Worldbuilding (especially from scratch) can be challenging, and this stage of the creative process is often where many projects die. There are so many genres and subgenres, each with different requirements for the worlds they take place in. I will start this series by showing you how to create a Dieselpunk world and giving you some resources to get inspired by.

What is Dieselpunk?

Dieselpunk is a subgenre of cyberpunk, which means it falls into the realm of science fiction (this will be important). Dieselpunk worlds are very often depicted as being retrofuturistic, similar to steampunk. 

Where dieselpunk differs from Steampunk is the overall grittiness of the world, due very heavily to it taking place between the 1920s and 50s. These are often known as the war eras. This is the period between the end of the first World War and the end of the second. This period is also characterized as when diesel power began to displace the steam engine.

Prompt Inspiration: A Steampunk world transitions to a dieselpunk world. Was this caused by dwindling resources, an industrialization boom, or something more sinister?

To Follow the Meta of Dieselpunk or Not

Remember how I said dieselpunk falls into the realm of science fiction? This is important because it establishes some early world Metas you can use when worldbuilding. An immediate meta you’ll probably want to include is the relationship the inhabitants of your world have with science and technology.

This relationship can be positive or negative. Questions you should ask yourself:

• How has technology helped civilization?
• Has anyone tried to use technology negatively, and what global consequence did it cause?

Another meta to consider when creating a dieselpunk world is the influence of the war eras. There are a lot of problematic things that happened during the 1920s-50s, and some of those things still cause problems in the real world today. A big question you are going to have to ask yourself when creating a dieselpunk world is “Do I really need to include X, Y, Z in this world?”

How you answer that question is ultimately going to come down to the purpose and reason behind creating this dieselpunk world. If you’re creating a dieselpunk world on a planet that is nothing like Earth (Yes you can absolutely do that), problematic elements that come from these eras probably don’t exist there. 

Likewise, if you want to use Earth as a setting, consider alternate history Earths. An example of an alternate universe in a different genre would be the world of Coyote & Crow. In this version of the world, a massive climate disaster around the year 1400 prevented the colonization of the Americas. 

Don’t Forget the Diesel in Dieselpunk

An important element to remember when creating dieselpunk worlds is to actually include the diesel. Does that mean you have to spend pages talking about oil and gas, no. In fact, you don’t necessarily have to mention it.

The diesel I’m referring to is the practical application of said resource. When you think of Steampunk after the fashion trends you probably think about the steam engine train and maybe even steam-powered airbuses. You want to include things that are “diesel-powered” to show that your world is dieselpunk. Transportation and technology are great ways to achieve that.

Ask yourself some of these questions.

What kind of transportation do inhabitants of your world use? Is this individual or public transportation? How has this impacted infrastructure?

• There was a time when going from the East Coast to the West Coast was a pain. Eisenhowers Interstate Highway Act of 1956 changed this drastically. 

Are there mechs, mobility devices, and vehicles running on this resource? Who has access to this type of technology?

• Cyberchairs: New Options in Mobility is a free expansion for Cyberpunk RED that adds cyberpunk-themed mobility chairs, you can use as inspiration. 
• I’d also recommend checking out The Combat Wheelchair, for even more inspiration on the subject.

• How do people power homes and businesses?
• What technology sets your world apart from everyone else’s?
• These are questions you should be asking yourself. 

I’m referring to diesel as a resource because you don’t have to use diesel to power your dieselpunk world. You can use any non-renewable fuel source. Especially if that resource is grungy and causes environmental issues. Keep in mind this is often what the “punks” in your dieselpunk world are fighting against. Always remember dieselpunk is a subgenre of cyberpunk. (Arasaka would like to know your location.

Examples of Dieselpunk Worlds in Media

Before you fully jump into creating a dieselpunk world, you should also look at some examples of the genre in various media.

• The Mad Max franchise:
• Video game
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• Mad Max (Original)
• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga – This is set to come out in 2024, so it would be a more recent example of dieselpunk in media. 
• Sucker Punch (film)
• Wolfenstein: The New Order (video game).
• 9 (animated film)
• Dieselpunk Wars (video game).
• Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (animated film).
• The Armored Core franchise (video game).
• Lancer (tabletop RPG)
• Warhammer 40K franchise (various games) – Some elements translate well into Dieselpunk settings.
• Bioshock (video game ) this is more Decopunk, but some elements can be translated as dieselpunk.

Breaking Down Dieselpunk

One thing I recommend when diving into subgenres like dieselpunk is to break it down. Dieselpunk is a subgenre of cyberpunk, cyberpunk is a subgenre of science fiction, and science fiction is a subgenre of fiction. If you imagine nesting dolls with dieselpunk being the smallest doll in your set, you’ll start to see how important it is to have a decent understanding of the larger genres.

When it comes to worldbuilding I recommend also pulling from neighboring subgenres to create more complex stories and worlds. Which genres you use to craft your world, will greatly depend on the end goal and purpose of your world. A comedic TTRPG campaign where the players attempt heists and overthrow a corrupt government, won’t necessarily use the same inspiration as a novel following a grumpy detective solving gruesome cases. 

Some cyberpunk subgenres I recommend you look into when figuring out how to build your dieselpunk worlds include:

1. Biopunk
   1. Typically focuses on the dangers of bioengineering and genetic enhancement. See GATTACA.
2. Steampunk
   1. Retro-futuristic and takes place during the Steam Age (1794-1914). See The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
3. Decopunk
   1. Centers around the Art Deco movement and is just a shinier dieselpunk setting.  See Metropolis.

Science Fiction subgenres you can use as inspiration in your dieselpunk worlds:

1. Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic Fiction
   1. Focuses on the collapse of civilization as the result of an apocalyptic event, such as climate change, impact events, nuclear, or depleted resources. See Mad Max.
2. Military Science Fiction
   1. Focuses on the use of science fiction technology for military purposes and often follows characters in military organizations. See Starship Troopers.
3. Space Western
   1. Uses themes and tropes from Westerns, but places them in outer space settings. See Cowboy Bebop. 

For broader sources of inspiration when building a dieselpunk world, I recommend looking at the following Fiction subgenres.

1. If your dieselpunk world takes place on Earth, consume some Historical Fiction.
2. If you are going for a very dark dieselpunk setting, look into Horror subgenres such as Lovecraftian horror, Gothic horror, and even body horror.
3. If you want the characters in your dieselpunk world to solve problems with minimal (not always) combat try looking at the Mystery genre.
4. Thriller
5. Action
6. The Western genre is a great reference for building heist encounters in dieselpunk settings.

Next Steps

Wow, that was a lot, and it is still only scratching the surface of how to build a dieselpunk world. At the end of the day, there are dozens of ways to approach worldbuilding, the most important thing you need to do is just start. Keep a notebook or use your notes app, to write down any idea that comes to mind. Is every idea going to make it into your final world? Probably not, and that’s okay. Every idea no matter how small and obscure, can become a springboard to further developing a world. 

So if you found yourself googling “How to Create a Dieselpunk World?” And you made it this far, write down any ideas you came up with while reading. If you’re not sure where to start, click through some of the reference links, and watch/read some of the recommendations. If it helps take notes on what you liked and disliked about each piece of media. Then draft out a few regions and key locations.

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