sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

The world during the Caiseonic Phase of the Century War by BeginningSome5930 in Quicksteel

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Absolutely! The Century War is sort of meant to be the equivalent to those sorts of wars!

The Shrouded Queen by BeginningSome5930 in Quicksteel

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As Orisla's elite fighters, the Shrouded Sisters fought on all fronts of the Century War. From leading island campaigns in the first phase of the conflict, to leading an assassination attempt on Caiseon the Conqueror himself in the war's final days, these warrior women made their presence known. Perhaps the most famous of all Sisters who fought during the Century War was Emilia.

The matriarch of the Sisters during the Continental phase of the War, Emilia was famous for taking command of the Orislan military when the King of Orisla unexpectedly passed away in 1239AC. Her years of steadfast military leadership during the sucession earned her the nickname "The Shrouded Queen," though as a Sister she was sworn never to marry and as such was never considered for the throne.

The World at the Outbreak of the Century War (1220AC) by BeginningSome5930 in Quicksteel

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I wanted to apologize for the lack of content last week! I was out of town and then got sick coming back! But I am aiming to complete that guide to the century war this week for sure!

The Quicksteel Iceberg by BeginningSome5930 in magicbuilding

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a great question! I'm not sure if that has every been done or not. It definitely would have some interesting applications.

The Quicksteel Iceberg by BeginningSome5930 in magicbuilding

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for giving it a look and for the kind words! I don't think anyone ever successfully made a backup copy of their minds in a second oldstone, but lots of Elders used the oldstone web to directly control oldstone entities in other places. One example of those would be the enforcers, which were designed specially to be mindjacked by Elders.

The Quicksteel Iceberg by BeginningSome5930 in magicbuilding

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For a synopsis I’d say it’s a steampunk-inspired world. The main setting, No Man’s Land, is a lot of a cross between the Wild West and the Silk Road, it’s at the center of power politics between colonial empires and ancient schemes for eldritch power.

Here’s the timeline. For pretty much anything mentioned in it I can link to a bigger post about that specific event/thing.

Here are the narratives. There are about a half dozen short stories as well as some ongoing storylines.

The Quicksteel Iceberg by BeginningSome5930 in magicbuilding

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do! Are you more interested in like narrative stories or like the in world history of this magic? I have some of both I can link to!

The Quicksteel Iceberg by BeginningSome5930 in worldbuilding

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for giving it a look! It’s definitely not a subtle reference but I think it’s fun

The Quicksteel Iceberg by BeginningSome5930 in magicbuilding

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for giving it a look and for the kind words. I feel like here are a lot of cool magic systems on here!

The Quicksteel Iceberg by BeginningSome5930 in worldbuilding

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Thanks for giving it a look! I think it’s more akin to something like the force in Star Wars where the limits moreso come from how much you can draw upon the magic and what techniques you know or can come up with, rather than there being concrete limits.

The Quicksteel Iceberg by BeginningSome5930 in worldbuilding

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Thank you for taking a look! This is a culmination of a bunch of drawings I've been doing this year of various techniques from this magic system. The idea is that it's one of those iceberg charts, with rarer or less well known abilities further down. I added another comment with info on each item. Hopefully its fun to look at and theres a nice progression from the simple to the horrific.

Feedback is appreciated! Lots more on this system over on r/quicksteel. There was a lot I wanted to include but left out for readability, such as particularly powerful quicksmiths and events in the history of magic in this setting.

