Well, well, what I have returned to. Two pages of questions and debates about whose guns are bigger (if you know what I mean ;). But, I'm here to clear things up!
Aristo said
Seems like the tech level is looking to end up like more early 1900s, after browsing through many of the existing nation sheets.
Walking tanks, submarines, sea and sky dreadnoughts - definitely a 20th century vibe. For some reason, in a past steampunk RP I remember, the tech boundary seemed to always get bumped higher and higher. At most, I expected to see some primitive biplanes, or ships like SyrianHamster's.
I'd say, from initial observation, the dieselpunk line's been crossed. (though the post 1900-esque ships/war machines in question are supposedly -and somehow- powered by steam and all)
I agree with you, from the pictures that I saw so far in anyone's nations sheets, it 20th century vibe than a 19/18 century vibe and I like SyrianHamster's pictures as well. I agree that the diselpunk line's had been crossed to many times.
Tatsua Aiisen said
I honestly think that the tech level is a bit high for the setting as well.
I agree with you as well.
SyrianHamster said
Yeah, I was keeping it real. I mean big ships carried by clumsy balloons and powered by boilers seems feasible. I also skimped on detailing the weapons of my troops, and the cannons, as I thought they'd just be the run of the mill 18th/19th century kind. Maybe I should go back and add a steam powered laser cannon?
Hahaha. On a more serious note, I took the time to look at other players' nation sheets... why am I seeing space ships? Come on y'all, let's dial it down from the year 2652 to 1850. More clumsy contraptions, less Halo Combat Evolved.
There are space ships,
oh god, I have to have a hard look at all of your Nation Sheets.
Kilo6 said
I too love to use hyperbole and dive into dramanomics. ;) On a more serious note, I take it you actually didn't take that close of a look at the nation sheets. While I agree that bolt actions might be a bit too advance, I was thinking in terms of the late 19th century, towards the end of the Victorian age for my nation's tech level. With the combination of a huge national push for airships, producing lighter than air gases, lack of any sea going Navy and a total hatred organized religion, my nation's airships would be large, well built, powerful flying steam shops ahead of their time to some extent. Now who's to say that their the latest and greatest in the world? I really do try to avoid saying stuff like "the strongest in the world" or "the most advanced in the world" or something like that. That's like saying your character is the greatest sniper in the world, and that's BS playing. However, just as it is still fair for someone to say their character is a real good shot, I feel I can say that Arkil has a very advanced, we'll funded airship fleet. They aren't spaceships, they aren't all gigantic flying dreadnoughts(just two really) and I chose those images because to me they look cool as fuck. So don't get you panties in a bunch because the nation you want might get outclassed in technology. Obviously we're all hopefully mature players who won't declare war from the get go and act all super powered. We're all here to get away from all the number crunching, table top BS and have a lot of fun. The GM will be the one who will figure all this out anyway, so chill. That weird Victorian itch can still scratched by a steam powered Abraham Lincoln with his Gatlin gun arm! .... I wish my laptop charger hadn't broke, this was such a pain in the ass to type, even with Swype! ;~;
Before I have anything to say about your, I'll have to look at your nation sheet, before I remark anything.
Pepperm1nts said
I feel like most of the sheets assume the setting is industrial and closer to the 20th Century. That's fine, but why am I hearing '18th Century'? Judging based on the sheets, it's clearly not 18th Century technology. The Steampunk setting allows for airships, but it doesn't automatically allow for metal ships and bolt-action rifles. Or gas masks, for that matter. This looks interesting, but it needs a little more clarification. It feels like everyone has a different image of what the world and the timeline/setting is like.
Welcome to the party, Pepper! I agree with you that this looks more 20th Century than 18/19th Century. I might have to look for the techs in the century.
Tatsua Aiisen said
The front page states that this is supposed to be late-1800's technology level, in a steampunk setting. There is currently a bit of debate going around regarding the fact that certain nations are more advanced than they should be, and that is the source of the time line confusion.Ironclad ships would probably be just in the process of arriving in naval warfare, and I could see some of the most air-focused folks imagining ironclad airships, but it isn't something that can be so easily realized. Whoever has Ironclad Airships is going to completely dominate the air war, and air superiority in a setting where air travel has just reached its golden age completely breaks the balance of the game.
Pepperm1nts
The technology I'm seeing would still be out-of-place, in that case. Metal ships didn't come around until (about) the late 19th Century.There is a huge leap between the late 18th Century and the late 19th Century (which was when bolt-action rifles began to see widespread use.)Wikipedia:All of the links you posted point to weapons that were developed in the mid-19th Century to late 19th Century. There is a significant gap between that and the late 18th Century.I agree with the rest of what you said, though. If this is supposed to be 18th Century, or even 19th Century, there shouldn't be tanks and giant metal ships. The latter would only be acceptable if we were talking late 19th Century, when they became a thing. And even then, they'd be just starting out, so they wouldn't be too crazy.EDIT: Tatsua ninja'd some stuff into his/her post so I didn't address it here.
Aristo
Bolt-actions technically were around at the very tail end of the 19th century (Lee-Metford & Lee-Enfield), so they're not wholly out of place. But all the massive, cannon-laden behemoth airships and tanks in the NS depot don't seem to hold fast to a very Victorian setting, which is what I think Rare intended by limiting tech to the late 1800's, as on the first page.For example, if we were to stick to a more Victorian setting, we'd be seeing artillery like this:Not the WWI & II-esque siege engines in the NS sheets.-Agrees with Tatsua-
There needs to be a limit on what techs you get to have or not. I shall go into detailed once I looked at everyone's nation sheets.
SyrianHamster said
My nation's planned borders, any objections?On the subject of nation borders, shouldn't there be like... a pre-set territorial allotment, that players just choose? I only ask because how do we know where NPC nations are, and how big they are?
Yeah. I mean whatever Rare wants to do, I'm cool with, but in my NRPs I used to draw a whole bunch of empty countries on the map, and then let players choose them. Countries that weren't taken, were considered NPCs. Not bludgeoning anyone with my way of lifE PRAY TO JESUS YO but it's still something I'd like some clarification on.EDIT: I'm going to sound like a butt plug, and I accept the consequences, but it seems to me that Rare has been largely absent from this whole thing... though seems real active elsewhere. Show us some love matey, we need direction.
Tatsua Aiisen
That is a good point, especially since it would be awkward if I put Goug somewhere and it turned out it was right next to a huge expansionist kingdom.
Don't worry about the NPNs, once everyone has posted locations of their nations, I shall make the NPNs.
