tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post3824834406480621605..comments2024-02-18T09:32:16.703-06:00Comments on The Semi-Retired Gamer: Steampunk Role-Playing Games [Reposted & Updated]Charlie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07899037807693796298noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-11614940218717381112013-09-05T08:03:42.536-05:002013-09-05T08:03:42.536-05:00Glad the post helped. I hear you - it is almost t...Glad the post helped. I hear you - it is almost too much to take in at times with all of the variety. It seems like a tremendous undertaking to do all of the promotion, demos, etc. for a game. More business, less game.Charlie Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07899037807693796298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-77726241987855040132013-09-05T02:25:59.039-05:002013-09-05T02:25:59.039-05:00I'm glad to hear of this game--it sounds reall...I'm glad to hear of this game--it sounds really cool to have a combination of LARPing and pen & paper...and you can own a "real" book if you prefer that sort of stuff. I'm also glad the creator of Tephra chimed in, as it sounds like something I'd like after all. I can't believe the amount of energy it must take to promote these games, attending the conventions all the time. There certainly seem like there's a good deal of them [games] about these days, which couldn't make me happier...except for having to pick one or two. Anything "simple and rich" will get me interested though: I don't need 5,000 small print pages of stuff to read. -ReifynPerpetual Rolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01329782325401479458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-24625310087443888882013-09-01T10:59:55.169-05:002013-09-01T10:59:55.169-05:00I didn't know if people would be interested in...I didn't know if people would be interested in pdf only games or not but I did include some. I don't know why I didn't even think of going to DriveThruRPG or RPGNow or something similar. Apparently, there are a TON more of these steampunk games than I ever imagined but that's a good thing.Charlie Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07899037807693796298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-68901897445025922862013-09-01T10:58:25.390-05:002013-09-01T10:58:25.390-05:00Thanks! I will definitely check it out.Thanks! I will definitely check it out.Charlie Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07899037807693796298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-80367871597135664972013-09-01T09:59:56.739-05:002013-09-01T09:59:56.739-05:00You can get physical copies of a lot of them, but ...You can get physical copies of a lot of them, but for many of them you have to pick them up used. Nothing wrong with that. No one has mentioned OGL Steampunk, which like many others, was once in print and now isn't. The easiest way to get what was mentioned in PDF:<br /><br />Etherscope is out of print<br />Forgotten Futures is OOP<br />Full light, Full Steam is available in print from Lulu<br />GURPS Steampunk is OOP<br />SteamFortress Victory is OOP<br /><br />SteamWorks, Clockwork Dreams, Inland Empire, and Imperial Age have never been in print unless there was a short time when they were POD that I cannot find a record of. <br /><br />Steampunk Musha is trying to get a physical product. They did a KS and the book was supposed to be out a year ago, but I do not think it is out. <br />Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00175712604889010418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-29256557098583259152013-09-01T07:04:33.838-05:002013-09-01T07:04:33.838-05:00YOu did not mention http://pameangames.com/ Brass ...YOu did not mention http://pameangames.com/ Brass and Steel....a very simple game with a rich worldmarroon69https://www.blogger.com/profile/03802989749284663671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-29870583255198267622013-09-01T02:53:12.932-05:002013-09-01T02:53:12.932-05:00Just a small extract from my personal collection. ...Just a small extract from my personal collection. <grin><br /><br />Most of them are available as physical copies (although generally not widely carried by distributors).<br /><br />Also remember that OBS does not provide an outlet for every publisher. Searching Warehouse 23 (the SJG site) is also a good reccomendation for finding stuff you won't find at OBS [the DriveThru stores]. PIG also doesn't use OBS and prefers to use it's own store, as does S2P. Always a good thing to remember when searching out stuff.Reverance Pavanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01217657347160811310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-73765496500625685912013-08-31T23:44:11.032-05:002013-08-31T23:44:11.032-05:00If you want to be thorough, or drive yourself nuts...If you want to be thorough, or drive yourself nuts, go to DriveThruRPG and go to the steampunk section and then go to core rules. There are a lot more mentioned that these. This is why I stuck with rpgs that are in print at game stores. If not, it seems like a never ending list. Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00175712604889010418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-46829803527205447102013-08-31T19:00:38.027-05:002013-08-31T19:00:38.027-05:00Thanks for the comment! WOW - that's a lot of...Thanks for the comment! WOW - that's a lot of information but I am glad you posted that here. I have some research to do on these and will most definitely use some as inspiration for my steampunk campaign.Charlie Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07899037807693796298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-34590685373283701832013-08-31T18:07:45.466-05:002013-08-31T18:07:45.466-05:00[cfb]
