You are an inventor. What do you make?

[Jormengand]

You are a generic steampunky inventor. The things you can do are as different and varied as the things a 3.5 wizard can do. Purely from the point of view of awesomeness/rule of cool, what do you invent?

[Talyn]

Assuming, by "steampunk-y" you mean I should look to the 18th and 19th centuries for inspiration:

An ornithopter.
A Nautilus-style submersible.
A pneumatic automatic clothes press, to keep my bow tie and cummerbund crisp.
A aetheric beacon will allow me to speak with any spirits present.

[Ninja_Prawn]

Everything I invent is also a gun.

Robotic servitors are always good. I'm thinking I'd start with a giant squid robot to sink Talyn's nautilus...

[JAL_1138]

All of my inventions are ill-considered; Rube-Goldbergian; powered by either steam, clockwork, or Giant Space Hamsters; and frequently either fail to perform, perform in unintended and disastrous ways, or explode. It's even worse if they perform as intended.

I'm not allowed to play tinker-gnomes anymore...

[ThinkMinty]

A telescopic heli-pac, some kind of raygun, and then I'll invent reasons I need to go around frying things while zipping about like a bio-mechanical dragonfly.

[Cealocanth]

I will invent a machine machine. It will be a massive, autonomous, steam-powered machine designed to be capable of designing, modifying, and constructing inventions. Of course, without complex electronics, this thing will basically need to be an analog mercury computer approximately the size of a city. It would need to be self-sustaining, so I will have the machine machine invent an autonomous mine for coal and ores, and have it repair and upkeep itself.

You know, now that I think about it, it's probably cheaper and more practical to hire a squadron of laborers and pay them next to nothing. "Machine business conglomerate" does not sound nearly as good as "Machine Machine" though.

[SkipSandwich]

All of my inventions are ill-considered; Rube-Goldbergian; powered by either steam, clockwork, or Giant Space Hamsters; and frequently either fail to perform, perform in unintended and disastrous ways, or explode. It's even worse if they perform as intended.

I'm not allowed to play tinker-gnomes anymore...

I think your problem there is relying on Giant Space Hamsters, they're much too unstable, Miniature Giant Space Hamsters are the way to go.

[Anonymouswizard]

First port of call is a mechanical computer.

This is just practical. It can significantly reduce the time it takes to make the calculations needed to invent.

Once I have a decent one, a universal automated production machine, i.e. something that can create anything with the right instructions. I'll settle for one that needs dials adjusted and tools switched manually. I will then sell this to business owners as a cost cutting measure, or set up my own factory. I can then make anything I want in a significant quantity.

Next I'd move from production and create a lot of communications equipment.

(These are the actions of a character I want a chance to use, Magnesium Leaf. Imagine a mad inventor with the motto 'success is when everyone buys your product.)

[JAL_1138]

First port of call is a mechanical computer.

This is just practical. It can significantly reduce the time it takes to make the calculations needed to invent.

Once I have a decent one, a universal automated production machine, i.e. something that can create anything with the right instructions. I'll settle for one that needs dials adjusted and tools switched manually. I will then sell this to business owners as a cost cutting measure, or set up my own factory. I can then make anything I want in a significant quantity.

Next I'd move from production and create a lot of communications equipment.

(These are the actions of a character I want a chance to use, Magnesium Leaf. Imagine a mad inventor with the motto 'success is when everyone buys your product.)

I'm not so sure that's a mad inventor...that sounds like a very sane inventor with a solid business idea.

[Anonymouswizard]

I'm not so sure that's a mad inventor...that sounds like a very sane inventor with a solid business idea.

Oh, he's mad alright. Disability (Depression) and some OCD, just not in the 'crazy devices that work' way.

Anyway, that sort of stuff may sound boring, but that boring stuff is how he's going to bring the singularity about (his ultimate goal is to combine the computer, communications technology, and building machine into a sentient steampunk robot).

[FocusWolf413]

I think your problem there is relying on Giant Space Hamsters, they're much too unstable, Miniature Giant Space Hamsters are the way to go.

But Boo is one of a kind.

[Nifft]

An underwater city ("Portholland"). "How do we get fresh water for steam? Electricity! How do we get electricity? Steam power!"

A flying city ("Zepplondon"). When it lands, we use the local materials to build another city, no matter what the local materials happen to be. This one time we landed on the Big Island of Hawaii, and now there's a magma-powered steampunk city which covers the whole desert quadrant.

The Anti-Steam Engine, which causes clouds and mist to disappear from the air above whenever the steam engine is run in reverse. This is of course very popular in certain climates.

[Lvl 2 Expert]

Gene manipulation. I use it to create mutant Tyrannosaurs with clockwork arms, top hats and monocles.

(Yes, those last three parts are added after manipulation, why do you ask?)

[NRSASD]

A cannon that fires a blunderbuss that fires a musket that actually fires a bullet; to create a hyper-velocity, hideously inaccurate musket shot. Also, a massive set of automated bifocals designed to see in every possible spectrum that automatically adjusts itself with much whirring of gears and emissions of steam.

[Anonymouswizard]

Gene manipulation. I use it to create mutant Tyrannosaurs with clockwork arms, top hats and monocles.

(Yes, those last three parts are added after manipulation, why do you ask?)

You must be second rate, real inventors go back in time and change the universe's source code so the Tyrannosaurs mutate the top hats and monocles on their own!

[JAL_1138]

But Boo is one of a kind.

Boo is one particular Miniature Giant Space Hamster unique due to his association with Minsc. Miniature Giant Space Hamsters, however, are a well-documented breed, developed by Krynnspace tinker-gnomes from Giant Space Hamster stock. They're one of many breeds, like the saber-toothed giant space hamster, the carnivorous flying giant space hamster, and the fire-breathing phase doppelganger giant space hamster. (Not kidding, those all had stats in Spelljammer.)

