21/02/2013

The Best 5 Steampunk Videogames

Corvo Attano
5) Dishonored

In this game you take the part of Corvo Attano, in the city of Dunwall, that is the main reason that make this game a steampunk game. The story revolves around the murder of the princess of which Corvo is accused. The Gameplay is similar to that of First Person Shooter with the addistion of some stealth characteristic.


Fable II Hero
4) Fable 2

What a foolish game! Think about a World in the first industrial revolution with a lot of fantasy clichè and a intrinsic irony. Fable 2 put the player into the shoes of an orphan like it's predecessor, but this time with guns and rifles and a lot of explosion. There some element taken by fable 1 such as the imprisonment of the character. This time the loneliness can not get the upper hand because, even if you choose the wrong way, there's a dog that will always follow you. In Fable 2, too, you can be Good or Evil, lawfull or chaotic, and this makes the end game's content huge. The character's choose will change a lot the game's world that is lively and vibrant. 
The Medievil II Cover With Sir Daniel Fortesque in the foreground

3) Medievil 2

Set in the London of the XIX centurie, again the character assumes the role of Sir Daniel Fortesque awakened from his sleep by a spell. Released in the year 2000 is one of the cornerstones of the psone era that is developed throught thematic that belong to the horror and gothic world. The game take places along twenty levels from the british museum to a cathedral passing through different location of the gothic imaginative.


A fight from Metal Slug
 2) Metal Slug

Is the caotical action run and gun game released in the 1996 by Namco. All are ilarius and mocks the military ambient. The gameplay is the typical  one of the genre (that remember Contra and for some way Metroid). The plot is set in the 2028, and talk about the quest to defeat a group of terrorist. The game is a pearl of the 90' game era, and like the next game, remained in the heart of many videogamer: a mix of explosion, action and fun make this one a game that a real videogamer can't miss.





1) Final Fantasy VI

Final Fantasy VI Logo
To descrive FF VI in a few word it is simply one of the deepest Jrpg of all time, probably the best rpg of the SNES Era along with Chrono trigger. From the charismatic characters to the weird main villain of the game, all the protagonists are well-characterized. The game take place in a Steampunk Fantasy world where the mixture of magic and technology has the primary role in the development of the story. An amezing tales of courage and existential dramma. Some say that the first final fantasy you play leaves the sign, so that all the next FF you play can never be better of the first. I played for the first the VII character and, like most of the player, I think it is the best... Along with this game that is the legacy of the 16 bit jrpg's Era.


20/02/2013

My Steampunk Tales

Hi there,

In Italy we have a festivity called "Carnevale" in which we disguise ourselves. This year I masked myself lika a casual steampunk hero, here is the picture (I know I forgot the goggles, will make it next time)


What time is it?Am I Steam?



08/02/2013

Castle in the sky

Castle in the sky (Tenkū no Shiro Rapyuta) is one of the Steampunk masterpiece of Hayao Myazaki, one of the Genius of the japanese animee artist.


The animee belongs to the last 80', the drowning reflects the period, the faces, in fact, are a little less cured compared to the recent works of the japanese mangaka, more angular than before. Considering this the greater work of the Master Myazaki isn't wrong. Castele in the Sky takes some concept from the past works of the same Myazaki: there is a push towards ecologism and antimilitarism, and the sensitive awareness of feeling like friendship and love.

The tales takes place in two different settings. The first remember the Walsh mining town, expecially the architecture, in a steampunk contest which includes both the train and the typical steam culture of the XIX century and the anachronistic element of the military technology (some slements of this scenario will be repeated in Howl's moving castle) and other stuff like the airship. Other elements of the setting, instead, stem from the medievil european culture like building and castle, meanwhile the clothing reflects the european fashion of the industrial revolution.

The Castle of Laputa

Everything changes in the second half of the movie. When the characters reach Laputa they meet a pristine world, where the nature live in peace and armony with the remains of an ancient civilization. The setting becomes more fantasy with the inclusion of issues related to magic and high technology (Like in the game Chrono Trigger). Laputa in a extraordinary, uninhabited fantasy castle where the drowning litterally blows.
The only beings in the castle are Robots built by the ancient Laputa peaple, who live immersed in the nature (emblematic is the scenes in which some birds alight on the shoulders of the robots).

The first meeting of Sheeta and Pazu
The plot tells about Pazu and Sheeta. Pazu meets Sheeta when the girl falls from the sky wrapped in a blue light coming from the stone around the Sheeta's neck. From here, they will live an adventure that take them from the little village of Pazu, first underground chased by the army and the pirates of Dola and then in the sky, in the amazing Laputa castle where the little Sheeta discover the origins of the stone and of her family.



