Steampunk Musha Review
Steam implies the age of steam say late 1800s, punk indicates the inclusion of weird science, and Musha meaning Stir-fried (OK, I made that up) gives an indication of oriental flavor. Taking this we get an Oriental game with Western flavor and a willingness to combine with traditional fantasy. This is pretty much what you get with Steampunk Musha, a worldbook for the Iron Gauntlets RPG.
Steampunk Musha
By Rick Hershey
from Politically Incorrect Games
$9.95 for PDF download from www.pigames.net
122 pages, Color map.
Let me start by saying the title put me off before I read a single word of content. In the recent decade everyone and their brother has been adding punk to their genre to indicate the inclusion of weird science. This alone wouldn't bother me too much. It is more how punk came to be attached to weird science, rather than to rebellion against authority. From Cyberpunk, to Cthulhupunk (Steve Jackson Games) to Steampunk. Now that I've had my little rant, I will try to be objective about this product.
Analyzing the title, Steam implies the age of steam say late 1800s, punk, as discussed above indicates the inclusion of weird science, and Musha meaning Stir-fried (OK, I made that up) gives an indication of oriental flavor. Looking at the cover art, which is the same for each chapter title page, shows an almost American cowboy with Japanese clogs and an oversized Katana, a kabuki with artistically licensed naginata, and a dwarf with pushknives (there is a better name for this, but I don't know it). Taking this we get an Oriental game with Western flavor and a willingness to combine with traditional fantasy.
This is pretty much what you get with Steampunk Musha. While this supplement for Iron Gauntlets provides it's own setting, the Core Book is needed as most of the backgrounds, and gimmicks are detailed there. This book does provide in exchange some patches for Iron Gauntlets, such as the inclusion of dessertfolk and countryfolk backgrounds. It also adds rules for firearms, steam and clock works, several new weapons and more styles and vocations. It also introduces the concept of kits, which are essentially completed character types.
Also with this supplement you get 3 more magic styles. This includes Kabuka dance based magic, celestial spirit magic and elemental magic. While the addition of 3 more systems, to the core system 4, may seem trivial to some, or burdensome to GMs who allow anything in print to occur within their game, it does allow GMs to fit magic more exactly to their view of their game world.
Steampunk Musha also includes some new races. There are human/animal hybrids, half-demons (oni), and spirit infused mechanicals. While the clockwork folk are not to my taste, anyone purchasing this for the punk portion of the title should be quite pleased.
This supplement also includes a setting. While it is definitely Japan based, it is decidedly not historical Japan on a new map. This is not to discredit the work that has gone into it, just to alert the history buff that this is not the Samurai game for him or her.
In summary, the writing and editing is well done. It is clear and easy to read. The watermark on some of the pages is distracting to me, but generally the layout is acceptable. There is a high signal-to-noise ratio, though the worked examples could cover a broader spectrum of results. The cover art is good, but its reprint with every chapter detracts form it. The other interior art is fair and in tasteful amounts. The weapons section could use more content, but the system is such that porting weapons over from other systems should be trivial.
Not a must have, but if you've purchased the Iron Gauntlets Core Book, have an extra $10 in your gaming budget, and like any of the 3 flavors in the title, give this supplement a shot.
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That is one serious mixed dish. Stir-fried Pizza Rations!
Please allow me to contribute that "Musha" resembles (identically) a Japanese word for "Warrior" which can include samurai references and more within its scope.
I only have a chance for a quick peek but the art style is attractive although I'm 'iffy' on the theme. Too bad they didn't hint a little bit more about the magic on the cover art.
I'm curious about how the magic systems might overlap or collide. What would you recommend to a GM starting out? Do you think an approach to restricting some magic to certain regions would work to simplify managing the variations?
I think that the GM should read the magic systems and decide for himself what is and is not compatible for his/her game concept. For me, I have run games with 2 distinct magic systems (D&D is really 1 system, just different spell lists) and that was as much as I should ever need to undertake.
That said, I would defintiely choose between the IG core book magic systems and the SM magic systems. All 7 would be rough. Essence magic could be easily added and is somewhat appropriate to the SM setting.
I would also get a brief overview of each system, and not sweat details until a PC chose to wield that sort of magic.
I usually don't post stuff like this, but I ran across this review of SM and just don't think you really touched on a lot of things the book provides which make it cool.
