Post by Morgaine Bertrand on Aug 2, 2010 21:52:47 GMT -5
Steampunk is an exciting genre to roleplay, and we hope you truly enjoy your time in Eden. I have put together some tips and information about the steampunk genre, that will hopefully help you build/integrate your character into this world. You may add as much or as little of this into your character as you want. Remember, this is a fantasy based game. While there will be rules and guidelines, we want to allow you freedom to explore this unique setting as you see fit. Let us start with a few frequently asked questions.
What is our definition of steampunk?
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, frequently featuring elements of fantasy. The term denotes a setting where steam power is widely used, and the world is typically Victorian. The works of H.G. Wells, and Jules Verne are typically considered steampunk. This setting features brass and copper clockwork and steampowered inventions that go far beyond 1800's technology. Steam powers mechanical wonders, dirigibles and airships, clockwork creatures and creations. It is a dark, gritty, greasy, smoke-filled setting.
What are some examples of steampunk books and movies to help me understand this setting?As said before, the works of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne are considered the essence of steampunk. Treasure Planet, League of Extraordinary Gentleman, Atlantis: The Lost Empire Also, Perdido Street Station, Morlock Nights, and The Anubis Gates are an example of fiction books. Some anime is considered steampunk such as Castle in the Sky, Turn A Gundam and Future Boy Conan. The tv show Warehouse 13 features many steampunk inspired artifacts.
Can you explain the steampunk world of A Clockwork Eden?The world of A Clockwork Eden is a fantasy steampunk setting. We will incorporate the elements of traditional steampunk, but also fantasy elements such as magic and the arcane world, elves, vampires and other fantasy races. Our mechanics will be powered by steam, clockwork, or magic. We will allow airships to have cannons, and guns in ACE will be strictly sanctioned.
Is magic allowed in A Clockwork Eden?Yes! Absolutely. As time progresses you will find that we will allow you a great range of opportunities to use magic in our world.
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Common Steampunk Themes
Here is listed some common themes in steampunk, which can be used to modify your character to fit into a steampunk/clockpunk world. Feel free to let us know if there are other suggestions that you feel could be added to this list.
- Of course, one of the main elements in a steampunk world is steam. Steam powers almost anything you can imagine in this world, and the mechanisms are prevalent such as cogs, wheels, gears and valves, among other things in that nature. Things are either very dirty from the grease and smog and smoke, or squeaky clean and shiny from being cleaned excessively. The use of clockwork to power things is prevalent as well, from clockwork behemoths down to tiny clockwork items that perform necessary or interesting functions.
- Steampunk can be added to a medieval or Renaissance storyline easily, just think Leonardo da Vinci's drawings and schematics, but for our purposes we are going to move ahead in time to a more Victorian style era. Though, you are more than welcome to implement a medieval fantasy type character into our world, that hasn't quite made it to the steam revolution yet, as we have an area called The Frontier that hasn't been touched by steam and mechanics yet.
- The clothing style of the steampunk setting is based loosely on the Victorian age, with a little goth/punk thrown in if desired. We are very lenient on your attire in our storyline, but please do not push it by having your character in modern clothing. Sometimes neo-Victorianism is the term used to describe steampunk attire.
- Add antiquities and special items to your character such as Victorian items like eye glasses and pocket watches and such. These give you a little information about the character who owns them, and adds to the image you are trying to portray. Also, goggles are a MUST HAVE for a steampunk storyline!
- Flight is important in a steampunk storyline, from zeppelins and dirigibles, to airships and hot air balloons, and even clockwork or steam powered flying machines. Your character could be an inventor that creates wings that flap and allow you to fly, or a pilot or crew of an airship, or even a pirate that flies the skies instead of the seas!
