NOCC: Steampunk 101
Company: Wizard World Product: New Orleans Comic Con 2012 Coverage
Steampunk 101 starts with learning what "steampunk" really means. According to the group that is putting on this panel, The Steam Engine Intrepid, Steampunk refers to neo-Victorian science fiction like the stories of H.G. Wells' Jules Verne. Basically, you go back to just before the Industrial Revolution where everything was still steam-powered and continue from there without the invention of electricity. The world and all the gadgets are steam-powered and run on cogs, gears, and steam. But that doesn't mean that you won't see futuristic elements as well. Since those writers had stories about time travel, you'll see futuristic elements scattered in here and there that were "brought back from the future." They are still incorporated into the designs to look old-fashioned, though. Victorian simply means around 1836 to the early 1900s, so you can even do Western steampunk if you want. It doesn't have to be old English looking. There is even a diesel punk version.
The basic guns that you start off with are the Nerf mavericks. You then modify them with Krylon Fusion paint to look however you want. Make sure to get the Fusion as it bonds to the plastic without a primer. This is a very important thing to note. Then to finish it off, they recommend Rub-N-Buff, which comes in many colors and is used to give things a more antique look and feel. The whole steampunk genre usually uses a brass or antique gold finish. It's all done in a tone that makes you think of something that is aged and well worn. You can also take the Nerf guns (or other things) apart and put them back together in a more steampunked way, but they cautioned that if you are going to take something apart, make sure that you pay very close attention to how it went together so that you can actually put it back together right. Otherwise, you're left with non-functioning weapons and since Nerf guns are really quite cool weapons, you want them to function as well as look good. You also need to remember that if you are going to take these guns in public, they should have orange tips on them. Of course, you really shouldn't walk around in public with them. At a Con is one thing, but in public is a bad thing. You should also stop by Con security and have your weapons tagged as acceptable.
When you're talking about costuming, I learned that it really is not as complicated as it looks. What we see is just the finished product. Most of the clothing started as pieces from Goodwill or the Salvation Army as you can find cheap clothing there that works for the base pieces. You can also get fabrics and leather from your local fabric store. Ask the people there for help because a lot of times, they will be able to give you good advice on what kind of materials you are going to want to work with. You need to keep in mind that you are planning on wearing these clothes for long periods of time, so make sure that you design your costume so that it is not only comfortable, but so that you are able to move around in it easily. You also need to remember that you might need to wash these clothes, so make sure it is washable fabric. The number one thing they said to remember is to bathe! You also might want to take into consideration how much time it takes for restroom breaks and if you will need help getting in and out of your clothing, so you might need a bathroom buddy. A good rule of thumb is to just wear your costume and full armor around the house for a while and make sure that it is comfortable. They did say that you are probably going to want to buy shoes and not make them. You can get shoes that fit the era quite well and given how long you are going to be on your feet, you don't want to be miserable at the end of the day. The leather armor and stuff that is on top is really not as complex as you might think. Basically, anything can be used for steampunk materials. I know I recognized the copper plate and fan from a video card on one of the arm cuffs. They said that they'll just take broken things, watches, egg timers, you name it, and take them apart for the pieces. Make sure though that if you are just taking things apart in the house to make sure that no one else there actually still needs that. There was one gadget that had part of the kitchen sink and one costume that had her mom's tablecloth (which did not make her mom happy!). Kid's toys are very good for gleaning pieces and parts, but they also cautioned to look out for "Steampunk Landmines." A steampunk landmine is usually a gadget with large springs that are tightly coiled. When you go to take these things apart, you need to be very careful because once the tension is off of those springs, they have a tendency to pop off and can seriously injure you as the ends are quite sharp. You need to know your tools and the materials that you're working with. Just be careful when you go to take things apart and use caution and common sense.
I also learned that anything can be steampunked. They said that if it sits around long enough, it will be steampunked. Some of their friends even steampunked their dog. I bet that dog was quite a happy camper! They were also asked about using tesla coils. The answer is that "Just because you can doesn't mean that you should." Tesla coils can be quite dangerous and just because you can use them to generate electricity doesn't mean that it is recommended. You are not allowed to bring a tesla coil to a Con. If you ever want to know how to make something or just want some help on it, just ask someone in the community. They are a very open, nice, and helpful group that will give you any guidance you might want! There are different concepts on what kind of character you want to create, but that's all Steampunk 102. You can play as good guys or bad guys or pretty much everything in between. The only limit is your own imagination!
-Cyn, GameVortex Communications AKA Sara Earl
Related Links: The Steam Engine Intrepid Facebook Group
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