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No really great Steampunk Tabletop RPG?

Started by RJBowman, January 10, 2024, 06:36:03 PM

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RJBowman

I found this:

http://youtu.be/HdN6qPi8c9s?t=229

The video creator compiled a list of his top 10 games. I am not familiar with them all, but the ones I am familiar with, I agree that they are great games.

He points out that there is no great steampunk RPG on the level with the likes of Mage the Ascension or Cyberpunk 2020.

He points to Difference Engine of an example of a steampunk setting. Some may point elsewhere as an ideal example.

I've looked at steampunk RPGs and haven't seen any that I think are great. Does anyone disagree, and can you give an example?

Sorontar

#1
I have heard of Castle Falkenstein, GURPS Steampunk, Deadlands and Iron Kingdom but the only steampunk system I have ever played was Space:1889, and that I played as a live action system, so it was just roleplaying, no real rules. It was fun.

Sorontar
Sorontar, Captain of 'The Aethereal Dancer'
Advisor to HM Engineers on matters aethereal, aeronautic and cosmographic
http://eyrie.sorontar.com

Felscor

Either GURPS steampunk as Sorontar has pointed, or mayhaps even Steampunk BRP* could be a choice.
For a steampunk specific system that Cyberpunk 2020 and ARS Magicka**, which caters to the genre phenomenally well, I have not seen.

If ever such a system arose, I would be most keen to discover it.

*Please forgive me, I could not source the link, however I did find
1) Cthulhu Steampunk: https://www.chaosium.com/steampunk-cthulhu-ebook/
2) the rules for BRP: https://www.chaosium.com/basic-roleplaying/

**https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica
Elymas J. Banderbine
Urban Druid

chironex

I usually find something I don't want about steampunk/VSF/AMF/Gaslamp fantasy/Weird Western settings which just annoys me, though I don't want to change them too much - If I want it different I should really invent my own. I suggest you do too if you don't want any of the following suggestions, using generic universal rules such as GURPS, Savage Worlds, Cortex, or really even Heroic Journey's Mecha.
Airship Pirates
Deadlands: Reloaded
Space 1889: Red Sands
Runepunk: Steam and Shadow
Through the Breach
No gel ball ban in WA! http://chng.it/pcKk9qKcVN

QUEENSLAND RAIL NOT FOR SALE!!!!!!

Felscor

I'll second basic roleplaying system from Chaosium, but more out of its accessibility and appropriate system for the Steampunk genre.

That said, there is a plethora of Steampunk devoted systems that I haven't tried.
Elymas J. Banderbine
Urban Druid