Here are the links to our tech trees. These trees have been designed with The Steampunk: Lost Worlds scenario in mind.

Era 1
http://www.divshare.com/img/5078773-549.jpg

Era 2
http://www.divshare.com/img/5078777-796.jpg

Era 3
http://www.divshare.com/img/5078778-300.jpg

Era 4
http://www.divshare.com/img/5078785-cf5.jpg

Key to Trees:

Blue = unit
Blue (underlined) = special character unit
Red = improvement
Brown = wonder
Green = resource
Purple = government

Here are lists of the Improvements and Wonders that tie in with the technologies above

Improvements (http://www.divshare.com/download/5078770-f1f)
Improvements and Wonders continued (http://www.divshare.com/download/5078769-97d)

A list of tech icons required to complete the scenario

Landships *
Armoured Bulkheads *
Asylum Districts *
Turbines
Air Tactics
Wireless Telegraphy
Mechatronics
World-wide Commerce
Practical Invention
Portable Beam Weaponry
Forcefields
Teleforce

* work in progress

A list of Wonder images required to complete the scenario

The Royal Albert Docks
The Royal Exchange
Around the World in 80 Days
Universal Library
Illuminati ** (Blue Monkey)
The Crystal Palace
Scotland Yard
Bedlam
Sandorf's Armoury
Ada Byron Institute
A Christmas Carol
Moon Base
Lloyd's of London
The Violet Ray
Edison's Lab
The Salvation Army
Predictive Engine
The Wardenclyffe Tower
The Roch Fulgerator
Orbital Telescope ** (Blue Monkey)
Buffalo Bill's Wild West
Bensington & Redwoods Elixir
Public Call Stations
Das Kapital
Dr Frankenstein's Laboratory
Dimensional Portal
Invisibility Formula
Krupp's Armaments Factory
The Penny Dreadful
Home Office
The Weldon Institute
Stock Exchange
Baker Street Irregulars
Iron Works
Red Cross ** (Blue Monkey)
The Gold Bug
Time Machine Project
Martian Foreign Office
Lunar Foreign Office
Magickal Cabal
Torchwood

* work in progress
** complete

A list of Improvement Buildings required
Weapons Lab
Wealth ** (Vanilla images used)
Royal Office
Warehouse
Private Club
Private Quarters
Export-Import Co.
Laboratory
Pleasure Garden
Police Station
Waterworks
Theatre
Port
Museum
Salon
Opium Den
Workshop
Analytical Engine
Textile Mill
Port Doors
Factory ** (Vanilla images used)
Gas Lighting
Infirmary
Telegraph Station
Telephone Exchange
Wireless Transmitter
Electric Lighting
Hangar
Railway Station
Electromechanical Computer
Sewerage System
Cloudbuster
Pneumatic Subway System
Customs Office
Shipyard
Steel Works
Mental Asylum
Telautomatic Defence System
Teleporter

Well, since KingArthur let the cat out of the bag, here's my original PM to him:
Would mind sharing with me the steampunk images and/or tech ideas you've compiled?

It would be a great help since I'm still brainstorming the required techs for the scenario. I will need 3 eras worth so the more inspiration the better.I have more than 150 images at some stage of development. They fall into these broad categories:
Alternative Power
Architecture & Design
Art
Astronomy
Automata
Communications
Computation
Electrification
Entertainment
Eugenics
Exploration
Flight
Gyro-Stabilisation
Magneto-Electrical Therapy
Mechanisms
Lamarckian Design
Non-Euclidean Mathematics
Orientalism
Perpetual Motion
Photography
Psychedelia
Public Safety
Public Transit
Relativity
Science
Social Darwinism
Sound Reproduction
Space Flight
SubMarine
Things Man Was Not Meant To Know
Vehicles
Warfare
One way to make techs steampunkish is to give ordinary techs strange-sounding pseudo-Victorian names. For example Bio-Mechanistical Transport may only mean an advanced version of horse-drawn carriages. Another alternative is to do a little Wiki-research on Victorian science and pseudoscience. Bertillonage is an actual system of criminal identification that pre-dated fingerprinting. Theory of Aetheric Transport assumes the disproved existence of the ether was true in the Steampunk world - a precursor tech to space travel. Animals evolving in a Lamarckian way, rather than Darwinian, would make Dr. Moreau's job a lot easier (And lets us use the collages of Max Ernst to make a tech icon).

The individual icons closest to being finished are:
Aerial Dining
Aerodreadnought
Aerodynamism
Anti-Gravitics
Arcology
Astronomical Modelling
Astronomy
Automata
Automatic Servants
Ballistic Flight
Bertillonage
Bio-Mechanistical Transport
Bureaucracy
Chemical Warfare
Chrononautics
Cloudbusting
Cogitative Enhancement
Concentrated Non-Dispersive Energy (Death Ray)
Constabulary
DADA
Difference Engine
Electrical Economy
Electrical Revivification
Electric Light
Electrification
Electro-Education
Electro-Medicine
Electroskates
Exo-Archaeology
Fluorescent Lighting
Gas Light
Gyrostabilization
Heliograph
Hovering Ferry
Industrialism
Interplanetary Voyage
Ironclad
Jacquard Programming
Lamarckian Design
Lost Worlds
Lunar Expedition
Machine Aesthetics
Mechano-Stenography
Monowheel
Multi-Communicator
Observational Astronomy
Opiates
Panopticon
Personal Flight
Phrenology
Plotinusian Adventurer
Pneumatic Messaging
Pneumato-Mechanics
Polar Exploration
Loop Programming
Public Transit
Public Transit (Dystopian)
Scientific Detection
Secret Bureau
SkyScrapers
Slipstream Warfare
Sound Reproduction
Spiritual Machines
Steam Robot
Subjective Time
Subaquatic Transport
Surrealism
Surveillance
Synchronised Clocks
Telephony
Theory of Computation
The Violet Ray
Trans-Chronological Travel
Universal Knowledge
Urban Planning / Utopian Design
Wireless Power Transmission
Here are 16 samples. Even though they look decent, they are definitely not finished.
(Left to Right & Top to Bottom):
Electric Light, Sound Reproduction, Panopticon ("Big Brother" Prison System), Pneumatic Messaging
Pneumato-Mechanics, Difference Engine, Automata, Cloudbusting
Secret Bureau, Chemical Warfare, Polar Exploration, Subaquatic Transport
Tesla Death Ray, Lunar Expedition, Chrononautics, Slipstream Warfare

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/4707/sptechsamplesis1.png

I ask that you please don’t post these publicly. Some may not make it due to palette problems, etc.; also I wish to release them in themed groups. I also have and continue to collect images that are more suitable as inspiration for units or improvements.

Let me know if there’s something specific you are looking for; I’m a real web-troller, and I already have quite a few relevant links bookmarked.

These pics are amazing. If the scenario can come out with a media package of that polish, it will be a work of art. Tech names are really confusing though, but if it adds to the atmosphere, why not. Can't be more puzzling than Latin anyway ;)

These pics are amazing. If the scenario can come out with a media package of that polish, it will be a work of art. Tech names are really confusing though, but if it adds to the atmosphere, why not. Can't be more puzzling than Latin anyway ;)Thanks. I'm not the maker of the images themselves, just a searcher & CnPer.

As to the names, I'm pretty sure "Chemical Warfare" isn't confusing, but some of the others would need explanation. "Chrononautics" for example is time travel (by analogy to Aeronautics and Astronautics), "Cloudbusting" is weather control (the image was actually a weird attempt at anti-dirigible defense), and "Slipstream Warfare" is warfare carried out across alternative timelines. This mod ought end up with a pretty fascinating 'pedia.

If you have questions about any of the others feel free to ask. I have a feeling that a lot on the long list will make much more sense when there's an icon to look at.

