What be this 'Baroque-Punk'?

So this was a blog I made way back when, and while I had a few things to say, I never really felt that confident in it. Then this...idea weaseled into my brain. I had to get some things out. I had to tell people about...Baroque-Punk.

It was everything I wanted in a game. It had magic and high tech and terrible threats and a corrupt government and bad-ass humans and bad-ass better-than-humans. It was a world in a single location so I didn't get stuck in a sprawling morass of history. It was after an apocalypse but before another, worse apocalypse. It had style and a sense of swashbuckling and humor, all while dealing with horrific nightmares that had to be stopped. It was a world by and for big-ass heroes who could do stuff because it was A.) awesome!! and B.) Made sense for the game world. Also Awesome.

So first, the main thematic ingredients:

Baroque: Specifically, the elements of style and politics from the 17th and 18th century. The revolution of science and philosophy, politics and social orders were all shook during this period. I feel it's a perfect age for 21st century gamers in terms of a 'fantasy' world--it's still got swords and kings, but it also has mad scientists and revolutions just on the horizon. 

Magi-tek: I love magic in my games. I love cool technology, but getting the two together has always been hard for reasons I may one day get into more depth on. Nine times out of ten it seems like magitek quickly becomes "a Ford Taurus, but powered by MAGIC!!", where the wonder and terror of sorcery gets blunted by mass industrialization. I hope to make something a bit more lively, but for now let's just say this--this world will have powers based on metaphysics, but be used in a rational and physical way. It's science based on elements and deamons and angelic script, all being used in rational and industrial ways. 

My quick example--the standard side-arm won't just kill you, but turn you into salt.*

Heroes and Monsters, and the blending thereof: I want a world in danger so you can save it. I want monsters that you hate, heroes that become terrible doing the right thing, and villains you can empathize with their beliefs (which makes you want to stop them even more). I wanted a way for both brilliant "regular" humans and supernatural demigods to fight side by side.

So we take all of those things and blend, sticking in a super-fantastic arcology, and sprinkle in my favorite things. 

So here's The Plan: I hope to post here at least once a week with some information, some tidbits, some background or game philosophy. The main goal here is to take one thing off my bucket list--make a really great RPG. The main focus right now is to just make a world, and if you want to play in it, great. I'd like to build a system to work with the world, but right now I'm trying to keep myself focused on the setting first.

What I need from you? Let me know what you like. Let me know what could be more awesome. Let me know you're reading this. 

There's this world I'm building, and I want you to come play in it...

*Those of you that just said "COOOL!"....you're who I'm making this game for.