Which is best: Dragonmech, Iron Kingdoms, d20 Steampunk, Other?

Runesong42

First Post
I am looking to invest in a Steampunk setting/rules supplement, but don't have ready access to any I'm looking for. Can anyone recommend any decent Steampunk d20 Resource, or do a quick compare and contrast of a few so I can make the best purchase? :)
 

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Iron Kingdoms is not not "steampunk" per se, they like to call it Full Metal Fantasy. But it is an outstanding magic / tech setting with an extremely detailed and well written history, lots of appropriate D20 crunchy parts and a mini-wargame for those who become really fanatic.

The IK Players Guide was the only rulebook I've ever read simply because it was so well written. Oh ... and IK, just won 2 ENnies for Besy Written and Best Campaign setting, which should tell you something about it.
 

IK beats Dragonmech, hands down. And you should have no problem to "mech up" the setting just by advancing the timeline somewhat.
 


I enjoyed OGL Steampunk quite a bit, but the thing got so big there is no "opponents" chapter. With the monsternomican as a monster sourcebook it could serve you well.

Magic is ritual based and more free form (aspects added together vs. spell list).
 

If you are looking to play actual Steampunk, then you could do a lot worse that OGL Steampunk. Every time I've run it, I've had a blast. It comes with rough ideas about a default setting, but mostly just gives you the tools to finish your own. The rules, however, are alll there.

If you want to "keep things D&D", then I recomend Dragonmech. It keeps a ton of the elements that make D&D feel like D&D but adds steam-powered mechs (along with clockworks, magic mechs, etc...).

Sorcery & Steam also "keeps things D&D" but also hints at a more Victorian setting. I stole bits from this book for my own Steampunk setting, which is a D&D world thrust headlong into the Steam Age before it was ready. S&S has a lot of good info on how magic affects a society and a magical society at that.

I ran Iron Kingdoms for 10 months, weekly, but ended up dropping it. I felt that it changed too much about D&D and it did so by dropping stuff instead of adding cool new stuff. That's not to say it doesn't add anything new or anything cool, I just didn't like the mix.

That being said, the Monsternomicon is the best monster book ever. Ever.

Good luck with your game!

-Tom
 

Take a close look at the new WoWd20 book...

Has a spiffy section on Teched out gear.

You know, I was ALL into IK... then I had to wait 4 years for them to finally bring out thier fricking "PHB"... I bought thier first 3 modules as they came out, I waited and waited for them to give us a complete Setting.

Guess what, Eberron came out first... and those modules are pretty easy to convert to set in Sharn, baby :P
 

Another Vote for Iron Kingdoms - it just won 2 Ennies for best campaign setting and best writing. IK has a full line of support, including allll the Warmachine mini's which you can use for the table top game. Once you get a good feel for GMing it, it is a wonderful setting to use. If you need any help feel free to contact me here.
 

Sadly I can't comment on any other than IK.

But IK rocks. The three important books are the Iron Kingdoms Character Guide (crunch), the Iron Kingoms World Guide (all fluff, and marvelous), and the Monsternomicon (as mentioned, a great monster book). Soon, the Liber Mechanika will come out, detailing mechanika, the magic/technology fusion that premiered in the IKCG. Also, the adventure trilogy is being reprinted as a single volume, updated for 3.5.

And they've got great miniatures.
 

IK is a great setting (I think everyone should own the World Guide just to read) BUT there is some differences in rules than d20 that have to be learned. The OGL Steampunk allows you to steam up your current setting or build one. Dragonmech I have not played and I have heard nothing bad about Sorcery and Steam but I do not know them.

IK is an investment of at least three books. OGL Steampunk is one book and some time.

To me they are about even but my players seem to like OGL Steampunk a tad more.
 

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