What is Dieselpunk? Why 1921?

Dieselpunk, in my mind, is a genre that analyzes the machinations of imperialistic and fascistic warmachines. It exists within a sphere of pessimism, answering the many "what if..." questions that arise in discussions of alternate histories. For my money, it is more than just greasy mechs and smog. We can see this in works such as the Leviathan series, a series which toes the lines between Biopunk, Steampunk, and Dieselpunk, and Wolfenstein, an explicitly antifascist work of over-the-top Dieselpunk and retrofuturist violence. But let's break down the very term Dieselpunk. Diesel represents more than just the fuel. The fuel is but the form of extraction made manifest. Extraction that is, in may instances, precipitated by violent colonialism and the dispossession of land from its native people. I am from Alberta, where this is all too clear. I have seen protesters harassed and jailed for opposition to petronationalist projects, I have seen people surveilled and harassed for speaking out against these abuses. which brings me to -Punk. If it wasn't clear from the preceding statement, this work is heavily inspired by the political context that I grew up in. I did not, unsurprisingly, grow up in the shadow of the Great War. There was no German empire under which I lived, nor a civil war at the heart of the largest imperial power. But I grew up in the settler-colony of Canada, a structure founded upon acts of genocide that continues to enact and support genocide around the globe. To be Punk is to oppose this, to oppose the violence intrinsic to colonial states, and to support human rights through supporting radical, anti-capitalist action. I, myself, am an anarchist, I strongly oppose the violent structures that make up what we know as The State, and that is reflected in the writing of Dieselpunk 1921 (I hope). This also means, as has been pointed out by generations of Punks before me, that you cannot both be Punk and support the structures that oppress. Dieselpunk lives at the intersection of these two concepts then; a radical interpretation on the imperialistic, petronationalistic forces which in many ways still govern the dominant political trends of the world we live in.  Dieselpunk in the form of a game, then, poses a question to the players and the narrator: Extractive imperialism is the boot on your neck, and it is in your face, what are you going to do about it?

So why 1921? The Great War ended in 1918, so why extend it two years?

A few reasons. The first, and easiest answer is because I needed a justification for a high-level of instability in the world. Germany, in the setting, is under a military dictatorship led by Generals who long for a return to the Holy Roman Empire. But the economy is directed to be benefiting first and foremost the Military. Such economies are by nature very unstable, and leave very little room for expressions of humanity. When you combine an economy geared for the production of weapons and the inherent instability of the period immediately following an imperialistic war, you create a dramatic tension where the smallest spark can create a massive chain reaction. The opportunity for dramatic storytelling is nearly infinite as a result. The other reason is it gives people an opportunity to examine certain historical events and characters they may not otherwise have the opportunity to learn more about. For example, in The Scenario Rifles of the Seine there are a number of allies to the Professionals that are French Senegalese troops, as well as members of the Harlem Hellfighters. This is deliberate, because many depictions of The Great War, for example, the WW1 game series, tend not to include these people who sacrificed everything for an empire that abandoned them. In this setting, there are people fighting, in a very literal sense, for a better world. In France, this means Unions and soldiers formerly from the Armée coloniale opposing both the capitalistic structures of France and the occupying German Empire. 

While Dieselpunk 1921 is not yet complete, and early playtesting is just beginning, I look forward to writing more about the game, and sharing it with everyone.