A victorian alternate history steampunk fantasy game with a very heavy emphasis on the \"punk\" part, a functional basic system (Fuzion) and a great deal of atmosphere for those able to look beyond the heavy-handed critique of the social politics of the era.
An excellent job, Than -- particularly for a first attempt!
I thank you for emphasizing the heavy-handed social commentary, which I'd heard is an issue with this game. Sounds like a definite turn-off for me, although the setting in general sounds potentially interesting.
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I thank you for emphasizing the heavy-handed social commentary, which I'd heard is an issue with this game. Sounds like a definite turn-off for me, although the setting in general sounds potentially interesting.
Then unless you have a heightened ability to turn on selective blindness, the game is not going to appeal to you. There's good stuff in the game quite unrelated to the punk aspect, but there's no denying it's major aspect, especially in regard to the general tone of the book.
Edit: And thanks, obviously.
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One Kosh haiku point by Balaam, one laugh point by Kargush
Excellent review, Than. As one of the writers of Victoriana , the over-the-top socialism was a concern for me, as well. This might simply be because I was the sole yank in a house of Euros, but I thought a bit more even-handedness was in order.
I'm finishing my doctorate in history for this period. One of the points I tried to get through was that if the "dark satanic mills" were so awful...why did people keep coming from the farm (which we're often told in current political theory and Roddenberry-esque nostalgia was near idyllic)? I pointed out that social strictures, while quaint or restrictive to us now, were actually more fluid than protrayed in the setting.
That said, they are a great bunch of guys to work with, and the new management over at Heresy is pressing to get more stuff out for the setting soon. Anyone interested in the material might want to balance off the game book with other steampunk rules sets/setting like Castle Falkenstein -- which is more continental in flavor and deals with the upper class more favorably.
I consider it an interesting game I'd play or run, with or without the punk aspect. But the background was of the creation was interesting. I pointed out the heavy-handedness for people like Dan, for whom it would be a show-stopper. For me it was largely a neutral matter, though a few of the more conversationally toned "weren't they nasty?!" type comments drew a lopsided grin from me.
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One Kosh haiku point by Balaam, one laugh point by Kargush
I consider it an interesting game I'd play or run, with or without the punk aspect. But the background was of the creation was interesting. I pointed out the heavy-handedness for people like Dan, for whom it would be a show-stopper. For me it was largely a neutral matter, though a few of the more conversationally toned "weren't they nasty?!" type comments drew a lopsided grin from me.
Social commentary is very much part of the [blank]-punk genre. To have a game without it seems... off.
Heinlein's books would be much less than what they are without his social commentary, moving back in time to the right era, Wells' and Verne has much to say themselves about the cirumstances of their time, as did many other 'scientifiction' authors. Then, in a more modern turn look at the politics expressed in Scarlet Traces or The Difference Engine or even in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (books). It's integral to the ideas here.
I feel that conviction and ideology do have a place in creative works, including games, and even if you don't necessarily agree with the point of view expressed the expression shows that the writers care.
Different environment and reaction in the US of course to anything that even slightly whiffs of 'socialism' but cultural differences aside, historically it's not off kilter to put this content in, nor is it thematically inappropriate.
I feel that conviction and ideology do have a place in creative works, including games, and even if you don't necessarily agree with the point of view expressed the expression shows that the writers care.
Hey, I pretty much agree with this point. I think it could have been done a bit more subtly and less obtrusively, and I thought it appropriate to warn potential customers in case it was a show-stopper for some.
Note that I said I'd be willing to play or run the game with or without the punk aspect.
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One Kosh haiku point by Balaam, one laugh point by Kargush
Character creation annoyed me at first, because of the attribute point scaling for the various classes. Fortunately, it's easily adjusted with the standard Fuzion rules by using one set number of attribute points, making Social Class an advantage just like Wealth, and adjusting the flavor of Advantages and Disadvantages based on the character's Social Class level. And if you need it, the Fuzion rulebook from R. Talsorian is only about 8 dollars in hardcopy... and it should give many times that amount in play value.
And the social commentary on the times is definitely heavy-handed... still, it does reflect the grittier, grimier side of a period that is frequently misremembered (for better and for worse) in popular fiction and film. And this being a -Punk type of game, the descriptions fit. Of course, Upper-class and Middle-class player characters could certainly be exceptions to the general rules laid out in the book...
Too, the whole theme of encroaching supernatural evil and upper-class oppression going hand-in-hand could be left out entirely. The book itself even suggests alternate ways of playing the game (it doesn't comment on those alternate options flatteringly, but they're there). Ultimately it's the purchasing GM's choice, as with any other RPG, and quite an interesting purchase for the money. Aside from being a break from the flood of dungeon-bashing products swamping the market these days, it's a good Victorian Era game. And there aren't many of those about.
Ultimately it's the purchasing GM's choice, as with any other RPG, and quite an interesting purchase for the money. Aside from being a break from the flood of dungeon-bashing products swamping the market these days, it's a good Victorian Era game. And there aren't many of those about.
Indeed. It's a good game. If the tone annoys someone but they think they'd be able to ignore it in preference for the rest of the book, it's worth getting in my opinion.
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Too, the whole theme of encroaching supernatural evil and upper-class oppression going hand-in-hand could be left out entirely.
I believe this is due to the nature of Paline, the only demon prince (or princess, in this case) presented. It makes sense for her to prefer upper-class worshippers, so it's kind of natural that the material turned out the way it did. There's other demons out there, though, in case you wish for different flavour of supernatural evil.
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One Kosh haiku point by Balaam, one laugh point by Kargush
A very enjoyable and comprehensive review. Congratulations.
The assumption that players will want to "fight the system" does bar a number of very interesting possible adventures and campaign styles, although as others have mentioned this is so easily adjusted as to be a fairly small problem. Personally I very much enjoy the game despite its focus on being a "gutter runner"; to my mind it is entirely possible to include serious social commentary even if the player characters are in favour of the status quo.
A few errors, mostly pointed out in Heresy's errata document, do crop up, such as occasional references to the year being 1857 instead of 1867 (apparently a late change) and one I noticed today where a character is described as a "good Christian" even though the main religion of the setting is not actually Christianity, at least not in name. And some of the changes (the late start of the Crimean campaign and the late death of Napoleon) never made a great deal of sense to me... but overall I think the authors did a good job of tailoring an interesting setting to the needs of gamers. It really deserves more success than it seems to have had.
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