A sub-forum for any and all participants who might also be interested in the dieselpunk sub-genre.

First image I get is post-apocalyptic.

Definition provided by the Dieselpunk Wikipedia entry (currently in development by user Larry442010, from dieselpunks.org):

Seems we have a new Dieselpunk expert comin' on into this forum, stay tuned for the nifities!

Salutations.

Suppose that would be me. Worked in 90s as a freelance writer for Dream Pod 9. Among their games is the Diesel Punk game "Gear Kreig". Set in WW2 with robots, rocket troops, heli-infantry (as in personal helicopter conveyance not an enclosed helicopter). I wrote the USA section of the Allies source book.

Though set in WW2 Gear Krieg could do other diesel punk settings.

Now I have a category to put Warhammer 40K in. Thanks.

   Would some of the fantasy battle scenes from Sucker punch qualify as Diesel-punk?

I don't think Warhammer 40K could be considered dieselpunk.  If you read the community-accepted definition, the interbellum aesthetic (circa 1920 to 1945) is a major component.  Without that, I'm afraid it's still just sci-fi.

As far as Sucker Punch is considered, I haven't seen it so I can't comment.  Although I've read reviews where some elements were classified as steampunk.

Uh yeah... Warhammer 40,000 (AD?) is way into sci fi. Speeders, laser guns, plasma cannon, hover speeders etc.

However, if you look at some of Imperial Guard vehicles they are based on World War One tanks. The first tanks had those large crews, sponsoon turrets etc.

Certainly W40K can borrow from Diesel/Steampunk but I think it is mostly a one way thing.

I would call parts of Warhammer akin to post some sort of post apoc, and star wars-like lowtech future.

Some of the crazy stuff orcs do also strikes of Dieselpunk. Still more a matter of porting DP to W40K then from.

Yeah take some of the concept art for the Imperial Guard regiments like the Krieg Death Korps, very dieselpunk to me. Alot of the IG tanks are very dieselpunk as well.

Suckerpunch, the zombies were steam and clockwork powered. I always fit WW1 in the steampunk setting sorta at the point of transition.

Suckerpunch, I've yet to see that >.<  Grr, someone bootleg it already! :P

Just a reminder RPOL doesn't want advertising for copyright breaches. There are copies of current in the theatre movies out there so there certainly would be some for an older movie.

Suckerpunch, I watched some of it but the constant drop back to the woman abuse asylum was revolting to me. Turned the movie off part way through.

Pretty sure the tone of my wording wasn't to be taken seriously :P

Suckerpunch had a variety of aesthetics that blend between Steampunk and Deiselpunk from what I can tell. I think they blurred the line significantly enough that you can pull either genre out of it if you try. As for it's content as a whole...it is one big, totally messed up metaphor. A group in the theatre said after the movie that they didn't get it. It is a neat action flick I suppose (with sexy girls to sell the action), but if that's all you get from it, it's not a movie for you. It's very sophisticated in it's meaning and content, but also very dark. And again, metaphoric.

So, figured I'd comment.

A lot of people seam to get clockpuck and dieselpunk mixed up with steam punk, not that they arnt all awsome, but might wana learn the difference some people can get awfull pissed about such things.

I've always enjoyed the Diesel punk aesthetic, but wonder if people confuse retro-futuric with diesel punk, I guess that would be dependent in when the story was produced.

I have to admit, my personal opinion on the matter is that differentiating the genres is fun, but mixing them up and using them as a method to tell a rich story, are far more important. For me, storytelling is always more important than mechanic or style. That is not to say that appreciating a style has any less value - on the contrary. Diversity of priority is what brings about progress and improvement, while agreement on priority can accelerate progress in a valuable direction. Diversity even in diversification.

"Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist."
Pablo Picasso


I believe learning about genres, how they work and why is essential before you can mix and match. Else wise you end up with people gluing gears on a top hat and declaring it steampunk... or more appropriately, dumping a diesel engine on a surfboard and naming it diesel punk.

It gets even worse when they mix and match. A guy with a gear on his top hat riding a diesel powered surfboard. So edgy.

Check out the music industry use of terms

Terms start out broad like 'rock and roll' and then migrated to having 'heavy metal' then 'death metal' vs 'thrash metal' vs 'hip hop' and so forth.

The Steampunk writers like to differentiate their work so the new terms are often a sub genre trying to stand out. There can be a lot of overlap.

As some suggest the overlap is good.

The Fallout computer game series for instance takes place in a post nuclear future but alot of the styling is retro going with the premise that people hid into the vaults in the 1950s and now emerge in the 2100s (or when ever it is set)

Gotta love atomic cars with tail fins!
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:50, Tue 15 Sept 2015.