Crafting a Miniature Steampunk Cafe

It is amazing just how much intricate work went into this project. The Espresso and Gears: Crafting a Miniature Steampunk Cafe project is made up of multiple materials and it is the work of a true artist. The page features a guided tour of the build that explains the materials and methods of the build.

Exploring Terranox

S is for Steampunk

"Welcome to Terranox – a mesmerizing, steampunk-inspired alien planet where time itself is an enigma."

Another Thought From an Avtomat

During my first reading of "The Clockwork Dynasty", I seemed to have missed this selection of text:

"My mind flashes with a vision of this woman-she is riding a fantastical horse with tiger stripes across a lush jungle clearing. She is laughing, hair flowing, looking back at me and flashing her teeth, sharp and white. Then a primeneval forest swallows her, wet and dark, and from deep within I hear roaring..."

Pyotr Aleveyevich, an avtomat

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Other texts by Daniel H. Wilson

The Architecture of the Matrix

This gate in Zion is an example of steampunk architecture, with its frabrication and rust, not to mention the Armored Personnel Unit sent to defend it.

"Although there were only 350 of these left at the end of Battle of Zion more than 120,000 units were."

The Matrix Revolutions

A Quiet Afternoon in the Cloud Cuckoo Valley by Rowland Emett

I have just been introduced to the work of Rowland Emett on the 30 Squares of Ontario blog. A Quiet Afternoon in the Cloud Cuckoo Valley, Oh how very lovely.

Mazulem the Night Owl

“The woman from the Manhattan Women’s Red Pantomime Troup performed Mazulem the Night Owl In White Castle last night. According to the pantomime’s program, the pantomime was written by no other than “Helen America”. The dramas characters: The clown, Freedman Bureau Bell, a black boy, Levy Stickemall, a merchant offering two “segars” for five cents, A Yankee Peddler, a Lady shoplifter, a roast turkey, and the eponymous “Mazulem”.

The whole cast were played by woman, but you could hardly tell by looking at any of the characters for their costumes and makeup hid this fact and transformed them into the characters they were to perform.

The clown is known as “Jackdaw Jaculation”, was ornate with frills in elaborately spangled satin, boasted an egg-bald shaven pate and the sinister white-face of the Pierrot, touched by color in the outlined lips.

The Pantomime opened in what was supposed to be a hotel dining room with the peripatetic Roast Turkey, apparently played by a dwarf, attacking the diners with a carving knife.

The audience was howling rowdily, though less in response to the substance of the pantomime, whatever that might be, than to the whirling, curiously formless dances of the Communard woman, their bare shines and ankles plainly visible beneath the ragged hems of their flowing garments.”

The Difference Engine, William Gibson and Bruce Sterling

The Works of Helen America

Helen America was a mid-seventeen century socialist, social leader and author from Manhattan, New York. She is said to have written the following three works (from what I gather, these are plays):

1. Mazulem the Night Owl
2. Harleqin Panattahah
3. Genii of hte Algonquins

Airship Over London

Screenshot from Sherlock Holmes

The airship is propelled by rotor blades above and below the airship. There is a small repeating gun installed for offensive and defensive maneuvers.

This isn't your average Sherlock Holmes story. This video includes autimated rubber dinosaurs and a Kraken. The movie stars Dominic Keating and Gareth David-Lloyd.

Krank is Juiced up

Krank is all juiced up after samplying the dreams of a child.

Screenshot from The City of Lost Children.

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The City of Lost Children, The Steampunk Wiki

The Forgotten Manuscripts of Dr. Birdlip

So far, my inquiries have not uncovered either of Birdlips manuscripts. For the record they are: “The Myth of the Foggy London Night”, and his “Time, Considered as a Succession of Semi-Closed Doors”.

If anyone has information about either of these manuscripts, please contact Dr. Peoples at the Royal Academy.

Homunculus, James P. Blaylock

If the Shoe Fits, Wear it

“Ours is a world crippled by ignorance, and superstition, its technological and social development held back by deluded nostalgia for outdated aesthetic and ethical philosophies. Always looking backward, never forward into the future.”

Steam Girl, Dylan Horrocks

Steam Girl is a short story that was found in an anthology titled “Steampunk! An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories”

Miniature Steampunk Train

This short clip features a very awesome Steampunk themed model train layout. I especially liked the cargo that its flat cars are carrying.

Steam Punk Airships Extraordinaire

These steampunk airships were created mostly from cardboard and are extraordinary...