You mean that the image #8 is actually a real photo? What where they willing to achieve by throwing a massive trumpet concerto at dirigibles? Pics will help a lot understanding what the techs are about for sure. Can't wait to see this progressing!

A tentative era 2 tech tree. As I've said previously it's a bit conventional so far but I still have 2 more eras to fill.

Any ideas what to put in Occultism at this stage? I had an idea to put a 'sleeper' improvement in there that would be a prerequisite for wonders and improvements in later eras.

Occultism could bring the Wonder Ordo Templi Orientis; or the Golden Dawn, perhaps, though maybe these should come later (with the Thelema tech!). Theosophy might go in there somewhere too, and it'd be fun to have some Lovecraftian stuff (the Necronomicon!) although I don't know so much about that.

Occultism could bring the Wonder Ordo Templi Orientis; or the Golden Dawn, perhaps, though maybe these should come later (with the Thelema tech!). Theosophy might go in there somewhere too, and it'd be fun to have some Lovecraftian stuff (the Necronomicon!) although I don't know so much about that.I can't really comment on the specifics of the tech tree. I have a whole "Things Man Was Not Meant To Know" category of tech icons I'm working on - Thelemic, Spiritualist, Fortean, Mu, Lovecraftian, Hollow Earth, Lost Worlds/Civilizations, etc.

Progress so far. I have refined era 1 and it's pretty much how I want it now.

Era 2 has been hammered out but has a few empty techs (so if you have any ideas to fill them in let me know).

Era 3 is a bit skeletal. I think this is as far as I will go as a fourth era would be pushing it a bit. I need help with era 3 though to come up with some more techs. Primarily this era is all about the Moon Race so if you can come up with some nice alternatives for the spaceship parts please post them:
SS Thrusters
SS Engine
SS Cockpit
SS Docking Bay
SS Fuel Cells,
SS Life Support System
SS Stasis Chamber,
SS Storage/Supply,
SS Exterior Casing
SS Planetary Party Lounge

To flesh out the tech tree try first laying out the units, improvements & wonders large & small you want, in roughly the order you want them to appear. That may suggest, after a little rumination, the techs that are needed.


Edit: I'll give you two examples from your own tree:

Automata are self-directed mechanical creatures. Historically they began to be developed in Europe at least as early as the Enlightenment. clearly an automata unit needs technologies related to clock work & logic, so Analytical Engine makes sense as a precursor.

A Lunar Voyage requires some means of propulsion adequate to the task, and a way for the voyagers to survive. So there could a tech intermediate to flight & the Lunar Expedition for the propulsion system. And perhaps a line developing from the Submarine tech would make sense since Victorian space suits would probably be based on diving apparatus.

I like your explanation for subs being a prereq for Lunar Expeditions and I will now move automata to era 2 since it fits in there better. Era 3 is a bit light.

I've posted my SteamPunk Tech Pack #1. Hopefully some will be of use to you. I've got several more sets in the works, although arrival dates are unpredictable.

Updated tech trees now on posts 2 and 3.

Progress so far. I have refined era 1 and it's pretty much how I want it now.

Era 2 has been hammered out but has a few empty techs (so if you have any ideas to fill them in let me know).

Era 3 is a bit skeletal. I think this is as far as I will go as a fourth era would be pushing it a bit. I need help with era 3 though to come up with some more techs. Primarily this era is all about the Moon Race so if you can come up with some nice alternatives for the spaceship parts please post them:
SS Thrusters
SS Engine
SS Cockpit
SS Docking Bay
SS Fuel Cells,
SS Life Support System
SS Stasis Chamber,
SS Storage/Supply,
SS Exterior Casing
SS Planetary Party Lounge


I suggest instead of a space ship you do a space cannon. I remember reading that they were one of the first imagined ways to get into outer space. Here is a pic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:FETMlaunch.jpg
Wouldn't go right into the picture.

As a matter of fact one of the tech icons I'm working on is for "Ballistic Flight" featuring a super cannon & Melies' moon.

A space cannon is an excellent idea.

I was thinking of gravity shields where you shield an object from the force of gravity but I think a cannon is more fun.

Yes, Jules Verne-style space exploration - I agree it's more fun than the Wells-style "Cavorite".

I also think I'll change some other spaceship part names to impart some flavour. How about SS Engine Room, SS Galley, SS Cabins, SS Bridge?

If I may suggest something, I'd say change "Electro" in all the Electro-whatever techs to either Ether or, even better Aether, which would fit more in whith the beliefs and such of the time.....

For more ideas for steampunk tech and/or images for tech icons may I suggest:

Jake von Slatt's Steampunk Workshop (http://www.steampunkworkshop.com/)

Doc "Datamancer" Nagy's Steampunk creations (http://www.datamancer.net/)

The Brass Goggles Steampunk Blog and Forums (http://www.brassgoggles.co.uk/brassgoggles) If you go into the "Tactile" section of the forums, you'll find all kinds of crazy stuff, including some of my own creations.

Also, you need some kind of Brass Goggles tech, otherwise it aint steampunk (gotta have the goggles :p )

I'm still trying to get my head around what aether actually "is" (or should be). Starting from the basis that it's a carrier of light I was thinking it could lead to lasers (beam weapons), radio (or wireless telegraphy) and possibly time travel. Electricity or electrically charged matter can influence the aether so a combination of the two can lead to reactionless drives. It can get weirder (according to my GURPS Steampunk book) when you combine etheric devices with the spirit world. They posit a spectral globe developed through experiments with the electrical conductivity of gases. The globe would be evacuated and then filled with a noble gas at very low pressure. Electrodes within the globe would ionise the gas. If a spirit placed part of its immaterial form within the globe, its image would appear within the gas. A lip reader could facilitate actual communication between the living and the dead!

Now that's pretty cool.

As I understand it, "aether" was thought to be simply the stuff that occupies space when there's nothing else there, even air. The concept depends upon the assumption that there is no such thing as a true vacuum, so even where there is no air, there must be something even more rarified present. That's how I understand it anyway, but I might be wrong.

I think this wikipedia article on the luminiferous aether (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminiferous_aether) is actually a good place to start. It lays out the theory's place in physics from Newton to Quantum Mechanics.

I would imagine that the effect of a valid etheric physics in a Steampunk alternate reality would be that space flight would involve something akin to aerodynamics since there is a medium through which to move. Also there might develop some weird Tesla-esque technologies to do with light (like his rumored design for a death ray).

Hey,

I hope you don't mind but I'm a old VSF fan from way back.
I'd like to point out some sites on land Ironclads

This blog has everything.
From the Ironclads to steam walker to you name it.
http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_archive.html

Models & minatures
H.G. Wells Land Ironclad free paper model
http://www.currell.net/models/ironclad.htm

Brigade Models in England make land Ironclad minatures
http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/Frames/New/index.html

Wyrd Minatures: Steampunk Gothic horror
http://www.wyrd-games.net/shop/home.php


Blaze Injun

Nice links there Blaze Injun especially the first one which will be very useful. Thanks!

I was particularly taken by this site which came from a link off the blog: http://www.backofbeyond.de/

I also bookmarked that one.

Hey,

Very glad I could help. Hope I'm posting in the right thread. http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/26325/tophat.gif.

I have this old Space 1889 site called

Heliograph
http://www.heliograph.com/

Here they have various articles on all things steampunkish.
Transactions of the Royal Martian Geographical Society
http://www.heliograph.com/trmgs/

Speaking of Etheral...

Ethersuits and Ethernauts
by Matthew J. Ruane
http://www.heliograph.com/trmgs/trmgs1/ethersuits.shtml


Blaze Injun

How about a SteamPunk version of The Great Race (http://www.greatrace.com/newsite/index.php/the-great-race/greatestrace/) as a wonder.

