AH Steampunk RPG Setting Help Required

Justin Pickard

I am contemplating running a Historic Steampunk adventure for our RPGing group at some point in the near future. I was wondering if you folks could help with TL ideas, or an appropriate POD for my setting requirements.

Current Date: Turn of the Century – 1890-1909

POD: Anywhere after 1800

By the current date, the existence of...
- Commerical Passenger Zeppelins (for the upper classes at least)
- Calculating Engines (if only primitive)

The following are taken as read...
- Real world physics still apply
- No fictional characters


* * * * *

Everyone feel free to throw ideas into the mix. The more ideosyncratic and less 'stock' steampunk the better.
 

Faeelin

What kind of game are you looking for, exactly?

For an idea, how about: 1884.

It is a world where the American Revolution was crushed, and America was restored to British rule. The French Revolution happened, however, and the forces of the Republic took over Europe, the middle east, and north Africa. In the east, Japan and China have modernized, and are uniting to dominate East Asia.

The three great powers are squaring off in preparation for a massive battle.
 

Justin Pickard

Oh no, I'm looking for help with a homebrew timeline...

At the moment, system or whatever isn't really important.

I just need an appropriate POD.
 
Grey Wolf

Grey Wolf

The period of the 1880s-1900 provided a lot of almost successes in aviation. By 1909 you DO have commercial zeppelin services within the German Empire, and I don't think its for the upper class only. As a note the King of Wurttemburg and the German Crown Prince both travelled on these services.

But for calculating machines/engines (and what-not) I think you need to centre your POD around Babbage himself

Grey Wolf
 

Justin Pickard

Which would have more interesting repercussions...
Babbage becoming interested in the Liberalism and Utilitarianism of J. S. Mill...

or

A young Babbage becoming majorly influenced by Lord Byron, and thus joining the Romantic movement...

Any other ideas?
 

Tyr

Most steam punk starts with babbage, throw in a south winning ACW and remaining independant too to keep Britain as top dog (again this goes hand in hand with steam punk).
Ah a real world RPG group...never knew they still existed.
 

Count Dearborn

Have some of the historically famous people live longer.

OTL:
Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859)
Ada Lovelace (1815-1852)
Fredrick III of Prussia (1831-1888)

ATL:

Have Brunel, & Lovelace longer into the 19th Century, if not until the 20th.
They have a meeting with Nikola Tesla sometime in the 1880's, and all three end up ushering in the Steam Age.

Brunel was a builder of steam ships and railroads. Lovelace invented the first computer language. Perhaps, with the help of Tesla, they take over the rusting hulk that was Babbage's Difference Engine, and prefect it. Brunel could also invent the first Steam Mecha, with Tesla coming up with the power source. With Tesla not going to work for Edsion, AC Power catches on sooner.

Fredrick III was the son of Wilhelm I, and the father of Wilhelm II. By most accounts, Fredrick III, who was married to one of Victoria's daughters, wanted Prussia to become more like England. He didn't get along with Bismark. When Fredrick III died of throat cancer in 1888, not long after his coronation, his emotionally immature son, who was 29, then took the throne. Now, if Fredick were to survive, let's say, to 1918, there might not be a WWI, or a WWI where Prussia comes in on the side of the England & France.

I hope this helps. ;)
 
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Adam Parsons

This is just a random idea, and probably not plausible, but...

How about the revolutions of 1848 are worse, such that government collapses completely in Prussia and France, and an overthrow of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia. By 1850, France has stabilized, but Prussia is fatally weakened, and is no match for Franz Joseph's Austrian Empire. In Russia, the new Tsar, Mikhal I, an expansionist ruler, decides to invade the Ottoman Empire in Crimean War in 1853. Despite halfhearted English and French intervention, the Russians seize Istanbul in 1855, and most of northern Turkey.

Russian expansionism continues in Central Asia, with the Indian Mutinies in 1857 and 1863, and the Russian invasion of Afganistan in 1867. In 1869, the War of the Germanies results in the final collapse of Prussian power. By 1880, all of northern German States have unified in the German Confederation under Bavaria.

So, by 1885, we have the British, French, and Austrian empires allied against the Russian Empire and German Confederation, with Japan and America remaining neutral in the matter.

(I have something of a passion for Russian schemes.)
 

Doctor What

How far-out do you want this steam punk setting to be?

For a truly twisted but fascinating idea, try a 'Steam-Punk Star Trek' setting http://www.steam-trek.com/

Here's an exerpt from the history section...

In the last half of the 19th century Britain was the undeniable super power on Earth. Queen Victoria's lands and colonies spanned the globe. Britain's military strength ruled the waves and her cultural influence touched every other nation on Earth. This was just the beginning of Britain's illustrious future.