Accompained by a sublime soundtrack and a majestic artistic direction, this animation movie transports the viewer in an deeply moving story of action and feelings.
  





For me Castle in the sky is the highest expression of the steampunk Kind in the animation movie, and one of the best Steampunk works of all time

07/02/2013

Steampunk Art (a steampunk girl)

Hi there,

It seems that the Steampunktalesabout project attract other artists. Soon the aspect of the blog will be improved by a young graphic from my city. Meanwhile a friend of mine, intrested in this blog, drew this. She was inspired by a Cosplayer girl (you can find her work to www.mogucosplay.com).

A Steampunk Girl by F. Lo Giudice Aka Faith

28/01/2013

The best 5 Steampunk Gadget

5) Eyeglass
If you have to observe a crime scene you need this one.







4) Hat
Nothing like a tall hat.





3) Pen
Sometimes you need to take notes, better take with a steampunk pen.








2) Pocket watch
 Without a watch, you may end up always being late, like the white rabbit.






1) Brass Goggles
The gadget that you should never miss. Cool and protect you from the wind.

D&D Adventure: The Clock Tower (EL 8)

To play this adventure you need the Players Handbook, the Dungeon's master guide and the manual indicated hereinafter.

This adventure is set in the city of Sharn. Sharn is the southernmost city of the Breland. Is a Great city, the most populated of the Khorvaire. This city is structured in 3 levels delimited by tower. This adventure is for 4 character of at least 8 level.

The Character are attracted by some rumour in the street. in the second level of the city. A man running towards them, and say that some strange things leaked from the Clockwork tower. If the player make a spot check CD15 they see some mechanical monsters fighting with soldier.
The man, that is the keeper of the clockwork tower ask to the character to follow him to the Tower because someone has to stop this mechanical thing. The Keeper say that the mechanical things came out from a wall of the tower when he repaired a gear of the  clock.
When the Character enter the clock Tower a search check DC 20 allows to find a lever that open a secret door in one of the tower wall. If the characters ask to the Keeper what is the gear that he was trying to repair, the skill check CD becomes 15.
If the player enter the Secret door, they find a descending staircase that take the character in the Dungeon.
The dungeon map: a square is equivalent to 2,5 feet (1,5 m)
 The Character, at the End of the Staircase, enter the a Room.

1) a Room
The first room is a large 22,5X22,5 feet room. In the middle there's a gear with two longer teeth, and a pillar in the middle of it. The teeth allow to reach easily the Alpha corridor. If the control pad in the room c is activated (see room c) the gear begins to turn, and make possible to reach the other door of the room. The door for the Alpha corridor is opened but the door for the b room and Boss room are closed. To open the door for the b room the characters have to press a button in the same pad which activates the gear in the c room. To open the Boss room the character must activate the electrical unit in the f room and the two switch in the e room (see e room and f room).
2) Alpha corridor
The alpha corridor leads to the c room. I suggest to put a trap in the square 5d, such as a pressure trap or a manhole.
3) c Room
The c room is a study room. In the square 5h there's a table; in the square 6g there's a bed; in the square 1g, 6l and 1m there are closet in which the character can find some little gears; in the square 6i there's a desk with some project that explain the operation of the clock(1), in the desk there's a drawer in which there is a key that open the bedside table in the square 1i where the character can find a little piece of stone whit inscription on it (the word time); in the square 3l there's a pillar where is a switch that turn on the electrical energy on the electric pad in the room; in the square n1, n2, n3, n4 there is an electric pad, if the characters turn it on the gear in the a room begin to turn.
DM "you hear a noise as if something begin to move"
In the same pad there's a switch that open the door for the b room.
4) b Room
When the character reach the b room they found another large gear this time with a pillar under it. facing the door where the characters entered there is another entrance barred by some railings. the characters can pull off the railings with the strenght but they haven't the time to do it because a fight begins.
DM "some mechanical things approaching you. They remember spiders, but they are certainly made of metal. they came from the wall and from under the gear"
The monster are the clockwork horror described at page 47 in the monster manual II, put in the battle 1 platinum horror, 2 gold horror and 3 or 4 electrum horror.
Fight over a gear in movement involves some penalities: -2 to all the attack roll at distance, a penalty of -2 to Concentrations to cast a spell and a penalty of -2 to all the Dex based skills.
Pull off the railings is a strenght check CD 25. The characters can use a rope and the movement of the gear.
5) Beta Corridor
6) d Room
Iron Golem
Is a important room. It is smaller than the others but in the middle (square 27d) there is a rock puzzle; in the square 26c, 28c, 28d and 27c there are statues; in the square 27b there is a secret room. On the rock puzzle, ss possible to read a sentence "death is just a question of clock" the clock word is removable. In the sentence, the little piece of stone found in the c room can be put instead of the word clock. When the characters remove the word clock, the door closes behind them. On the door, there are two other piece of stone with the word space and life.
If the characters put the word space the door to the gamma corridor and the door for the delta corridor will open.
If the characters put the word life the statues on the square 26c and 28c will take life and became two Iron golem (pag. 136 of the Monster Manual).
If the characters put the word Time they can enter the secret room where they find a ring that make possible to increase their body weight of 100 kg, without preventing any movement.
7) Gamma and Delta corridor
8) f Room.
In this room there is a single switch that turn on the electricity in the room e (see e room)
9) e Room
In this room the character can activate the switch that open the Boss door in the a room. To turn on the two switch that open the door the switch in the f room (see f room) must be activated. the characters have to turn on the two switch together at the same time otherwise the door will not open.
10) Boss Room
Is the larger room of the dungeon, you can see everywhere gears. Is a room shrouded in darkness. Suddenly ten electric units begin to shine and reveal two great mechanical arms. This is the boss of the dungeon, the following descriptions is about one of them that are indipendent:

