Steampunk Character Ideas

Press New character for a brass-and-steam role, an outfit, something carried, a tell and a trouble.

Steampunk Character Ideas: 30 characters

A clock-tower keeper. Wears a climbing jacket, cropped behind and long in front. Carries an oil can with a spout like a heron's neck. Tell: cannot leave a loose screw alone. Trouble: sold tickets to a port that is on no map.

Padlock: keep a part. Arrows: change only that part.

Roleclock-tower keeper
Wearsa climbing jacket, cropped behind and long in front
Carriesan oil can with a spout like a heron's neck
Tellcannot leave a loose screw alone
Troublesold tickets to a port that is on no map

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Character of the day

A clock-tower keeper. Wears a climbing jacket, cropped behind and long in front. Carries an oil can with a spout like a heron's neck. Tell: cannot leave a loose screw alone. Trouble: sold tickets to a port that is on no map.
An inventor of a clock that runs on the tide. Wears a flying hood with two round glass ports. Carries a brass stamp worn smooth with use. Tell: prefers a hammock to any bed on land. Trouble: is followed by a balloon with nobody in it.
An inventor of a clock that runs on the tide. Wears goggles pushed up, leaving pale rings around the eyes. Carries a speaking trumpet for hailing the ground. Tell: taps out words in dots and dashes on tabletops. Trouble: charted a cloud that turned out to be a mountain.
A secret operator inside a chess-playing machine. Wears a sash of medals from societies nobody has heard of. Carries a hand slate with yesterday's sums on it. Tell: names every direction after a wind. Trouble: is expected to explain the noise on the roof.
A secret operator inside a chess-playing machine. Wears a tall silk hat stuffed with the day's mail. Carries a jar of fog, labeled with a date. Tell: braces both feet, even on a sidewalk. Trouble: signed on under a brother's license.
A whistle tuner at a locomotive works. Wears a quilted robe over muddy field boots. Carries a card model of a flying machine. Tell: counts gear teeth under the breath. Trouble: left a wrench inside something that is now sealed.
A navigator's apprentice on a first long crossing. Wears a paper collar and a tie on elastic. Carries a speaking tube with a whistle at each end. Tell: winds anything that has a key. Trouble: found something small and is being very loud about it.
A natural philosopher with a private laboratory. Wears a road-gray duster coat. Carries a pocket barometer that is always wrong. Tell: cannot leave a loose screw alone. Trouble: stamped the wrong maker's mark on a hundred gears.
A foghorn keeper at the river stairs. Wears lead-soled boots, borrowed from a diving suit. Carries a rag that was once a good shirt. Tell: speaks in the short sentences of a telegram. Trouble: took the wrong hat from the cloakroom, a much better one.
A glider courier between rooftops. Wears a vest crossed by four separate watch chains. Carries a jar of fog, labeled with a date. Tell: ducks at the sound of flapping cloth. Trouble: lost a balloon and its cat, and the cat came back alone.
A toy maker to a royal nursery. Wears lead-soled boots, borrowed from a diving suit. Carries a bag of sand, for ballast and for luck. Tell: announces the cloud forecast to anyone nearby. Trouble: wrote what happened on the night shift in the wrong book.
A composer for music boxes. Wears gauntlets stiff with waterproofing wax. Carries a hot baked potato in each coat pocket. Tell: taps any barometer in passing. Trouble: is one loud bang away from losing the lease.
An escapement fitter with very steady hands. Wears gauntlets stiff with waterproofing wax. Carries a tabletop orrery with one moon missing. Tell: taps out words in dots and dashes on tabletops. Trouble: is expected to explain the noise on the roof.
A barometer salesman who is always sure of rain. Wears suspenders hung with wrenches. Carries a loose escapement to fidget with. Tell: hums at the pitch of the nearest engine. Trouble: lent a duchess an invention she will not return.
A telegraph clerk on the overnight wire. Wears mittens with the tips cut off, and a thimble. Carries a lighting pole with a hook at the tip. Tell: starts every remark at a shout, then remembers. Trouble: found something small and is being very loud about it.
A setter of the station clock. Wears a cravat pinned with a tiny gear. Carries a tabletop orrery with one moon missing. Tell: times every conversation by the factory whistle. Trouble: charted a cloud that turned out to be a mountain.
A stage illusionist with a steam-driven cabinet. Wears a soot-black cap with its peak turned to the neck. Carries a flask of tea kept warm in a wool sock. Tell: braces both feet, even on a sidewalk. Trouble: is named in the inquiry about the bent weathercock.
A pawnbroker of half-finished inventions. Wears a scarf of signal length, striped at both ends. Carries a magnifying glass as wide as a saucepan lid. Tell: smells faintly of hot oil and oranges. Trouble: keeps a laboratory that the landlord believes is a bakery.
A boiler stoker with a poet's ambitions. Wears sleeve protectors of striped ticking. Carries a bunch of keys labeled in code. Tell: keeps one sleeve rolled higher than the other. Trouble: is blamed for the shadow over a duke's garden party.
A gear cutter in a watch factory. Wears a tailcoat with chalk dust on the tails. Carries a hand slate with yesterday's sums on it. Tell: names every direction after a wind. Trouble: lent out the only chart and got back a postcard.
A setter of the station clock. Wears a soot-black cap with its peak turned to the neck. Carries a red lamp for stopping trains. Tell: carries a scent of lavender and warm brass. Trouble: let the fog signal lapse for one evening.
A messenger on a penny-farthing. Wears a paper collar and a tie on elastic. Carries a signal flag in each boot. Tell: counts the seconds after every flash of lightning. Trouble: is named in the inquiry about the bent weathercock.
A setter of the station clock. Wears a quilted robe over muddy field boots. Carries a satchel of brass message cylinders. Tell: whistles into a room before entering it. Trouble: rides a penny-farthing that the bank still owns.
A natural philosopher with a private laboratory. Wears wooden-soled clogs for hot floors. Carries a signal whistle on a lanyard. Tell: pockets small springs without noticing. Trouble: sold the same patent twice, in good faith.
A patent office clerk. Wears a square cap creased out of an old blueprint. Carries a ticket punch that cuts a star. Tell: holds a ruler up to anything described as straight. Trouble: has a lodger who has not paid since spring.
A messenger on a penny-farthing. Wears a soot-black cap with its peak turned to the neck. Carries a magnifying glass as wide as a saucepan lid. Tell: counts gear teeth under the breath. Trouble: lost a balloon and its cat, and the cat came back alone.
A maker of orreries. Wears a leather apron with brass buckles. Carries a ticket punch that cuts a star. Tell: has one thumbnail worn flat from turning screws. Trouble: knows who has been sending the unsigned messages.
A bellows mender. Wears a collarless shirt with one sleeve rolled. Carries an ear trumpet of polished horn. Tell: folds every piece of paper into thirds. Trouble: fitted a part backward in the mayor's clock.
A maker of orreries. Wears a tool belt slung across the chest. Carries a kaleidoscope, pointed at anyone who is speaking. Tell: folds every piece of paper into thirds. Trouble: fitted a part backward in the mayor's clock.
A ballast keeper on a cargo airship. Wears a uniform bought two sizes hopeful. Carries a jar of fog, labeled with a date. Tell: writes a receipt for everything, even a favor. Trouble: is named in the inquiry about the bent weathercock.