The goofy movie version (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Race) features many steampunkish devices built by Professor Fate. His car the "Hannibal 8 (http://www.showrods.com/gallery_pages/hannibal_8.html)", of course, has hidden talents, such as a cannon, a scissors lift (http://www.petersen.org/images/Exhibitimages/hannibal8-1965greatrace.jpg), a combination ram/ice melter, and can obscure opponents' view by belching clouds of black smoke (http://outnow.ch/Media/Img/1965/GreatRace/dvd-film.ws/09?w=720&h=405).

"Push the button, Max"

How about a SteamPunk version of The Great Race (http://www.greatrace.com/newsite/index.php/the-great-race/greatestrace/) as a wonder.

The goofy movie version (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Race) features many steampunkish devices built by Professor Fate. His car the "Hannibal 8 (http://www.showrods.com/gallery_pages/hannibal_8.html)", of course, has hidden talents, such as a cannon, a scissors lift (http://www.petersen.org/images/Exhibitimages/hannibal8-1965greatrace.jpg), a combination ram/ice melter, and can obscure opponents' view by belching clouds of black smoke (http://outnow.ch/Media/Img/1965/GreatRace/dvd-film.ws/09?w=720&h=405).

"Push the button, Max"

FYI, Most of us steampunks consider The Great Race (goofy movie version, that is) to BE steampunk.... I personally vote for including Professor Fate's sound-guided torpedo into the mod as a (mostly) Naval cruise missile type unit :p

I've finally got the rescued images sorted into categories & have been working on some actual tech icons again.

Let me know if there are any special requests.

from my meager memory stock the Aether seems similar to Wilhem Reich's Orgon energy. A recent development is "dark" energy and matter. Sid Knows!

Hello folks

I've only just found this scenario and after reading the posts and looking at the pics, my only reaction was: OMFG!!!!11 :eek::eek::eek:

Must have scenario!!!:crazyeye:

It's a trully amazing idea, and I congratulate you for it.

I'd just like to throw in a little sugestion for a tech and a possible wonder, based on 19th century "high-tech":
"Transatlantic telegraph cable"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_telegraph_cable

These cables presented a massive increase in comunicatiosns, being the first time a true link existed between continents. In game terms, this might give a increase in money generated (due to comunications between markets). It would also allow the construction in a city of the "Telegraph Office" for extra money.

As for the wonder, the "Transatlantic telegraph cable" would allow the construction of:
"SS Great Eastern"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Great_Eastern
giving a massive increase in culture or maybe a transport that could carry 4-5 times more than a normal one.

Keep up the good work! :goodjob:

Thanks for your enthusiasm about the mod. You are welcome to join us - anyone with your kind of knowledge about the era has a lot to contribute.

"Trans-Oceanic Cable" is one of the items in the Pandectual Garland of Icons (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=269422).

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/8459/transoceanwb7.png

I agree that The Great Eastern would make a great Wonder. Perhaps "Ocean Liners" would be a better matching tech for it.

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/2467/linerswo5.png

But we shall have to wait & see which techs make it into KingArthur's tree.

Thanks for the wellcome!

Here are a few offbeat stuff I found over the years:
Late 19th century "armour"
http://www.geocities.com/pentagon/quarters/1975/armcar1.htm

Nice pics/posters of some truly scary ideas!
http://www.prints-online.com/page.php?page=search%20media&keyid=31661&keyword=projected

The sequel to the "War of the Worlds", first book with space ships, battles, ray guns... all from a mix of steampunk+martian technology
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edisons-Conquest-Mars-Original-Sequel/dp/0973820306/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207823188&sr=8-1

That War of the Worlds "sequel" looks absolutely fascinating.

There is a hotchkiss armored car somewhere in the data base. Mars is one of my favorite recurring steampunk themes, for example this (http://www.btinternet.com/~a.patrick/VSF.htm) website, with some interesting ideas.

I say we need at least one Cthulhu tech or (since I suppose the "Forbidden Tomes" and Non-Euclidean Geometry probably fit that bill) a "Sunken City of R'lyeh" wonder that summons, er, spawns Cthulhu when the stars are aligned (about once every 15-20 turns).

In the 1930s (a bit off steam punk but still in the "weird ideas" area...) the US Navy experimented with 2 dirigibles carrying fighters:

http://www.oldgloryprints.com/Sparrowhawks%20of%20the%20Macon.htm

http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/missions/2006macon/technical.html

Someone has made a CGI of a more advanced model (a Tesla fighter!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjrI2ZvH_uE


On a diferent note: has anyone ever seen a computer game for "Space 1889"?

I say we need at least one Cthulhu tech or (since I suppose the "Forbidden Tomes" and Non-Euclidean Geometry probably fit that bill) a "Sunken City of R'lyeh" wonder that summons, er, spawns Cthulhu when the stars are aligned (about once every 15-20 turns).The techs I had in mind as Mythos-related were "Forbidden Tomes" (Voynich, etc.), "Trans-Dimensional Maths" ("Non-Euclidean" as a prereq.), "Dimensional Portal" (have to open the door), "Evocative Ritual" (by invitation only), and (with "Astral Travel" as a prereq.) "Watchers at the Gate" (who guard the Seven Hundred Steps of Deeper Slumber).

Appearing every 20 turns seems pretty often for the end of life as we know it, IMHO. Maybe use "The Thousand Young", shoggoths, Mi-Go (perhaps with a resource connection to the "Chthonic Mycoculture" tech), Servitors of the Outer Gods, or another Great Old One of less power.


Another wonder to consider is "The Sanbourne Institute of Pacific Antiquities".

Yeah, I suppose we could make-do with Nub-Shoggoth instead of Cthulhu. ;)

Two recent movies used concepts that look a lot like the author was thinking about steampunk:

"Stardust". Yes, I realize it's a fantasy/magic movie, but check out captain's Shakespeare Flying Ship catching lightnings for sale...

"The Golden Compass": text book steampunk/tesla/pseudo arcane! Flying ships and horseless carriages powered by... something that glows blue!?

In books, you can check out the "Mortal Engines Quartet" by Philip Reeve (first book is "Mortal Engines"). The characters and action is a bit... flat and simplistic (it was written for younger readers) but the whole basic concept is fantastic: is a far far future, most of Earth has been ruined by war, so the great cities have become nomads, by turning into MASSIVE steam/oil powered tanks. That's right! :eek: others have taken to the sea and become city-sized ships...

The city of London (where we start) is a good example: it moves around on gigantic caterpilars, and like most cities, it survives by hunting down and "eating" (ie, demolishing and pilaging the parts of) any city smaller than itself. The only trade is carried out by airships (of which there are many types), many home-ported in a flying city/dirigible (NO smoking allowed!!)

I've been admiring Balthasar's 'pedia entries for the civs & it occurred to me to do the same for any of my tech icons (or wonders) that will end up in the mod. Let me know which, if any, you would like entries for.

BM - excellent. Still working and reworking the tech tree but these techs are definitely in there:

Invention; Diving Dress; Sub Aquatics; Ballooning; Indoor Plumbing; Gas Light; Interplanetary Flight; Lunar Voyage; Theory of Aetheric Flight; Observational Astronomy; Aeronef; Safari; Archaeology; Egyptology; Cryptozoology; Revivification; Artificed Man; Analytical Engineering; Powered Articulation; Steam Botics; Analog Programming

How's this, for example?

Diving Dress

"Closed" dress, where the helmet is sealed to the suit making the suit watertight, was invented by Augustus Siebe in 1837. The helmet could not flood no matter how the diver moved, resulting in safer and more efficient underwater work.

A standard diving dress consists of a metallic diving helmet, an air line from a surface supplied diving air pump, a canvas diving suit, diving knife and boots. The weight of the helmet (even filled with air) would raise the diver's centre of gravity above his centre of buoyancy, thus tending to stand him on his head. This undesired consequence is prevented by the addition of lead weights, generally on the chest, back and boots.

