The Collective is a game intended for a fantasy world that has managed to reach the 'modern era' of technological innovation in some, if not necessarily all, fronts. Mana is seen as a source of power akin to our modern usage of electricity - a substance that can be channeled, stored, controlled, generated, and even absorbed from the environment. As such, devices that control, store, or manipulate mana have replaced electrical and electronic components, and the era is somewhat of a cross between steampunk, fantasy, and a hint of cyberpunk in terms of tone.
So, with that out of the way, here are the important things to know about this gameworld.