Next step Describe the outfit in full Design a character in any style

Role: all 60 roles

Aloft 15

airship cook in a galley that tilts Hang the pots on hooks, all swinging the same way.
airship rigger who works without a net Draw the figure small against the curve of a huge gas bag, with one hand on a rope.
ballast keeper on a cargo airship Rows of sandbags along a rail, with one being tipped over the side.
balloon photographer of rooftops and rail yards A box camera clamped to the basket rim, pointing straight down.
climber of mooring masts A lattice tower with a ladder up its center and a figure near the top.
fare collector on a sky ferry A narrow gangway, a line of passengers in long coats, and clouds below the handrail.
glider courier between rooftops Cloth wings on a wooden frame, in mid-leap between two chimney pots.
lookout on the nose of a mail dirigible A small platform at the very front, with a scarf blown straight back.
navigator's apprentice on a first long crossing A chart table with the dividers left open, and a worried glance at the window.
operator of a train of kites A line of box kites climbing into the sky from one winch.
parachute tester, retired twice A dome of silk panels above, and boots held neatly together below.
purser who weighs every trunk before a flight A big brass scale, a stack of luggage, and a pencil behind the ear.
seamstress who patches gas bags A huge fold of cloth across the knees and a curved needle.
signal flagger on a mooring tower Two flags held at stiff angles, like the hands of a clock.
weather watcher in a tethered balloon A wicker basket, a single cable running straight down, and a notebook.

Workshop and engine room 15

automaton tuner A metal figure with its chest panel open, and a small key being turned inside.
bellows mender Leather folds like a concertina between two boards, laid open on a bench.
boiler stoker with a poet's ambitions A shovel, an open firebox door, and orange light on one side of the face.
card puncher who programs the looms A stack of stiff cards, each full of holes in its own pattern.
clock-tower keeper Stand the figure inside the works, with gear wheels taller than a person.
escapement fitter with very steady hands A tiny part of a clock's works, held in tweezers under a lens.
flywheel balancer A spoked wheel taller than the figure, with chalk marks on its rim.
gear cutter in a watch factory A bench by a tall window, with tiny wheels laid out on white paper.
inventor's assistant who holds the other end Braced at one end of a long, strange device, looking away from it.
locomotive driver on a quiet branch line Leaning from the cab window, with one hand on a long lever.
reader of pressure gauges on the night shift A wall of round dials, and a lantern held up to one of them.
rivet counter who must not lose count A wall of iron plate dotted with domed heads, and a chalk tally beside it.
safety-valve inspector A domed boiler top with a valve on it, and a clipboard.
spring winder for a street of clockwork shops A big winding key tucked under one arm, and a row of shop doors.
whistle tuner at a locomotive works A row of brass whistles on a rack, with plumes of steam above them.