This type of diving equipment is also known as hard-hat equipment or a "John Brown" rig, so-called after the British company that built many of the helmets. John Brown & Co., of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, were also responsible for the construction of many notable warships & liners.

It is worth noting that Harry Houdini held a patent for an improved design of diving dress which was much easier to take on & off, and better handled the water pressure.
Too long? Too mundane?

No that's good BM. The only thing I'd say for future is to try to employ the language and style of the period perhaps as a reporter would of a new wonderous invention or an inventor presenting his invention to the Royal Society or as written in a journal or transactions. I will try to rustle up some examples but I'm sure you know the sort of thing well yourself.

No that's good BM. The only thing I'd say for future is to try to employ the language and style of the period perhaps as a reporter would of a new wonderous invention or an inventor presenting his invention to the Royal Society or as written in a journal or transactions. I will try to rustle up some examples but I'm sure you know the sort of thing well yourself.That I can do. Techs like "Theory of Aetheric Flight" will be simple to clothe in such verbiage. I'll probably be posting them in small groups, as time allows, including a revision of the sample.

Omg!
Guys, look at this. A belgium drew up the Internet... in 1934!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/science/17mund.html?ref=technology

One of the techs in the set I made was Cliology - what Asimov called psychohistory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychohistory_%28fictional%29). I had in mind Analytical Engineering and Secret Bureau as prereqs for the tech. Perhaps Cliology could allow the building of a wonder that autoproduces a spy/ranged observer type unit (invisible? Dr. Who-ish?) & also provides one of those social engineering type adjustments (+ happiness/ - war weariness).

Here's an article calling for the development of cliodynamics (http://www.sott.net/articles/show/161508-Transforming-history-into-science-Arise-cliodynamics-) - a discipline studying the past in a more rigorous way in order to make decisions that will affect the future. Another example of the truth being stranger than fiction?

Revamped Tech Trees are up on the first post and awaiting feedback.

Balthasar and I have been working on these full time for the last few weeks now and we are both happy with the results. We owe Blue Monkey a big debt of thanks for the inspiration we drew from his Tech Icon bundle - without which we'd have struggled to get a detailed 4 Era Tech Tree. We hope Blue that you'll be able to fill in a few of the missing icons for us :) We'd also welcome offers from folks willing to write pedia entries for the techs.

Revamped Tech Trees are up on the first post and awaiting feedback.

Balthasar and I have been working on these full time for the last few weeks now and we are both happy with the results. We owe Blue Monkey a big debt of thanks for the inspiration we drew from his Tech Icon bundle - without which we'd have struggled to get a detailed 4 Era Tech Tree. We hope Blue that you'll be able to fill in a few of the missing icons for us :) We'd also welcome offers from folks willing to write pedia entries for the techs.I've just downloaded the images & will peruse them this evening. I'll see what I can come up with for the needed tech icons. I'll also happily try my hand at some pedia entries.

I had a thought the other day about a suitably Steam Punk Pedia - in the older versions of the Encyclopedia Britannica the entries were individually written by suitable authorities. Many of the articles bore the author's name or initials at the end. " – Prof. M* " for example. It might be fun to let those writing entries include a suitable nom de guerre at the end of their article. Mine would appear under the name of "Prof. Symian Azul" as in the Pandectual Garland thread. I think this, combined with your suggestion of adopting a style similar to period journalism, would make for an attractive & enjoyable read.

I think that's a splendid idea for the pedia entries. And thanks for taking time to look over the needed tech icons.

Just to update everyone I've now posted the buildings list on the first post too - be sure to get it.

Expect multiple posts from me if no one comes between my thoughts over the next while.

Here's a list of the techs I see that lack any image on your tree:

Bartitsu *
Turbines
Armaments Industry *
Air Tactics
Stratospheric Flight *
Landships *
Armoured Bulkheads
Wireless Telegraphy
Mesmerism
Asylum Districts
Mechatronics

Those with asterix I'm pretty sure I've got images for; most of the rest I can poke around & come up with something if no else does so first.

Quite an impressive leap forward on the mod! Evidently you and Balthasar have been busy little bees with the PMs. Here are some random notes arranged by era. No criticisms - just questions & suggestions:



Era One

But, Holmes...


Why did you choose not to use this icon (see first image at bottom of post) in connection with the Fakir unit? I’m sure we can think of a more suitable name for the tech if you wish. “Indian Rope Trick”, for example.

I’m also lost on the train of thought you followed to put Big Ben as World-wide Commerce.

The name “Applied Science” doesn’t work for me, and doesn’t seem to fit the Victorian division between the Upper Class Scientist, and the Middle to Working Class Engineer. I was also thinking of the 20th C. division between theoretical & experimental physics. So my suggestions are - “Experimental Engineering” or “Theoretical Mechanics” for that icon. Or else “Practical Invention” with the Invention icon. (see second image at bottom of post)

Another possibility for a special character unit: I was looking at the visual proximity of “Lost Worlds” & “Secret Bureau” on the diagram. The original of the “Lost Worlds” was from a drawing by Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles. Conflate him with the various fictitious “gentleman thief” Raffles & you’ve got a real Bond - “creeping about for Queen & Empire!” Actually I think the character is more of a perfect blend of Flashman & the Saint.

Who, or what, is Ebba?


Ripping Good!


Clever use there of the Vaudeville Icon with the “West End” tech. And I can think of no better place than that for Spring-Heeled Jack.

Plotinus, please put that winged commando model into your production queue!



Era Two

But, Holmes...


Under “Cliology” I’d change the name of the wonder to “Predictive Engine” since it is an advanced Analytical Engine.

you’ve got the Steam Tank unit twice - in Era 2 under the “Armoured Phaeton” tech, and in Era 3 under “Landships”. Perhaps “Kriegs-Moloch” & its Land Battleship should shift to Era 3 and take the place of “Landships”.

Actually, I’ve already been working on a Bartitsu icon.


Ripping Good!


Love that you repurposed “Sunday In The Park” to the “5 Day Work Week” tech.

I really didn’t think “Secularized Holidays” would find a practical use when I made it. That’s a very Dickensian spot for the “Christmas Carol” wonder.



Era Three

But, Holmes...


I notice you’ve got Freud as the icon for Psychiatry. Perhaps the Psychiatry icon I made could be used for the “Asylum District” tech? (see third image at bottom of post). Perhaps you want one more closely related to the hospital/infirmary idea? I’ll look for a good image. Maybe something to do with Pasteur or Lister?


Era Four

But, Holmes...


“Victoria’s Jubilee” - Wouldn’t “Golden Jubilee” or “Diamond Jubilee” make it more fitting for the other civs as well?

Seeing “Wild West Show” as a wonder reminded me to tell you that I still have many of the raw images used for techs. It would be straightforward to make a wonder splash from that beginning point.



Ripping Good!


It looks like you’ve got a time machine as the “spaceship race” victory condition! :banana:



http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/4641/3techsuggestionca8.png



All in all a “Wow! There goes my relaxing weekend!” postal challenge.

Had you considered repurposing "Aerodynamics" for "Stratospheric Flight"?

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/3104/aerodynamicszr5.png

As I develop some tech icons I'll post previews for approval. The ones that are accepted I'll add to what will get posted as a complete new set once I've made as many as you need.

First up, two versions of Bartitsu, both based on contemporary advertising by E. W. Barton-Wright.

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/5733/bartitsupreviewyw7.png

Next are two versions of Armaments Industry, one featuring ACW artillery ordinance, the other ACW grenades.

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/4234/armamentsindustrypreviegw4.png

Those two I had been working on for some time, and am fairly happy with. My last offering for now is "Mesmerism", based on an advertising image for "The Prestige".

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/7097/mesmerpreviewpo2.png

waddayathunk?

