Steam or Arcana English Version

Für die deutsche Version dieses Regelwerkes gehe zu: Steam or Arcana - Deutsche Version

Steam or Arcana is a rules-light steampunk vs magicpunk tabletop role-playing game for the off-week.

Let's break that down:

Rules-light: The entire rulebook for playing the game is only 8 pages long. It's quick to learn but complex enough to be fun for a long time. This includes quick and intuitive checks, a learning-by-doing mechanic, character creation in 20 minutes, and a comprehensive, well-balanced crafting and spell system.

Steampunk: Airships, steam engines, revolvers, a world in transition that is rediscovering itself, with a touch of social unrest and a sense of wonder. The countries of the West, which produced few magicians, are strongholds of technology and are rapidly growing into huge metropolises with multi-storey apartment blocks, urban railways, and steam forges that conduct experiments with varying ethical standards.

Magicpunk: The world is a high fantasy realm that is in no way inferior to Middle-earth or Faerun. It is populated by classic fantasy species, and magic can be found everywhere. Over the centuries, magicians have worked their way into the highest political offices. The world is even officially ruled by a convention of magicians. Illuminated globes float in the streets, warriors wield magical fire swords, and an old lady on the corner enchants wedding rings to make them truly eternal.

Vs: Magic and technology are in relentless conflict. Magic bends the laws of nature, while technology utilizes them. Where technology and magic clash, resentment and sometimes even danger arise. Many steam engines have exploded because a magician was working magic nearby. This conflict runs through all levels of society.

Off-Week: Steam or Arcana is a set of rules that has the potential to support long campaigns, but it is mainly intended for the "Off-Week".

You know the situation: your D&D group plans to meet on Saturday, but on Friday, one of the players calls the game master to say they can't make it because their sister is getting married or due to another unimportant nonsense.

Now you have players and a game master, but the group still can't play properly because this player is irreplaceable for the rest of the story.

Sound familiar?

Steam or Arcana is perfect for this situation. The game master can pull it out, create a character with each player in 20 minutes, and then play a short adventure. Everyone has fun, and next time you can continue with your main campaign. If someone cancels again at short notice, you play another adventure with a steam engine and crystal ball.

What's inside?

You get a 50-page rulebook in A4 format, including:

• A complete introduction to the setting of Steam and Arcana, with descriptions of the individual species, gods, and the most important cities in the world. But don't worry, there are enough blank spots on the map for your own adventures.
• A refreshingly short rules chapter with everything you need to play, true to the motto: as complicated as necessary, but as simple as possible.
• An introductory adventure in which you must prevent a war between the Duchy of Grandenburg and the elven community of Blattbruch.
• A download link for the character sheet in A5 format, and another in A4 format with two character sheets for easier printing.
• A rules summary on an A4 page.
• A downloadable world map.

What else do I need?

•     Imagination
•     2 or more friends
•     this rulebook
•     at least one ten-sided die (D10)
•     at least one six-sided die (D6)
•     Character sheets
•     Paper and pencil