The racial tensions in Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura are a central and deeply integrated theme, drawing direct parallels to real-world historical injustices. The game presents a world where @Orcs are systematically discriminated against, with @Humans and @Gnomes using them for slave labor. This discrimination is not merely background detail; it is woven into the game's narrative, mechanics, and dialogue. The game also features a disturbing book advocating for solving the "Orcish Question" through a breeding program and the removal of a "malignant gland.
The game's world is defined by the conflict between magick and technology, a conflict that exacerbates existing racial and class tensions. The industrial revolution, driven by the inventor @Gilbert Bates, has led to the rise of powerful industrial cities like @Tarant, where the poor, including @Half‑Orc and @Half-Ogre workers, are forced into harsh factory labor. This economic inequality fuels discontent, leading to the formation of trade unions, such as the one founded by the @Half‑Orc activist Donn Throgg, and violent clashes, including attacks by anarchist elven youth. The game further explores these tensions through character creation, where playing as a @Half‑Orc grants a background of being a factory slave, which decreases initial wealth and boosts strength, while also limiting access to certain backgrounds like "bookworm". This design reinforces the idea that non-human races are confined to predetermined, often underprivileged, roles.
The game's portrayal of race extends beyond orcs. @Elves and @Dwarves have a history of conflict, but the industrial revolution has caused both groups to develop a mutual disdain for @Humans. A faction of racial supremacist elves manipulates the dwarven king into banishing a clan to avoid war, demonstrating how prejudice can be weaponized for political gain. The game also features a @Half-Ogre breeding project (@Breeding Facility). The game's dialogue reflects these tensions; a @Dwarves tombmaker insults an @Elves, and a @Gnomes can be insulted by an @Elves, leading to potential war. The game's design, including the use of a "Smoking Jacket" or "Elegant Dress" to improve NPC reactions, further underscores how social status and appearance are tied to overcoming prejudice. Overall, Arcanum uses its steampunk setting to deliver a complex and often uncomfortable exploration of racism, classism, and the societal consequences of technological advancement.