I know what I want, I just need advice on what rules/mechanics to make it work. A late steam era level empire is the primary power, magic is still very much in force, and said empire uses a racial tier system. Idea for that is "pure" humanoids are on top, fey, half-orcs, etc various levels below. There will also be clockwork style mecha and airships of different kinds.
Another issues is I want to use some races using the rules for creating races but...they are a bit strong, 2 are monstrous level, and one si advanced.
For reference the social tiering goes: Select humanoid races, half-orcs, teiflings, similar, other mostly humanoid races. then your Kitsune, and other humanoid beast-like races and in last would be lizardfolk, centaurs, magically created races, etc that are beast like or of artificial origins. Lower tier your race, the worse general treatment is.The empire originally started as a confederacy of nation states to combat either evil dragons that suddenly increased in population, or an extra planar threat. I also plan on having flying/floating cities, with an inspiration of part Midgar, part lifted landmass, and part sky fortress Bahamut from Final Fantasy 12. To power these cities, I was thinking of a system using traditional steam sources for the smallest and the largest using a system of portals to the elemental planes of water and fire to create a perpetual steam engine.
I also might have steampunk style mechanized armor. If very rare. And a wide variety of design, from tank-like to steam powered armor, to mechanical mounts.
I am very nervous to share my one race because it might be controversial. Also not sure if should make multiple topics for this.