Quite an impressive leap forward on the mod! Evidently you and Balthasar have been busy little bees with the PMs.

You have no idea....

Here are some random notes arranged by era. No criticisms - just questions & suggestions:

With King Arthur's permission, I think I can answer some of these questions based on our conversations (sorry in advance if I get long winded):

* Why did you choose not to use this icon (see first image at bottom of post) in connection with the Fakir unit? I’m sure we can think of a more suitable name for the tech if you wish. “Indian Rope Trick”, for example.

I like the idea of having a tech named Prestigidation at this point. It derives from the West End in the sense that it was exotic entertainment - stage magic. That's what the icon portrays, beautifully. It also serves as a suitable precursor to Fortean Investigations and its successors. As for placing the Fakir unit there, I had heard once that the word Fake had derived from the habit of stage magicians to pose as "mystics from the east" - including Fakirs - to enhance their act. Although I can find no proof that this is true (or false), it seemed, nonetheless, too good a pun to abandon, and the unit is a good one here, too.

* I’m also lost on the train of thought you followed to put Big Ben as World-wide Commerce.

The truth is, it's because I couldn't think of any other symbol for it. I'm probably influenced by the large number of "international commerce" programs that I've seen that use Big Ben iconically for just this purpose.

* The name “Applied Science” doesn’t work for me, and doesn’t seem to fit the Victorian division between the Upper Class Scientist, and the Middle to Working Class Engineer. I was also thinking of the 20th C. division between theoretical & experimental physics. So my suggestions are - “Experimental Engineering” or “Theoretical Mechanics” for that icon. Or else “Practical Invention” with the Invention icon. (see second image at bottom of post)

"Practical Invention" would be a synonym, but, to be honest, I'm not sold on that icon.

I've always thought that the 19th century was marked by the breakdown of the informal system of science that prevailed in the 18th century, which was determined, as you say, by a class structure that separated scientists from engineers. That line blurred with the ascendancy of Applied Science, wherein the latest scientific discoveries were made almost immediately available to the masses in tangible form - Railroads, telegraphs, etc., rather than remain theoretical and inaccessible to all but the informed few. Tom Edison, for example, was no aristocrat.

* Another possibility for a special character unit: I was looking at the visual proximity of “Lost Worlds” & “Secret Bureau” on the diagram. The original of the “Lost Worlds” was from a drawing by Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles. Conflate him with the various fictitious “gentleman thief” Raffles & you’ve got a real Bond - “creeping about for Queen & Empire!” Actually I think the character is more of a perfect blend of Flashman & the Saint.

Believe me, I looked and looked for a way to get Raffles (and Racombole, and LeCoq, and John Devil, etc.) into this. In the end it was a balancing act between working with existing units, maintaining balance between the League of Gentlemen (the LOG) and the Evil Secret Society (the ESS), and avoiding units that looked alike, or duplicated each others' character.

* Who, or what, is Ebba?

The Ebba was the pirate ship/submarine used by Verne's character Ker Kerraje.
It is intended to be the ESS equivalent of the Nautilus.

Perhaps it would be a good idea at this point to provide some character sketches for some of the the less well known characters, in order of appearance (you may already know these):

The Ebba (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facing_the_Flag) - the ship/submarine of Ker Kerraje - A pirate similar to Nemo, but purely evil. {Verne} ESS
Carnacki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnacki) - Late era Supernatural Detective {William Hope Hodgson} LOG
Professor Schultze (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Begum's_Millions) - a proto-hitler in the 1800's! {Verne} ESS
Dr. Mabuse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Mabuse) - evil hypnotist shapeshifter {Fritz Lang} ESS
Mors' Airship (http://www.geocities.com/jessnevins/mors.html) - Airship of Captain Mors, a.k.a. "Der Luftpirat" a penny dreadful villain {several authors} ESS
Dr. Caligari (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cabinet_of_Dr._Caligari) - Evil hypnotist (somnambulist) with a zombie-like assistant. {from film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari} ESS
The Albatross (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robur_the_Conqueror) - Airship of Robur the Conquerer {Verne} LOG
Carmilla (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmilla) (Countess Mircalla Karstein) - lesbian Vampiress, predates Dracula, takes the form of a black cat rather than bat. {Le Fanu} ESS
Fulgerator - a victorian weapon of Mass Destruction. See Ebba.
Rotwang's Robot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotwang) - C.A. Rotwang was the evil scientist in Fritz Lang's Metropolis {Fritz Lang} ESS

You'll notice that the "special characters", as we called them, are generally paired: Quartermaine = Mummy, Nemo = Kerraje, Van Helsing = Dracula. It's not exact, but there are just as many SPs for the ESS as for the LOG overall.


* you’ve got the Steam Tank unit twice - in Era 2 under the “Armoured Phaeton” tech, and in Era 3 under “Landships”. Perhaps “Kriegs-Moloch” & its Land Battleship should shift to Era 3 and take the place of “Landships”.

I think they're two different Steam Tanks; the era 3 Tank is more advanced.

* Actually, I’ve already been working on a Bartitsu icon.

cool.


* I notice you’ve got Freud as the icon for Psychiatry. Perhaps the Psychiatry icon I made could be used for the “Asylum District” tech? (see third image at bottom of post). Perhaps you want one more closely related to the hospital/infirmary idea? Yes, see below. I’ll look for a good image. Maybe something to do with Pasteur or Lister?

Following the public scandal of the death of a pauper named Timothy Daly in Holborn Workhouse, social reformers, including Florence Nightengale, pressed for changes in the law that resulted in the Metropolitan Act of 1867 and the establishment of the Sick Asylum Districts, which finally separated the infirmaries, the asylums, the Orphanages, and the Poor houses and provided standards of nursing for the infirmaries that resulted in tremendous improvement in public health. Nightengale's promotion of sanitary practices were a major contributor to this success. Ironically, her resistance to the idea of airborne contagion probably delayed reforms that would have, and later did, save thousands more lives.

I was using these images for placeholders:

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/5759/hampsteadfirsthospitalyk5.jpg

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2040/florencenightingaleladyxb1.jpg

Hope that helps generate some ideas.

* “Victoria’s Jubilee” - Wouldn’t “Golden Jubilee” or “Diamond Jubilee” make it more fitting for the other civs as well?

It is actually Victoria's Golden Jubilee (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Jubilee#For_Queen_Victoria) that is referred to in this tech, so you've got a point.

* Seeing “Wild West Show” as a wonder reminded me to tell you that I still have many of the raw images used for techs. It would be straightforward to make a wonder splash from that beginning point.

Also Cool. If we're starting from scratch, can we make the Wonders in the wider format? Pretty Please?


* It looks like you’ve got a time machine as the “spaceship race” victory condition!

And you can thank all of your time-techs for the inspiration!

PS: just saw the new tech icons. I like!

My comments in red below.


Quite an impressive leap forward on the mod! Evidently you and Balthasar have been busy little bees with the PMs.

You have no idea....


KA: ~91 emails since mid July.


Here are some random notes arranged by era. No criticisms - just questions & suggestions:

With King Arthur's permission, I think I can answer some of these questions based on our conversations (sorry in advance if I get long winded):

* Why did you choose not to use this icon (see first image at bottom of post) in connection with the Fakir unit? I’m sure we can think of a more suitable name for the tech if you wish. “Indian Rope Trick”, for example.

I like the idea of having a tech named Prestigidation at this point. It derives from the West End in the sense that it was exotic entertainment - stage magic. That's what the icon portrays, beautifully. It also serves as a suitable precursor to Fortean Investigations and its successors. As for placing the Fakir unit there, I had heard once that the word Fake had derived from the habit of stage magicians to pose as "mystics from the east" - including Fakirs - to enhance their act. Although I can find no proof that this is true (or false), it seemed, nonetheless, too good a pun to abandon, and the unit is a good one here, too.


