From the back cover: Welcome to the 19th Century ...that never was! It is a world of wonder, of horror, of adventure, of magic, of strange technology and unprecedented cultural revolution. This is the age that nearly was, filled with radium-powered flying machines, clockwork automata, and steam-driven computers. It is an age of dark magic, sinister secrets, and unholy cults. It is a time in which the world teeters on the edge of disaster, where the enlightened scientific mind battled against ancient superstition and ignorance, in which the souls of all mankind hung in the balance. The Widening Gyre presents an original Steampunk campaign setting designed for use with the HERO System 6th Editionn ruleset. Recommended for experienced GMs and players looking to game in the Industrial Age As It Should Have Been, this worldbook includes: o Character templates to play a wide variety of 19th century adventurers -- Airship Pirates, Clockwork Men, Consulting Detectives, and many more! o Rules for wild steampunk technology, including weapons, armor, vehicles, and bizarre Victorian devices. o A complete 19th century system of magic, plus dozens of sample spells. o A comprehensive and immersive campaign background detailing the fantastical Victorian world of The Widening Gyre. o A wide array of sample characters, ranging from helpful allies to evil technologists to monstrous beasts from a darker era. Enter a world of adventuring daredevils and academics, occultist thrill-seekers and Savants both heroic and insane, in which a secretive organization of benevolent technologists seeks to prevent the dark monsters of humanity’s past from overwhelming its bright and burgeoning future. Welcome to The Widening Gyre! The HERO System 6th Edition rules are required to play.