Do steampunk fans generally prefer alternate history or fantasy steampunk settings?

Would you rather read a story set in an alternate Victorian Britain with steampunk technology, or would you rather read a story set in a fantasy world INSPIRED by Victorian Britain but with steampunk technology?

I had an idea for a story set in a steampunk world inspired by late 1800's French Idochina (Southeast Asia colonized by the French Empire), but I'm wondering if I should just make the story actually take place in actual French Idochina, but with steam powered technology.

What sounds more interesting to the audience? It doesn't make a much of a difference to me which I go with, so I thought I'd ask around for people's opinions of what they like.

I like both, altough I tend to prefer the Alternate Reality and Alternate world variants over the Ordinary world + Steampunk variant.

edited 8th Nov '16 1:09:43 AM by TheBorderPrince

I wouldn't say I have a preference per se, but I would suggest that using an entirely fictional world relieves you of the pressure of trying to maintain historical and geographical accuracy (to the extent that it's applicable). That is to say, you can get away with fudging more of the details. Of course, to a certain extent the reverse is also true- some audiences might find it 'cheap' to use a fictional world that is too much like the real one- but I wouldn't worry too much about that.