Although the word "punk" is in the title, it's reference has less to do with weird science and more to do with a new generation of SM natives rebeling against the old ways and embracing technology and industrialization. THe conflict of the book revolves around these ideas, and the conflict they are causing- with both the people, spirits, and the foreigners slowly entering the island. So, although the term "steampunk" is over used, it is appropriate for the game. Also, Musha does translate to warrior or fighter (why you couldn't take 5min to find that out is beyond me, and a bit sad that you translate it to Stir-fried and are ok with that, even as a joke)
>dwarf with pushknives
Did you read the book? It's a keshou, a cousin of the common Goblin. It's a playable race with entire history of the included. And the weapon is a Katar.
>Not a must have, but if you've purchased the Iron Gauntlets Core Book, have an extra $10 in your gaming budget, and like any of the 3 flavors in the title, give this supplement a shot.
I think this is a must have for anyone looking for a fun "asian" flavored setting that is not historical and gets away from the standard oriental fantasy that all other companies publish. THe setting is full of great ideas and visuals, and is easily played with any game mechanics. I think it's a must read for anyone who is looking for something different.
Welcome Emily! I am pleased that my writing has inceted you to register and post. I am soory that it is post of indignation. Perhaps I can explain myself.
The "PUNK" is nearly every gamepunk (recently) is about the inclusion of wied science, and this book does include wierd science. Admittedly, I did not analyze the credibility of using the term.
In general, if the information is not included within the covers of a book I'm reviewing, it is probably not important, and what is not important is subject to mockery.
While the character may be a keshou, saying in a description of the art that its a race many are not familiar with, does not enhance the description. As for the pushknife/katar argument, I pretty clearly stated that pushknife was not the correct term, but was unable to locate the name in the amount of time I was willing to research it. See the Musha argument above.
I will not agree that this book is a must-have for anyone. If one wishes to avoid traditional oriental games, this is a great book. I do not believe that the added aspects of the setting will be to everyone's tastes. I also believe that most people looking for asian flavored games desire the more traditional setting.
Finally, the management of this site put out an invitation to authors to review this game. I said I would, but asked that any others willing to do it be allowed to, rather than myself. If you dislike my levity, or approach or anything else, I encourage you to contribute to this magazine, Its even easier than the "writing for us" blurb says. Just click "create content" in the upper right corner of the page and follow the prompt. If your article is worthy, the powers that be will publish it, and when the next book comes through the system, you can ask to review it. Of added note, the contribution queue is short right now, meaning your article could be published in weeks rather than months.
I apologize if my comment was a bit harsh, or personally attacking you for something I'm sure the creators appreciate. It just seemed that you had a disliking for the genre (steampunk,etc.) before even reading this book. . . so it does come across as being sort of negative from the start.
Either way, I enjoy the book very much, and Rick has answered several e-mails from me with general questions about the setting and upcoming products. I like the book because it's not typical asian historical roleplaying. It's fun and entertaining and a lot of material and ideas are presented.
Anyway, thanks for the feedback, and I'm sorry for coming off so strongly. and maybe I'll take you up on that offer to write my own review:)
xxoo
emily
In the recent decade everyone and their brother has been adding punk to their genre to indicate the inclusion of weird science. This alone wouldn't bother me too much. It is more how punk came to be attached to weird science, rather than to rebellion against authority.
Steampunk and cyberpunk were literary genres before becoming gaming genres. And the punk part is actually quite appropriate, as pointed out before. And steampunk itself isn't anything new. Some of Jules Verne's books could be considered steampunk. What I find strange is that you spend more time discussing whatever game rules are included within rather than on the setting. And Steampunk Musha is a game setting: it says so on the cover. For a review, a bit more of an in-depth look into the setting/background would have been appreciated.
And yes, it is easier to judge someone's work than to actually do it. But what can I say except I'm French and can you except anything else from people like me (:-p).
Now, I don't like all of it (I'm really not keen about the Juuunishi-p'o, and I do believe that we would have been better off with some other art other than a standard derringer and rifle in the firearms section), but I do believe that Steampunk Musha would be of interest to hard-boiled fans of historical Japan/Asia, because it can give them the opportunity to look into the future, a bleak future that they can giftwrap for their own pleasure to fit with more realism, if they deem it so necessary. But then, that's just my opinion.
Has anyone tested the adventure Tori-Onnanoko? Okay, it's only 4$ (so probably no more than 2,5€), but I just can't get past the "ancient dungeon modernized for use as an insane asylum" part of the description: http://www.pigames.net/store/product_info.php?products_id=218 . Find missing girl for powerful politician sounds just a bit too much stale for it to make me want to spend what I could buy a coffee at a bar with.