Run, don't walk, to Brass Goggles and read their archive.

My answer would be modern technology done with brass, cogs and lateral thinking...

-Matt

Realms Publishing

The main thing that occurs to me is that any kind of steampunk computational device will will be:

Noisy. Those calculations require a physical movement to perform. Brass isn't known for it's acoustic damping properties.

Dirty. Any crap like dust, hair or dead flies getting into these devices is going to gum them up and stop them working. So I imagine that the average Steampunk sysadmin spends a lot of time cleaning rods and cogs while his computers are offline.

Greasy. Also, moving parts require lubrication and that lubricant will get on everything.

As a result, I see the steampunk computer guy wearing goggles and probably a leather apron and thick gauntlets so he can remove stuff from the workings of his computer without losing his fingernails. The power source is going to be coal powered I assume, which means more dirt and smoke (until later times when it could perhaps be powered by burning gas, but that'd be a later vision than Steampunk, with Babbage engines made from hardened steel and tungsten alloys, kept in secret bunkers under Whitechapel and used to calculate the best times of day to send autogyro air-raids into Prussian occupied France).

Other things:

Class. People tend to know their place in society, but the new technologies are starting to change that. Possibly a gentle and gradual revolution over the course of a generation as education improves?

Depending on what "steampunk" stuff you read, there's often a very bright spark of optimism in there, juxtaposed with a very nasty bleakness. Kinda "We can change the world, provided we don't die of dysentery." This is more of a factor with "pulpy" steampunk though.

"Punk" genres generally assume that life is cheap and often ends bloodily. They also tend assume that style is very important, sometimes more important than function. This is easily enforced by the Class issues mentioned before: "A gentleman would never use a molecular discombobulator! I'll run this cur through with my rapier!"

That what it means to me, mostly.

No sir! A gentleman would use a Miniature Man Melter 3600ZX, just look at the testimonials

;)

-Matt

Realms Publishing

Anachronism.

For me that's what sums it up, modern day technological ideas implemented with good old fashioned Victorian brains! Plus of course good old fashioned Victorian values!

Simon Proctor
Cognoscite aliquid novum cotidie

Empire - for me, steampunk is all caught up in its "time," the pseudo victorian-era, with all that entails. I'm not sure you can get very far without addressing the notion of great empires in some respect, clashing both intellectually, politically and, sometimes, militarily.

I'm reading the Difference Engine right now - if you haven't read it yet, I really suggest you do!

My good sir! It would have been remiss of me to have embarked on such a noble and intensive undertaking with having first perused the esteemed pamphlet issued by Messers Gibson & Sterling!

Thanks for all the thoughts on this, please do keep them flowing.It's very interesting to see the individual elements that different people identify as key concepts.

I asked for these 'essence' elements because I'm very keen to do a story game which is 'pure' steampunk: no magic, supernatura serial killers, zombies, super powers or anything like that. Some might see this as a bit dull, but hey ho.

BTW Matt: excellent resource link!

Cheers
Malcolm

Contested Ground Studios

In the vein of Steampunk spirit if not truly Steampunk itself the fine novel by Mr Harry Harrison 'A Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah!'. A tome I am once again reading having not done so for many years.

While, as I say the setting is not Victorian but instead my birth year of 1973 it is a 1973 where America is a still a colony of the rightfully ascendant British Empire ruled over by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the second. I would heartily recommend it to one and all.

Simon Proctor
Cognoscite aliquid novum cotidie

Yes, ATAT, H! is one of those often overlooked novels that has strong elements of what would become called steampunk.

Well, it seems I have my work cut out for me. I shall be scribbling notes on my travels around the world and we'll se what comes out the other end!

Cheers
Malcolm

Contested Ground Studios

...

How is it that no one has mentioned Zeppelins thus far? You can't have steampunk without a good airship or armada thereof!