PDA

View Full Version : Talk to me about Steampunk settings.



overduegalaxy
2009-02-15, 10:27 PM
I've decided to start preparing for my summer game, and my current world concept requires a good bit of technology to work. I don't want it to just be an Eberron knockoff, and the players will just be finishing an Eberron campaign, so I want to go a different direction instead of magic-powered technology. The obvious other way to go, while still preserving a semi-medieval feel, is steampunk.

I know there are a good handful of steampunk systems out there, but beyond that, I really don't know much at all. My first choice would be a system that stacks with DnD; a steampunk supplemental system, as it were. If that's not an option, at least a d20-based system, so I don't have to force my players to learn an entirely new system.

So talk to me, Playgrounders. Any help, advice, or insight would be appreciated.

LurkerInPlayground
2009-02-15, 10:31 PM
I've decided to start preparing for my summer game, and my current world concept requires a good bit of technology to work. I don't want it to just be an Eberron knockoff, and the players will just be finishing an Eberron campaign, so I want to go a different direction instead of magic-powered technology. The obvious other way to go, while still preserving a semi-medieval feel, is steampunk.

I know there are a good handful of steampunk systems out there, but beyond that, I really don't know much at all. My first choice would be a system that stacks with DnD; a steampunk supplemental system, as it were. If that's not an option, at least a d20-based system, so I don't have to force my players to learn an entirely new system.

So talk to me, Playgrounders. Any help, advice, or insight would be appreciated.
I hate to break it to you, but Eberron is steampunk.

The presence of magic doesn't change that it is steampunk one way or the other. Magic is a technology. In the case of wizards, it's even a science. Eberron just spun it into a noir steampunk interpretation.

It makes not one whit of difference whether your technology is powered by pixie dust or by electricity.

overduegalaxy
2009-02-15, 10:43 PM
Eberron is, arguably, steampunk, yes, what with high technology existing in a generally low-technology setting.

But since I specifically said that I didn't want to do a magic-powered world, but one relying on a more classical steampunk (and thus, steam power), that's obviously what I'm looking for advice on, not the nuances of the definition of steampunk.

BRC
2009-02-15, 10:48 PM
Eberron is, arguably, steampunk, yes, what with high technology existing in a generally low-technology setting.

But since I specifically said that I didn't want to do a magic-powered world, but one relying on a more classical steampunk (and thus, steam power), that's obviously what I'm looking for advice on, not the nuances of the definition of steampunk.

How steampunk do you want. are you looking for "Industrial revolution with orcs" or are you looking for "Star wars with gears and smokestacks", because Steampunk can mean anything between those two. Do you want, for example steampunk robots? How about Zeppelins? Tesla Coils? Tanks?
What's the power level of this steampunk setting?

LurkerInPlayground
2009-02-15, 10:50 PM
And what exactly is "classical"? It's not that clear-cut of a distinction you know.

Is it Victorian flavored? Renaissance flavored?

overduegalaxy
2009-02-15, 10:57 PM
I'm looking for something that will give me just the first inklings of technology. Giant, lurching steam-powered suits of armor, primitive, smoke-belching submarines, and pressure-powered firearms that can be just as hazardous to the operator as the intended victim.

So, in a nutshell, high-tech low-tech.

Inhuman Bot
2009-02-15, 10:59 PM
Two words: Iron. Kingdoms.

The books are hard to come by, but it's a really great setting.

The offical site.
http://www.privateerpress.com/ironkingdoms/default.php?x=about

The wikipedia article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_kingdoms

And the TVTropes one
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IronKingdoms

BRC
2009-02-15, 11:01 PM
I'm looking for something that will give me just the first inklings of technology. Giant, lurching steam-powered suits of armor, primitive, smoke-belching submarines, and pressure-powered firearms that can be just as hazardous to the operator as the intended victim.

So, in a nutshell, high-tech low-tech.

Alright...Lesse...My first piece of advice would be to start with Eberron, Iron Kingdoms free stuff, ect. Take the bits you like, refluff them as necessary, then get cracking with the Homebrewing.

elliott20
2009-02-15, 11:04 PM
typing in "d20 steampunk" led me to this (http://www.amazon.com/OGL-Steampunk-Alejandro-Melchor/dp/1904577849/ref=cm_lmf_tit_4).

as well as this (http://forum.rpg.net/archive/index.php/t-169078.html).

