Questions tagged [victorian-era]
For questions relating the Victorian Era of England and the United Kingdom (or alternate histories of same) or relating to events worldwide during that time period (1837–1901).
33
questions
40
votes
5
answers
5k
views
What is the highest level of accuracy in motion control a Victorian society could achieve?
In my late-Victorian world high-precision clockwork is highly available, but I am having trouble finding out exactly how precise their work could be.
I have done some research on the subject, but ...
- 2,978
6
votes
6
answers
380
views
Victorian optical sensors?
In my fictional world I would like to have something similar to modern optical sensors for things such as aiming systems, night-vision goggles and automaton vision.
The main problem I face is ...
- 363
21
votes
21
answers
6k
views
How does Santa keep locations updated for all of his gift recipients?
As it's that time of year I thought it is time for a Santa themed question...
Keeping the bureaucracy up to date with one's correct address is a nightmare: recently I have experienced it firsthand, ...
- 875
6
votes
14
answers
648
views
What conditions would bring a kingdom/country to want a dark lord ruling them (again)?
In my world, because of how difficult the dark lord antagonist is to kill, he was permanently trapped in a weird substance. However, centuries later, he gets out and he is free. He awakens now in my ...
- 2,524
15
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Accuracy limits of Victorian-era rifles
I have a fictional character in 1870 who is a marksman of superhuman ability; basically, he doesn't need a sniper rifle with a telescopic sight, he is a sniper with a telescopic sight, and can get the ...
- 63.6k
15
votes
7
answers
3k
views
Can you build an auto turret with Victorian-era technology?
Auto turrets:
When you think of auto-turrets you probably imagine something along the lines of: high tech or state-of-the-art weapon systems. You'd be right as such technology is heavily computerized ...
- 30.8k
3
votes
2
answers
132
views
Technology disparities between nations and internal organizations [closed]
I'm doing a series of world-building for an alternate world in a very low magic setting, basic premise is that 3000 years ago, in a dnd like a world, Wizards in order to prevent magical wars from ...
- 69.2k
25
votes
18
answers
5k
views
Protecting Seals from Forgery
In my very Earth-like world, the ruling entity possesses a seal of authority.
It is essential that the validity of any seal is proven to be authentic, which had historically been achieved by having ...
- 45.9k
-1
votes
2
answers
103
views
How would an expedition from Victorian England scale a large mountain range? [closed]
Suppose it is Victorian England, and an expedition is being sent to a new region. This expedition is tasked with creating a settlement once it gets there in order to build up trading and presence in ...
- 2,281
22
votes
9
answers
3k
views
How would a Steampunk voice synthesizer work?
I have a character who is mute and they would need a voice synthesizer to assist them in their day-to-day communications (shopping, working, romancing, etc.). How could that work in a Victorian-...
- 3,507
34
votes
18
answers
6k
views
Lighthouse Alternatives
In my pre-electricity world, fast communication is achieved by means of lighthouses, each being able to direct strong and precise beams of light towards distantly visible lighthouses.
However a ...
- 1,035
7
votes
1
answer
488
views
How would a "zombie fungus" work on humans?
Short question:
which hormones should high contagious fungi spores produce to make their human host spread the joy and infection (by hugging and kisses) on early stages of infection, and become ...
- 142k
2
votes
3
answers
619
views
How Would Victorian-Era Firearms Fare Against Dinosaurs?
In a world that takes place during the Victorian era (1837-1901), how effective would period-accurate firearms be against something similar to a dinosaur? As a brief aside, I will accept weaponry from ...
- 159
6
votes
5
answers
305
views
Fast way of Avoiding the Bends
OK, still in my Victorian Steampunk Shadowrun setting, we've got some underwater cities (care of a certain Prince Dakkar). They're on average 50m below sea level, with a couple being deeper at 150-...
- 798
6
votes
2
answers
312
views
Maximum Theoretical Energy Density of Clockwork
So, I'm slowly working on a concept a little like "Victorian Shadowrun", where magic is suddenly introduced to Victorian Society.
One of the side effects of this is a metal, let's call it Orichalcum ...
- 287k
6
votes
3
answers
381
views
Smallest possible Victorian cogwheel size
In my late-Victorian-based world, mechanical contraptions are incredibly advanced due to the early discovery and quick popularisation of mechanical computation.
The science of writing instructions ...
