It seems like a lot of games like to set their steampunk technology in Victorian or Victorian-themed settings; Castle Falkenstein, Etherscope, Steampunk Musha (well, Victoriental, as it names itself), etc.  I understand you can fall back to this time frame successfully because of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, and other inspirational authors for the steampunk genre, but why don't we see more of it in earlier time frames?

For example, Regency England--the Romantic period, the backlash against the Industrial Revolution.  Here we find Shelley's Frankenstein, a book that instead of being in awe of technological developments, paints them with a distinctly darker, cautionary brush.  It might make for a steampunk setting with a very unique (and likely darker) feel to it.  (Plus, backdate it a few years, and see how Wellington does up against Napoleon's Steamjacks in Spain.  Take that, Torres Vedras!).

We also have the Renaissance, which, as much as it was a beacon of light in terms of remembered and new knowledge and science, was a very dark time for Christian Europe, as the Ottomans pressed in, overunning the fractured principalities of Eastern Europe.  Imagine Leonardo's Armored Tank come to Fruition, his flying machine improved and released during the Turkish-Venetian wars!  

I'd guess I'd like to see the Steampunk genre extended to other time periods.  Victorian Steampunk is well and good, and I understand the influences behind it from Wells and Verne (and even Twain) to Gibson's The Difference Engine, but I really think a lot could be done with it by expanding it into a previous age of opportunity.

Greg Keyes' Empire of Unreason books, starring a young Ben Franklin in a world where of aetheric affinities were messy, but always seemed like a wonderful setting.  Everything a bit more chaotic, a little more earthy.

Quote from: ReimdallGreg Keyes' Empire of Unreason books, starring a young Ben Franklin in a world where of aetheric affinities were messy, but always seemed like a wonderful setting.  Everything a bit more chaotic, a little more earthy.

I'll have to check those out!  Thanks!