Street and office 15

chimney inspector for the smoke board A figure on a roof ridge with a notebook, among many smoking pots.
conductor on a steam tram A ticket machine on a strap, and one hand on a brass pole.
foghorn keeper at the river stairs A long horn on a stand, pointing into gray, and a lantern at the feet.
lamplighter on the evening round A long pole lifted to a street lamp, with a small flame at its tip.
messenger on a penny-farthing A huge front wheel and a tiny back one, with the rider perched high above.
patent office clerk A desk walled in by rolled drawings, each tied with tape.
pawnbroker of half-finished inventions Shelves of machines, each missing a wheel, an arm or a lid.
setter of the station clock A ladder against a big dial, and a pocket watch held up beside it.
signalman in a box on stilts A row of tall levers, and windows on three sides above the tracks.
sorter for the pneumatic mail A wall of pipe mouths, with a brass cylinder just arriving in one.
street-organ player with a clockwork partner A box on a pole with a handle, and a small tin figure dancing on top.
tea seller on a railway platform A steaming urn on a cart, and a row of thick white cups.
telegraph clerk on the overnight wire A small switch on a wooden base under two fingers, and a paper tape running off the desk.
typesetter for the evening paper A tray of tiny metal letters, read backward, and inky fingertips.
window dresser who builds moving displays A shop window with a belt, a crank and a row of nodding hats.

Science and show 15

barometer salesman who is always sure of rain A case of dials opened like a book, and an umbrella under one arm.
camera obscura showman A dark tent with a bright round picture of the street on a white table.
collector of beetles and patents Pinned insects in one drawer and sealed documents in the next.
composer for music boxes A small cylinder covered in pins, held up beside a steel comb.
ear-trumpet maker to the gentry A rack of funnels in horn, silver and tin, from small to enormous.
explorer just back and lecturing nightly A pointer, a huge wall map, and boots that are still muddy.
fossil hunter funded by a duchess A hammer, a canvas bag, and a spiral shell half out of a cliff.
inventor of a clock that runs on the tide A dial on a quay wall, with a float on a chain dropping into the water.
lecturer who demonstrates with a zoetrope A drum on a stand, with a strip of drawings curled inside it.
maker of orreries Small brass balls on arms around a larger one, with a crank at the base.
natural philosopher with a private laboratory A bench of glass vessels joined by tubes, and a window propped open.
secret operator inside a chess-playing machine A cabinet with one door open, and a pair of eyes in the dark behind the gears.
society hostess who invents between courses A dinner table with a small machine among the glasses.
stage illusionist with a steam-driven cabinet A tall box on wheels with a small chimney and a curtain.
toy maker to a royal nursery A bench of wind-up animals, with one of them marching off the edge.

How this list was compiled

Original list written for Draw This Next, October 2026. Made up for this list; no book, film, show or game is named. Real things in the notes were checked on 2026-10-02 against English Wikipedia: Steampunk (science fiction built on 19th-century steam-powered machinery), Airship (a lighter-than-air craft that flies under its own power), Fireman (steam engine) (a stoker tends the fire of a boiler, shoveling coal), Lamplighter (lit street lights at dusk with a wick on a long pole), Telegraph key (a switch for sending Morse code), Pneumatic tube (cylinders pushed through tubes by compressed air), Penny-farthing (a large front wheel and a small back wheel), Punched card (stiff cards with holes, used to control looms), Semaphore (signals made with flags or moving arms), Zoetrope, Orrery, Camera obscura, Music box, Automaton, Escapement, Safety valve and Steam whistle. The other notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

Wears: all 60 outfits

Aloft 15

a canvas smock stenciled with a ship's number Block numerals across the back, a little worn at the edges.
a cap with ear flaps and a brass badge Tie the flaps under the chin and put a small winged shape at the front.
a climbing jacket, cropped behind and long in front Long in front and cropped behind, showing the tool belt.
a flying hood with two round glass ports A soft helmet with windows for the eyes, laced under the chin.
a harness of straps over a wool sweater An X across the chest and a ring at the back for a line.
a leather flying coat lined with fleece Turn the collar up, so that the pale lining frames the face.
a quilted vest stuffed with down Diamond stitching, puffed between the seams.
a scarf of signal length, striped at both ends Let the scarf leave the picture at one edge.
a silk cravat that doubles as a wind gauge Draw it streaming sideways from the neck.
a tool belt slung across the chest Loops of rope and a wooden mallet hanging at the ribs.
a waxed canvas cape, stiff as a tent Stiff folds with sharp highlights, standing away from the body.
fur-lined boots with cork soles Thick pale soles and a turned-down cuff of fur at the calf.
gauntlets stiff with waterproofing wax Wide cuffs that stand out from the forearms like funnels.
goggles pushed up, leaving pale rings around the eyes Two clean circles on a grimy face, and the lenses resting on the forehead.
spats buttoned over climbing boots A neat row of buttons up the outside of each ankle.

