Steampunk and -tech games...

I've noticed that Steampunk is bigger and bigger in several upcoming games (not that we haven't had any already) but many of these games have elves and dwarves--and I'd honestly like something other than Elves and Dwarves (even my vaunted favorite the crazy Fae Sidhe sorts who sort of bend reality and are nasty elves..)



Now, what races would you use?



I'm considering, but not stuck on:



Moreau-People (from the Strange Island of Dr. Moreau, experiments earlier in the century lead to animal people, that are more stable than the book.)



Great Apes: Supersmart, have their own civilization hidden in Africa. Some factions may oppose humanity, some try and help them.





Steamforths: Steampowered robot-men. Artificial intelligence of the Victorian age made with complext clock and steam tech. Named for the first truly sapient (and accredited) member of their kind Dr. Steamforth who helped improve the process by which he was created for future generations.



Nighthydes: Not playable but freakish mutants who live in major cities, created by fallout of exposure to an aerosol bombing of Hyde-formula.







Anything else stealing from early/late era Victorian literature, or "near" Victorian literature?





What do you think? What would you do or not do?

Steampunk and -tech games...