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Steampunk - Dieselpunk Races

Started by GeekyBugle, February 18, 2024, 01:54:39 AM

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GeekyBugle

February 18, 2024, 01:54:39 AM
I'm planing a campaign, either Steampunk or Dieselpunk.

If it was you, what races (besides human) would you allow (if any)?

Why?
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell

S'mon

#1
February 18, 2024, 02:06:24 AM
I would definitely go all-human. Steampunk should generally use social class as a big divider. Ethnicity will also be important if it's a European/quasi-European setting, eg the Pompous Brit, Villainous German, Arrogant Frenchman. Dieselpunk is more like Cyberpunk where class and race, and even sex, don't matter so much, but role division is very clear, you're the Driver or the Soldier, the Fixer, the Rock Star, the Journo, the Cop. It's even more archetypal than Cyberpunk that way.
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Rhymer88

#2
February 18, 2024, 03:21:05 AM
My gaming group is playing in a steampunk setting (Savage Worlds rules). The only race is human. There is enough diversity among human beings that other player races aren't needed.

Mishihari

#3
February 18, 2024, 08:35:19 AM
Human really is sufficient, but based on the setting, others could be appropriate, particulary artificial ones.   If you do the Girl Genius setting, frex, then jaegermonsters, geisters, bears, etc would work as races

Angry Goblin

#4
February 18, 2024, 08:43:33 AM
Humans only here aswell and I´d draw heavily from the social norms of Victorian England which are immensely deep for plothooks.
Hârn is not for you.

GeekyBugle

#5
February 18, 2024, 11:57:25 AM
So, from what I'm reading going the Shadowrun route and including other races besides human doesn't fit the genre?

What about monsters? Dragons, witches, etc also a no-no?
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell

Batjon

#6
February 18, 2024, 12:26:19 PM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on February 18, 2024, 01:54:39 AM
I'm planing a campaign, either Steampunk or Dieselpunk.

If it was you, what races (besides human) would you allow (if any)?

Why?

I'm planning games for both steampunk and dieselpunk.  Are you planning on running online?

weirdguy564

#7
February 18, 2024, 12:44:56 PM
1.  Atlanteans
2.  Martians
3.  Aether mutated human
4.  A.I./clockwork
5.  Mutant animal
6.  Isekai (human from another dimension)
7.  Clone
8.  De-aged human
9.  Classic Demi-humans (OMG they're real?)
10.  Cyborg
I'm glad for you if you like the top selling game of the genre.  Me, I like the road less travelled, and will be the player asking we try a game you've never heard of.

Chris24601

#8
February 18, 2024, 01:27:23 PM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on February 18, 2024, 11:57:25 AM
So, from what I'm reading going the Shadowrun route and including other races besides human doesn't fit the genre?

What about monsters? Dragons, witches, etc also a no-no?
Steampunk runs on rule of cool and mad science as legitimate. I'd take most monsters and reframe them as SCIENCE! run amok...

The dragon is a runaway steam and fire belching machine intended to automate the mining process, but instead it just burrows and burrows and gathers up all the precious metals and gems it unearths. It is man's demands for technology to replace human labor out of greed given form.

Frankenstein's monster fills a role similar to the undead in questioning the nature of the soul and the dangers of playing with the boundaries of life and death.

The witch is a mad scientist pursuing the secrets of creation via unethical and illegal means.

Etc.

GeekyBugle

#9
February 18, 2024, 01:51:45 PM
Quote from: Batjon on February 18, 2024, 12:26:19 PM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on February 18, 2024, 01:54:39 AM
I'm planing a campaign, either Steampunk or Dieselpunk.

If it was you, what races (besides human) would you allow (if any)?

Why?

I'm planning games for both steampunk and dieselpunk.  Are you planning on running online?

Unless I manage to find an IRL group, yes.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell

GeekyBugle

#10
February 18, 2024, 01:53:40 PM
Quote from: weirdguy564 on February 18, 2024, 12:44:56 PM
1.  Atlanteans
2.  Martians
3.  Aether mutated human
4.  A.I./clockwork
5.  Mutant animal
6.  Isekai (human from another dimension)
7.  Clone
8.  De-aged human
9.  Classic Demi-humans (OMG they're real?)
10.  Cyborg

This was my intention, make it a little more fantastic.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell

GeekyBugle

#11
February 18, 2024, 01:56:49 PM
Quote from: Chris24601 on February 18, 2024, 01:27:23 PM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on February 18, 2024, 11:57:25 AM
So, from what I'm reading going the Shadowrun route and including other races besides human doesn't fit the genre?