- 10.4k
4
votes
8
answers
555
views
Victorian long-distance express transport?
In my world, law enforcement is dispatched from the capital to places around the island.
The reason for them being dispatched in this fashion is due to there being few officers and the capital being ...
- 432
6
votes
6
answers
2k
views
How might a purely mechanical 'voice' function?
In my world there are mechanical semi-humanoid automata.
Would it be possible to make them speak in a fashion that sounds natural (i.e. human)? How might it function?
The mechanism should be capable ...
- 20.4k
5
votes
2
answers
225
views
Storm-proofing Late-Victorian Aircraft
In my world, both lighter- and heavier-than-air craft exist and are rather useful devices.
However, problems tend to occur when confronted with storms. Steering through a storm is not a problem in ...
- 45.9k
6
votes
7
answers
942
views
Compact Mechanical Energy Source
In my late-Victorian world there are independently moving automata that may act as pets or servants to those that can afford them.
They require a fair amount of energy to run at full capacity, enough ...
- 1,279
3
votes
2
answers
313
views
How could a ruler build a secret, private army? [closed]
In my world there is a Queen who plans to overthrow her subjects, replacing them with a more advanced folk. The technology available is late Victorian but the Queen is a powerful AI and manages all ...
- 6,808
4
votes
1
answer
338
views
Super Strong robotic prosthesis steampunk Style
I'm thinking of a character that has the magical ability to transform parts of his body into technology, similar to Generator Rex or Bleeding armor iron man, but only with the technology that he "...
- 533
3
votes
4
answers
423
views
Could a Civil War tech society reverse engineer modern weapons/vehicles?
This is a continuation of my other question How does a mid-19 century military combat a modernized one?
So, let’s say our USCA was able to destroy those damn meddling Bunkerites once and for all. ...
CommunityBot
- 1
10
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Could 'robotic' prostheses be possible in the victorian era?
In my world I would like to have a cyborg-inspired veteran, but am not sure what kinds of prostheses would be possible, ideally without the use of electrics.
My main concern is how the prostheses ...
- 15.5k
3
votes
3
answers
242
views
Mechanical amplification without creating huge distances?
How would a mechanism look that allows a person to e.g. turn a crown-sized wheel (from a watch) by any amount (e.g. 180 degrees) resulting in a turntable (from train yards) turning the same amount (e....
- 266
56
votes
25
answers
10k
views
Would a non-lethal military be effective?
An empire spanning the globe has a military force trained and equipped for the temporary impairment of combat forces, such as sleeping gas, shields and nets.
The empire is by far the most ...
- 111
11
votes
9
answers
4k
views
Victorian CCTV?
In a setting of late Victorian technology, would it be possible to record and replay sound and light near-real-time similar to modern video-recordings?
The ideal criteria for the system would be (in ...
CommunityBot
- 1
28
votes
11
answers
3k
views
Victorian Ship Weighing
In a Victorian society, an engineer has come up with a clever boat lift for his canal, using counterweights. In order to work correctly and most efficiently, the operators will need to know how much ...
CommunityBot
- 1
4
votes
2
answers
342
views
How much to charge for fictional substances in Victorian England setting?
I'm working on a little steampunk setting, which incorporates a lot of the elements of Victorian England. One of the similarities is the economy, in that prices and wages in this world are fairly ...
- 122k
-1
votes
1
answer
339
views
In a Victorian Era steampunk D&D campaign: what historic implications would it have if Scotland was underwater? [closed]
So, this is a rather unusual question. I'm not going to talk to you about the backstory because that's another question by itself, but I want to talk about how Scotland has influenced the rest of the ...
- 122k
30
votes
6
answers
4k
views
How well could a dog pick out the scent of a single person in a pool of carnage?
I'm writing about a world that predates most modern forensic techniques, and I am looking for some old-fashioned methods of sleuthing that would have been available at around the 1850-1900.
In one ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
2
answers
373
views
What economic effects would magically-enforced isolation have on the Victorian age British Empire?
The year is 1862. A magician raises up an impenetrable magical barrier around the British Isles.
The barrier is spherical in shape, and it contains England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. It also ...
- 122k
0
votes
1
answer
171
views
How can humans be brought back to life? [closed]
In my story a scientist figures out the way to bring his dead family back to life, either through creating new beings that look like them or by reanimation. The story is set in a sort of Victorian era ...
- 122k