Due to superior military technology Britain was able to emerge victorious from almost all of the conflicts it came into. The Crimean War was won due to the introduction of ballistic computational machines used in conjunction with Britain's newly developed breach loading artillery as well as the introduction of the Maxim machine-gun and semiautomatic rifles.

In the Great War Britain instituted the use of the landships as well as land Ironclads and Æronef Ærial Gunboats using Cavorite Shutter panels. The navy too had developed hyper fuels for their new turbine steam engines, which allowed the introduction of mighty dreadnaughts. These advances revolutionized warfare and gave Britain a powerful military influence throughout Europe and abroad.

The United Kingdom as it was known back then started to increase its' dominion through colonization, conquest and confederation. British confederation started when smaller nations requested admission to the common wealth. These nations knew they would become backwaters if they could not participate in the British economy. Later larger nations petitioned and were admitted under the provisions of conformity to semi autonomous British rule.

Conquest and incorporation of nations and protectorates increased at a steady rate. In 1881 French nationals attempted to assassinate Queen Victoria. Britain retaliated with the all out invasion of France. This military endeavor was completed in a fortnight and under British rule even the French could rise to some level of distinction.

In 1889 Earth endured the unprovoked invasion of the Lunar Selenites. The Selenites had been living under the surface of the moon for countless years but what provoked them to attack at that time has never been revealed. Britain was of course instrumental in the immediate repulsion of the invaders in Australia and Europe and provided the lion's share of military might on the battlefields of the American, Asian and African continents. Britain was quick to adapt captured Selenite technology and combine it with their own to create a unique and lethal mix. By 1893 all the invading Selenites had been defeated or captured but England was not through with their lunar nemesis. In true British fashion, the forces of the United Kingdom launched a counter invasion of the Moon. The lunar campaign of 1893 required supporting large numbers of British troops in a hostile, alien environment on a remote island in space and the resources it demanded were massive. England could only afford this type of expedition because of its' control of the commonwealth and it's research into captured Selenite technology. The Selenites surrendered in 1898 and Prince Edmund added the Lunar territory to the British Empire.
 

Justin Pickard

I'm going to play it fairly 'pulp', but I want a plausible setting/timeline to work with.

Keep the ideas coming, they are all very welcome...
 
Albidoom

Albidoom

It shall be fairly pulp, oh well...

So lets throw in my quick thoughts:

The German-French (or Prussian-French) war of 1870/71 escalates:
Austria-Hungary sides with Frabce to retaliate for the lost war of 66/67, the southern german States try to keep as much Independence from Prussia and Austria (and from France as well) as possible, then Italy (with its eyes on southern Tyrol, Triest, Nice, Savoy and Corsica) joins an Alliance with Prussia, so does Russia (which wants Galicia and more Influence on the Balkans)
Great Britain might join the fray (on behalf of conserving the Balance of Power) or stay out of it (avoiding the bloodshed on the european continent)
Same goes for other minor powers. Sweden could set it goals for Finland (either ceded by Russia in exchange for an Alliance or they might just try to take it by war, if Russia seems weak enough). Ethnic minorities (especially in Russia, Austria-Hungary and the ottoman Empire) which don't want to shed their blood for a government they don't like might also try to gain independence and revolt.
For Spain, Portugal, the Low Countries and the Ottoman Empire I haven't got any ideas (yet :eek: )

Results of this war: Europe is devastated in many parts, due to much more immigrants (or refugees) to the Americas, the Population is reduced even more. Some parts of eastern and southeastern Europe might have descended into anarchy...
Colonial expansion might or might not be slowed down
 

Justin Pickard

I am liking the Lovelace/Brunel/Freiderick III thing.

Perhaps in combination with Byron living to become a major influence in Greece, and worse revolutions of 1848.

I need to go and do some research....
 

Count Dearborn

Here's some more:

Keep Don Pedro II on the throne of Brazil, and William Walker in control of Nicaragua. As a matter of fact, have Walker and his heirs take control of Central America, but not enough to help the American South. After 1865, have many of the Southrons move to Central America, and it is renamed, the Central American Confederation, or the Confederate States of Central America. Hell, have them take over Southern Mexico.

Just an Idea, and it was influenced by GURPS Alternate Earths I, a world called Dixie.
 

sunsurf

Here's a site about noted people who died young.

http://www.umkc.edu/imc/diedyoun.htm

Here's a fun book:

The Literary Life, by Robert Hendrickson, with lots of fascinating lists regarding literature and literary figures.

