The term "steampunk" refers to an alternate world, usually set in the past but not exclusively, in which the inventions and conveniences of today have been largely recreated (or replaced) by advanced, steam-powered alternatives. Steampunk fiction often takes place in a pseudo-Victorian era, right around the time the historical Industrial Revolution was (pardon the pun) picking up steam. However, many steampunk fiction-writers have been known to set their societies in other time periods, including the distant future. Others have been known to not model their society off of anything we know and opt for a brand new, fantasy world. But whatever the time period, the key feature of steampunk is steam!

The concept of steam being the chosen energy source for a civilization introduces an infinite number of possibilities. However, we must lay some additional groundwork. Firstly, if this society truly relies on steam technology, then steam must be the most advanced method of powering machinery on a large scale. Other forms of power can exist, but the key here is "large scale" (i.e. what the masses use). As such, most works of steampunk fiction have forsaken many of today's energy sources: oil, except when used as machine lubrication, and electricity, except in very occasional, short-distance applications. And we can probably also discard solar power, since it relies on intricate electrical circuitry, and nuclear power, since that's just way too advanced. Finally, if our society is truly governed by steam, we must take into account the source of this steam! Is it burning coal? Is it boiling liquids? Is it something else altogether? We must have a way of creating the steam as well as transporting it, storing it, and harnessing it.

While some steampunk settings feature perfectly engineered mass-production facilities, this is not entirely true for most of the genre, where we see machines being built from mix-and-match spare parts and odds and ends. When describing steampunk machinery, words like "invention", "gadget", and "gizmo" are frequently appropriate because of the nature of these products: (1) they are likely to be flimsy or at least have the appearance of last-minute improvisation, and (2) they are typically one-of-a-kind and may contain slight production flaws, since most inventors in a steampunk world would be more likely to hand-craft each device.

There are a number of visual motifs in the steampunk genre. There is of course the gear, the most quintessential image that lets us know that if you searched for this work of fiction in a database, you are likely to see the words "Genre: Steampunk" somewhere. Gears are of course used all over today's world (for instance, that watch on your wrist), but the difference is visibility. Gears are often exposed in steampunk machinery, whether due to a lack of materials to encase them, an inventor wanting to ensure easy repair access should the machine (inevitably) break down, or whatever!

Another visual motif is, well, steam itself. In the sky, down alleyways, in characters' faces... The more steam, the better!

There might also be generous particles of dirt, grime, and soot all over the place. After all, burning coal (one possible explanation for how your steampunk society is acquiring all its precious steam) is not the cleanest process, and if it is the premiere method of powering your way of life, it's very likely that you will be living near, next to, or even in some form of coal-burning furnace structure!

Finally, we have the equipment. Whether it is a Victorian-era steampunk society or even a futuristic one, anyone who is working with large amounts of steam will probably be holding, using, or wearing at least a few of the following: goggles, work pants, work boots, an oversized wrench, and an optimistic grin, foreshadowing all the great inventions he or she hopes to produce one day! ...Oh, yeah, and soot. As we already established, the character will also probably be wearing copious amounts of soot.

Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent does not quite follow the mold of traditional steampunk. Chrysalis is a fantasy world, not modeled after reality, and in addition to its steam-powered roots, it is also populated by many magic-users and supernatural creatures.

While there are coal-powered factories and furnaces, the primary source of energy comes from Neo Steam, which is much cleaner and more efficient. Because of this, the world's pollution levels are relatively low, especially in more responsible societies like Elerd and the Taxn Alliance. However, Neo Steam is also at the center of the massive cold war between Rogwel and Elerd, and both nations are reliant on this limited resource.

Unlike many works of steampunk fiction, the citizens of all the major nations of Neo Steam are free from oppression, and the corrupt monarchies of the past have been overthrown long ago. As such, citizens spend much of their day attempting to make a name for themselves (whether by inventing something brand new or performing feats of heroism) and fighting to protect their nation. The intense loyalty that citizens have towards their government is an important factor in this world because it also has helped create governments which look out for its people's interests.

Meanwhile, despite its cosmetic differences from some of the genre's norms, Chrysalis is still full of all the fanciful steampunk machinery and vehicles... and of course, the steam!