Maelstrom Storytelling (Hubris Games/Precis...[cfb]<br /><br /><i>Maelstrom Storytelling</i> (Hubris Games/Precis Intermedia) had a strong steampunk element to it's world, especially around places like <i>Darcartha Prime</i>. Massive engineering with clockwork was fairly important to the Empire that was before the Maelstrom shattered existence, although Science is now considered Natural Philosophy and interfaces with Magic. <i>Diodet</i> is very Victorian in nature.<br /><br /><i>Steamworks</i> (Morrigan Press) is another mix of fantasy and steampunk using the Omni system.<br /><br /><i>The Kereberos Club</i> (ARC Dream) is a sourcebook for Victorian pulp adventure produced for both <i>Wild Talents</i>/One Roll Engine and FATE. <i>This Favoured Land</i> (ARC Dream) is a <i>Wild Talents</i> sourcebook for superheroes in the American Civil War. Not directly steampunk but often features Hyperintelligent inventors that produce steampunk goodies.<br /><br /><i>Perfect Unrevised</i> (Buried With Ceremony) is a dystopian steampunk where "criminals" fight the system.<br /><br /><i>Pure Steam</i> (ICOSA) is a yet another steampunk fantasy, based on <i>Pathfinder</i> this time. Although I only have a beta playtest copy of the rules so it might not be published yet.<br /><br />[Which reminds me that <i>Sorcery & Steam</i> (Fantasy Flight Games) was a Legends & Lairs supplement for 3E D&D. <i>Steam & Steel</i> (EN World) was another steampunk for D&D supplement. And <i>Steamworks</i> (Twelve to midnight) was yet another one. And <i>Gearcraft</i> (Reality Blurs) was one for <i>True20</i>. However these did not have their own steampunk world setting.]<br /><br /><i>Steamfortress Victory</i> (Industrial Dream Mills) - a US-based alternate history steampunk.<br /><br /><i>Steampunk Musha</i> (Precis Intermedia Games) is an alternative setting of Victorian Adventure for <i>Iron Gauntlets</i>.<br /><br /><i>Clockwork Dreams</i> is a Savage Worlds supplement for Suzerain describing the steampunk world of Mechadia.<br /><br /><i>Unhallowed Metropolis</i> is technically Victorian horror (and Mad Science) rather than steampunk, although the prevalence of advanced Tesla science, gas masks (due to deadly smog) and industry does provide a definite steampunk esthetic to it that makes it more than mere Victorian horror.<br /><br /><i>Inland Empire</i> is a D20 based steampunk world (as opposed to adding steampunk to a D20 fantasy world). Unpublished/pdf release.<br /><br /><i>Vis Imperia Victoriana</i> (Colin Spiers) is a short set of rules describing how to use the <i>C&S Essence</i> rules as a steampunk game.<br /><br />[I know I've missed a few (mainly fan-made stuff I suspect). And I tried to ignore stuff which does not have a certain general steampunk esthetic (such as pure Victorian horror, fantasy, or pulp adventure, or pure Western).]Reverance Pavanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01217657347160811310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-78403259566652105182013-08-31T18:07:01.639-05:002013-08-31T18:07:01.639-05:00Depending on your definition of steampunk there is...Depending on your definition of steampunk there is <i>Clockwork & Chivalry</i> (Cakebread & Walton/Cubicle 7). Although it is pre-steam (17th century) - they use windmills and waterwheels to wind massive clockwork (as well as smaller hand-wound pieces) - I feel it does fit the clockwork esthetic of steampunk.<br /><br />Also <i>Deadlands</i> (Pinnacle Entertainment Group) has many steampunk elements in it's weird west setting, especially in the <i>Smith & Robards Catalogue</i> and <i>The Collegium</i>. although it is complicated by the fact that Ghost Rock is a better fuel source than plain ordinary coal, even if it does come with side effects.<br /><br /><i>Etherscope</i> (Goodman Games) is d20 game of "etherscape adventures in an age of industry, intrigue, and imperialism." Sort of a very cyberpunky steampunk.<br /><br /><i>Forgotten Futures</i> is Marcus Rowland's game of "scientific romance." Steampunk before there was steampunk. He has produced a printed copy so it counts as a published game.<br /><br /><i>Full Light, Full Steam</i> (Kallisti Press) is a steampunk game in the spirit of <i>Space: 1889</i>.<br /><br /><i>Brass, Blood, and Steam</i> (UK Gamers) is a FATE-based steampunk game.<br /><br /><i>GURPS Steampunk</i> (Steve Jackson Games) is self explanatory. A lot of other sourcebooks also give information on how to apply their contents to the steampunk genre.<br /><br /><i>The Imperial Age</i> (Adamant Entertainment) is a d20 Victorian RPG with steampunk elements (in the _Engines_ supplement particularly).<br /><br /><br /><i>The New Epoch</i> (Flightless Terror) is Yet Another D20 steampunk game.<br /><br />[<i>Passages</i> (Blue Devil Games) is a d20 magical reality game where people can enter classic literature and vice-versa. Features lots of steampunk, victoriana, etc as a result although it is not, strictly speaking a steampunk game per se.]<br /><br />[And while I remember there was a very nice fan-made adaption of <i>Ars Magica</i> called <i>Ars Mechanica</i> - although it was never formally published (getting the rights to do so at the time would have been a big hassle [WW era]), but it is still worth looking out for.]<br /><br />[tbc]Reverance Pavanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01217657347160811310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-23052848754046907552013-08-30T05:49:20.796-05:002013-08-30T05:49:20.796-05:00Thanks for the comments and for stopping by!