Workshop and engine room 15

a boiler suit patched at both elbows One garment from collar to ankle, with a row of buttons down the front.
a collarless shirt with one sleeve rolled Show one forearm bare and smudged, and the other cuff buttoned.
a leather apron with brass buckles Heavy and dark, with two bright squares at the shoulders.
a long shop coat the color of machine oil A straight brown-black coat with pencils in the top pocket.
a neckerchief tied up over the nose A triangle of spotted cloth, with only the eyes showing above it.
a scorch-marked smock with a pencil rack sewn on A row of pencil ends along the chest, like organ pipes.
a soot-black cap with its peak turned to the neck The peak points down the neck, with a pale stripe of forehead under the band.
a square cap creased out of an old blueprint White lines on blue, creased into a square cap.
a vest with a pocket for every gauge of screw Rows of small buttoned pockets, each a slightly different size.
a watchmaker's eyeglass on a headband A small black cup over one eye, flipped up when not in use.
kneepads cut from a carriage tire Thick curved pads strapped on with buckles.
mittens with the tips cut off, and a thimble Bare fingertips blackened, and one bright cap on the middle finger.
sleeve protectors of striped ticking Tubes of cloth from wrist to elbow, gathered at both ends.
suspenders hung with wrenches Tools dangling from the straps like fruit from a branch.
wooden-soled clogs for hot floors Thick soles with iron rims, drawn large and square.

Street and office 15

a bowler hat with a ticket in the band A round crown, a curled brim, and a small card tucked at one side.
a cape studded with brass, to be seen in fog Rows of bright dots across dark cloth.
a checked suit loud enough to be heard Large squares in two colors that do not belong together.
a frock coat gone shiny at the elbows A long coat with a nipped waist, and two pale worn patches.
a greatcoat with a route map sewn into the lining Hold one side open to show colored lines on the cloth.
a paper collar and a tie on elastic A very clean collar on a very tired shirt.
a peaked cap heavy with gold braid Loops of braid on the peak and a band around the crown.
a rain cloak of oiled silk Thin, glossy and semi-clear, with the suit showing through.
a road-gray duster coat A long loose coat, paler at the hem where the dust has settled.
a starched collar and ink-spotted wristbands A stiff white band up to the jaw, and blue-black smudges at the wrists.
a tall silk hat stuffed with the day's mail Envelopes showing all around the brim, where the hat meets the head.
a uniform bought two sizes hopeful Cuffs past the knuckles and a collar that stands away from the neck.
a vest crossed by four separate watch chains Four gold arcs across the front, each ending in a different pocket.
button boots, with one button gone A curved row of small buttons up the ankle, and one bare thread.
striped trousers held in bicycle clips Narrow stripes, gathered at the ankle by a spring band.

Science and show 15

a bonnet with a magnifier on a hinge A round lens that swings down in front of one eye.
a bustle that hides a tool chest A drawer handle showing among the folds at the back of the skirt.
a cravat pinned with a tiny gear A toothed wheel no bigger than a button, at the throat.
a hat crowned by a working weathervane A tiny arrow and four letters on a spindle above the crown.
a laboratory apron over evening dress Rubber or canvas on top, with silk and a white tie showing at the neck.
a monocle on a chain A single round lens held in one eye socket, with a fine chain to the lapel.
a quilted robe over muddy field boots A long patterned robe that ends above heavy laced boots.
a sash of medals from societies nobody has heard of A wide ribbon across the chest, crowded with odd-shaped discs.
a tailcoat with chalk dust on the tails Two white handprints where they are always wiped.
a traveling cloak with forty labeled pockets Small paper tags stitched in rows, inside and out.
a velvet jacket peppered with acid holes Small round holes with pale edges, mostly on the cuffs.
a vest embroidered with equations Rows of small symbols in pale thread on dark cloth.
lead-soled boots, borrowed from a diving suit Huge square boots under an otherwise elegant outfit.
spectacles with three flip-down lenses Extra small lenses on hinged arms at one side of the frame.
thin kid gloves stained purple Pale gloves with dark fingertips, as if dipped.