Mechanical Hand

Hit dice: 20d10 + 22 (136)
Initiative: 0
Speed:30 ft.
Armor Class: 22
Base attack: +10/+28
Attack: slam +18 melee (2d10+5)
full Attack: slam +18 melee (2d10+5)
Space/reach: 30 ft
Special Attack: Telekines or gravity inversion; summon electrum horror.
Special Qualities: Construct traits, Damage reduction 10/adamantine, Immunity to magic.
Saves: Fort +4, ref +4, will +4
Abilities: Str 30, dex 10, con ---, int ---, wis 10, cha 1.
Skills: ---
Feats: ---
Challenge Rating: 12

The two arms are a mechanical beings which can reach every part of the room. Are huge and can grab the character easily. When the electric units turn on
DM "Two large arm appear in front of you. Seems that they defend something; they begin to hit the floor vibrating all the room."
Telekines (CL 8)
One of the hand can cast telekinesis on the characters or on the huge gears in the room, like the spell (DC 23) once every d6 round.
Gravity inversion
The other hand can cast gravity inversion on the character, like the spell (DC 24), once every d6 round.
Summon electrum horror
If the two hands are alive they can spend two rounds to create an electrum horror with the gears in the room.

Ending
The Hand can be destroyed fighting them or destroying the electric units.
Once the Hand are defeated they reveal a strange Brain in a bathtub full of water with attacked part of the spine. To complete defeat the boss the character have to destroy the Brain.
The mechanical thing in Sharn will not stop until all the electric units will not be destroyed.

(1) If the Characters read the project, they can learn a lot about the creator of the clock tower. He can be a member of the house Cannith or someone else. To become immortal, this engineer has transferred is will in the clock tower in order to continue to create his costruct.

13/01/2013

Automatonic Electronic Harmonics

Automatonic Electronic Harmonics is a song composed by Steam Powered Giraffe, support this robot, they're great.

This is the Youtube Channel.

"I don't have the heart to send you untruthful words"

12/01/2013

Eberron

One of the purpose of this blog is to share some of my D&D adventures and dungeons. But to make this possible let me introduce you to the Eberron's World.
The Khorvaire, the main continent of the Eberron Setting
Eberron is a Steampunk Fantasy Setting for the RPG Dungeons and Dragons. Created by Keith Baker, is setted in a world where magic and technology lives togheter.
The world of Eberron is faster then other setting for D&D, such as Forgotten Realms. There are some facility, like airship and the railway line that speeds the travel between two places. The world includes four continent but the best described is the Khorvaire, that is also the perfect setting for your adventures.
This continent is divided in three hypothetical zone: the left one that includes Droaam, Shadow Marches, Eldeen Renches and Demon Wast; The five Nations, The nation of the ancient Galifar empire, that includes Aundair, Karnath, Breland, Thrane and mournland; And the Ovest that includes Lhazaar principalities, Mror Holds, Q'barra, Talenta Plains and valenar; Dargun and Zilargo can be considered like an extension of the five nation.
You have to imagine that the characters are in a anachronistic historical epoch, corresponding roughly at the European XIX century. In this historical connotation what make the difference is magic and a powerfull use of the steam and anologic technology. In some aspect, the five nations remember the European Nations. In fact, if you look at the core of the politic situation of the Nations of the ancient Galifar's empire, you can see that the Aundair is governed by a Queen (Aurala Ir'wynarn) like the England of the Victorian age or the Thrane that, despite the presence of monarch by birthright, is influenced by a strong theocrazy, like Italy of the "risorgimento"; The Karnath, instead, remember for certain aspect the Germany of Bismarck.
Is a geopolitical intresting situation, that puts in condition to create amazing adventure not only based on simple quests. Furthermore, do not forget that there' are a lot of group of power, firstly the dragonmarked house, and, also, there'is a misterius prophecy that whraps the whole world called the draconic prophecy.