[JAL_1138]

(his ultimate goal is to combine the computer, communications technology, and building machine into a sentient steampunk robot).

Ah, now there's some Madboy to him. Building a giant, world-altering sentient factory-clank is Sparky as heck.

[Ravens_cry]

The Up Goer Five, the Aetheric Ascension Apparatus. No longer shall the peoples of this world be chained to a skin, a mere film, of rock and air, but shall ascend to challenge the very heavens themselves!

[Zelphas]

Gene manipulation's always fun (How does that work with steampunk technology, you ask? SCIENCE!), but I think I'd go with mechanical enhancements designed to increase an animal's strength, speed, and durability, as well as uplift them into sentience (of course).

All this is well and good, but I haven't quite gotten down how to alter the personality of the uplifted Mechabeasts. For some reason, vicious animals given strength and intelligence after long operations performed without anesthetic don't seem to like their creator very much. So here I am, trapped in my laboratory, trying to create a Mechabeast that's powerful enough to take down the howling horde outside my door, but also won't join them once it realizes what I've done...twentieth time's the charm, right?

[JAL_1138]

Gene manipulation's always fun (How does that work with steampunk technology, you ask? SCIENCE!), but I think I'd go with mechanical enhancements designed to increase an animal's strength, speed, and durability, as well as uplift them into sentience (of course).

All this is well and good, but I haven't quite gotten down how to alter the personality of the uplifted Mechabeasts. For some reason, vicious animals given strength and intelligence after long operations performed without anesthetic don't seem to like their creator very much. So here I am, trapped in my laboratory, trying to create a Mechabeast that's powerful enough to take down the howling horde outside my door, but also won't join them once it realizes what I've done...twentieth time's the charm, right?

I dunno how to decrease aggression, but if anything's messing with the hypothalmus it may be contributing to an excess thereof.

[Anonymouswizard]

Gene manipulation's always fun (How does that work with steampunk technology, you ask? SCIENCE!), but I think I'd go with mechanical enhancements designed to increase an animal's strength, speed, and durability, as well as uplift them into sentience (of course).

All this is well and good, but I haven't quite gotten down how to alter the personality of the uplifted Mechabeasts. For some reason, vicious animals given strength and intelligence after long operations performed without anesthetic don't seem to like their creator very much. So here I am, trapped in my laboratory, trying to create a Mechabeast that's powerful enough to take down the howling horde outside my door, but also won't join them once it realizes what I've done...twentieth time's the charm, right?

You see, this is why I work with robots. Just install an aggression dial where they can't reach and they are only a danger to you when absolutely necessary.

Also, mind if I sig the last sentence? I'm planning to totally redo my signature at some point, and that sentence is just brilliant.

[Lvl 2 Expert]

You must be second rate, real inventors go back in time and change the universe's source code so the Tyrannosaurs mutate the top hats and monocles on their own!

Hey, I've only got two levels to work with here, and the skill Timetravel (int) is in a source book we're not using.

[Zelphas]

I dunno how to decrease aggression, but if anything's messing with the hypothalmus it may be contributing to an excess thereof.

Oh, I tried to fix that by eliminating emotions entirely in one of them. Have you ever had a rhesus monkey intone the logical reasons why it's trying to kill you in a perfect monotone while coming after you with a claw hammer? Creepy.

You see, this is why I work with robots. Just install an aggression dial where they can't reach and they are only a danger to you when absolutely necessary.

Also, mind if I sig the last sentence? I'm planning to totally redo my signature at some point, and that sentence is just brilliant.

Robots are fun, but they just seem so... limiting. It's blending machinery and mortality that I'm interested in.

Feel free to sig whatever you like, and thanks!

[mikeejimbo]

What do I make? I make her love me.

Now imagine the ways a mad inventor would try that...

[JNAProductions]

A pet rock. But not any pet rock. The best pet rock there ever was!

[Mastikator]

A clockwork fan propeller based ICBM.

[Lord Raziere]

You are a generic steampunky inventor. The things you can do are as different and varied as the things a 3.5 wizard can do. Purely from the point of view of awesomeness/rule of cool, what do you invent?

Steambike! lightning gun! chainsword! robotic delivery birds, much more reliable than normal birds, stronger too. pipe-pod transportation where you build big pipes and then board these round things to get rocketed off to your destination, oooh I know WALKING MECHANICAL RESTAURANTS! food on the go! serves to anyone around the clock! perhaps-transportation and food service! for the military, I would design rocket boat-ships, cannon-robot elephants for land warfare, and of course the ever classic zeppelins for attacking from the sky but supported by say, steamgliders that are hang-gliders but enhanced to actually FLY! and of course, has guns. however we also need more personal protection, perhaps some manner of unfolding metal armor? for goggles, we should have super-telescoping capabilities to see distant things! steam powered mechani-glove, for maximum punching power! hidden shotgun cane: firepower for the distinguished gentleman, sapient mechanical doll people made from the principles of self-puppetry, speaking of which: factories that run on self-puppetry....

[erikun]

You are a generic steampunky inventor. The things you can do are as different and varied as the things a 3.5 wizard can do. Purely from the point of view of awesomeness/rule of cool, what do you invent?

A flying city would OBVIOUSLY be my first choice. I mean, a flying house would be neat as well, but it would probably get lonely. Plus, it's easier to show off a flying city to other people!

I would probably also invent fully independent automatons, again because that would just be cool.

[Ravens_cry]

A pet rock. But not any pet rock. The best pet rock there ever was!

Will you travel across the land, searching far and wide?

[TheTeaMustFlow]

I follow the Tao of Valorum. 'Tis a simple way of life, demanding but one thing:

Cyborgs. Under. My. Command!