Am I the only one who sometimes looks at Golarion and thinks it would be coherent, even improved if, instead of sort of Renaissance era, it was sort of Victorian/Industrial Rvolution? Lots of setting elements have always struck me as inclined that way, given Paizo's affinity for Pulp. Action-adventure Egyptology in Osirion, colonialism in Sargava and the Mwangi Expanse, the Wild (make that Weird) West in Alkenstar...not to mention lots of the fashion choices in the art. Maybe it was just the analogies to Fagin in the character of Gaedren Lamm in Curse of the Crimson Throne, but Korvosa always made me think of Dickensian London. Plus of course, Gunslinger--and to a lesser extent, Investigator--fit better in that general time period.
Anyone ever toyed around with this? To what extent do mechanics and setting details need to be altered for this sort of theme?
I love Victorian Age, and I saw that there are already RPGs with that historical period.
Responding to your question... it would be difficult. This is a high-fantasy setting and Avistan has a lot of factors that, in fact, hinder technological development. Here's what to do:
* Resolve Worlwound's problem (see Wrath of the Righteous AP)
* Destroying Tar-Baphon
* The Taldor should recover from its decay
* Firearms are produced in Alkenstar (Mana Wastes). In addition to the difficulty of finding guns and rifles from Garund to Avistan, must also consider production/shipment costs of firearms, bullets and black powder.
* Alchemists could form a kind of Academy where they discuss chemistry, medicine and anatomy
* Do not provoke Baba Yaga and Cheliax!
Obviously there may be some negative factors, such as a gradual abandonment of the interest in magic or the development of social inequality.