The quest that I will suggest to you, will often be set in Eberron, with an accurate description of their location. If you want to know something more about Eberron I recommend you visit this Wiki.

10/01/2013

H.U.M.A.N.W.I.N.E.

This is a US band, from Boston. If you listen to it, you can find steampunk and sociopolitical themes. The singer voice is deep and warm, the music blends ethnic and punk-rock sonority, sometimes it remember the cabaret music.

Deep into That Eternal Darkness

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.

How many of you know this pitcure? Refers to the fifth stanza of the Raven of E. A. Poe. The pitcure is the opening screen of a game called Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem for Nintendo GameCube, I recommend it to you.

09/01/2013

The Secret of Blue Water

Hi there,

To begin this adventure I think it can be great that the first post on "Steampunk Tales" is abaout what let me know the Steampunk world: the Anime Nadia - The secret of Blue Water.

Nadia And Jean, The main character of the series.
The mind behind this anime is Hideaki Anno (knowed also for the series Neon Genesis Evangelion). It take ispiration from another Anime, "Castle in the sky" created by Hayao Miyazaki, and is loosely based on the masterpiece of Jules Verne "twenty thousand legues under the sea".

It is settled in the last years of the XIX century. The main Characters of the series are a fourteen years old girl, Nadia, and a fourteen years old boy, Jean. Nadia is a circus performer that hide a strange secret. She has a pendant with a particoular blue stone since she was born. She meets Jean in Paris, where the boy was going to take part in a demostration with his uncle.
Jean save Nadia from a group of thiefs that want the gem that Nadia has around is neck. In the gateawey from this peaple they became the protagonists of a journey in which they meets the crew of the "Nautilus", a submarine equipped with high technological stuffs, that goes beyond the Humans knowledge of the time. At the head of the crew there is the Captain Nemo, a key figure of the entire story. During their journey, Jean and Nadia will lives many adventures and know new friends and enemies.On their way, they will discover the story of human beings, and of the ancient civilization of Atlantis came before the same men.

In the end, the plot hides many shades and key of reading. There are a lot of references to the holy scripture, and to other media like the Verne's work. Neon Genesis Evangelion, that for many is the Anno's masterpiece, contains some quotes of "Nadia". By many ways Nadia - The secret of blue waters can be considered an extension of the concept of Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky. We can find many similarities in the way of acting of some characters of the two works, and do some parallels (we can compare, among the others, the character of Grandis and Captain Dola).
Must be added, also, that the plot is influenced to the thought of some philosophers like Nietzsche or Kant, and from the existentialism movement. In fact, you can find certain quote of these thinkers, expecially in the word of Nemo.

From many points of view, I prefer Nadia to NGE, in this one there is, however, a better characterization of the protagonist. If you are a followers of Anno, or not, you may watch this anime that is one of the best works of the 90' years.

08/01/2013

Something to Talk about

Hello, Here we are.
I'm from Italy, probably my english isn't the best you can read. Who had read what I wrote in my language, think that I know How to write. but, Sure, for me, to write on a blog in another language is an hard challenge.
Howbeit, I think that I can learn a lot about writing in english.

After this short introduction, where I offer my apologies to the reader, I want to talk about the aim of this Blog: If you're reading this word, it will means that you want to know something related to "steampunk".

What does it Means?

For the basic information, I'll send you to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk that is a good point to begin to know what steampunk is.

This blog is born, anyway, for two reason.
First of all, I want to share with you my experience with the steampunk media: Literature but also videogames, comics, art, movies and other. Furthermore, I want to write my story, adventure and tales because, in the very end, I'm a writer. If you're intrested in Role play games, such us dungeons and dragons, I will suggest to you some of my adventures, dungeons and settings.