Steampunk

[Mindhazingsquid]

I'm wondering if anyone is interested in a steampunk freeform game?  It could be victorian or alternate modern or semi-fantasy.  This would be a one on one or maybe a small group.

[NikitaFirestar]

What exactly is steampunk? I love victorian settings, so that perked my interest *Chuckles*

[MadPanda]

Are you thinking 'Castle Falkenstein' or something more 'realistic'?  ;D

[Arander]

This helps explain Steampunk fairly well:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk

[Caustic]

Christ, I can't believe I never thought of this.  *smack*

Hell yes, put me down as 'very interested'.

[Vice]

Is there anyone who doesn't like steampunk?  :D

[Caustic]

... Probably.  Some mundane somewhere... probably shopping at Bed, Bath, and Beyond right now, though.

[Nalla]

Me too.  Keep me posted.

[NikitaFirestar]

Ah, ok. That all makes sense! I'd love to play in something like that!

[NightBird]

*ears perk at the mention of Victorian steampunk*

If there's still room, I'd love to hear more...

[Muse]

Okay, I'll bite too, if there's still room. 

[MadPanda]

If we do Castle Falkenstein, I call dibs on the Dragon!

(highly evolved magic using shapeshifting uber Pteradactyls!  I've never gotten to try one of those before...  ;D ;D ;D )

[Mindhazingsquid]

I have no idea what Castle Falkenstein is.  I didn't have any actual setting in mind.  I personally prefer fantastic steampunk, like Arcanum, but with better gameplay, hah hah.

[MadPanda]

Castle Falkenstein is definitely fantasy steampunk--Jules Verne technology, high sorcery, sidhe (both Seelie and Unseelie), and of course the Dragons.   ;)  But it isn't to everybody's taste, and the original game by R. Talisoran was a bit quirky--rather like FUDGE in its mechanics, only with playing cards instead of dice.

It was just the first thing that came to mind when I saw 'steampunk'.   :D

[Mindhazingsquid]

I don't know FUDGE either, heh.

[MadPanda]

We can just freeform it.  The play's the thing, anyhow.   ;D

"If we can but reach the edge of the catwalk, we can climb back up to the deck and reach the airship's bridge in time!"

"And the alternative, Captain?"

"Quite simple, old man.  We plummet headlong ten thousand feet to our deaths.  Ready?"

[NikitaFirestar]

*laughs* Well I'm a bit lost, but excited. If its anything like Orson Wells books, I know that kind of thing. *Chuckles* And I'd love to play a Victorian woman!

[Mindhazingsquid]

Well, how about we mix them all together and make it an alternate victorian-earth (so everyone knows the setting) with a fantastic undercurrent.

[NikitaFirestar]

Ooooh, that could be fun. I have a victorian char already made, with room for an abusive father and adoring older brother, if anyones interested *Giggles*

[MadPanda]

Hmm.  I should toss together a few notes on Falkenstein dragons for GMly review, then.  And find my write-up of Simon, Lord Absquith...

[NikitaFirestar]

*Grins and waits patiently as she can*

[Mindhazingsquid]

Ooo!  Ooo!  Can I be the brother? Hah hah

Is a London setting agreable to everyone?

[NikitaFirestar]

*Chuckles* London is fine, and sure you can. Send me a pm when you want for detail hashing.

[MadPanda]

London works just fine.  ;D

[Muse]

Sounds great. 

May I be a gentleman scholar who travels the world as a naturalist?   Getting into all kinds of trouble that he has to fence or indiana jones his way out of? 

[NightBird]

London would be sweet!

[Mindhazingsquid]

London it is.  A small addition, there are verious levels of engineered animals, made to be smarter, bigger, stronger, used as slaves but sometimes they're given a bit too much inteligence and manage to get away so dragons, basiliscs, hellhounds or anything else you  might think of, while, isn't common it also isn't something of a big surprise (though people might stare).

[Vice]

I've always wanted to play a butch adventuress with a flair for science. An alchemist, an engineer, something like that. Failing that, a lower class woman who dresses as a man to work could be fun.

[NikitaFirestar]

Going to like women as well...? *Innocent question, whistles innocently*

[Vice]

Romance can be so confusing for a girl straddling gender lines in a world of Victorian values...if only someone could offer guidance...  :-*

[NikitaFirestar]

*Giggles* Interesting to know...

[Mindhazingsquid]

I should add, common races are pretty much standard D&D middle-high fantasy fare (IE elves, dwarves, orcs, goblins, etc...).  Exotic things like demons or angels are negotiable. 
Magic and technology have reached a sort of equilibrium.  Technology is available to anyone who can afford it.  Anyone can learn to use a musket with only a few minutes training (more training if you don't want the chance of it blowing up in your face, hah hah).  Magic is more fickle, anyone can learn a simple hedge trick or two that may or may not work and don't cost anything (like throwing a pinch of salt over your shoulder when you spill it to ward off bad luck) but not everyone can cast fireballs no matter how long they train and study.  It's both more exesable and less.  On every street corner you can buy a charm or googaw that can make you rich, make someone fall in love with you, take away your acne some of the merchants are snake oil sellers and some are honest hedge wizards.  This things cost only money and work about as well as they do in the real world.  That is to say it's a matter of perception.  If you've been single all your life break down and buy a love charm and find your true love, well, was it the charm or was it coincidence?  Maybe buying the charm made you more confident in yourself maybe it really was magic, more to the point if you believe it worked does it matter if it was magic or confidence?  Wands and real magic items are more complicated and dangerous and more expensive but anyone can use them with a simple word or phrase.  Mages don't want people running around casting fireballs or magic missiles willy nilly just as technologists just don't give away barrels of gunpowder.  These are rare and dangerous things.

