I am going to be running a 5th Edition campaign set in a future of a previous campaign. I want to add "magi-tech", but very sparingly.
My question is: Are there any official sources for this type of thing? Rules or anything? I know 5E is new so it might not, but I thought I'd ask.
I've heard that Eberron has some magi-tech things (I've never played it). Would the campaign guide for 4E be good to pull ideas from or would it not make sense rules-wise?
In the Dungeon Master's Guide (pp. 267-268), there are rules for firearms, including future items (e.g., laser pistol, antimatter rifle and a laser rifle, along with modern weapons). Also explosives, including grenades. There are also rules on 'alien technology' in the DMG (pg 268) which is rules for a character figuring out how to use technology works.
For most technology (magi-tech or otherwise), I would use these rules and simply treat it as a magic item with similar properties. Jet pack is a broom of flying, a computer is a scroll of some divination spell (with recharging charges) and a hovercraft is an airship or flying carpet, etc., perhaps with limited charges.
Since the DMG also features guidelines on making spells, you can make up an ability with those guidelines and treat items as either scrolls or wands to simulate technology.
I made gnometech and try to keep it simple.
I take a magic item and make it look like a steampunk creation. Examples are
boots of jumping and springing that have small rockets on the side of the bronze/brass boots with a gooey (super rubber) sole.
I sometimes up the rarity and combine two items together, or give it some aspects of another item.
Example: the above rocket boots also allowing a swimming speed.
Gnometech can also be, more generically, magitech. I have Kobolds, Goblins and Dwarves with their own variations. It's a way to reskin an item to fit your campaign style better.
