No really great Steampunk Tabletop RPG?

[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]

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

[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

[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

[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.

[Caledonian]

I have ran a game in the "Professor Elemental's Garden of Whimsy" system, which I was not the greatest fan off. i get that it tries to be open ended but what I found is that it instead becomes incredibly vague on how to handle certain situations.

I do own the rulebook for "Airship Pirates" but I have not ran it yet. interested in hearing peoples experiences with it.

I also own Cogs, Cakes and Swordsticks, but for that one I am intending to try running the included adventure in a different system

[Sorontar]

WOTC is going to be releasing a new book Eberron: Forge of the Artificer (2025), so if you aren't avoiding 5e D&D that might be a steampunk fantasy option. However, you might need to change the magic into a more steamy form of power.

Sorontar

[Caledonian]

WOTC is going to be releasing a new book Eberron: Forge of the Artificer (2025), so if you aren't avoiding 5e D&D that might be a steampunk fantasy option. However, you might need to change the magic into a more steamy form of power.

Sorontar

Oh that is interesting! I might try to get that... I do love artificers.