How this list was compiled

Original list written for Draw This Next, October 2026. Made up for this list. That goggles enclose and protect the area around the eyes, and that a monocle is a single lens held in the eye socket, often on a string, was checked on 2026-10-02 against the English Wikipedia articles Goggles and Monocle. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

Carries: all 60 objects

Aloft 15

a bag of sand, for ballast and for luck A small canvas sack with a drawstring, hung from the belt.
a box kite in three pieces Sticks and cloth in a roll, tied with its own string.
a brass sextant in a cracked case An instrument held up to the eye and aimed at the horizon.
a coil of mooring line over one shoulder Thick rope in even loops, with a spliced eye at the end.
a flask of tea kept warm in a wool sock A cork, a neck, and a striped sock pulled up over the rest.
a folding grapnel on a short chain Four hooks that close together like a bud.
a parachute packed into a hatbox A round box with a harness strap trailing from under the lid.
a pocket barometer that is always wrong A round dial in the palm, with the needle saying one thing and the sky another.
a rolled chart of the upper winds A long tube of paper covered in small arrows.
a signal flag in each boot Two short sticks and folds of bright cloth showing at the boot tops.
a signal whistle on a lanyard A thin pipe on a cord around the neck.
a speaking trumpet for hailing the ground A long brass cone held to the mouth, pointed straight down over a rail.
a spyglass with a dent in the tube Three brass sections, the middle one a little bent.
a tin of patches and a pot of glue A flat tin with a brush tied to it by a string.
a windsock on a walking cane A striped cloth cone flying from the handle.

Workshop and engine room 15

a brass lamp no bigger than a fist A small round body, a glass chimney and a ring to hang it by.
a bundle of blueprints under one arm Rolls of blue paper with white lines showing at the ends.
a folding rule missing its last inch Hinged wooden sticks opened into a zigzag.
a hand slate with yesterday's sums on it A framed square of gray with a sum half rubbed out.
a hoop of clock keys Small winged keys of different sizes on a ring.
a light hammer for tapping wheels A long thin handle and a small head, held near the end.
a loose escapement to fidget with A small clicking part of a clock, turned over and over in the fingers.
a pack of punched cards tied with tape Stiff rectangles, each with its own pattern of holes.
a pressure gauge on a short length of pipe A round dial with one needle and a red line near the top of the scale.
a rag that was once a good shirt One cuff and a button still recognizable among the stains.
a ring of wrenches, smallest to largest Fan them out on a hoop like a bunch of keys.
a spare governor wrapped in flannel A small brass mechanism showing from the cloth, heavier than it looks.
a tin lunch pail kept warm on the boiler A lidded can with a wire handle, and a faint wisp of steam.
a tin of screws left unsorted on principle A flat tin of small bright threads and slotted heads.
an oil can with a spout like a heron's neck A squat can and a long thin curve ending in a drip.

Street and office 15

a bicycle bell for clearing a path on foot A domed bell on a clamp, held in the hand.
a brass stamp worn smooth with use A wooden knob on a short stem, and an inky pad in a tin.
a bunch of keys labeled in code Paper tags on strings, each with a few dots and dashes.
a carpetbag with a mantel clock in it A soft patterned bag, open at the top, with a clock face looking out.
a fob watch set six minutes ahead on purpose A round case on a short strap, with its lid flipped open.
a hot baked potato in each coat pocket Two bulging pockets, with a curl of steam from each.
a ledger and three colors of ink A tall book under the arm and three small bottles in a wire carrier.
a lighting pole with a hook at the tip A long thin staff carried upright, like a spear with a small curl on top.
a newspaper folded to the patents page Columns of tiny diagrams, with one of them circled.
a red lamp for stopping trains A square lantern with one colored pane, held out at arm's length.
a satchel of brass message cylinders Short capped tubes, packed in rows like bottles.
a speaking tube with a whistle at each end A length of flexible pipe looped over the arm.
a telegraph key in a walnut box A small switch on a wooden base, worked with one fingertip.
a ticket punch that cuts a star Pliers with a small die, and a scatter of paper stars at the feet.
an umbrella with a compass set in the handle A crook handle with a small glass disc in its end.

Science and show 15

a butterfly net and a patent form A long pole in one hand and a printed sheet in the other.
a camera obscura built into a hatbox A round box with a pinhole in its side and a small upside-down picture inside.
a card model of a flying machine Paper wings on a frame of matchsticks, held up on one fingertip.
a jar of fog, labeled with a date A stoppered jar of pale gray, held up proudly.
a kaleidoscope, pointed at anyone who is speaking A short brass tube at one eye, aimed across the table.
a magnifying glass as wide as a saucepan lid Draw the eye huge behind the lens.
a notebook of inventions, each one crossed out Small diagrams, a firm line through every one, and a blank last page.
a pocket music box with a few sour notes An open lid, a pinned cylinder and a comb of steel teeth.
a portfolio of unpaid bills A leather folder bulging with slips of different colors.
a specimen jar holding an ordinary leaf A sealed jar with a careful label, far too grand for its contents.
a tabletop orrery with one moon missing A sun on a stand, planets on wire arms around it, and one arm ending in nothing.
a tuning fork in a velvet case Two steel prongs on a stem, lying in a fitted hollow.
a walking stick with a thermometer set in it A thin glass tube down the shaft, with a red line partway up.
a zoetrope strip of a galloping horse A long paper band of small drawings, each a little different from the last.
an ear trumpet of polished horn A curved funnel held to one ear, with its wide end toward the speaker.