Magic, IMHO, is far too entrenched within the D&D system to really be able to pull off a good classical Jules Verne steampunk game.

Mando Knight
2009-02-16, 12:46 AM
The presence of magic doesn't change that it is steampunk one way or the other. Magic is a technology. In the case of wizards, it's even a science.

"Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from SCIENCE! (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ForScience)"

~Agatha Heterodyne, (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081205) Girl Genius! (http://girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php)

Ravens_cry
2009-02-16, 02:06 AM
"Any technology, no matter how primitive, is magic to those who do not understand it."
Florance Ambrose (http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff300/fv00255.htm)

Waspinator
2009-02-16, 02:22 AM
I would look into Dragonmech if I were you.

AslanCross
2009-02-16, 09:10 AM
Iron Kingdoms is very steampunk, at least more of the kind of steampunk you're looking for than Eberron is.

Moolex
2009-02-16, 09:29 AM
Two words: Iron. Kingdoms.

The books are hard to come by, but it's a really great setting.

The offical site.
http://www.privateerpress.com/ironkingdoms/default.php?x=about

The wikipedia article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_kingdoms

And the TVTropes one
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IronKingdoms

This advice is sound. Iron Kingdoms is made of win.

Ellisande
2009-02-16, 11:15 AM
I'm looking for something that will give me just the first inklings of technology. Giant, lurching steam-powered suits of armor, primitive, smoke-belching submarines, and pressure-powered firearms that can be just as hazardous to the operator as the intended victim.

So, in a nutshell, high-tech low-tech.

Iron Kingdoms is good stuff, yes, but I get the vibe that you've got something in mind, something more yours and (at least for you) better than what you've seen so far. You know you want a d20 system. And you've got until summer. Homebrew a world, and whatever little rules it requires!

I'm sure there will be plenty of help here as you need it.

MickJay
2009-02-16, 11:41 AM
I wonder why nobody mentioned cRPG Arcanum yet, it had great setting where declining "magick" and Victorian-style technology on steroids were inherently in conflict. Many of the subplots revolved around this, but you could just ignore the magic and grab some ideas from the game's version of technology.

bosssmiley
2009-02-16, 11:55 AM
Any truly steampunk GM kitbashes their own setting (http://makezine.com/04/ownyourown/). Who wants something mass-produced? :smalltongue:

(ask me about my Amazing Engine/TORG/Shadowrun steampunk homebrew sometime...)

Halaster
2009-02-17, 07:01 AM
Hi.

My favorite steampunk/fantasy setting is Castle Falkenstein. It comes with its own card-based ruleset (gentlemen don't play dice) and has a distinct Victorian fairy-tale/gothic novel feel and extensive high-tech rules. Think of it as Jules Verne meets Arthur Conan Doyle meets Mary Shelley.

Second runner up is Space 1889. Focused more on the imperialist aspects of the steampunk age it is closer to the writings of Kipling and completely magic-free, but with lots of steam tech (journeys to Mars and Venus, flying gunshboats etc.). Rules are lightweight and, frankly, lousy.

Since neither has D20 rules, you might want to have a look at Deadlands, which has a D20 edition. It's a wild west horror setting, but there is a lot of steam powered high-tech made by weird scientists through unconscious use of the setting's magic.

CU,
Halaster

Dixieboy
2009-02-17, 07:08 AM
Two words: Iron. Kingdoms.

The books are hard to come by, but it's a really great setting.

Mostly because you can make a goblin who specializes in making machines work by jelling at them and throwing stuff at it

Inhuman Bot
2009-02-17, 01:02 PM
Mostly because you can make a goblin who specializes in making machines work by jelling at them and throwing stuff at it

Heh, yeah.

Bodgers: What would we do without them?

erhnamdj
2009-02-17, 03:12 PM
Why not just use normal D&D, but add in the tech from the d20 Modern and Future games?

It's easy enough to shove that stuff in. There's some info in http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20061020a.

zeruslord
2009-02-17, 04:44 PM
Iron Kingdoms does have a lot of baggage with magic in the setting, which does not really work like D&D magic does.

Dragonmech is an interesting setting and idea, but the mechanics are pretty terrible. Mechs take forever to design and are very clunky to use in battle without having a very detailed simulation. Also, magic mechs exist, which is pretty dumb.