Victorian Era D20?

[Achan hiArusa]

Victoriana

Victoriana is meant to be about as Victorian as Dungeons & Dragons is supposed to be medieval. Seriously, one of the biggest selling points of Ars Magica (besides the awesome magic system) over D&D was that it actually dealt with medieval life. The whole concept of Gutter Runners allows for a roleplaying lite style of play where characters don't have to go into deep immersion to play. D&D would not be as popular as it is now if it tried to exactly model the medieval world. Victoriana is the simple the equivelent for a different era.

If you hate what they have done, change it. Or if not, then don't ever read any alternate history books, since their take on history would be just as infuriating.

 

[Alcareru]

If you want rules for the steam tech side of things in a Victorian-theme campaign, check out Steam & Steel when it finally gets released by EN Publishing (soon now! )

As an aside, hey, Tetsujin, you ever gonna turn up at Durham Gamesoc then? I've seen your comments floating about the mailing list, but that's all.

Ive been running an on and off game based on the world of the novel The Difference Engine by Sterling and Gibson. Been using a modified d20 modern system and its worked our pretty well. Low magic, steampunk tech, occult conspiracies and political intrigue circa 1855.

 

[TheFan]

Dusk Spires

I was just browsing the archives when I noticed this. Pardon me if I toot my own horn, but this is something I'm very excited about:

Me and a couple friends just happen to be working on a Victorian-era d20 Modern setting called Dusk Spires. Primarily a european gothic-oriented setting, but will also cover the entire world of the 1800s, from the dying age of pirates to the Wild Wild West to Meiji japan.

It will include at least 20, possibly as many as 30, new advanced and prestige classes ranging from the noble Savage and raving Mad Scientist to the free-wheeling Cowboy and the deranged Cultist.

Also, it will include a new base class system! Instead of focusing on one of the attributes, you can choose a societal role as your class! Based (very) loosely off the 4 D&D alignments, the Stoic, Wild, Fiendish, and Heroic classes are meant to be compatible with all existing d20 Modern products, and could introduce some more options into your games than the standard 6 statclasses provide!

It'll likely be published as a .pdf on RPGNow.com. At the moment it's just in the concept phase (although we've already done poor man's copyright on the concepts), but I'll keep you posted as development continues.

 

[Mirth]

Both Age of Gaslight and Dusk Spires sound very interesting. Please keep us posted...

Mirth

 

[HarryFlashman]

Glad to see other people are interested in Victorian roleplaying. I have quit th collection though ihave never beena ble to get any players to join me in my interest

lets see:

masque of the Red Death: kitschy look at Victorian gothic horror roleplaying.

Age of Empire: actually quite good but too short. i am looking forward to the 20 version.

Space 1899: Awesome setting, awesome background..just awesome......i only wish it were D20 and not GDW.

For Faerie, Queen and country: Goofy setting probably only suitable for one shot games.

Castle Falkenstein: the Quintessential Victorian game.

Cthlhu by Gaslight: not very sell supported (only two supplements put out for it) but it does a wonderful job of recreating an accurate protrayal of history, society and science of the 1890s.

For Books, I would reccomend the Flashman Series by George McDonald Frasier, the List of 7 by Mark Frost

for comics there is always Ruse ( which I would love to see as an RPG) and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

 

[tecnowraith]

Well Crossgen is being turn D20 by Fast Foward Games so we might Ruse soon.

 

[Mirth]

Well Crossgen is being turn D20 by Fast Foward Games so we might Ruse soon.

Can't say that I'm too excited about anything coming from Fast Forward

 

[Swoop109]

While I do not belive that it will be setting specific to the Victorian Age or England, Mongoose does have an OGL Steampunk game being released in a few months.

 

[Sketchpad]

Also check out FFG's Sorcery & Steam ... Jungle Lords & Detectives for a wild Victorian-era game

 

[Dana_Jorgensen]

If you really want decent victoriana material, go find the website for Marcus Rowland's Forgotten Futures game. Along with the game, he also keeps a collection of victorian era fiction, magazine articles, news clippings, etc. The game is okay, but the other resources he provides are without a doubt some of the best raw material you can get.