How this list was compiled

Original list written for Draw This Next, October 2026. Made up for this list. Real instruments were checked on 2026-10-02 against English Wikipedia: Barometer (measures air pressure and helps forecast the weather), Sextant (measures the angle between a star or the sun and the horizon), Pressure measurement (a gauge shows pressure on a dial), Centrifugal governor (keeps an engine at a steady speed), Escapement (the part of a clock that releases its gear train to move the hands forward), Punched card, Telegraph key, Pneumatic tube, Pocket watch (worn on a fob or chain), Zoetrope (a drum of drawings that seem to move), Music box (pins on a turning cylinder pluck a steel comb), Ear trumpet (a funnel that gathers sound, made of metal, wood or horn), Orrery (a mechanical model of the Solar System), Camera obscura (a dark box that projects the view outside upside down), Megaphone (a speaking trumpet is a hand-held cone that directs the voice) and Kaleidoscope (mirrors, often in a tube, looked into from one end). The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

Tell: all 60 tells

Aloft 15

announces the cloud forecast to anyone nearby Chin up and one finger tracing a line across the sky.
braces both feet, even on a sidewalk Knees soft and arms a little out, as if the floor might tip.
cannot pass a flagpole without checking the flag Head tilted back in the street, with a finger pointing the wind's way.
clips a line to the belt in any high place A short rope from the waist to a banister or a balcony rail.
counts the seconds after every flash of lightning One hand raised with the fingers unfolding, and the eyes on a window.
distrusts a clear sky A sideways look upward from under the brim of a hat.
ducks at the sound of flapping cloth Shoulders up and head down beside a washing line.
has soot on the left cuff, whatever the job One dark wrist, held a little out of sight.
knots a cord onto every hat before wearing it A loop of string from the hat brim to a coat button.
names every direction after a wind An arm pointing, and a small cloud with puffed cheeks drawn beside it.
paces out every room in ship lengths Arms spread wide, pacing, with a satisfied nod.
prefers a hammock to any bed on land A sling of canvas hung across a perfectly good bedroom.
starts every remark at a shout, then remembers Mouth wide on the first word, and the listener leaning back.
taps any barometer in passing One knuckle on a glass dial, without breaking stride.
whistles into a room before entering it Lips pursed in a doorway, with the head cocked for the echo.

Workshop and engine room 15

blows on a gauge before reading it Cheeks puffed at a glass dial, then a squint.
cannot leave a loose screw alone A thumbnail already at work on someone else's door hinge.
counts gear teeth under the breath A fingertip moving around a toothed rim.
flinches at any hiss A quick step back from a kettle.
has one thumbnail worn flat from turning screws Show the hand close up, with one nail squared off.
holds a clock to one ear before trusting it A mantel clock lifted off the shelf and listened to.
hums at the pitch of the nearest engine Mouth closed, eyes half shut, with a wavy line matching another wavy line.
keeps one sleeve rolled higher than the other The working arm bare to above the elbow.
says "within tolerance" when others say yes A small nod and a thumb and finger held nearly together.
smells faintly of hot oil and oranges Draw a small curl of scent and a peel in the top pocket.
taps pipes to hear whether they are full A knuckle on a pipe and an ear turned toward it.
tests every chair before sitting A hand pressing down on the seat, with a small rock from side to side.
times every conversation by the factory whistle A glance toward a window in the middle of a sentence.
walks in step with whatever is ticking Feet landing in time with a pendulum drawn in the background.
wipes both hands before shaking one A rag passed quickly from palm to palm.

Street and office 15

addresses everyone by their ticket class A small bow of exactly the right depth.
apologizes to pigeons A slight bow toward the sidewalk.
arrives exactly as the clock strikes, out of breath In a doorway, with one hand on the frame and the hat askew.
checks two watches and trusts neither One watch in each hand, and a look up at a tower clock.
folds every piece of paper into thirds A letter, a bill and a napkin on a table, all creased the same way.
hears a bell and reaches for a ticket A hand already in the vest pocket.
keeps to the upwind sidewalk, clear of the soot Hugging one row of shop fronts, with soot drifting to the other.
polishes any brass within reach A cuff rubbing a doorknob in passing.
reads every poster on every wall Stopped at a wall of posters with the hands clasped behind the back.
speaks in the short sentences of a telegram A speech balloon holding three words and the word stop.
stamps twice before crossing any street One boot raised at the curb.
taps out words in dots and dashes on tabletops One finger raised above the wood, with short and long marks beside it.
tells the time by the color of the smoke A long look at the chimneys, then a confident nod.
tips the hat to lamp posts A hand at the brim, and a street lamp where a person would be.
writes a receipt for everything, even a favor A small pad, a stub of pencil and a slip being torn off.