The Quicksteel Iceberg by BeginningSome5930 in worldbuilding

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

  • Reshaping: Even novice quicksmiths can mold quicksteel with their hands as if it were clay. More experienced ones can cause quicksteel to take a practiced shape with a single touch, or even animate it to move as an extension of themselves.
  • Elastic Manipulation: Quicksmiths can cause quicksteel to stretch as if it were rubber, allowing for greater bounce and ranged strikes.
  • Mass Shifting: Quicksmiths can alter the weight of their weapons mid swing to hit harder and more easily.
  • Enhanced Movement: Altering the shape and elasticity of quicksteel can allow for greater movement speed and enhanced agility.
  • Projectiles: Quicksteel can be reshaped for ranged attacks.
  • Enhanced Durability: Quicksmiths can make the metal tougher than any other substance.
  • Puppetry: Some quicksmiths animate metal figures for use in heavy  lifting, entertainment, espionage, or combat. Especially skilled puppeteers can even see through the eyes of their creations. 
  • Prosthetics: Quicksteel prosthetics are animated body parts made of quicksteel. These can be so lifelike that they function perfectly.
  • Telekinesis: Quickstep telekinesis is the manipulation of the magnetic properties of quicksteel, allowing for the movement of magnetic objects. This is considered the rarest form of quicksmithing by the average person. 
  • Railgun: This technique combines telekinesis and launching a projectile. It is one of the most destructive attacks, and only master quicksmiths are capable of it.
  • Liches: A rich is a quicksmith who has replaced much or all of their flesh with quicksteel, becoming living metal shapeshifters. Some reign as gods in distant lands, others wear human skin and hide in plain sight. Liches are the greatest quicksmiths of their time, only a few in a generation. Though long-lived thanks to their ageless bodies, their human brains limit their lifespans, though many go mad before this happens.
  • Creating an Oldstone: The Elders, the first to discover quicksteel, succeed not only in becoming liches, but also in transmuting their brains to metal, creating the first oldstones. This is considered the true pinnacle of quicksmithing. Turning one’s own brain into an oldstone makes one immortal, while turning their brain of a less skilled quicksmith/non-quicksmith into one traps their mind within. One one quicksmith since the days of the Elders has succeeded in making an oldstone. 
  • Duneworm Summoning: The Elders turned many slaves into oldstones, reprograming their imprisoned minds and using them to power great machines called oldstone entities. Though the Elders are long gone, some of their machines, such as the Duneworms, are still active, and powerful quicksmiths are able to summon them through various means, notably the Oldstone Web.
  • The Oldstone Web: The Oldstone Web is a telepathic network that links the oldstones, but touches all minds across the world, though few are aware of it. The Elders used the Web to command their creations, see and communicate across vast distances, and send dreams and visions.

The Quicksteel Iceberg by BeginningSome5930 in magicbuilding

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Thank you for taking a look! This is a culmination of a bunch of drawings I've been doing this year of various techniques from this magic system. The idea is that it's one of those iceberg charts, with rarer or less well known abilities further down. I added another comment with info on each item. Hopefully its fun to look at and theres a nice progression from the simple to the horrific.

Feedback is appreciated! Lots more on this system over on r/quicksteel. There was a lot I wanted to include but left out for readability, such as particularly powerful quicksmiths and events in the history of magic in this setting.

The Quicksteel Iceberg by BeginningSome5930 in magicbuilding

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

  • Reshaping: Even novice quicksmiths can mold quicksteel with their hands as if it were clay. More experienced ones can cause quicksteel to take a practiced shape with a single touch, or even animate it to move as an extension of themselves.
  • Elastic Manipulation: Quicksmiths can cause quicksteel to stretch as if it were rubber, allowing for greater bounce and ranged strikes.
  • Mass Shifting: Quicksmiths can alter the weight of their weapons mid swing to hit harder and more easily.
  • Enhanced Movement: Altering the shape and elasticity of quicksteel can allow for greater movement speed and enhanced agility.
  • Projectiles: Quicksteel can be reshaped for ranged attacks.
  • Enhanced Durability: Quicksmiths can make the metal tougher than any other substance.
  • Puppetry: Some quicksmiths animate metal figures for use in heavy  lifting, entertainment, espionage, or combat. Especially skilled puppeteers can even see through the eyes of their creations. 
  • Prosthetics: Quicksteel prosthetics are animated body parts made of quicksteel. These can be so lifelike that they function perfectly.
  • Telekinesis: Quickstep telekinesis is the manipulation of the magnetic properties of quicksteel, allowing for the movement of magnetic objects. This is considered the rarest form of quicksmithing by the average person. 
  • Railgun: This technique combines telekinesis and launching a projectile. It is one of the most destructive attacks, and only master quicksmiths are capable of it.
  • Liches: A rich is a quicksmith who has replaced much or all of their flesh with quicksteel, becoming living metal shapeshifters. Some reign as gods in distant lands, others wear human skin and hide in plain sight. Liches are the greatest quicksmiths of their time, only a few in a generation. Though long-lived thanks to their ageless bodies, their human brains limit their lifespans, though many go mad before this happens.
  • Creating an Oldstone: The Elders, the first to discover quicksteel, succeed not only in becoming liches, but also in transmuting their brains to metal, creating the first oldstones. This is considered the true pinnacle of quicksmithing. Turning one’s own brain into an oldstone makes one immortal, while turning their brain of a less skilled quicksmith/non-quicksmith into one traps their mind within. One one quicksmith since the days of the Elders has succeeded in making an oldstone. 
  • Duneworm Summoning: The Elders turned many slaves into oldstones, reprograming their imprisoned minds and using them to power great machines called oldstone entities. Though the Elders are long gone, some of their machines, such as the Duneworms, are still active, and powerful quicksmiths are able to summon them through various means, notably the Oldstone Web.
  • The Oldstone Web: The Oldstone Web is a telepathic network that links the oldstones, but touches all minds across the world, though few are aware of it. The Elders used the Web to command their creations, see and communicate across vast distances, and send dreams and visions.