KA: The Fakir unit is definitely supposed to be a Fake Fakir as Balthasar describes above. Ideally, I'd have preferred a Stage Magician unit but the Fakir makes a decent and plausible compromise.



* The name “Applied Science” doesn’t work for me, and doesn’t seem to fit the Victorian division between the Upper Class Scientist, and the Middle to Working Class Engineer. I was also thinking of the 20th C. division between theoretical & experimental physics. So my suggestions are - “Experimental Engineering” or “Theoretical Mechanics” for that icon. Or else “Practical Invention” with the Invention icon. (see second image at bottom of post)

"Practical Invention" would be a synonym, but, to be honest, I'm not sold on that icon.


KA: I quite like the name Practical Invention too but not so much the icon.


* you’ve got the Steam Tank unit twice - in Era 2 under the “Armoured Phaeton” tech, and in Era 3 under “Landships”. Perhaps “Kriegs-Moloch” & its Land Battleship should shift to Era 3 and take the place of “Landships”.

I think they're two different Steam Tanks; the era 3 Tank is more advanced.


KA: Yes. The Era 2 Steam Tank uses aaglo's Empire Steam Tank, wherea the Era 3 Steam Tank uses Hikaro's much meaner looking tank. The name of on should be changed in order to differentiate them. Armoured Phaeton is a good enough name for the tech and unit in Era 2. Neither unit really fits with my idea of a land ship so again compromise was made. If someone would like to make a Landship like this: http://forums.civfanatics.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=74662&d=1101072496 = I'd be very happy :D



* “Victoria’s Jubilee” - Wouldn’t “Golden Jubilee” or “Diamond Jubilee” make it more fitting for the other civs as well?

It is actually Victoria's Golden Jubilee (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Jubilee#For_Queen_Victoria) which is referred to in this tech, so you've got a point.


KA: Yes good point. I suggest it should be changed to "Victoria's Golden Jubilee" for sake of clarity. This is an example of what can be termed an "Event Tech". In other words it's not really a technology in the conventional sense but an important event that has an inescapable effect on other civs. It's effects could be be many and varied to suit our needs. For example, we could have introduced an Assassin unit for the ESS or this could have appeared with Victoria's Coronation (which is another example of an event tech). Civs will of course "reach" the tech at different times but this can be rationalised as the time that they choose to celebrate the event.

That could work. I think we should use it.

Had you considered repurposing "Aerodynamics" for "Stratospheric Flight"?

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/3104/aerodynamicszr5.png

Thanks Blue. I like the second ones out of Bartitsu and Armaments. The Mesmerism one is great - I am feeling sleepy just looking at it ;)

Another missing icon for the list is Portable Beam Weaponry.

Cheers
KA
As I develop some tech icons I'll post previews for approval. The ones that are accepted I'll add to what will get posted as a complete new set once I've made as many as you need.

First up, two versions of Bartitsu, both based on contemporary advertising by E. W. Barton-Wright.

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/5733/bartitsupreviewyw7.png

Next are two versions of Armaments Industry, one featuring ACW artillery ordinance, the other ACW grenades.

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/4234/armamentsindustrypreviegw4.png

Those two I had been working on for some time, and am fairly happy with. My last offering for now is "Mesmerism", based on an advertising image for "The Prestige".

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/7097/mesmerpreviewpo2.png

waddayathunk?

Thank you both for the prompt & extensive replies, and the compliments on the icons -

* World-wide Commerce
I’ll add it to my “look abouts” list.

* provide some character sketches for some of the the less well known characters
I’m most curious about what you have in mind for Alice - pedia entry, animations, abilities.

* If we're starting from scratch, can we make the Wonders in the wider format? Pretty Please?
I assume you mean Pounder’s style (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=73021)? But a version in that wonderful Steampunk Interface? If so, did you want the images 568x320, leaving room for the annotations, or a full 570x390?

I originally picked images with the idea of getting something square from them, but there are many that I could probably cut into a good oblong composition. If you could, make a list of splashes you need me to redo, or do.

* I'd have preferred a Stage Magician unit
Sounds like ruby_sauce needs an invite to the tea party - may not have looked at the threads. And seems like that's the sort of "no box" mind that could create some of the other needed units.

* I quite like the name Practical Invention too but not so much the icon
Well, I can add that to the list of hopefuls, as well.

* Another missing icon for the list is Portable Beam Weaponry.
I had not included the sequence of Teleforce, Portable Beam Weaponry, Forcefields because you had images there, but they can certainly go on the list.

So this is my understanding of where the queue of needed tech icons is at:

Done
Bartitsu
Armaments Industry
Stratospheric Flight
Mesmerism

Needed (* I have possibles on the first three)
Landships *
Armoured Bulkheads *
Asylum Districts *
Turbines
Air Tactics
Wireless Telegraphy
Mechatronics
World-wide Commerce
Practical Invention
Portable Beam Weaponry
Forcefields
Teleforce

Wonders???

I hope everyone understands that this list is for anyone interested in contributing icons.

I've added a to do list for techs and wonders to posts #2 and #3 respectively. I will add a list for Improvements soon.

As BM says these are open to anyone who wants to contribute. Even if you can't make the images you may be able to scour the forums for completed work that may fit or find images that can be converted from the wider Internet!

You're in green this time.

Thank you both for the prompt & extensive replies, and the compliments on the icons -

You're welcome. I repeat, this wouldn't be half as interesting if you hadn't have provided those icons...

I’m most curious about what you have in mind for Alice - pedia entry, animations, abilities.

We're imagining a grown-up Alice - think of a princess with a blue and white dress, and long blonde hair - who, quite by accident, follows a white rabbit into a scientist's lab and discovers that her ability is teleportation.....

* If we're starting from scratch, can we make the Wonders in the wider format? Pretty Please?
I assume you mean Pounder’s style (http://%5Burl%5Dhttp://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=73021%5B/url%5D)? But a version in that wonderful Steampunk Interface? If so, did you want the images 568x320, leaving room for the annotations, or a full 570x390?

The Full Monte: 570 x 390, please. That would allow us to diddle with the details.

I originally picked images with the idea of getting something square from them, but there are many that I could probably cut into a good oblong composition. If you could, make a list of splashes you need me to redo, or do.

The Wonders are listed below, with descriptions.

* I'd have preferred a Stage Magician unit
Sounds like ruby_sauce needs an invite to the tea party - may not have looked at the threads. And seems like that's the sort of "no box" mind that could create some of the other needed units.

Exactly. All we have to do is steal him from the Star Trek Forum, where I last saw him making Klingons.

* Another missing icon for the list is Portable Beam Weaponry.
I had not included the sequence of Teleforce, Portable Beam Weaponry, Forcefields because you had images there, but they can certainly go on the list.

We had an icon for forcefields?

So this is my understanding of where the queue of needed tech icons is at:

Done
Bartitsu
Armaments Industry
Stratospheric Flight
Mesmerism

Needed (* I have possibles on the first three)
Landships *
Armoured Bulkheads *
Asylum Districts *
Turbines
Air Tactics
Wireless Telegraphy
Mechatronics
World-wide Commerce
Practical Invention
Portable Beam Weaponry
Forcefields
Teleforce

Wonders (SW = small wonder)

Royal Albert Docks - provides a Warehouse in every city. Every good yarn needs a docks.

The Penny Dreadful (SW) - um, maybe you might want to add Adventurism to the tech list and use your Penny Dreadful image for this.

The Royal Exchange - our colossus. Was the center of world commercial trade for a century.

The Universal Library - um, ok, add Applied Research to tech needs too, if you use your original icon for the wonder splash.

Around the World in 80 days - whatever you want it to be. Provides a private club (temple) to every city.

Home Office (SW) - a forbidden palace. We're from the government, and we're here to help.