- There is a definite hierarchy in this world. There are the upper class, the aristocracy and nobles of the land; a middle-class made up of land owners and perhaps mages or semi-wealthy innkeepers, or inventors; and there is the working class which makes up the majority of the population. The working class works in dangerous conditions for low pay, and often develop into criminals that wish to overthrow the rich - or on the opposite side a "Robin Hood" type character that steals from the rich to give to the poor. We do not want a world full of nobles, but if you wish your character to be a Lord or Lady, that is fine. Other noble titles will be earned. There is also the possibility for a character to go against the "norm" of society rules, such as a noble marrying a peasant, or a Lady owning a brothel, or something even edgier.
- A good way of bringing in the "punk" part of steampunk is with body modification. This could be as simple as body art (tattoos, etc), piercings, all the way to artificial body parts, such as an iron cranium, mechanical eyeball or mechanical arm or leg.
- Guns and cannons can be incorporated into steampunk. Airships or floating islands can be protected by cannons, and they could be anything from sleek and profession to something built in the garage that shoots garbage. Guns are limited to flint lock pistols and rifles, and the very wealthy could get their hands on a wheel-lock pistol.
- Other weapons that would be prevalent would be daggers, swords, and other fantasy medieval type weapons. Duels are very popular, not only with guns but with swords, the higher classes would be more apt to duel with swords than guns anyway.
- Chemistry, science and alchemy has progressed from the medieval time into our new era, and there are so many possibilities for a chemist or scientist in this world. Also, take a look at magnetism and see what all can be done using merely magnets! Magnifying glasses and microscopes are great additions as well. Perhaps the use of magnified light could be used to create weapons or other types of things, light rays, use of mirrors - the possibilities are endless.
- Clockwork is as important in this setting as steam. Not only could clocks and their gears and parts be used for time travel, but to power creations both large and small. A robot could be clockwork as much as it could be powered by steam, and many items could be wind up or have a key to turn them on.
- Our world is expansionistic, and colonies could be set up in various places such as in the Frontier or even smaller islands and areas around the land mass. Colonization and expansion is important, to not only give us more land but to provide the resources for our world.
- Pollution is a definite part of a steampunk storyline, though there are a few areas in our world that are not polluted (such as Vuade Astaire, and the Frontier). Burning coal causes smog and other issues. In our world where basically everything runs on steam power, pollution would be an excellent conflict or side conflict. Realistic, such as species extinction and ocean pollution, or more fantastic conflicts with mutants and monsters.
- The printed media is very important, as there are no tv's, radios or the like to give out information. Newspapers would be extremely important in this world, to find out not only what is happening in one's own town but the lands around it. Magazines and pamphlets could get across certain topics or fulfill certain desires such as girlie magazines. Political subversives could use printed matter to get across their points.
- Pseudoscience has a place in this world, there are so many things that people once thought were true, that could actually BE true in our world. Some examples would be the hollow earth theory (what if there are cities beneath the earth?), the world being flat, or any theory that has been proven false in our day and age, but in these times could be taken for fact.
- Education is very important in this age, and there are many schools and universities set up as learning institutions around the land. Boarding schools, and charm schools are also elements that could be added easily to this setting.
- Secret societies could play an important role in this setting. Some secret societies are thought of as run by the rich and politically elite making them fun villains, but they could also be something that the heroes are part of, opposing a repressive government or something evil.
- The "Underground" is much like a mafia, with leaders that take care of their own affairs and have their hands in many different pots. There could be thieving rings, drug dealers, prostitutes and whorehouses, and any number of riff raff type dealings, that spread all the way into even the highest of classes in our world.
- Astronomy is burgeoning with the invention of telescopes, and some think that there is life to be found in the stars if they could only make something that will allow them to travel into outer space (or under the sea perhaps - on a different note).
- The arts are very popular, and theatres do great business both in the wealthy neighborhoods as well as the seedier parts of town. Bards, musicians, dancers, singers, fire eaters, circus folk and the like would all fit in nicely. Especially with a subversive element.
- Transportation is important, and we've already talked about airships and hot air balloons, but in this setting the steam train is the most important transportation of all. Most of the cities and towns in the industrial areas of this world can be reached by steam train. Of course, there are still horses, wagons, buggies and carriages, and bicycles are also popular for modes of transportation. And you always have the leather express.