Science and show 15

answers "in principle, yes" to every invitation One finger raised, with the eyes on the ceiling.
bows to automatons, to be on the safe side A polite nod toward a figure made of metal.
cannot hear a clock without correcting it Standing on a chair, moving the minute hand.
carries a scent of lavender and warm brass Draw a sprig in the buttonhole and a smudge on the collar.
carries on two arguments at once, one of them silent Lips moving a little while someone else is talking.
counts the steps of every staircase and writes it down A small notebook open at the top of a flight of stairs.
holds a ruler up to anything described as straight A short rule laid along a picture frame, and one eye shut.
holds food up to the light before eating it A forkful at arm's length against a window.
leaves the room in the middle of a word when an idea comes A door swinging shut and a chair still rocking.
measures strangers' hats by eye A thumb held up at arm's length toward someone's head.
pockets small springs without noticing A coil of wire hanging from a coat pocket.
sketches on any cuff, their own or a stranger's A pencil at work on a white sleeve.
tests the soup with a thermometer A glass rod in a bowl, read with great seriousness.
weighs things in the hand and announces a figure A cupped palm bouncing gently, and a confident look.
winds anything that has a key A hand turning the key of a toy, a clock or a door.

How this list was compiled

Original list written for Draw This Next, October 2026. Made up for this list. That Morse code is sent as short and long signals with a telegraph key was checked on 2026-10-02 against the English Wikipedia article Telegraph key. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

Trouble: all 60 troubles

Aloft 15

charted a cloud that turned out to be a mountain A map with a neat cloud drawn on it and a rock face ahead.
has a lodger who has not paid since spring A comfortable figure in a deck chair, reading.
has a rival who paints over their name on every sign A signboard with a fresh blank rectangle and a brush mark at one end.
is afraid of heights and has told nobody Both hands tight on a rail, eyes shut, and a brave smile.
is billed for an anchor that went through a greenhouse A chain going down through a jagged hole in a glass roof.
is blamed for the shadow over a duke's garden party Hats blown off below, and a shadow crossing a striped lawn.
is followed by a balloon with nobody in it An empty basket drifting behind at the same height.
is named in the inquiry about the bent weathercock A bent rooster on a church spire, and an official letter in the hand.
lent out the only chart and got back a postcard A single picture card held up where a map should be.
lost a race to a pigeon, in public A crowd, a finish line, and a small bird already sitting on it.
owes the mooring guild three months of fees A bill nailed to a mast, flapping.
sent a mail bag aloft to the wrong city A sack labeled for one town, held up in front of another town's sign.
signed on under a brother's license A paper with a small portrait that does not quite match.
sold tickets to a port that is on no map A line of ticket holders, all looking at the figure and not at the view.
vouched for an airship held together by a patch A gas bag covered in squares of different cloth.

Workshop and engine room 15

built something that works and cannot say why A machine running smoothly, and its maker staring at one extra part in the hand.
filed a patent one hour after a rival did Two identical drawings, with two time stamps a little apart.
fitted a part backward in the mayor's clock A tower dial with its hands going the wrong way around.
improved a whistle until dogs three towns away complained A brass whistle, a plume of steam, and a row of howling dogs.
inherited a factory and a debt of the same size A tall chimney and an equally tall stack of paper.
is blamed whenever the town clock runs late A crowd in a square, all turned from the dial toward one person.
is on strike entirely alone One figure with one sign at a very large gate.
is one loud bang away from losing the lease A landlord's face at a window, and a hand hovering over a lever.
left a wrench inside something that is now sealed A riveted casing, and one hand patting an empty pocket.
miscounted ten thousand rivets and must begin over A long hull of domed heads and a hand on the forehead.
oiled the floor instead of the lathe A shining patch of floorboards, and one boot already sliding.
pawned the master's tools and needs them by Monday An empty tool wall with painted outlines and a ticket stub.
promised a locomotive a vacation An engine in a siding with a garland on its lamp.
stamped the wrong maker's mark on a hundred gears A tray of small toothed wheels, each with the same tiny wrong letter.
taught an automaton to whistle, and it now has opinions A metal figure with its arms folded, facing a musician.