Scotland Yard - where gentlemen learn the Art of Crime Fighting.

Illuminati - you can have fun with this one.

Iron Works (SW) - self-explanatory.

The Gold Bug (SW) - From Poe's story of cryptography - acts as an intelligence agency

Ada Byron Institute - Ada gets a science wonder.

Das Kapital - Which Karl Marx wrote in London. What, he didn't like rich Englishmen?

Baker Street Irregulars (SW) - the street kids who had Holmes' back. We use it as a military academy.

Lloyds of London - "Smith's trading post" for gentlemen. Ah, the good old days when insurance reduced costs.

Krupp's Armaments Factory - the Victorian military industrial complex - produces artillery every few turns.

The Salvation Army - the army's down the road; salvation ala mode with a cup of tea... Hanging out with Major Barbara grants suffrage effects.

Predictive Engine - your own idea. "Theory of Evolution" effects - we could have used Darwin, but that would've been too normal.

The Crystal Palace - People still talk about Prince Albert's architectural ode to technology. There are some great images available of this.

A Christmas Carol - I'll be interested to see what you come up with.

Edison's Lab - an Applied Science wonder.

Red Cross (SW) - the one good thing to come out of the Crimean War: Florence Nightengale invents battlefield medicine.

Wardenclyffe Tower - Google this. Tesla's tower is too cool for New Jersey.
Grants Hoover dam effects.

Bedlam - the asylum so bad it became a synonym for bad. Its existence makes everyone happy, though.

Bensington & Redwoods Elixer - or Honey, I enlarged the Rat - you thought giant vermin were invented in the 1950's? H.G. Wells did it first (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Food_of_the_Gods_and_How_It_Came_to_Earth). This batch, though, mirrors the Longevity Wonder.

Sandorf's Armory - Verne's Mathias Sandorf (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathias_Sandorf) was rich and lived on an island fortress full of advanced weaponry. Much more useful than Leonardo's Workshop.

Public Call Stations - England's little red telephone boxes were actually the original internet. Oh-oh. It's Kiefer Sutherland for you....

Invisibility Formula - the only way to ditch the missus on weekends.

The Weldon Institute (SW) - another idea from Verne's Robur the Conqueror (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robur_the_Conqueror)
in our world it doubles as the pentagon.

Mars & Moon Foreign Offices (SW) - wireless transmitters allow trade across space. Only available with martian or lunar resource, it acts as a forbidden palace on distant planet.

The Violet Ray - was too good an idea to just be a tech. Happy wonder.

Stock Exchange (SW) - victorian Wall Street.

Dr. Frankenstein's Monster - Mary Shelly liked 'em tall, dark and stiff.

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show - came to London for the Golden Jubilee, starring Buffalo Bill, Sitting Bull & little Annie Oakley. She never missed. Never. Happy Wonder.

Orbital Telescope - the victorians would've loved to look down on everyone. I mean, literally. Reveals the whole world.

The Time Machine Project (SW) - if you can't read instructions, this isn't for you. Our equivalent of the Space Race. We haven't decided which piece is which, yet.

Magikal Cabal (SW) - an Occult Science Wonder.

The Roch Fulgerator - A Manhattan Project for the 19th century - allows Verne's Weapon of Mass Destruction (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facing_the_Flag).

Dimensional Portal - this nasty little project builds trans-dimensional Demons.

Torchwood (SW) - to protect mankind, courtesy of a certain Timelord.


So, there you go. Off with you now, get cracking.


I hope everyone understands that this list is for anyone interested in contributing icons.

I second that. Keep it Victorian, please. Violators will face the Fulgerator.

Around the World in 80 days - whatever you want it to be. Provides a private club (temple) to every city.


I'd suggest something related to movement cost, ie, halving all movement costs for all land/sea/air units. Or, maybe, using it as a sort of airfield/harbour, for instantaneous transfer of 1 unit per turn to one of your cities anywhere.

I think it's actual effect is to Double the Happiness of all Private Clubs - e.g. giving the members of the Reform Club something to celebrate.

Quick question on the "Turbines" tech - would an image of a cavitating propeller, such as was used on the Turbinia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbinia), be appropriate? I think I have found a period engraving that will give me a suitable close-up.

We had an icon for forcefields?
Coppola's version is my favorite filmed "Dracula". I really like effect of the blue flame barrier guarding his castle. I thought that might make an interesting image for the Forcefield tech. These are just 2 quick & dirty tests, but would something along these lines be suitable?

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/3120/forcefieldtestlz2.png

In the film the scene is very dark, but it would probabably be possible to superimpose a vivid blue barrier over a lightened & therefore more visible background.

Quick question on the "Turbines" tech - would an image of a cavitating propeller, such as was used on the Turbinia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbinia), be appropriate? I think I have found a period engraving that will give me a suitable close-up.

You can't go wrong with an engraving.

Coppola's version is my favorite filmed "Dracula". I really like effect of the blue flame barrier guarding his castle. I thought that might make an interesting image for the Forcefield tech. These are just 2 quick & dirty tests, but would something along these lines be suitable? In the film the scene is very dark, but it would probabably be possible to superimpose a vivid blue barrier over a lightened & therefore more visible background.

I rather like that idea.

reminds me of an aurora borealis

reminds me of an aurora borealisEnergetic ionized particles guided along magnetic lines of force? Colliding with atmospheric nitrogen to create a blue glow?

Most human tools are an artifice for the intensification of a natural phenomenon in order to achieve a desired effect.

The cavitating propeller will fit the tech very well.

The idea for the forcefield is also excellent.

Here's a first pass at the Orbital Telescope wonder. The image I was working from is vertically oriented, so to get the desired dimensions I had to rotate it. IMHO it works well, though - emphasizing that it is in orbit, not just in flight. The icon itself has the 256 palette with reserved colors. But what do the rest of you think?

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/1885/orbitaltelescopepreviewyc3.png

Here's a first pass at the Orbital Telescope wonder. The image I was working from is vertically oriented, so to get the desired dimensions I had to rotate it. IMHO it works well, though - emphasizing that it is in orbit, not just in flight. The icon itself has the 256 palette with reserved colors. But what do the rest of you think?

Looks very VERY good! Congrats!! :goodjob:

But what do the rest of you think?

Holy s**t! I love this! Without the white border, I hope. You're right, it actually looks more like it's orbiting when it's on its side.

Holy s**t! I love this! Without the white border, I hope. You're right, it actually looks more like it's orbiting when it's on its side.The border is just for displaying the preview. I find it easier to see what the icons look like if they are on a background rather than just displayed on the pale grey forum post background. The actual image is the 570 X 390 dimensions.

why think when i can just enjoy? excellent!

I'm unhappy with the results of trying to superimpose the forcefield over the carriage because of the quality of the original images. I can either give you just the blue field as previously posted (on the right below) or a somewhat similar image from a 1915 magazine cover ( on the left)

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/772/forcefieldtest2cm2.png


Secondly, how's this for portable beam weaponry? I think I can go back to the original, which is quite large, and end up with a little more definition if you like the basic idea.

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/5527/portablebeamds1.png

I think I like the second forcefield. I also like the particle beam weapon.

I think I like the second forcefield. I also like the particle beam weapon.Okay, those are in the Q.

At the moment I'm working on -

the new forcefield tech - indexed palette plus small icon
portable beam weaponry tech - redo for greater detail, then index small & large
wild west show - wide version splashMore to follow...

Here's a preview of the current version of Forcefield (indexed palettes):

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/9871/forcefieldpreviewpg3.png

I've got what I think is a decent version of the Portable Beam Weapon large icon. But I'm having trouble getting a good looking small out of it. Here's the RGB version of it. If anyone wants to take a crack at a small icon, feel free.

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/4314/portbeam1dk7.png

I like it a lot BM. The legs look very much like an office swivel chair - in fact I wish I had one of those PBWs for the office.

