Quote from: Exploderwizard;790939Is Steampunk really a genre itself?

I see steampunk as more of a setting than a genre. What types of adventures would be "pure" steampunk?

I always thought pure steampunk would be something like James Bond - heroes with gizmos battle/outwit a mad scientist's claim for world domination.

I've been enjoying this thread - and the Dark Harvest supplement sounds really interesting now - but I thought I'd pop by and mention GURPS Steampunk, which did win an Origin award and which I remember being good, but it's been a while and I don't remember details.  Out of print but available in pdf.

GURPS worldbooks are usually pretty awesome whether or not you use the rules set.

Quote from: Dirk Remmecke;791424I always thought pure steampunk would be something like James Bond - heroes with gizmos battle/outwit a mad scientist's claim for world domination.

I thought it would be more like the Sex Pistols trying to play with traditional instruments.  It would probably sound like the Pogues.

JG

I'm just waiting for the day that "Diesel-punk" becomes more of a thing. I'm kind of sick of "add goggles, a top hat and a few gears" to steam-punk everything.

Quote from: Necrozius;791940I'm just waiting for the day that "Diesel-punk" becomes more of a thing. I'm kind of sick of "add goggles, a top hat and a few gears" to steam-punk everything.

There's apparently also Tesla-punk and Clock-punk...

Quote from: 3rik;791946There's apparently also Tesla-punk and Clock-punk...

Yeah...all too much of it, and it frequently means nothing.

My comment up thread about Leagues of Adventure PCs being assumed to be part of established society was prompted by the 'punk' suffix of the OP. If a punk suffix means anything, IMHO it should mean that PCs are outside of and generally opposed to established society - even if they aren't trying actively to change society.

Most something-punk games should really use pulp (in the rpg sense) instead, as they are usually games of high adventure with weird science.

Building a steam-powered flying machine to destroy the fleets of the Great Powers to try to impose world peace is punk (even if the inventor is a nobleman wearing a frockcoat). Building a flying machine to travel the world and explore unmapped regions for the Royal Geographical Society isn't punk. At least as I see it.

But really, it's a meaningless term, and I wish people would stop adding it to everything.

Quote from: Necrozius;791940I'm just waiting for the day that "Diesel-punk" becomes more of a thing. I'm kind of sick of "add goggles, a top hat and a few gears" to steam-punk everything.

I like the aesthetics of Dieselpunk more than Steampunk... it brings to mind some of the crazier Italian Futurists... proto-fascists in love with anything mechanical... movies like Metropolis and City of Lost Children. Big engines and sleek designs.
I'm not sure who the 'punks' of the genre are though... probably some anti-machine faction... or the oppressed serfs of Metropolis.

Quote from: Simlasa;791994I like the aesthetics of Dieselpunk more than Steampunk... it brings to mind some of the crazier Italian Futurists... proto-fascists in love with anything mechanical... movies like Metropolis and City of Lost Children. Big engines and sleek designs.
I'm not sure who the 'punks' of the genre are though... probably some anti-machine faction... or the oppressed serfs of Metropolis.

  Hmm...wouldn't Metropolis be anti-punk in its message of reconciliation and mediation as opposed to violent revolution? If anyone's a punk in that film, it's probably Rotwang.

If I remember well, there is a Polish RPG called Wolsung (translated in English), which looks like Shadowrun in a Victorian setting. But I'm not well versed in this game and I think it will be a good thing if another forum member could do a short review of this RPG.

Time for glampunk?

We're white punks on dope
Mom and dad moved to Hollywood

Like, we live in Beverly Hills and this like ancient dude, you know, totally calls us punks like every time we ride our scooters by his house.

While I love victorian sci-fi and retro-victorian sci-fi (like Space: 1889), "steampunk" is certainly my least favorite "punk", as it's the most contrived and shallow.

Quote from: yabaziou;792013If I remember well, there is a Polish RPG called Wolsung (translated in English), which looks like Shadowrun in a Victorian setting. But I'm not well versed in this game and I think it will be a good thing if another forum member could do a short review of this RPG.

I have a copy, but never really dug into it. From just the skim I gave it, and the table of contents, it's definitely in the shadowrun / fantasy game with a veneer of steampunk (elves, gnomes, trolls, orcs ...).

Quote from: Armchair Gamer;792008Hmm...wouldn't Metropolis be anti-punk in its message of reconciliation and mediation as opposed to violent revolution? If anyone's a punk in that film, it's probably Rotwang.

I'm not sure punks were against mediation or reconciliation... they just challenged the status quo and rebelled against oppression and excessive order. Shouted 'anarchy' but generally only meant it as means to something less extreme.
Rotwang is just mad with vengeance... not politics.

I remember wanting more 'punk' in Shadowrun... more themes of overt rebellion... but that didn't seem to be on the menu.

Quote from: Simlasa;792086I'm not sure punks were against mediation or reconciliation... they just challenged the status quo and rebelled against oppression and excessive order. Shouted 'anarchy' but generally only meant it as means to something less extreme.
Rotwang is just mad with vengeance... not politics.

I remember wanting more 'punk' in Shadowrun... more themes of overt rebellion... but that didn't seem to be on the menu.

SR definitely has more punk style and (at least lip service to) anarchist politics than steampunk.

JG