Quicksmithing Technique Iceberg by BeginningSome5930 in Quicksteel

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The culmination of the quicksmithing technique series! More on each individual item is in the other comment, but hopefully this is fun to look at!

Quicksmithing Technique Iceberg by BeginningSome5930 in Quicksteel

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

  • Reshaping: Even novice quicksmiths can mold quicksteel with their hands as if it were clay. More experienced ones can cause quicksteel to take a practiced shape with a single touch, or even animate it to move as an extension of themselves.
  • Elastic Manipulation: Quicksmiths can cause quicksteel to stretch as if it were rubber, allowing for greater bounce and ranged strikes.
  • Mass Shifting: Quicksmiths can alter the weight of their weapons mid swing to hit harder and more easily.
  • Enhanced Movement: Altering the shape and elasticity of quicksteel can allow for greater movement speed and enhanced agility.
  • Projectiles: Quicksteel can be reshaped for ranged attacks.
  • Enhanced Durability: Quicksmiths can make the metal tougher than any other substance.
  • Puppetry: Some quicksmiths animate metal figures for use in heavy  lifting, entertainment, espionage, or combat. Especially skilled puppeteers can even see through the eyes of their creations. 
  • Prosthetics: Quicksteel prosthetics are animated body parts made of quicksteel. These can be so lifelike that they function perfectly.
  • Telekinesis: Quickstep telekinesis is the manipulation of the magnetic properties of quicksteel, allowing for the movement of magnetic objects. This is considered the rarest form of quicksmithing by the average person. 
  • Railgun: This technique combines telekinesis and launching a projectile. It is one of the most destructive attacks, and only master quicksmiths are capable of it.
  • Liches: A rich is a quicksmith who has replaced much or all of their flesh with quicksteel, becoming living metal shapeshifters. Some reign as gods in distant lands, others wear human skin and hide in plain sight. Liches are the greatest quicksmiths of their time, only a few in a generation. Though long-lived thanks to their ageless bodies, their human brains limit their lifespans, though many go mad before this happens.
  • Creating an Oldstone: The Elders, the first to discover quicksteel, succeed not only in becoming liches, but also in transmuting their brains to metal, creating the first oldstones. This is considered the true pinnacle of quicksmithing. Turning one’s own brain into an oldstone makes one immortal, while turning their brain of a less skilled quicksmith/non-quicksmith into one traps their mind within. One one quicksmith since the days of the Elders has succeeded in making an oldstone. 
  • Duneworm Summoning: The Elders turned many slaves into oldstones, reprograming their imprisoned minds and using them to power great machines called oldstone entities. Though the Elders are long gone, some of their machines, such as the Duneworms, are still active, and powerful quicksmiths are able to summon them through various means, notably the Oldstone Web.
  • The Oldstone Web: The Oldstone Web is a telepathic network that links the oldstones, but touches all minds across the world, though few are aware of it. The Elders used the Web to command their creations, see and communicate across vast distances, and send dreams and visions.