He has a list of people who died young.

Poets:

Thomas Chatterton, died in 1770 at age 18.

John Knowles, poet, died in 1817 at age 19.

Henry White, died in 1785, died of overwork at age 21.

James Crichton, Scottish savant, died in 1582 at age 22. Bedded a prince's lady and the prince had him killed.

Rupert Brooke, poet, died in WW I.

Terence, Roman dramatist died at age 25.

John Keats, William Hill Brown, Christopher Marlowe, Percy Shelley all died by age 30.

Meriwether Lewis died at age 35 under mysterious circumstances.

Joyce Kilmer and Wilfred Owen died in WW I.

John Reed, author and revolutionary died at 33 in Russia, buried in the Kremlin.

He has a list of authors who lived to a very old age; Jean Frederic, Count de Waldeck, lived to age 109, died in 1875, published his second book at age 100.

Alexander Pushkin also died young, in a duel.
 

Diamond

Banned
sunsurf said:
What if Teddy Roosevelt, or other famous people had gone into other occupations?
Click to expand...
(This doesn't really have anything to do with Justin's thread topic - sorry - the thought of alternate TR's just made me want to mention it.)

I'm working on a sort of steam-punkish AH story where seemingly benevolent aliens land in 1862. The current year is 1910, and TR is an US army colonel leading an expedition to Nevada (which is just one of many pieces of land fought over by the USA, CSA, Mexico, and an independent California) to recover a downed alien spacecraft ahead of rival nations and the aliens themselves, in the hope of getting technology that the aliens have been stingy about passing on.
 
Grey Wolf

Grey Wolf

Albidoom said:
It shall be fairly pulp, oh well...

So lets throw in my quick thoughts:

The German-French (or Prussian-French) war of 1870/71 escalates:
Austria-Hungary sides with Frabce to retaliate for the lost war of 66/67, the southern german States try to keep as much Independence from Prussia and Austria (and from France as well) as possible, then Italy (with its eyes on southern Tyrol, Triest, Nice, Savoy and Corsica) joins an Alliance with Prussia, so does Russia (which wants Galicia and more Influence on the Balkans)
Great Britain might join the fray (on behalf of conserving the Balance of Power) or stay out of it (avoiding the bloodshed on the european continent)
Same goes for other minor powers. Sweden could set it goals for Finland (either ceded by Russia in exchange for an Alliance or they might just try to take it by war, if Russia seems weak enough). Ethnic minorities (especially in Russia, Austria-Hungary and the ottoman Empire) which don't want to shed their blood for a government they don't like might also try to gain independence and revolt.
For Spain, Portugal, the Low Countries and the Ottoman Empire I haven't got any ideas (yet :eek: )

Results of this war: Europe is devastated in many parts, due to much more immigrants (or refugees) to the Americas, the Population is reduced even more. Some parts of eastern and southeastern Europe might have descended into anarchy...
Colonial expansion might or might not be slowed down
Click to expand...

Rumania would be looking for recognition as independent and united at this stage.

Obrenovic Serbia is usually seen as Austrian-orientated. I'm not sure of the particular situation in the mid 1860s but I would think they would either follow Austria's lead or Austria would sit on them like it did during the Crimean War to make sure they don't stir up trouble that could be contagious into the empire.

Italy also wants Rome, and could see membership in alliance against France as an ideal opportunity to advance its aims, as it did in 1870 when France historically was otherwise engaged.

Grey Wolf
 
Grey Wolf

Grey Wolf

Justin Pickard said:
I am contemplating running a Historic Steampunk adventure for our RPGing group at some point in the near future. I was wondering if you folks could help with TL ideas, or an appropriate POD for my setting requirements.

Current Date: Turn of the Century – 1890-1909

POD: Anywhere after 1800

By the current date, the existence of...
- Commerical Passenger Zeppelins (for the upper classes at least)
- Calculating Engines (if only primitive)

The following are taken as read...
- Real world physics still apply
- No fictional characters


* * * * *

Everyone feel free to throw ideas into the mix. The more ideosyncratic and less 'stock' steampunk the better.
Click to expand...


Some possibly useful links (from AHF's links section) :-

http://vintage-aviation.hp.infoseek.co.jp/russia.html
- Russian aviation pioneers

http://www.thehistoryofcars.com/chevy_cars.html
- history of the Chevrolet brothers / Chevrolet cars

http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~dellaert/aligned/
- historic Russian colour photography
(Prokudin-Gorskii Images)

http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/pioneers.html
- aviation pioneers

Also look up Alberto Santos-Dumont in Google, he's pretty important.

Grey Wolf
 
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