Brainstorming a Steampunk setting - Page 2

Magus · 08-31-2010, 07:27 PM

You could just go ahead and call the Frankenstein's monsters something original, like "Golems"!

My main familiarity with Steampunk is Shadow Run, I myself prefer something more medieval but with mechanical elements. How about fire-breathing magical-mechanical horses piloted by blunderbuss wielding knights?

EDIT: Also giant spider and scorpions trained by one faction to use as mounts (Anti-Steampunk elves?)

Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope · 08-31-2010, 07:49 PM

I also like the idea of personal airships. Styled after the airships from FF9. And with the airships, Sky Pirates.

Nique · 08-31-2010, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWB

Armor can help, but it only helps so much. Also, armor can only protect you from certain types of attacks (the heavier it is, the better it protects) & has a limited life span. (After so many bullets, Kevlar breaks down.)

I still need to develop some type of 'durability/longjevity' rules for weapons and armor.

Quote:

I like Paranoia mostly because hit points tend to get way out of control in most every game.

That's true but low numbers seem to help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac

Nique, if you get this online, and the Steampunk/Anti-Steampunk Elves I would so get behind this!

We were thinking of basing the races on elemental types (fire/earth/wind/water) but I don't see any reason why this wouldn't work!

Quote:

I also like the idea of personal airships. Styled after the airships from FF9. And with the airships, Sky Pirates.

Any suggestions for airship mechanics?

Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope · 08-31-2010, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nique

Any suggestions for airship mechanics?

Maybe the Airship can transport people from one place or another. You go to an Air Depot, buy a ticket and take an airship. While on the airship, you can interact with NPC's, including the captain. It could be utilized like an extended rest or an inn function. While in the air, if you are attacked by sky pirates, you would treat it a s a battle field with limitations, let's say your Golem-Stein punches someone, they could do enough damage to push him over the edge of the airship.

The Airship itself could be used as a character. The Airship takes enugh damage it can crashinto the ground. The Airship, or course is used by the NPC.

Sky Warrior Bob · 08-31-2010, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nique

Any suggestions for airship mechanics?

I suggest you try Cid. Decent mechanic & fixed up my sloop, but good.

...

Armor class, engine type, offensive abilities.

More armor - less speed. Less armor - more speed, but not around for long.

Engine type also determines speed. Be creative - have each type have issues. Maybe one kind takes a lot longer to get going. One type that is very fast for short bursts, but overwork it & it breaks down. That sort of thing.

Offensive abilities - how much hurt you can inflict.

You might also want to look into helium Vs. hydrogen. Yes, I know that hydrogen goes boom, but I think there was a reason it was used at all. It might be a factor in your dirigible creations.

SWB

Funka Genocide · 08-31-2010, 09:06 PM

Steal all the mechanics from White Wolf, then create something interesting that has fuck all to do with elves.

Sithdarth · 08-31-2010, 09:21 PM

^ This

Seriously Alchemical Exalted = Premade Steampunk rule setting. Just strip the flavor you don't like and add your own. Maybe change essence to inner vitality or life energy or something (that is basically what it is anyway). You don't even have to use actual Exalted. You could strip Alchemicals out of the game entirely and go with Heroic mortals and crazy man machine hybrids for that dark and gritty feel. Someday when I get ambitious I want to strip all the flavor from the Exalted series and replace it with stuff from the Matrix and run the most awesome RP in history. But that is a project for when I'm bored and have a lot of time on my hands.

Fifthfiend · 08-31-2010, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nique

You mean if a character dies make it easy to respawn? Save points, pheonix downs, that kind of thing?

I think he means the end of The Prestige.

And if he doesn't, he should.

Magus · 08-31-2010, 10:24 PM

Get all your goods back by finding and robbing your corpse, that way.

Sky Warrior Bob · 09-01-2010, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fifthfiend

I think he means the end of The Prestige.

And if he doesn't, he should.

If you think I want to end a movie about a pair of competing stage magicians, you'd be right, but that has nothing to do with what I was talking about.

However, if you were thinking that I was talking about getting rid of nigh immortal players, in favor of relatively easy-to-kill flesh bags. Then yes, yes I was considering that.

I was suggesting that you have a mindset from the start that your people are going to die, its just going to happen. Rather than grind game play to a halt, like some systems. To require a player to dredge through making a new character & finding some excuse to join the group, try to implement some ideas to work around that.

As mentioned, in the roleplaying game of Paranoia, every player has exact duplicate back-ups. Instead of that, maybe have some simple rules about stat swapping. So every time a player dies, he just swaps a few stats (by die roll?) and comes into play as a new guy.

The replacement comes from a clan/guild that is on hand to always replace a lost team member.

In short, make your players feel like the game is a grim pitting against tough & challenging odds. Not just some grind quest on World of Warcraft.

But maybe that's just me...

SWB

08-31-2010, 07:49 PM	#12
Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope Definitely NOT a samurai Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Location: Wherever the wind leads me Posts: 5,347	I also like the idea of personal airships. Styled after the airships from FF9. And with the airships, Sky Pirates. __________________ Lost in the Music ~ On Hiatus Tales of a Torn World ~ World Building

08-31-2010, 07:27 PM	#11
Magus Archer and Armstrong vs. the World Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 7,164	You could just go ahead and call the Frankenstein's monsters something original, like "Golems"! My main familiarity with Steampunk is Shadow Run, I myself prefer something more medieval but with mechanical elements. How about fire-breathing magical-mechanical horses piloted by blunderbuss wielding knights? EDIT: Also giant spider and scorpions trained by one faction to use as mounts (Anti-Steampunk elves?)

08-31-2010, 09:06 PM	#16
Funka Genocide Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 4,566	Steal all the mechanics from White Wolf, then create something interesting that has fuck all to do with elves.

08-31-2010, 09:21 PM	#17
Sithdarth Friendly Neighborhood Quantum Hobo Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Outside the M-brane look'n in Posts: 5,403	^ This Seriously Alchemical Exalted = Premade Steampunk rule setting. Just strip the flavor you don't like and add your own. Maybe change essence to inner vitality or life energy or something (that is basically what it is anyway). You don't even have to use actual Exalted. You could strip Alchemicals out of the game entirely and go with Heroic mortals and crazy man machine hybrids for that dark and gritty feel. Someday when I get ambitious I want to strip all the flavor from the Exalted series and replace it with stuff from the Matrix and run the most awesome RP in history. But that is a project for when I'm bored and have a lot of time on my hands.

08-31-2010, 10:24 PM	#19
Magus Archer and Armstrong vs. the World Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 7,164	Get all your goods back by finding and robbing your corpse, that way.