Feel...Thanks for the comments and for stopping by!<br /><br />Feel free to chime in at any time. I have no problem with discussion or presenting all sides to anything. It's great that you identified what needed to be done and are working on getting it all cleared up. Too many people have decided to stick their head in the sand like a problem will go away if they ignore it. Good on you for working on a resolution. Steampunk is a new genre for me and I discovered it through SteamCraft but I definitely plan on picking up some more of the games. Tephra is one of those games I will buy. Charlie Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07899037807693796298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-82322186913081883392013-08-29T22:29:38.241-05:002013-08-29T22:29:38.241-05:00Hey Charlie, these are some great reviews!
Would...Hey Charlie, these are some great reviews! <br /><br />Would it be all right if I chimed in?<br /><br />I'm the creator of Tephra and ran its kickstarter. We are working very hard to get the kickstarter fully wrapped up, but there have definitely been set-backs! When we go to conventions to promote Tephra, we are doing so in order to make money - and that money goes straight toward getting our international backers their long-awaited orders. Every large con that we attend nets us a few hundred dollars that we can put toward international shipping, so it's well worth the time and effort. <br /><br />We are only a few months away from having our kickstarter all cleared up. When we made $22,000 over our goal, we weren't ready for it at all, and I certainly did not know how to properly adjudicate our expenses. Nor did I realize what a blow international shipping would be. I'm making amends, slowly. <br /><br />I also wanted to touch on the fantastical elements in Tephra. There are a lot of fantastical elements - you can play elves, gnomes, satyrs, and more. And the people of Tephra can do some pretty amazing things, from hitting somebody with your "fist" from 50 feet away, manipulating their luck, speaking with animals, to walking across the air. It's all spirit-based, though. So there is no classic "arcane magic" system, but there are quite certainly a lot of spiritual elements!<br /><br />Thanks for mentioning Tephra in your reviews, and take care! ~Daniel Burrow, Executive Editor of Cracked MonocleAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17604871396326687843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-88464357196336334592013-08-23T13:41:12.014-05:002013-08-23T13:41:12.014-05:00@Reifyn: Glad you enjoyed it; compiling the list ...@Reifyn: Glad you enjoyed it; compiling the list was a lot of fun. Those two links are cool and I do not mind if they are strictly gaming or not. Thanks. I just checked out your blog and I like the artwork and content - keep it up!<br /><br />@Jamie: Once again, your knowledge in this area is not only helpful but comprehensive. Awesome comments and good luck with the Airship Awards!Charlie Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07899037807693796298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-8312723596014291012013-08-22T10:16:42.015-05:002013-08-22T10:16:42.015-05:00Tephra does have separate races, although I do not...Tephra does have separate races, although I do not recall if the skinny pointing eared race is called an Elf or not. There are multiple discussions about adding magic on the forums. In terms of anything "official," I believe the attitude is that the creator wants a "pure" steampunk game and wants to separate it from fantasy. <br /><br />With that said, there is homebrew stuff about magic. The creator seems open to the idea of adding dark magic stuff for NPC's that the GM can either add or leave out. Finally, some have argued that certain aspects of the game that are science fulfill the role of magic. <br /><br />If you want a game that has magic and steampunk together, there are really two choices when it comes to the physical book. You can get the Airship Award Nominated SteamCraft for $35.95 or less. Think of it as Shadowrun crossed with Jules Verne. <br /><br />The other choice is the $49.99 Victoriana 3rd edition. The older editions have magic, but it is really Victoriana rather than steampunk. The 3rd edition redid parts of the world to make it steampunk. However, airship are rare and not as impressive in Victoriana as airship are in SteamCraft or other games. <br /><br />Oh, and if we are plugging sites, here is one people should check out: http://www.carnivalepsilon.com/<br /><br />And if you ever happen to be where they are performing, they have copies of SteamCraft they will sell you. Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00175712604889010418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-90548630589936983452013-08-22T03:00:54.510-05:002013-08-22T03:00:54.510-05:00Hi Charlie--glad you updated this list: I almost g...Hi Charlie--glad you updated this list: I almost got hold of Tephra, but now that I know it's 0% magic and no elves and things, I think not. Although not about gaming specifically, I thought I'd share 2 steampunk sites with you.<br />http://steampunkchronicle.com<br />http://www.thesteampunkempire.com/<br />for those interested in other aspects of steampunk, such as events like conventions and things. Most parts of the country (and several parts of Europe & Canada) have societies & events. -ReifynReifynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14346573496969586088noreply@blogger.com