Street and office 15

comes up two fares short every single day A cash tin, a tally sheet and a pencil chewed flat.
dropped a message cylinder down a drain, unread A grating in the gutter, and an arm reaching into it up to the shoulder.
knows who has been sending the unsigned messages A stack of slips, and a glance at the next desk.
let the fog signal lapse for one evening A silent horn, and a row of puzzled boats in the gray.
lit the lamps an hour early, and the whole town followed Shutters closing along a street in full daylight.
lost the key to the station clock A big dial stopped at ten to two, and pockets turned out.
misfiled a patent that turned out to matter A drawer marked Miscellaneous, pulled out to its full length.
printed tomorrow's paper today, by accident A front page with a date circled, and a line at the stand.
rides a penny-farthing that the bank still owns A tall wheel with a small brass plate riveted to the frame.
sent the wrong telegram to the right address A door opening on a face that is reading a slip of paper.
sold the same umbrella to two customers in one storm Two hands on one handle, under one very small canopy.
took the wrong hat from the cloakroom, a much better one A hat a size too large, with a stranger's initials in gold inside the band.
was promoted over an automaton, which took it badly A metal figure at the old desk, deliberately slow.
wears an inspector's whistle and has no authority A whistle on a cord, tucked hastily inside the coat.
wrote what happened on the night shift in the wrong book Two ledgers side by side, with one page torn half out.

Science and show 15

built a calculating engine that corrects its maker A printed strip with one line underlined twice.
cannot repeat the experiment that made their name A bench set out exactly as before, and a result that will not come.
found something small and is being very loud about it A tiny object on a velvet cushion, in front of a huge banner.
has a rival who publishes first every time Two journals, one of them a week older, with the same picture.
is expected to explain the noise on the roof A committee in the parlor, all looking at the ceiling.
is followed to every lecture by one critic A single figure in the front row, with arms folded.
keeps a laboratory that the landlord believes is a bakery A tray of loaves on a windowsill, with glass tubes behind it.
lent a duchess an invention she will not return A machine in a drawing room, with a vase of flowers on top of it.
lost a balloon and its cat, and the cat came back alone A cat on the doorstep, looking pleased with itself.
named a beetle after a patron, who has now seen the beetle A pinned insect and a label, and a cold look through a pair of raised glasses.
owes an expedition's worth of money to a patient aunt A tea table, a ledger, and a very gentle smile across it.
owns a prize automaton that bows to the wrong person A metal figure bent low before a startled waiter.
promised the Academy a demonstration by Friday A calendar with a ring around one day and a bench of loose parts.
sold the same patent twice, in good faith Two buyers at the door, each holding the same sealed paper.
was challenged to a public race of machines A poster with two contraptions drawn nose to nose.

How this list was compiled

Original list written for Draw This Next, October 2026. Made up for this list: debts, mix-ups, rivalries and small disasters, none of them violent. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

How it works

Steampunk is science fiction built on 19th-century steam machinery. Each press casts someone to live in it: a role, working clothes, one instrument or oddity in the hand, a telltale habit and a difficulty.

Read the full guide

Aloft, in the works, in town and on stage

The roles come from four corners of a steam-powered city: airships and mooring towers, workshops and engine rooms, streets and offices, and the halls where inventions are shown off. The parts mix across them on purpose.

Real instruments, invented people

Many of the props are real devices of the 1800s: a sextant, a telegraph key, a zoetrope strip, a pack of punched cards. What each one is was checked against Wikipedia on 2 October 2026, and the notes under the tool say how to draw it.

Brass reads as brass when the highlight is nearly white and the shadow a warm brown.
Put the soot where hands go: cuffs, pockets and the brim of the hat.

Questions and answers

What is a steampunk character?

Someone who lives in a world where steam power never gave way to anything newer: an airship rigger, a lamplighter, an automaton tuner. On this page each one also gets an outfit, a carried object, a habit and a trouble.

What do steampunk characters wear?

Clothes of the 1800s with leather and brass added. On this page: a leather apron with brass buckles, goggles pushed up on the forehead, a frock coat gone shiny at the elbows. Every outfit in the list has a drawing note.

Do the gadgets really exist?

Many do. A barometer, a sextant, a telegraph key, an ear trumpet, a zoetrope and a music box are real devices, described as Wikipedia describes them. A jar of fog labeled with a date is not.

Is any of it taken from a steampunk book or game?

No. The lists name no book, film, show or game. The roles, habits and troubles were written for this page.

Role: all 60 roles

Aloft 15

Workshop and engine room 15

Street and office 15

Science and show 15

Wears: all 60 outfits

Aloft 15

Workshop and engine room 15

Street and office 15

Science and show 15

Carries: all 60 objects

Aloft 15

Workshop and engine room 15

Street and office 15

Science and show 15

Tell: all 60 tells

Aloft 15

Workshop and engine room 15

Street and office 15

Science and show 15

Trouble: all 60 troubles

Aloft 15

Workshop and engine room 15

Street and office 15

Science and show 15

How it works

Aloft, in the works, in town and on stage

Real instruments, invented people

Questions and answers

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