Currently I am looking to write an AU novel, set just after the Napoleonic wars, but in a world with some key differences:
- The cartridge bullet was invented earlier and France was able to industrialise this faster (Paper cartridges were a thing, but France in this are able to produce a cheap rifle that can use brass bullets) - Magic exists, but is rare - this has an impact of actively reducing the colonial territories of the Empires in the Americas and Africa. The reason is that it is a much more demanding on a user and tends towards lethality - so, no Hogwarts schools or hidden magi, just the presence of old magic preventing European expansion (magic having been pretty much expunged by industry in the "western" powers.
My plan is for a novel that captures the pulpy 1920's adventuring adventures, but I'm keen to avoid a For Want of a Nail situation (So, it's not just one element of industry that changes things) whilst setting it in a more Napoleonic mixed with Edwardian systems.
Magic can explain the reason why the Imperial powers weren't able to steam roll certain areas as easily; but I want to still preserve some of the "imperial" imagery to play off of.
Is there anything else I should include or consider to add depth? I put this into Writer's Block for a structural ask. But from a world building perspective I want to have it be more than just The British Empire but with STEAMPUNK - basically, one main character is a Kenyan officer seconded to the British Army; trying to show how the old empires are having to adapt to being up against more equal nations.
I have a vague sense (Not explored much in this first novel) about how the "USA" isn't really the US overall - the Colonists weren't able to penetrate much into the interior of the Americas - Canada OR the "US", due to the Natives being able to draw on more than just manpower and trading for rifles - they have much more established nations and magic as well, so they are more capable of fighting back and much less trusting of the Europeans. Would that be, well, not realistic, but feasible considering advancing industry or munitions?
Currently I am looking to write an AU novel, set just after the Napoleonic wars, but in a world with some key differences: - The cartridge bullet was invented earlier and France was able to industrialise this faster (Paper cartridges were a thing, but France in this are able to produce a cheap rifle that can use brass bullets) - Magic exists, but is rare - this has an impact of actively reducing the colonial territories of the Empires in the Americas and Africa. The reason is that it is a much more demanding on a user and tends towards lethality - so, no Hogwarts schools or hidden magi, just the presence of old magic preventing European expansion (magic having been pretty much expunged by industry in the "western" powers.
My plan is for a novel that captures the pulpy 1920's adventuring adventures, but I'm keen to avoid a For Want of a Nail situation (So, it's not just one element of industry that changes things) whilst setting it in a more Napoleonic mixed with Edwardian systems. Magic can explain the reason why the Imperial powers weren't able to steam roll certain areas as easily; but I want to still preserve some of the "imperial" imagery to play off of.
Is there anything else I should include or consider to add depth? I put this into Writer's Block for a structural ask. But from a world building perspective I want to have it be more than just The British Empire but with STEAMPUNK - basically, one main character is a Kenyan officer seconded to the British Army; trying to show how the old empires are having to adapt to being up against more equal nations.
I have a vague sense (Not explored much in this first novel) about how the "USA" isn't really the US overall - the Colonists weren't able to penetrate much into the interior of the Americas - Canada OR the "US", due to the Natives being able to draw on more than just manpower and trading for rifles - they have much more established nations and magic as well, so they are more capable of fighting back and much less trusting of the Europeans. Would that be, well, not realistic, but feasible considering advancing industry or munitions?
Anyway, throwing it out there for critique!