I like it a lot BM. The legs look very much like an office swivel chair - in fact I wish I had one of those PBWs for the office.I think the original artist did use the legs of an office chair, as well as pieces of an electrolux vacuum cleaner, amongst other things.

1. Well, here's a more SteamPunk than Googie version of the Portable Beam Generator. I'm more confident I can get a good small icon from it as well. What do you think?

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/7404/portbeam2aea4.png



2. Here's a placeholder for the Ada Lovelace Institute Wonder

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6756/adainstitutevh9.png

188413



3. I've finally got my raw images for the current work organized (mostly). Expect more results in the nearly near future.

If this looks good for the Martian Foreign Office then I'll do the palette indexing & upload the result.

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/8706/martianforeignofficexm6.png

Edit: I'll catch the color correction on the right edge as well.

Spooky and alien :)

Apparently "green" energy production is a Victorian invention. Does the mod need a pollution reducing improvement? (http://technovelgy.com/ct/content.asp?Bnum=283)

I now have this image to work with:

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9220/102242pyramids2bigoz4.th.jpg (http://img205.imageshack.us/my.php?image=102242pyramids2bigoz4.jpg)

The original of what I posted above as the Mars Foreign Office is not red.

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/9213/look4aj1.th.png (http://img260.imageshack.us/my.php?image=look4aj1.png)

If I adjust the tint on the pyramid image, the flat sands will work well for Mars & the sky will will be pink/reddish, leaving the one with craggy mountain scape for the Lunar wonder. I can also rework that one so that there is a starry sky rather than ominous clouds.

Thoughts?

If I adjust the tint on the pyramid image, the flat sands will work well for Mars & the sky will will be pink/reddish, leaving the one with craggy mountain scape for the Lunar wonder. I can also rework that one so that there is a starry sky rather than ominous clouds.

Thoughts?

Won't the "ominous clouds" even look better?

Won't the "ominous clouds" even look better?Depends on whether or not there is a lunar atmosphere in the mod's setting.

Depends on whether or not there is a lunar atmosphere in the mod's setting.

Oops! Got fixated on the "Mars Foreign Office" :blush:

Here's another possibility for the MFO - a design image from Aelita (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aelita):

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/4108/aelitaofficexd1.png

My thoughts about the FO buildings is that they should look quaint and out of place. Something that the British would build at home transplanted to Mars or the Moon. Essentially just a fancy building with a bacground of red mars dust or white moon rock and rubble. I think that would be more fun.

My thoughts about the FO buildings is that they should look quaint and out of place. Something that the British would build at home transplanted to Mars or the Moon. Essentially just a fancy building with a bacground of red mars dust or white moon rock and rubble. I think that would be more fun.Actually, I had started thinking along the same lines. I'd like to try these figures with a background like you suggest:
thumbnail
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/8558/31021747mu4.th.png (http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=31021747mu4.png)

I can CnP solely the figures onto an appropriate background, and similarly add a suitable colonial building (I'm thinking Anglo-Indian*), then reduce the whole to a monochromatic image - like the reddish one I posted above for Mars and a pale Lunar one. I'm thinking identical figures & identical building, different landscape. A little Terry Gilliam, a little Max Ernst.


*
Khalsa College (http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/images/portraits/khalsa_c.jpg)
Victoria Terminus (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Victoria_station_Mumbai.jpg)
Victoria Memorial (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Victoria_memorial_kolkata.jpg)
Mysore Palace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mysore_Palace_.jpg)
Valluvar Kottam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Valluvar_Kottam_terrace.jpg)

IMHO Victoria Memorial is aesthetically the best choice, but ultimately it depends on which one works better on the technical side.


EDIT:

This is an extremely quick, raw, and dirty mockup to show what I mean -

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/6981/marsmockupwu1.png

I could do something similar, but with NASA Mars imagery for the landscape. & obviously better color matching & edge smoothing.

I noticed the cloudbuster tech and improvement. Wilhelm Riech did experiments with these.(now called a DOR buster)

I noticed the cloudbuster tech and improvement. Wilhelm Riech did experiments with these.(now called a DOR buster)

Wow, and here I thought we invented it because it was a cool graphic.

I noticed the cloudbuster tech and improvement. Wilhelm Riech did experiments with these.(now called a DOR buster)

Wow, and here I thought we invented it because it was a cool graphic.Kate Bush "Cloudbusting" 1985. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloudbusting) I've been a major fan since I saw her on Saturday Night Live in 1979.

This is an extremely quick, raw, and dirty mockup to show what I mean -

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/6981/marsmockupwu1.png

I could do something similar, but with NASA Mars imagery for the landscape. & obviously better color matching & edge smoothing.

Looks good Blue.

Looks good Blue.Consider it in the queue.

Kate Bush "Cloudbusting" 1985. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloudbusting) I've been a major fan since I saw her on Saturday Night Live in 1979.

I wish I had seen that picture before I did the icons....


I could do something similar, but with NASA Mars imagery for the landscape. & obviously better color matching & edge smoothing.

I like it. You're definitely on the right track.

I can't get my head around what is in mind for Teleforce & Mechatronics - so I don't know what direction to go in thinking about icons.

These links might help
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromechanics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleforce

In game terms:

Mechantronics allows the construction of Electromechanical Computers (with similar effects to a Research Lab in the vanilla game). Here's a pic of a typical example, the Harvard Mark I: http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/93/23593-004-D5156F2C.jpg.


Teleforce allows you to build Plasma Cannon (Tesla Death Ray) units. Here's a cool pic but it doesn't fit the unit very well: http://www.crystalinks.com/tesladeathraytower.jpg. The unit we have just now is NavyDawg's Plasma Cannon (I'll need to dig out the link).

Mechantronics allows the construction of Electromechanical Computers (with similar effects to a Research Lab in the vanilla game).

Now that I think about it, perhaps Mechatronics isn't the right name for this tech. Perhaps Electro-Mechanics or Electro-magnetics might be more descriptive.....

Mechatronics sounds like the science of building Mechas - huge two legged robots with an operator inside.

Thanks to you both. That's clear enough that the visual bloodhounds of my mind have got the scent.

I think Mechatronics is simply shorthand for Mechanical Electronics but I take your point. Electro-mechanics is less likely to confuse.

:crazyeye:I'm not sure if this is the right thread,but all of them are fun so...Re: Time Machine: Having it as a victory condition? let us say that this (T.M. as S.S.V.C.) is a good idea as whomever finds "it" first would be able to "win". In another scenario a "time Machine" wonder is able to bring back a T-800 terminator every 20 turns. Later in the same scenario you can build T-1000's. While I see the VC as logical I also miss the idea of time paradox. With the idea of earlier prototypes having limits (as the above T.M. does) couldn't you include one (prototype) as a wonder and expand the V.C. to a Tardis like Dr. Who? And of course my "fun stuff" here is asking stupid questions and expecting not stupid answers.;)

I'm wondering about gaseous resources like helium. Where could one find images? Oh yes, last impurity is usually neon.

Moosezilla: Adding the time machine as a VC was the only way to get that important H.G. Wells invention into the game. The only real downside is that now I have to break the time machine down into ten different and distinct parts that all fit back together when built. Not as easy as it sounds, it turns out.

As to your helium question: I'm not sure why you ask, but it did inspire me to post all of the Lost Worlds resources (finally) in the WIPs and static graphics thread here. Go look; helium is one of the strategic resources. Let me know if that answers your question.

Go look; helium is one of the strategic resources. Let me know if that answers your question.I thought Helium was the city-state where Dejah Thoris was an imperial princess.

I went ahead and made the tech icon for air tactics. Hope you guys like it.
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=8810271&postcount=12

All the threads in the steampunk subforum are temporarily closed while we reorganize. Expect a reopening of a new, organized improved version soon.