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For those of you who are interested here is an excerpt from my introduction:

"A land of Magick steeped in legend, thousands of years old. A land where men, mer (Elves), and mar (Dwarves) had coexisted peacefully for centuries until the coming of Steam. Gilbert Bates, a human, destroyed this peace when he brought steam from the mines of the Mar to the cities of man.
The Mar, as the dwarves of Arcanum are known, had known of the power of steam for five centuries before Mr Bates happened to learn its secrets. Though the mar could have used this technology for short term wealth and gains they chose not to, for as it is with mer and mar, the elder races, their longevity allowed them to see that the use of steam technology would have many profound effects on the world around them; for this reason they chose to hide its secrets from the younger races.
This secret which had been kept so well for half a millennium was eventually betrayed by a human whom the Mar had taken in and raised as one of their own. Gilbert Bates had been found as a baby by Stennar Rock Cutter, a compassionate mar who raised him as his own and taught him the ways of his people, who also revealed to him the secret of steam.
Though Bates had been treated fairly well by the mar, he never felt as though he truly belonged. The cramped caverns of his childhood soon gave way to thoughts of other humans and their cities. Though it broke his heart to do so Stennar allowed him to leave and find a place among his own race and Bates soon left, on the condition that he never reveal the secrets of the mar to anyone.
Young Mr Bates set out from the mines of the Mar ready to make his mark on Arcanum. But as so often happens with the foolhardiness that comes with youth, Gilbert forgot the promise he made to his father. Bates was tempted by the potential wealth and fame he, as the “inventor” of steam technology would have and sold its secrets to the highest bidders.
As a result of this betrayal Stennar became an outcast among his people, despised for having revealed their secrets to an outsider. Stennar died alone, because he refused to disown the child who he loved as his own. Gilbert Bates only heard of his father’s death years later and has been seeking forgiveness ever since from the father he hurt so much.
During the years after Mr Bates’ selling steam to the elite of the United Kingdoms of Arcanum, they have become the new technocratic rulers of their newly industrial societies. The once picturesque landscapes of Arcanum have become marred by the sprawling and smog filled cities of the industrialists. While this new technology has created much wealth for the technocratic and industrial elite, the poor have become poorer. Grinding poverty has filled cities with unwashed masses of the poor which congregate in the sprawling slums outside the warehouses and factories of the elite.
This is the world of Arcanum, a land in which with a little courage and a good helping of luck will provide the intrepid with many opportunities. Arcanum is ripe for adventure."

Note:
I have had to change the names of the races because of some potential copyright issues, but hopefully readers will like the names I have chosen. I personally did not like the idea at first but I have come around to the idea in that it adds unique role-playing opportunity for PCs. Elves are not elves but are the Mer a proud and ancient race.... Anyway your feedback is appreciated.
I'd love to take part in it.
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Jranda14: snip
There's copy-right issues for terms like Elf? Also, aren't Mer the Elves in Elder Scrolls?

Anyway, I'm looking forward to this. On spells: In order to cut down on the amount of small useless spells, I'd cut cantrips down to one per field. For example: For Fire you could have Fire Control or somesuch, which let you create a small amount of fire, for lighting things, showing off, whatever. As opposed to having a specific Lighting Things on Fire spells.
You could always go all out and Kickstarter this, get funding to do a proper e-book with original art content (in the Arcanum theme of course) and to secure licensing (if that's even possible on this title!). I know I'd happily back a few coins your way for it!
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Fasckira: You could always go all out and Kickstarter this, get funding to do a proper e-book with original art content (in the Arcanum theme of course) and to secure licensing (if that's even possible on this title!). I know I'd happily back a few coins your way for it!
That would require buying the license from ActiBliz, which I imagine wouldn't come cheaply. I think it'd be illegal to charge for it otherwise.
I 'd be willing to playtest it!
How is it going so far? Is it open for a forum play test?
Is this done yet? Can we play now?

XD j/k, of course.
The game is about two-thirds complete at the moment, and just finishing up some of the magic system and weapons balance issues...
Any news? I'd love to play it.
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Muskeato: Any news? I'd love to play it.
Tís still going, I've just been a bit snowed under lately. I am having the manuscript proofread and am waiting for it to come back. Will post when it is ready.
Wow. I have been looking for something like this and had considering folding some of it into a d20 system, as I would never have the time to create the whole thing from scratch.

I see the last post was back in September. How goes it? I have a group available and would love to play test it
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macdaddy_o: Wow. I have been looking for something like this and had considering folding some of it into a d20 system, as I would never have the time to create the whole thing from scratch.

I see the last post was back in September. How goes it? I have a group available and would love to play test it
I've hit a few stumps at the moment, still not happy with it yet, 98 pages of rules, equipment etc. so far, not sure about the Arcanum copyright, i.e. who has the rights to it...
I've a suspicion this may be dead, is there any hope?
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macdaddy_o: Wow. I have been looking for something like this and had considering folding some of it into a d20 system, as I would never have the time to create the whole thing from scratch.

I see the last post was back in September. How goes it? I have a group available and would love to play test it
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Jranda14: I've hit a few stumps at the moment, still not happy with it yet, 98 pages of rules, equipment etc. so far, not sure about the Arcanum copyright, i.e. who has the rights to it...
I believe Gazoinks has said ActiBliz, owns the license, also he mentioned something about Elder Scrolls calling the Elves Mer (which they do so that might be an issue with Bethesda.) However if you have issues about license/copyright I believe you can use all you have written down about how the mechanics work in your PnP version as there would need to be some changing I assume to make it work for table top, but change names of spells/schools/colleges and items for specific things from only Arcanum. And you would need to change the religions, the map of the world. But things like Magic not working with tech, and vice a versa, are not an idea solely created for Arcanum. Many other books, and games have used it.