A Role Playing Games Blog
Savage Worlds
Ask The Readers: What’s your favorite Steampunk RPG?
21August 26, 2011
My recently-discovered love for the music of Abney Park and their upcoming roleplaying game Airship Pirates has made me quite excited for all things steampunk again.
And even though steampunk is probably not the most popular genre for roleplaying games, there are quite a few excellent games out there. The most well-known steampunk setting is probably Deadlands which combines the Western genre with elements of horror and steampunk into an original mix.
The classic roleplaying game Space 1889 might not actually what most people first think when they hear steampunk, but the Victorian Age Science Fiction RPG definitely features a lot of the common tropes of the genre.
Recently I wrote a review of the FATE edition of Kerberos Club, a game that allows you to run games in a Victorian Age touched by the “Strangeness”. Like Space 1889 it’s not a pure steampunk game, but more like a Victorian Superhero game with some steampunk elements. But because of the versatility of the FATE system, it should be pretty easy to use it to run a full-blown steampunk game.
When you are into indie games, you should definitely check out Lady Blackbird or fellow RPG blogger Rob Lang’s 24h RPG Cloudship Atlantis. Both are available for free and are a good introduction to the genre.
But I am sure there are dozens of other campaign settings or complete games using at least elements of steampunk that I haven’t mentioned here. WotC’s Eberron definitely has a healthy dose of steampunk-ish elements, even though it’s probably more like “magipunk”.
So, what is your favorite steampunk setting? Is there any game every steampunk fan should check out? Or perhaps you know of that one obscure game no one talks about. So please share your thoughts in the comments below and let us know about your favorite steampunk games!
“Iron Dynasty: Way of the Ronin” Giveaway Contest
3August 24, 2011
Today I am going to give away a free PDF copy of RealityBlurs’ awesome Savage Worlds setting “Iron Dynasty: Way of the Ronin”. If you want to learn more about this great game, check out my review.
So, what do you need to do to get this fine game? At first you need a DriveThruRPG account. This shouldn’t be a big deal. But in addition to that you have to answer a simple question:
“What did Sean Preston, founder of Reality Blurs, have for breakfast this morning?”
The first person who posts the correct answer into the comments below, will get a free PDF copy of Iron Dynasty. And while you’re at it, why don’t you follow the official Reality Blurs Twitter feed? Good luck!
UPDATE: The question has been answered and the copy has been given away! Congratulations to Glenn aka DustDevil75.
Gen Con 2011, a retrospective… Part 4!
5August 24, 2011
I fear this whole Gen Con retrospective might be getting a little old, after all Gen Con ended 2 weeks ago. With all the complications I’ve had to write these posts you’d figure I’d get the hint the universe was trying to tell me something. Heck, last night as I was getting ready to write this last post (yeah its finally over!) a tropical storm hit Puerto Rico. You might say the fates were against me.
Well the fates be dammed! I intend to finish this thing even if it’s the last thing I do. (If Michael sees the readership number plummeting and you see my name stricken from the authors list you’ll know what did me in!) I’ve covered RPGs, other games, “stuff” (t-shirts, artists, authors, et al) but this last post is about the most important reason I went to Gen Con. What was it? Read on…
Get 20% off until September 20 on selected DriveThruRPG titles
0August 22, 2011
As in the months before DriveThruRPG has provided us with a coupon code that gives you 20% off of the following products:
The coupon code you need to use at checkout to get the 20% discount is AfterGenConGlow2011.
By the way, if you haven’t checked out Iron Dynasty yet, you definitely should do so. It’s an awesome and very original setting for Savage Worlds that combines elements from feudal Japan with steampunk. You can read my review of this game here.