Odds & Ends #14

Alternative Rules for Axis and Allies

The one thing I always liked about the original Axis and Allies were it alternative technologies that could be purchased, if you rolled a six. These technology enhancements included long range aircraft, ships, and tanks. There were advancements for every country and they would often give you an edge over your component. I recently found an updated rule book and although it does not include any of those old alternative rules, it does offer several optional rules for each country.

Twenty Must Read Steampunk Books

I haven’t read many of these titles, but the Twenty Must Read Steampunk Books – An Introduction to the Genre list will get us started.

Why Nikola Tesla was the Greatest Geek Who Ever Lived

Why Nikola Tesla was the Greatest Geek Who Ever Lived is an informative comic (of sorts). I do find Tesla an interesting inventor.

The Miniatures of Gear World

Sometime last year Plastic Soldier Review reviewed the miniatures from 35 board games. The author did not review the miniatures from Gear World, so I have taken it upon myself to review these miniatures.

Gear World contains 100 soft plastic miniatures. They come in red, green, blue, and white and measure 20mm from the bottom of their base to the tip of their bayonet. The base measures 3mm, so the miniature itself is 17mm. These miniatures are used only for markers to mark territories and other possessions of each player.

Although there isn’t too much in the way of facial details there are some details on the rest of the miniature such as rucksack and ammo pouches. There is only one pose.

The Fabulous Clockwork and Steam Contraptions in the Gold Compass

Although I am looking forward to reading the Gold Compass trilogy (His Dark Materials), outside of the Steampunk aesthetic with all of its wonderful contraptions, I was a little let down by the rendition of the text. I also felt that the story had very little plot and the acting was dreadful.

Horseless Hansom Cab

I am not sure what propels this vehicle in this alternative universe, as you see is doesn’t seem to be steam.

Golden Compass (alethiometer)

Move the two hands to an appropriate position and right person can tell the future. Interesting contraption.

Clockwork Spy Wasps

These clockwork devices are kind of like hound dogs. Put them on the trail of someone and they will fly towards the ends of the earth until the person is found.

Dirigibles

There are two dirigibles featured within. The first, a very elegant designed dirigible owned by a very elegant lady (Kidman). The second a more practical design powered by hydrogen. Can’t say whether the other was thus powered, however this one was disassembled, transported by ship and carried to location and reassembled.

Steam Paddled Ship

I have include a couple images of this ship. She has such nice lines. This ship was one of few low-tech items featured in the movie or is she?

Elegant Launch

GearWorld the Borderlands Transport Phase

It has been a while since I made a post on this topic and have not got around to playing this game yet. The Transport Phase is the fourth phase a player may choose to perform during his or her turn. During this phase the player may move any number of resources or weapon tokens using one of the following transportation methods:

• Foot
• Horse
• Riverboat
• Ship

These transportation methods have the following movement points:

Method	Maximum Movement Points
Foot	1
Horse	2
Riverboat	8
Ship	10

GearWorld’s Special Rules for the Frist Game Round

These special rules apply for the first round:

Players skip the Build Phase entirely
Each player resolves the Production Phase, but not dynamically
Players can only resolve one successful attack and one transport action during the Battle Phase

The Five Phases of Play in GearWorld

Reading through a twenty-four page rule booklet once can be a painstakingly slow process, but to turn around and read through it a second time is pure joy. In order to understand all the games nuances reading through the rule-book a second time I will do.

The rule-book includes many illustrations, and sidelined boxes that illustrate and describe the games five phases. Here are the five phases with a short description :

1. Build Phase: During this phase, each player any resolve any number of build actions.
2. Production Phase: during this phase players use production tokens they control to produce resources. The production phase is a dynamic phase
3. Trade Phase: During this phase players may resolve any number of Trade Actions to exchange resource tokens with other players.
4. Transport Phase: Players may resolve on transport action to move weapons and resources between land areas, riverboats, ships and bridges they control
5. Battle Phase: During this phase players may resolve up to successful attack actions via attacks on land areas, riverboats, ships and bridges.

GearWorld Player Aids

Print this player aid on card stock and print as many as you need.

Strength Points
Land	1
Horse	1
Bridges	2
Riverboat	3
Weapon	3
Skyworks	3
Ship	5
Movement Points
Horse	2
Riverboat	8
Ship	10
Building Costs
Weapon	1 iron, 1 coal, or 2 gold
Riverboat	3 scrap
Skyworks	1 scrap. 1 iron, 1 coal, and 1 gold or 4 gold
Bridge	1 scrap, and 1 iron
Ship	4 scrap or 4 gold
Turn Order
1.       Build Phase 2.       Production Phase 3.       Trade Phase 4.       Transport Phase 5.       Battle Phase