ZETERZERO'S PROFILE

I've been playing with an idea for a game in which ancient science replaces magic. In this case it would be a world where items were the source of most "fantastical" abilities, such as weapons forged from rare metals or devices that allow a character to use certain techniques. In this case instead of a mage who has dozens of different spells you would have a character who uses a tool with a single root ability but learns different way of utilizing that ability.

For instance where a swordsman might develop seven or eight different techniques, stances, etc., another character wielding a plasma generating gauntlet would functional similarly. At first all he/she knows how to do it activate the gauntlet and hit things with it, but before long he/she figures out how that they can magnetize armor and hamper enemy movements. (Not that plasma works that way...I think...I never took any physics courses but you get the idea.)

It's still got some holes in it, yeah, but a set up like this would allow for more equality between characters without compromising stuff like elemental advantages. I also have similar explanations for monsters but that's a rant for another day.