What about monsters? Dragons, witches, etc also a no-no?
Steampunk runs on rule of cool and mad science as legitimate. I'd take most monsters and reframe them as SCIENCE! run amok...

The dragon is a runaway steam and fire belching machine intended to automate the mining process, but instead it just burrows and burrows and gathers up all the precious metals and gems it unearths. It is man's demands for technology to replace human labor out of greed given form.

Frankenstein's monster fills a role similar to the undead in questioning the nature of the soul and the dangers of playing with the boundaries of life and death.

The witch is a mad scientist pursuing the secrets of creation via unethical and illegal means.

Etc.

Victorian era was chock full of seanses, Atlantis is real, Mars/Venus/etc are populated and other magical/supernatural/a-scientific beliefs tho.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell

Rhymer88

#12
February 19, 2024, 03:07:09 AM
Quote from: Chris24601 on February 18, 2024, 01:27:23 PM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on February 18, 2024, 11:57:25 AM
So, from what I'm reading going the Shadowrun route and including other races besides human doesn't fit the genre?

What about monsters? Dragons, witches, etc also a no-no?
Steampunk runs on rule of cool and mad science as legitimate. I'd take most monsters and reframe them as SCIENCE! run amok...

The dragon is a runaway steam and fire belching machine intended to automate the mining process, but instead it just burrows and burrows and gathers up all the precious metals and gems it unearths. It is man's demands for technology to replace human labor out of greed given form.

Frankenstein's monster fills a role similar to the undead in questioning the nature of the soul and the dangers of playing with the boundaries of life and death.

The witch is a mad scientist pursuing the secrets of creation via unethical and illegal means.

Etc.

Yes, but those are explicitly monsters, which we also have in our Savage Worlds campaign (well, no dragons yet, but plenty of constructs and spirit beings, for example). Certain aliens could, of course, be used as character races, such as most of the Martians in Space: 1889.

Eric Diaz

#13
February 19, 2024, 09:01:45 AM Last Edit: February 19, 2024, 09:06:05 AM by Eric Diaz
Quote from: GeekyBugle on February 18, 2024, 11:57:25 AM
So, from what I'm reading going the Shadowrun route and including other races besides human doesn't fit the genre?

What about monsters? Dragons, witches, etc also a no-no?

You might check Castle Falkenstein or GURPS Goblins for a few ideas on Victiorian/Edwardian + elves/goblins etc. Both are fun.

I've been obsessed by pulp lately, so I'd be tempted to have martians, Tarzan-like PCs, morlocks and eloi, and maybe steampeople/dieselpeople.

Or take the (very racist IMO) ideas of Blavatsky and use "root races": Polarian, Hyperborean, Lemurian, etc. They are very weird, maybe too weird for PCs.

Of course I'd remove the bit about "aryans" and any reference to actual people (European, Chinese, African, etc.). Either ALL humans come from Atlanteans or none. Maybe PCs can have atlantean blood but not because they are Canadian, Chinese or African.

In any case, it might be controversial.
Chaos Factory Books  - Dark fantasy RPGs and more!

Methods & Madness - my  D&D 5e / Old School / Game design blog.

GeekyBugle

#14
February 19, 2024, 03:05:52 PM
Quote from: Eric Diaz on February 19, 2024, 09:01:45 AM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on February 18, 2024, 11:57:25 AM
So, from what I'm reading going the Shadowrun route and including other races besides human doesn't fit the genre?

What about monsters? Dragons, witches, etc also a no-no?

You might check Castle Falkenstein or GURPS Goblins for a few ideas on Victiorian/Edwardian + elves/goblins etc. Both are fun.

I've been obsessed by pulp lately, so I'd be tempted to have martians, Tarzan-like PCs, morlocks and eloi, and maybe steampeople/dieselpeople.

Or take the (very racist IMO) ideas of Blavatsky and use "root races": Polarian, Hyperborean, Lemurian, etc. They are very weird, maybe too weird for PCs.

Of course I'd remove the bit about "aryans" and any reference to actual people (European, Chinese, African, etc.). Either ALL humans come from Atlanteans or none. Maybe PCs can have atlantean blood but not because they are Canadian, Chinese or African.

In any case, it might be controversial.

I've got (for my WIP Pulp Game) Atlanteans, Martians, Venusians, Eloi (for PCs), Martians (the Mars Attacks! & War of the Worlds kind), Morloks for monsters, Totally-Not: Tarzan, The Phantom, Mandrake (WIP), Buck Rogers & Flash Gordon among others for classes. Happy to share them with you.

First time I read about "Root Races", as long as you don't make them fun damentally evil (why would I since it's for PCs?) I see no problem including them in one way or the other.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell
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