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[userpay]

Doing a quick search I didn't see a steampunk discussion topic so here it is! I myself really like it, the artwork tends to be pretty epic. I was actually looking on some stuff on instrucables for steampunk and am sorrowly tempted to make a steampunk costume now.

[Puzzlemaker]

The one thing that bothers me about steampunk is how oftentimes it isn't scientifically possible.  Bleh.

[Cthulhu]

And goodness knows, realism is integral to fantasy games.

[Vester]

The one thing that bothers me about steampunk is how oftentimes it isn't scientifically possible.  Bleh.

...

Dwarf Fortress is by definition not scientifically possible.

[Duke 2.0]

 I'm a bit bothered by Steampunk. Seems nobody can decide if the genre should be about steam machines run by new-age punk teens who make said steam machines the things one would expect from an awesome rave without lasers and colorful lights, or Victorian era mecha fights. Seems to be one or the other.

 But yeah, the detailed stuff they make is fantastic. And I love how everything is a copper color.

[Aqizzar]

The one thing that bothers me about steampunk is how oftentimes it isn't scientifically possible.  Bleh.

Dwarf Fortress is by definition not scientifically possible.

I think he means that it's a little silly when a steam-and-machinery setting introduces near-magic technology that would be hard to take seriously in traditional sci-fi, all justified by just running with 19th century styling a little longer.  Take Arcanum for example, with force field hats, machinegunner robot spiders, and a zombie-making remote control.  Eventually you have to ask, why bother the Steam Age underpinning at all?

That said, I loves me some telodynamics and coal burning zeppelins.

And I love how everything is a copper color.

Indeed, it's very charming that the past is always presented in the colors of Sepia photographs of the era.

[Sensei]

I think that one of the biggest (and most fun) challenges if you're writing or drawing this stuff, is thinking of how -exactly how- these things would work electronics-free. It's just taking the genius that made things such as the Anitkythra to its logical extreme. Not that I've had a ton to do with the genre (although I like it) but coming up with this and not fibbing anything is a fun challenge.

Also: The War in the Air by H.G. Wells.


I'm trying to remember what series that picture is from- there's an entire series of pictures that are related, I believe, to a tabletop game.

[Judas Maccabeus]

I think half the point isn't supposed to be whether it's scientifically possible, but to have the upper-class Victorian ambience around it - top hats, monocles, cups of tea, and the like, and the zeppelins and such fit into that.  Besides, steampunk I've liked the most are the ones that go over-the-top about it.  It's half the fun.  Mind, this may just be different people enjoying it for different reasons, so consistency need not necessarily apply.

Now I just need to find that picture of Lincoln in a steam-powered jetpack...

[IndonesiaWarMinister]

Victorian era mecha fights. Seems to be one or the other.

That + Airships.

And Zeppelins.
Airships v.s. Zeppelins. (Sensei's picture is goodness)

ALso: Any recommendation for Steampunk game? Preferably free.

[Luke_Prowler]

Girl Genius is a web comic based in a steampunk theme, and it is seven kinds of awesome.

As for games with Steampunk, I can't really think of any (aside from Bioshock, but that's doesn't really count). It's really undersold.

[Sensei]

Besides, steampunk I've liked the most are the ones that go over-the-top about it.  It's half the fun.

Like I said- I like to make a challenge of how over-the-top you can be and still be believable. Trust me, I like absurd things as much as the next guy. It's the same joy from giving a logical explanation as to how one crossbow bolt pierced your nose, left eye, skull, and bruised your right ear.

I do at least not like when steampunk is half-assed. See: Mechanical spiders in NeverWinter Nights 2. Or overly simple (put it in a box) mechanical computers.

Oh, and one of the most appealing ideas to me is a battlefield in which tanks and the like are present, but swords are still highly relevant to a battle.

[Mr Tk]

Real life steampunk

(Ok maybe this one does use steam, that's not the point)

[Sensei]

That's exactly what steampunk is. Imagine if all these ideas hadn't been scrapped?

[userpay]

Victorian era mecha fights. Seems to be one or the other.

That + Airships.

And Zeppelins.
Airships v.s. Zeppelins. (Sensei's picture is goodness)

ALso: Any recommendation for Steampunk game? Preferably free.

well there was one called neo-steam I think that sort of revolves around it though magic is involved in it to. For me it isn't neccessaraly the steam aspect that I can about (heck don't care about that much at all) but just the mechanical aspect. Things typically go overboard in a good way thats fun.

[Jack_Bread]

Nethernet has a steampunk theme.