- "Wonder Kids" are sometimes seen in steampunk stories. This is a younger kid or young adult that is very intelligent beyond his/her years. They are pretty much geniuses that can create all types of things with very little resources.
--written and compiled by NevaraEncore@aol.com--
What is our definition of steampunk?
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, frequently featuring elements of fantasy. The term denotes a setting where steam power is widely used, and the world is typically Victorian. The works of H.G. Wells, and Jules Verne are typically considered steampunk. This setting features brass and copper clockwork and steampowered inventions that go far beyond 1800's technology. Steam powers mechanical wonders, dirigibles and airships, clockwork creatures and creations. It is a dark, gritty, greasy, smoke-filled setting.
What are some examples of steampunk books and movies to help me understand this setting?As said before, the works of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne are considered the essence of steampunk. Treasure Planet, League of Extraordinary Gentleman, Atlantis: The Lost Empire Also, Perdido Street Station, Morlock Nights, and The Anubis Gates are an example of fiction books. Some anime is considered steampunk such as Castle in the Sky, Turn A Gundam and Future Boy Conan. The tv show Warehouse 13 features many steampunk inspired artifacts.
Can you explain the steampunk world of A Clockwork Eden?The world of A Clockwork Eden is a fantasy steampunk setting. We will incorporate the elements of traditional steampunk, but also fantasy elements such as magic and the arcane world, elves, vampires and other fantasy races. Our mechanics will be powered by steam, clockwork, or magic. We will allow airships to have cannons, and guns in ACE will be strictly sanctioned.
Is magic allowed in A Clockwork Eden?Yes! Absolutely. As time progresses you will find that we will allow you a great range of opportunities to use magic in our world.
----------------------------------
Common Steampunk Themes
Here is listed some common themes in steampunk, which can be used to modify your character to fit into a steampunk/clockpunk world. Feel free to let us know if there are other suggestions that you feel could be added to this list.
- Of course, one of the main elements in a steampunk world is steam. Steam powers almost anything you can imagine in this world, and the mechanisms are prevalent such as cogs, wheels, gears and valves, among other things in that nature. Things are either very dirty from the grease and smog and smoke, or squeaky clean and shiny from being cleaned excessively. The use of clockwork to power things is prevalent as well, from clockwork behemoths down to tiny clockwork items that perform necessary or interesting functions.
- Steampunk can be added to a medieval or Renaissance storyline easily, just think Leonardo da Vinci's drawings and schematics, but for our purposes we are going to move ahead in time to a more Victorian style era. Though, you are more than welcome to implement a medieval fantasy type character into our world, that hasn't quite made it to the steam revolution yet, as we have an area called The Frontier that hasn't been touched by steam and mechanics yet.
- The clothing style of the steampunk setting is based loosely on the Victorian age, with a little goth/punk thrown in if desired. We are very lenient on your attire in our storyline, but please do not push it by having your character in modern clothing. Sometimes neo-Victorianism is the term used to describe steampunk attire.
- Add antiquities and special items to your character such as Victorian items like eye glasses and pocket watches and such. These give you a little information about the character who owns them, and adds to the image you are trying to portray. Also, goggles are a MUST HAVE for a steampunk storyline!
- Flight is important in a steampunk storyline, from zeppelins and dirigibles, to airships and hot air balloons, and even clockwork or steam powered flying machines. Your character could be an inventor that creates wings that flap and allow you to fly, or a pilot or crew of an airship, or even a pirate that flies the skies instead of the seas!
- There is a definite hierarchy in this world. There are the upper class, the aristocracy and nobles of the land; a middle-class made up of land owners and perhaps mages or semi-wealthy innkeepers, or inventors; and there is the working class which makes up the majority of the population. The working class works in dangerous conditions for low pay, and often develop into criminals that wish to overthrow the rich - or on the opposite side a "Robin Hood" type character that steals from the rich to give to the poor. We do not want a world full of nobles, but if you wish your character to be a Lord or Lady, that is fine. Other noble titles will be earned. There is also the possibility for a character to go against the "norm" of society rules, such as a noble marrying a peasant, or a Lady owning a brothel, or something even edgier.