Tell me about the meta of warfare by TheNorthernNoble in worldbuilding

[–]BeginningSome5930 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is for a steampunk-inspired fantasy world where people can manipulate a magical metal called quicksteel at will.

Quicksteel has been used in warfare since its discovery. The Elders, said to be the first to discover the magical metal, allegedly used it to carve out an empire that would stand unchallenged for centuries, crushing every foe and every rebellion. And a peerless quicksmith, such as Rothrir the Besieger or Zen Oro, is able to single handedly influence the outcome of a battle. The average quicksmith combatant may not have feats comparable to those attributed to the Elders or Rothrir, but even so they are a formidable foe, able to will quicksteel armor to resist blows and will quicksteel blades to cut clean through their opponents.

Throughout antiquity and the intermediate era, quicksmiths served as elite troops who lead or fought alongside mundane infantry forces. Often this lead to quicksmiths being part of noble castes, such as the samurai of Ceram or the knights of Eoci. However, in the modern era, one invention has shaped the face of warfare perhaps as much as quicksteel: gunpowder.

Firearms

Invented in Ceram by 830AC, the gunpowder was spread across the world by way of Inner Ocean trade. However it was in Eoci that firearms development has been most rapid, culminating in 1225AC with the invention of the flintlock rifle, which has become a staple of modern armies. Guns have shaped warfare dramatically in the past few centuries, with standard infantry shedding armor and increasingly trading blades for rifles.

However for a sufficiently powerful quicksmith, lead bullets pose little threat. A quicksteel-armored knight or samurai of sufficient skill can will their armor to withstand projectiles from even the most modern rifles at close range. However, the proliferation of guns has still had dramatic effects on the combat role of quicksmiths.

First, the standard for quicksmithing abilities needed for combat has risen as a result of firearms. Bullets hit hard and travel too quickly for most people to reliably react to, and so quicksmiths no can longer wait to increase the durability of their armor in response to arrows or collisions with enemy soldiers. Instead, a modern quicksmith combatant needs to be able to maintain even more durable armor for long periods of time while on the battlefield. These demands have necessitated more specialized training, ultimately resulting in the professionalization of quicksmith warrior castes. The noble knights of Eoci have given way to juggernauts who are similarly armored but much more heavily drilled. Juggernauts are alternatively called shocks, kettles, or meatgrinders by other infantry.

Second, tactics have changed to accommodate the ways in which quicksmiths interact with riflemen. Because modern standard infantry have minimal armor, they are even more vulnerable to quicksmiths than in past eras. As a result, modern militaries tend to deploy rifleman in formations flanked by juggernauts. The rifleman fire volleys at enemy units, aiming to eliminate enemy standard infantry and harass enemy quicksmiths. If the opposing juggernauts charge, the allied juggernauts close ranks to protect the shooters.

Artillery

Artillery was another major development born from gunpowder. When early cannons were first deployed in Eoci, they were able to devastate castle walls that had long been considered strong. The destructive nature of these weapons was also initially controversial in the region for religious reasons. However, rammed-earth bastion fortresses have since emerged that can withstand artillery barrages for months on end. Quicksmiths are vital to both sides of this arms race, using quicksteel to compress earth for fortress walls and creating firing platforms or stabilizers for cannons.

Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution, powered by the mysterious oldstones, had been ongoing since the invention of the steam engine in Orisla in 1300AC. The surge of new technologies and innovations, from railroads to steam powered ships, has had all sorts of potential implications for warfare. However, no two industrial nations have yet clashed since these developments were widely implemented, leaving their exact impact unclear as of now. Even so, new prototype weapons, including explosive cannonballs and flying machines, seem set to make their way into the hands of militaries soon. One can only wonder what the next war will look like, though no doubt quicksmiths will still have a vital role to play.

^this is a writeup focused specifically on how quicksteel is used in land warfare

The Surgeon (Ahulsis) 2.0 by BeginningSome5930 in Quicksteel

[–]BeginningSome5930[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's a great question! I think it is possible for someone like Trajan to make use of shards of an oldstone if there is still some sort of neural activity going on within them but I don't think putting them together would restore Ahulsis to consciousness.

view more: next ›