Gen Con 2011, a retrospective… Part 1: Role Playing Games
8August 12, 2011
by Sunglar
in Blogging, D&D4e, GenCon, Humor, Legacy D&D, News & Reviews, Other Systems, Pathfinder, Random musings, RPG, Savage Worlds
Last time I wrote about Gen Con was a week ago as I did my first day wrap up in the wee hours of the night. Then and there I realized writing posts after a long day of gaming and fun at the con would probably be unlikely. So I decided to enjoy Gen Con to the best my stamina would permit and I would write about it early the next week. Well you know what they say about the “best laid schemes of mice and men”…
First I got home to a work week of unforeseen dimensions, then the con-crud hit! The combination kept me down for two days. Then last night when I finally sat down to write my laptop crashed, and apparently my smart phone followed in a sign of support. I had about half of my pictures and a smattering of videos on the smart phone. I restored the laptop and solved that problem, the smart phone proved another matter. I lost pictures and videos, never to be recovered. So if I took your picture at Gen Con and you never see it, I apologize.
But you didn’t come here for the sob stories; you came here to read about games, specifically role-playing games which are the main topic of this blog. You’ve probably read about some of the big news which I’ll link to in case you only read this gaming blog (and we can’t fault you for your impeccable taste!). Margaret Weiss Productions announced their deal to produce a Marvel superheroes RPG. Sounds like a well planned project, and while I am not currently on the market for a new supers game (more on this later) I will take a look. (more…)
Gen Con Day 1… Results: Tired! (Lots of fun but beat)
0August 5, 2011
Whatever possessed me to think I could actually write about Gen Con Indy after a full day of gaming? Well here goes a post about first impressions. I got to talk to a LOT of people today, and hopefully get to talk to more tomorrow, both friends and exhibitors. So how was it so far? Awesome!
After my last first time here four years ago, I came to the con with a different attitude, and it has worked. I have spent time with friends from the island who travelled here from back home as well as those that live stateside. I have also met with friends I had only contacted through social media. It’s a strange thing to meet people you’ve only seen in avatars and profile pictures.
As far as Gen Con goes, well what can I add? It’s a massive event no gamer should miss. No matter how far away you are it’s a pilgrimage worth making, and I am sure once you’ve been here you’ll want to return. Today I concentrated on the Exhibitors Room, foolishly believing I could see all I wanted to see. I visited booths, talked to some professionals I had never thought I would exchange words with and learned about all sorts of interesting games. Some are already being talked about in the blogosphere and internet new sites. Also I went to some smaller companies and saw some really interesting things, especially in areas I typically don’t follow, like miniature games and board games.
I spent far too much money and already have the books I wanted and a few more. I will write more extensively later on specifics as I am simply just too tired to write much more. I finished the night playing a game of Savage Worlds with David (@LodestoneDavid) from Purple Pawn who was kind enough to run three loud Puerto Ricans (me, my friend Yamir and @luniticus) as well as our new friend Scott, through an excellent pulp adventure. It helped me better understand the system as well as show me how to put together all the rule components more efficiently. Kudos to David!
And I cannot sign off today without thanking the Gen Con staff who facilitated my being there, were helpful and all around swell people. Covering the con for the blog has been a blast. I will write more next week about the experience and specifics, so this is just the beginning. Thank you all for reading!
PS – Remember that This Just In from… Gen Con! Is also covering the con and they are doing podcasts about it…
My Gen Con plans…
6August 3, 2011
I am really looking forward to Gen Con! I blogged about it a while ago… We are so close to that most sacred gathering of geeks in Indianapolis that I can taste it. I’ve only been there once before in 2007 but I can tell you it’s one of those things you have to do at least once if you are a gamer. Last time I think I missed a lot of the fun, I bought too much, gamed too little and did not interact with people enough. All issues I intend to correct.
I also plan to cover Gen Con for the blog. The how is still taking form. I’ll be taking lots of pictures and talking to whoever will indulge me, to know what fun things publishers big and small are planning and unveiling at the con. In this day and age there is so much information and coverage (like the fine folk at This Just in from Gen Con) that I don’t aspire to bring you every bit of news, just what I think will be of interest to our readers. I hope to post in some form from Gen Con, let’s see if the Exhibit Hall and random games don’t kill me…
What’s my plan? Well it’s fluid… At first I began filling up a log schedule and after a while I realized I would be running from one place to the other with little time to just ENJOY being there. So I scrapped it and decided to play it by ear. Here is the (very) rough outline: (more…)
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