Gadgeteer?

[Lonely Tylenol]

Does anyone know of any good sourcebooks for gadgeteering? I'm looking for something along the lines of a clockwork or steampunk technology level, and preferably a good solid set of d20 rules for gadget-crafting that could be integrated into a D&D game. I seem to remember having seen stuff like that in the past, but I don't really know where to look, and so I figure getting recommendations is the best way to go.

If a proposed sourcebook has a gadgeteer class, so much the better!

 

[Mouseferatu]

I enjoyed reading through portions of Sorcery & Steam (part of the late, lamented Legends and Lairs series from Fantasy Flight). I cant' say how well it incorporates, though, because I haven't tried actually using it.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Races of Faerun (I think! Unless its Magic of Faerun!) has a "Gnomish Artificer" type prestige class. It allows you to create a given number of gadgets, based on your class level, which mimic certain spells or spell-like abilities.

Also, Eberron includes the Artificer base class, which eventually gains every Item Creation feat. Perhaps, given appropriate flavor text changes, that might work as a baseline.

 

[DMH]

Steam and Steel from EN Publishing is better for what you are looking for than Sorcery and Steam. The former is more of a tech book and the latter is more of a Victorian culture thing with lots of flavor PrCs and a very poor selection of technology and rules. One tech class I suggest you avoid is the technomancer in AEG's Magic- the lengthy description does not jive with the class write up at all.

I don't own OGL Steampunk, so I can't comment on it.

 

[focallength]

there used to be a interesting rogue class in 2e. that was able to immulate spells with gadgets.
The higher level he got the higher level spell he could emulate. Basically creating a pair of googles that immulate dark vision or creating a suit that emulates invisibility (a la predator) etc... I never got a chance to play it as the DM didnt like it (too narrow minded). It was a really interestin concept that I would like to see again in 3.5

 

[clockworkcrab]

The Iron Kingdom Character Guide is also along the lines of what you're talking about I think, and the Bodger or Arcane Mechanik have "Gadgeteer" aspects to them.

I have some issues with the mechanics of the classes, but we still run a modified bodger in our campaign. It's been working pretty well - we're working out the bugs in the mechanics but the flavour is really sweet.

P.S.
I'd like to add my endorsement to Steam and Steel from ENPublishing too. I don't use any of the classes from it, but for general rules and flavour it's my favourite Steampunk resource.

P.P.S.
I also own Sorcery and Steam (Fantasy Flight). I don't like it as much, but it has a more "Victoriana" feel to it if that's your cup of tea.

Okay last postscript:

there used to be a interesting rogue class in 2e. that was able to immulate spells with gadgets.

The Gnomish Artificer from Magic of Faerun pretty much does this, though I found it to suffer from an acute case of the borings. :\

 

[Boojum]

I am currently working on a project called Steam-trains & Sorcery, which includes an actual gadgeteer class, over 100 devices, and guidelines for designing more. Progress has been coming slowly, since it gets worked on only when real-life time pressures permit, so there is no set release date. However, it is nearing the point that I would like to start some open playtesting. If you are interested in being involved, please email me and I will include you when we start playtesting.

 

[arscott]

Warcraft RPG has a tinker class and rules for creating gadgets. The new edition, which is out sometime in april or may IIRC, will expand on this.

 

[SweeneyTodd]

The Pulp Heroes minigame in Dragon/Polyhedron a while back had a mad scientist class that basically used the existing D&D spell rules as the effects for his gadgets. It was a bit simple (hey, short article after all), but it could be an interesting starting point.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

I am currently working on a project called Steam-trains & Sorcery, which includes an actual gadgeteer class, over 100 devices, and guidelines for designing more. Progress has been coming slowly, since it gets worked on only when real-life time pressures permit, so there is no set release date. However, it is nearing the point that I would like to start some open playtesting. If you are interested in being involved, please email me and I will include you when we start playtesting.

Your email is disabled.

But regardless, I doubt that I'd make a good playtester, since my group tends to get together somewhat...erratically. If you want to send me anything, you can go ahead, but I can make no guarantees that I'll be able to get any real play out of it within the next year. I'm mostly looking for a gadgeteer class out of curiosity and "academic" interest, to see if there's any viable candidates for inclusion in the next campaign I run.