Technology in Arcanum plays the antagonist to the ways of magick. Because technology utilizes the laws of nature, and does not bend them, it lends itself to common use and widespread popularity. There is no mystery in the spark between two pieces of flint, and even advanced technology is just an extension of these basic principles, from a simple Skeleton Key to the complex Tesla Rod or the Mechanized Arachnid. Consequently, technology has become quite popular to the shorter-lived species of Arcanum, such as humans and orcs, who lack the longevity and patience to practice the magickal arts for decades on end. The level of technology in Arcanum is what you would find at the turn of the 19th century. Steam engines, revolvers and muskets are common in the world of Arcanum. But the player will be able to find and create extraordinary pieces of technology such as fully automatic mechanized guns, mechanical creatures, and stat boosting therapeutics. There are literally dozens of technological items to be discovered in this world. There are eight disciplines of technology, and each discipline will have seven degrees within it. These 56 technological degress can be obtained by spending character points. The eight technological disciplines are:
- Chemistry - Studies man-made substances and their deleterious effects.
- Electric - Explores the effects of charge and magnetism.
- Explosives - Covers the research of new and unstable substances.
- Gun Smithy - Controls the design and implementation of new weaponry.
- Herbology - Concerns itself with study of the body and how natural substances can affect it.
- Mechanical - Studies the physical properties of materials.
- Smithy - Covers the construction of armors of all types.
- Therapeutics - Explores the beneficial effects of man-made substances.
With each degree obtained, players gain specific knowledge in that discipline, allowing the player to read more advanced schematics. Schematics are technical drawings found in the game showing an item that can be created, and what two objects you need to obtain in order to create it. For example, a player can use their points to gain the first degree of the Mechanical discipline, which is Trainee. This gives him the knowledge to read the Spike Trap Schematic, which tells him that the two items necessary to complete the spike trap are a railroad spike and a large spring. If he has both items, he can put them together to create a spike trap, and then place the trap on the ground and any creature stepping on it will take damage.
|Novice Formula: [Varham's Aqua Vitae] + [Monroe's Cleaner] = Strong Poison|
|Assistant Formula: [Electrolyte Solution] + [Metal Plates] = Charges|
Associate Formula: [Bromide] + [Morning Star Perfume] = Animal Scent
Technician Formula: [Pete's Carbolic Acid] + [Sulphur Pills] = Corrosive Acid
Engineer Formula: [Mushrooms] + [Varham's Aqua Vitae] = Hallucinite
Professor Formula: [Potassium Chloride] + [Strong Poison] = Paralyzer
Doctorate Formula: [Hallucinite] + [Bromide] = Anaesthisizer
|Novice Formula: [Lantern] + [Filament] = Electric Light|
|Assistant Formula: [Copper Ring] + [Capacitor] = Charged Ring|
|Associate Formula: [Small Electrical Parts] + [Compass] = Flow Specktrometer|
|Technician Formula: [Large Capacitor] + [Staff] = Shocking Staff|
|Engineer Formula: [Electrical Coil] + [Top Hat] = Chapeau of Magnetic Inversion|
|Professor Formula: [Electrical Harness] + [Leather Armour] = Healing Jacket|
|Doctorate Formula: [Tesla Coil] + [Shocking Staff] = Tesla Rod|
|Novice Formula: [Fuel] + [Rag] = Molotov Cocktail|
|Assistant Formula: [Magnesium] + [Wine] = Flash Grenade|
|Associate Formula: [Tom's Fertilizer] + [CK Sugar] = Smoke Grenade|
|Technician Formula: [Stearic Acid] + [Saltpeter] = Stun Grenade|
|Engineer Formula: [Black Powder] + [Metal Can] = Explosive Grenade|
|Professor Formula: [Kerosene] + [Liquid Soap] = Fire Obstruction|
|Doctorate Formula: [Nitroglycerin] + [Saltpeter] = Dynamite|
|Novice Formula: [Ginka Root] + [Kadura Stem] = Healing Salve|
|Assistant Formula: [Coca Leaves] + [Tobacco Leaves] = Fatigue Restorer|
|Associate Formula: [Venom] + [Kadura Stem] = Poison Cure|
Technician Formula: [Fatigue Restorer] + [Witchbane] = Fatigue Limiter
|Engineer Formula: [Healing Salve] + [Coca Leaves] = Accelerate Healing|
|Professor Formula: [Accelerate Healing] + [Poppy Flowers] = Wonder Drug|
|Doctorate Formula: [Wonder Drug] + [Big Chief Snake Oil] = Cure All|
Gun Smithy Edit
|Novice Formula: [Broken Flintlock Pistol] + [Small Metal Tube] = Hand Crafted Flintlock|
|Assistant Formula: [Revolver Parts] + [Revolver Chamber] = Fine Revolver|
|Associate Formula: [Hunting Rifle] + [Revolver Chamber] = Repeater Rifle|
|Technician Formula: [Fine Revolver] + [Engine Muffler] = Hushed Revolver|
|Engineer Formula: [Marksman Rifle] + [Looking Glass] = Looking-Glass Rifle|
|Professor Formula: [Clarington Rifle] + [Fancy Pistol] = Hand Cannon|
|Doctorate Formula: [Hunting Rifle] + [Large Pipe] = Elephant Gun|
|Novice Formula: [Railroad Spike] + [Large Spring] = Spike Trap|
|Assistant Formula: [Metal Casing] + [Small Spring] = Trap Springer|
|Associate Formula: [Lockpicks] + [Small Spring] = Auto Skeleton Key|
|Technician Formula: [Pocket Watch Parts] + [Eye Glasses] = Eye Gear|
|Engineer Formula: [Metal Clamp] + [Large Spring] = Bear Trap|
|Professor Formula: [Clock Parts] + [Small Spring] = Clockwork Decoy|
|Doctorate Formula: [Small Steam Engine] + [Large Gears] = Mechanized Arachnid|
|Novice Formula: [Iron Ore] + [Steel] = Pure Ore|
|Assistant Formula: [Pure Ore] + [Fine Hilt and Guard] = Balanced Sword|
|Associate Formula: [Dwarven Ore] + [Oak Axe Handle] = Feather-Weight Axe|
|Technician Formula: [Sheet Metal] + [Leather Gloves] = Dwarven Gauntlets|
|Engineer Formula: [Great Helm] + [Leather Straps] = Helmet of Vision|
|Professor Formula: [Spool of Heavy Wire] + [Leather Armour] = Feather-Weight Chainmail|
|Doctorate Formula: [Dwarven Steel] + [Feather-Weight Chain] = Elite Platemail|
|Novice Formula: [Migraine Cure] + [Thermometer] = Elixir of Persuasion|
|Assistant Formula: [Famous Blood Pills] + [Spirit of Camphor] = Elixir of Physical Prowess|
|Associate Formula: [Migraine Cure] + [Doolittle's Glyceride] = Liquid of Awareness|
|Technician Formula: [Tincture of Arnica] + [Rheumatism Cure] = Tonic of Increased Reflexes|
|Engineer Formula: [Nerve Pills] + [Potion of Persuasion] = Mind Marvel|
|Professor Formula: [Quinine] + [Elixir of Physical Prowess] = Energizer|
|Doctorate Formula: [Mind Marvel] + [Energizer] = Revitalizer|