[MadPanda]

"I say, old boy, don't you know that real Wizards hang out a shingle and take paying customers?  Rather like solicitors, ha ha, only with more impressive credentials!  This whole...what did you call it?  Ahh, yes.  'Dungeon crawling'.  Sounds perfectly horrible, what?  In which Order do you claim membership, again?"

;D

[Goblinmoon]

Ooh I love Steampunk! Was just looking at a main game book for Victoriana.  So count me in!  hmmmm... any idea on scale?  Going into the monarchy etc type stuff? or keep it smaller?

[Mindhazingsquid]

Ooh I love Steampunk! Was just looking at a main game book for Victoriana.  So count me in!  hmmmm... any idea on scale?  Going into the monarchy etc type stuff? or keep it smaller?

Well, would you mind if I put you on a reserve list?  When I made this I was thinking like 2-4 or 5 at a max people, now I've got 8 who've said they're interested, four characters of a type (including one of my own).

[Goblinmoon]

ah well ok... lol I'm sure you'll get more once the full holidays are over. ;D

[Mindhazingsquid]

Unless someone wants to take over running it, of course.  Hah hah.  Or help me run it.  I'm just not good at managing lots of people and coming up with a complex enough story for lots of people.

[Mindhazingsquid]

So, are Nalla, Nightbird, Muse, Arander and Caustic making characters?  Are you going to make a more detailed character Vice?

[NikitaFirestar]

I'm making one!

[Caustic]

I will bow out in favor of others on this one.  Thanks for holding a spot for me...

Goblinmoon, et al... it's all yours.  Have a lovely time--

[Vice]

So, are Nalla, Nightbird, Muse, Arander and Caustic making characters?  Are you going to make a more detailed character Vice?

Certainly. I wasn't sure if alchemist or engineer would be more appropriate for the setting you have in mind, and what our general options are. Should I PM the character ideas to you, or just post them here?

[Mindhazingsquid]

Which ever is more convenient for you.  Alchemists and engineers would bother be appropriate.

[MadPanda]

(raises hand)

Mine's sort of already made, if I'm still welcome hereabouts...

[Mindhazingsquid]

(raises hand)

Mine's sort of already made, if I'm still welcome hereabouts...

You and Nikita are the only two I'm the least bit certain about.

[MadPanda]

Ahhh, okay  ;)  Do we have a game set up, yet?

[Mindhazingsquid]

Not yet, I'll set it up shortly.

[NightBird]

So, are Nalla, Nightbird, Muse, Arander and Caustic making characters?  Are you going to make a more detailed character Vice?

Yep... Will be working on one tomorrow. Tonight got a little muzzy... *chuckles*

[Nalla]

I'm working on a character now.  She'll probably be a proper lady from an aristocratic family with a thirst for adventure.

[Goblinmoon]

Yeah muzzy is a good description for the way my head felt after New Years Eve!

I don't want to disturb game balance either.  I'm certainly up for playing but realize that it might not be an option.  Just let me know and I'll create!

[MechanicalImpulses]

     If you have enough space for another character, I'd love to play.  If possible I'd like to give a "Modified Human" a shot.  Think cybernetic but less stream line and a lot more experimental.

[Muse]

Hi!  I'm still here. 

I had the idea of a swashbuckling rake, a younger noble son working for universities as a naturalist.  he's traveled the world extensivly getting into Indiana Jones type adventures, with the companionship of his intelgent dog, his whip, rapier, and a few fun gagets.  He's also come across a number of rare natural medecines and drugs, including a variety of powerful aphrodesiacs that he uses in ways that aren't entirly scrupulous.  ;) 

[Mindhazingsquid]

I'm not entirely sure where to put it.  That is, I was thinking of putting it in light, but does anyone have a preference in which one?  Should I see if I can give it multiple threads as it may not stay in london.

[Muse]

i prefer BatL at least.  ;) 

[MadPanda]

Depends.  Light is good if we're going for the melodramatic Victorian feel, where dastardly deeds done unto fair ladies are implied but never stated and always interrupted by the dashing heroes.

Midtones would be for those moments when someone's bodice actually gets ripped...just before she gets tied down and spanked...repeatedly...(ahem).   ;D

[Arander]

i prefer BatL at least.  ;) 

My vote goes for BatL or BatL:E

[Mindhazingsquid]

Okay, so be it.  Hah hah

[Dorian Grandale]

Still have space for characters? This sounds most interesting.

[Goblinmoon]

Am I in or not? I know you wanted to keep it small...

[Mindhazingsquid]

Yeah, you're in.  But no more.

[Mindhazingsquid]

Unless someone has a better idea, here's a start.
https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=8372.new#new

[Muse]

*Burns a fatted calf to the goddess Liriel and prays for a whole board for the game, complete with OOC board.* 

[Goblinmoon]

oooh yes multiple threads are our friends!

[Lirliel]

*Creeps in* I need Mod names, who's the Mod for this board?

[Mindhazingsquid]

Err, me I guess.  I'll be running the main story anyway.

[Lirliel]

Boards are up :)