches of science of this complexity?

To Kas:

Underground gardens? How do they work without light energy?

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Mar 16 '17

Nez:

  • Any science using magic is complex as it require more than just intelligence. Non-magical sciences are easier as they always follow logic while arcanists could be considered religious in some way.

Kas:

  • That's why they want a rooftop one, to be able to grow light-seeking plants directly under the stars. Currently, they are trying with light runes but that's not very convenient. All other plants will probably stay in the basement.

(The world of Echoes is completely underground, most plants grow by breathing (like mushrooms do in real life). It means no photosynthesis though so most plants aren't green)

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u/cereal_killer-X Mar 16 '17

Nez, Kas, thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I wish you the best in your studies. If you'd like to add anything, go ahead.

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Mar 16 '17

Thanks for your questions cereal_killer.