- A good way of bringing in the "punk" part of steampunk is with body modification. This could be as simple as body art (tattoos, etc), piercings, all the way to artificial body parts, such as an iron cranium, mechanical eyeball or mechanical arm or leg.
- Guns and cannons can be incorporated into steampunk. Airships or floating islands can be protected by cannons, and they could be anything from sleek and profession to something built in the garage that shoots garbage. Guns are limited to flint lock pistols and rifles, and the very wealthy could get their hands on a wheel-lock pistol.
- Other weapons that would be prevalent would be daggers, swords, and other fantasy medieval type weapons. Duels are very popular, not only with guns but with swords, the higher classes would be more apt to duel with swords than guns anyway.
- Chemistry, science and alchemy has progressed from the medieval time into our new era, and there are so many possibilities for a chemist or scientist in this world. Also, take a look at magnetism and see what all can be done using merely magnets! Magnifying glasses and microscopes are great additions as well. Perhaps the use of magnified light could be used to create weapons or other types of things, light rays, use of mirrors - the possibilities are endless.
- Clockwork is as important in this setting as steam. Not only could clocks and their gears and parts be used for time travel, but to power creations both large and small. A robot could be clockwork as much as it could be powered by steam, and many items could be wind up or have a key to turn them on.
- Our world is expansionistic, and colonies could be set up in various places such as in the Frontier or even smaller islands and areas around the land mass. Colonization and expansion is important, to not only give us more land but to provide the resources for our world.
- Pollution is a definite part of a steampunk storyline, though there are a few areas in our world that are not polluted (such as Vuade Astaire, and the Frontier). Burning coal causes smog and other issues. In our world where basically everything runs on steam power, pollution would be an excellent conflict or side conflict. Realistic, such as species extinction and ocean pollution, or more fantastic conflicts with mutants and monsters.
- The printed media is very important, as there are no tv's, radios or the like to give out information. Newspapers would be extremely important in this world, to find out not only what is happening in one's own town but the lands around it. Magazines and pamphlets could get across certain topics or fulfill certain desires such as girlie magazines. Political subversives could use printed matter to get across their points.
- Pseudoscience has a place in this world, there are so many things that people once thought were true, that could actually BE true in our world. Some examples would be the hollow earth theory (what if there are cities beneath the earth?), the world being flat, or any theory that has been proven false in our day and age, but in these times could be taken for fact.
- Education is very important in this age, and there are many schools and universities set up as learning institutions around the land. Boarding schools, and charm schools are also elements that could be added easily to this setting.
- Secret societies could play an important role in this setting. Some secret societies are thought of as run by the rich and politically elite making them fun villains, but they could also be something that the heroes are part of, opposing a repressive government or something evil.
- The "Underground" is much like a mafia, with leaders that take care of their own affairs and have their hands in many different pots. There could be thieving rings, drug dealers, prostitutes and whorehouses, and any number of riff raff type dealings, that spread all the way into even the highest of classes in our world.
- Astronomy is burgeoning with the invention of telescopes, and some think that there is life to be found in the stars if they could only make something that will allow them to travel into outer space (or under the sea perhaps - on a different note).
- The arts are very popular, and theatres do great business both in the wealthy neighborhoods as well as the seedier parts of town. Bards, musicians, dancers, singers, fire eaters, circus folk and the like would all fit in nicely. Especially with a subversive element.
- Transportation is important, and we've already talked about airships and hot air balloons, but in this setting the steam train is the most important transportation of all. Most of the cities and towns in the industrial areas of this world can be reached by steam train. Of course, there are still horses, wagons, buggies and carriages, and bicycles are also popular for modes of transportation. And you always have the leather express.
- "Wonder Kids" are sometimes seen in steampunk stories. This is a younger kid or young adult that is very intelligent beyond his/her years. They are pretty much geniuses that can create all types of things with very little resources.
--written and compiled by NevaraEncore@aol.com--
