SPC is a roleplaying game in a world gone wrong. Players will portray characters that wield supernatural powers with little or no constraint. And still it will not be enough to keep back the darkness...
Your character is a Dhampir. Your character must find their way through life, while living under a bloody shadow. What path will you choose? Your character faces a strict code of conduct, internal turmoil and harsh prejudices.
What is this game about?
The world of Steampunk Crescendo takes place in an alternate earth. This game is about oppression. Every element of the setting is designed to keep the characters in their place. This game is about power and the will to use it. Ultimately, this game is about change. The world of SPC is changing. How will the characters adapt to that change and how will the characters affect the direction of that change?
What is steampunk?
Steampunk means many different things to many different people. In Steampunk Crescendo, steampunk means the point in time and space where the industrial revolution, the Victorian era and fantasy collide. It is the ultimate dystopia where oppression, magic, super science, industry, Dhampirs and vampires combine to make a world of challenges for the players to overcome.
What is dystopian?
Everything is happening bigger and faster than it ever could before. The world is changing. The people of the world are adapting to this change in different ways. Many individuals and organizations have seized this opportunity to advance themselves and their interests ahead of those of their fellow man. Rail barons, oil barons and other robber barons have created the engine of big business. The massive government effort required to build a modern infrastructure (railways, telegraph, etc.) and the ease of communication has given birth to big government. In these times of uncertainty, big, global churches are evangelizing, spreading and trying to guide people through the unknown. And the Industrial revolution has given birth to the Military-Industrial Complex. In fact, every authority across the world has gotten bigger. Even crime bosses are running mafias instead of gangs...
What is the industrial revolution?
Production, commerce and consumption are occurring at scales previously unimaginable. The advent of the steam engine and the factory are allowing the construction and distribution of goods that were previously impossible. What this means to most people in this era is two things: first, they may have to learn a new profession if their old profession becomes obsolete, second, those that take advantage of this change will gain in wealth, power and influence.
What is Victorian?
The Victorian era is an era of myths and legends to you and me. But the time itself is marked by very particular trends:
1) "Appearances" all aspects of Victorian culture are driven by what things look like to an observer. Fashions were rigorously puritanical and any organization or individual was measured by their observance of rules and their contribution to society.
2) "Imperialism" many nations took part in the phenomenon of colonizing the new world. Of course, the new world was already populated. And this, in turn, led to a previously unprecedented level of conflict around the world.
3) "Culture" many nations and groups distinguished themselves from others by their level of civility. And in their minds, civilization. This can be seen in colonial Africa, colonial South America and on the frontier of the United States. Where "primitive" people were marginalized because they were not "civilized."
4) "Enlightenment" successful people were obliged to provide for the less fortunate. We can see this today by the number of hospitals and universities founded during this time.
2) "Imperialism" many nations took part in the phenomenon of colonizing the new world. Of course, the new world was already populated. And this, in turn, led to a previously unprecedented level of conflict around the world.
3) "Culture" many nations and groups distinguished themselves from others by their level of civility. And in their minds, civilization. This can be seen in colonial Africa, colonial South America and on the frontier of the United States. Where "primitive" people were marginalized because they were not "civilized."
4) "Enlightenment" successful people were obliged to provide for the less fortunate. We can see this today by the number of hospitals and universities founded during this time.
What is magic?
In the world of SPC, magic is a force of nature (like gravity). Sorcerers can change the very laws of physics with magic (if only temporarily). Magic and science exist hand in hand. In fact, some scientists have used magic to discover more about the physical sciences.
What is superscience?
The borders of human knowledge are expanding rapidly in this era. Some of the names that we consider common science terms (e.g., volt, watt, hertz, etc.) are, in fact, the names of science pioneers from this era. In Steampunk Crescendo, science is turned up to 11. The wildest fantasies of Tesla and Da Vinci are easily possible in this fantasy milieu.
What are vampires?
Steampunk Crescendo brings another twist to vampires. Vampires exist. They have awesome powers. The have debilitating weaknesses. But they are not the undead. Instead, they are Dhampir that have fallen to temptation. That vice manifests as vampiric powers and vampiric weaknesses. They all have different powers, they all have different weaknesses and they all have different tell-tale signs. The only common thread is, they all feed on human blood.
Who are Dhampirs?
They are the descendants of great sorcerers who, during antiquity saved the earth.
In the 4th Millennium BCE, Bilalama observes an asteroid headed towards earth. Quickly, he contacted other members of the Order of the Magi. Then using ancient rituals, these Magi saved the world from an apocalyptic asteroid.
It worked, too well in fact. The asteroid fell, but it only caused a landslide in what is now modern day Austria. Few people know about this heroic act. Fewer still know about the terrible price it exacted.
Every Magi involved in the ritual became a Dhampir. As long as they followed the Code of the Magi, this did not change their lives. But, if they succumbed to temptation, they would become a vampire and manifest Powers, Weaknesses and crave human blood. Many Dhampir were upright men who lived by Code of the Magi steadfastly. Imagine their horror when they discovered that not only were they Dhampirs, but so was their offspring (even those already born and those adopted into the family). And so it has been for nearly 5,000 years. Still, rumors persist among those knowledgeable of the ritual, that the price will be paid in full once vampires take a number of lives equal to those saved from the asteroid.
And that's who the characters are, Dhampirs and descendants of one of the original Magi ritual casters.
Well, this is the intro I have so far. the writing is a little rough, but I hope there is a nugget of inspiration in there...
