Description
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is set in a fantasy world undergoing a transformation from its own Industrial Revolution, blending Tolkienesque fantasy elements with steampunk technology and 19th-century cultural influences.
Author's Note
The world, known as Arcanum, features a continental mainland and three islands, inhabited by various races such as humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes, halflings, orcs, and ogres, with human hybrid races like half-elves, half-orcs, and half-ogres also playable. The continent is divided into several political entities, including the technologically advanced Unified Kingdom, the deteriorated Kingdom of Cumbria, the thriving Kingdom of Arland, the Glimmering Forest home to elven and dark elven cities, and the mountainous regions inhabited by various dwarven clans. The world also contains ruins of past civilizations, most notably the advanced but mysteriously destroyed city of Vendigroth. A main feature of this world revolves around racial inequality, where different races face systemic discrimination and prejudice. Orcs, for example, are universally looked down upon, with humans and gnomes using them for slave labor in a direct allegory to historical black slavery, while elves and dwarves harbor deep-seated hatred towards them. The game's narrative includes a book titled "The Orcish Question," which explicitly mirrors real-world racial debates, highlighting the world's deliberate commentary on racism. Half-orcs, despite having the same base intelligence as other races, are subjected to social prejudice and must often "grovel" in interactions, making their gameplay experience notably more challenging. Similarly, female characters face sexism, with limited race options available to them and societal restrictions that reflect real-world gender inequalities. The game also features subtle forms of discrimination, such as certain followers refusing to join based on race or gender, and specific dialogue options being locked for certain combinations, reinforcing the theme of systemic bias. These elements combine to create a world where racial and gender identity significantly impact character interactions, story progression, and overall gameplay experience, making racial inequality a core mechanic of the world's narrative and world-building. Another main feature of this world is the two opposing forces, those of Magick and Technology. Technology works with the laws of nature while magick works to subvert it. This can have catastrophic implications when a powerful spell is used near more complex technology. For instance using a powerful spell on a steam train. Faction/Regions/Towns and even Races are generally either pro-magik or pro-technology. The core of Arcanum story is the effect of mass industrialisation and its effect on the Magik world. Technology or Magik is neither wholly good or evil. It is the individuals who determine morality.
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