Bas-Lag: The World of China Mieville

[Aholibamah]

Has anyone given any thought to running a game in this kind of Victorian/Steampunk type setting? And might anyone familiar with the books consider how things like thaumaturgy might work, or what weapons should be commonly available?

 

[Aus_Snow]

There was a Dragon mag with a gazetteer for it. . . #352? And someone is putting out a dedicated RPG, as well (i.e., with a custom system.) Unless I dreamed that part.

Hope that helps a bit.

 

[jesse.colegoldberg]

Adamant Entertainment recently announced that they have licensed Mr. Miéville's Bas-Lag setting:
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=219462

They have a forum for discussion of the project, where you might be able to ellicit some response:
http://www.thrillingtales.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=11&sid=372af6a38900692868d4b80751482209

If you are looking for steampunk or Victorian settings there are a number of them to draw inspiration from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_steampunk_works#Steampunk_role-playing_game_material
http://www.victorianadventureenthusiast.com/guide.htm

I think the role of weaponry/thaumaturgy depends on the power level you see the players reaching in your game. Superior weaponry and super-science/magic can serve as setting, out of reach of the characters beyond a plot device. Or they can become available leading to a more epic level of play. There has been discussion of how D&D breaks into different levels of play, and that that realism/fantasy balance shifts with the level:
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=187713&highlight=quartiles

and some design that came out of it:
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=206323

Using these as a reference, if you know where you want to keep the level of action, you can choose a matching level of available gear and knowledge, and keep the really scary stuff for story ideas and plot hammers. Or open it all up to the players and stand back and watch the show.

"He is horrified. He is utterly agahst. I didn't know, he thinks, frantic, I didn't know it could be like that..." - The Scar, China Miéville

 

[Aholibamah]

Thanks for the input, guys. I have gotten the Dragon issue in question--it's more like a taste of things that real meat but it does have a city map of New Crobuzon and a list of races with suggested stats, which is cool.

Thanks for linking me to the discussions, it's a helpful start and I appreciate it.

 

[Severion]

Has anyone given any thought to running a game in this kind of Victorian/Steampunk type setting? And might anyone familiar with the books consider how things like thaumaturgy might work, or what weapons should be commonly available?

I've thought about it alot, when i got the Dragon issue that features it, i imedietly started looking for the novels. Great books! I'm currently running a game set in the Solnor Compact region of Greyhawk with Rel-Astra sitting in for New Crobizone. For weapons i'm using the Iron Kingdoms Players Primer and D20Modern. Races are player take all, from Bastards and Bloodlines to Savage Species. For magic, i'm sticking to the standared D20 however i strongly concidered the one used in the Pulp Heroes mini game published in Polyhedra/Dungeon a while ago. It would have worked nicely but i couldn't sell my players on it.

BTW i'm using the Machine of Lum the Mad as the major McGuffin.

 

[Mean Eyed Cat]

I ran a Victorian d20 Modern game that combined the races of Bas-Lag (from Dragon 352) with Adamant's Imperial Age London, and various Steampunk & Cthulhu elements. It was a blast!

I am so excited to see that Adamant Entertainment has licensed Mr. Miéville's Bas-Lag setting <does the happy dance>

 

[Aus_Snow]

Hey, it wasn't a dream! Kewl.

 

[Mournblade94]

I am not trying to be a necromancer here I promise.

Did this project die? I can Find nothing on RPG's for Bas Lag. And China is writing for Paizo occasionally. I find it hard to beleive a game never got published.

 

[DMH]

They are taking their time to get it right. Last time GMS mentioned it over at rpg.net, he said it might be out this fall or winter.

 

[Mournblade94]

they are taking their time to get it right. Last time gms mentioned it over at rpg.net, he said it might be out this fall or winter.

ah! Many thanks!!!