tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post8527192788022058057..comments2024-03-25T21:52:03.310-05:00Comments on Hill Cantons: Empire of the Petal Throne, the “Gamist” Early YearsChris Kutalikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414743509426875792noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-73219832746869123512011-01-13T12:09:11.236-06:002011-01-13T12:09:11.236-06:00Lovely! I have just dug my Tékumel stuff out and h...Lovely! I have just dug my Tékumel stuff out and have been considering EPT almost exclusively, although since I'm not already on the up-and-up with OD&D variants, the thought of converting some of it to Call of Cthulhu style BRP lite has some appeal. Is a sró SIZ 40 or 50?? But the challenge of parsing an old school rules text from someone as verbose and self-referential as Barker is a great challenge!<br /><br />http://story-games.com/forums/comments.php?DiscussionID=2797&page=1#Item_0 Some interesting thoughts on Tekumel in the main Indie games forum.CYKRAGNOSTIChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10335060644771219933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-81163131591608538082010-10-18T18:28:27.647-05:002010-10-18T18:28:27.647-05:00The only way to run "crazy" settings IMH...The only way to run "crazy" settings IMHO is for the players to be outsiders, like those southerns come north to seek their fortunes. Going to sleep in a cave, fell through a portal, crash landed, whatever. Or, instead of the players going to the weird, bring the weird to them. Like Cthulhu, or making the wilderness beyond the kingdom's border be a Mythic/Mystical place where normal does not rule.<br /><br />Then as DM you introduce the crazy slowly, **in game**. The players pick it up at their speed and in the "directions" they get excited about. Dumping more than 1 page (sometimes even that) of background / society / special classes or rules on players overloads them and their eyes glaze over. esp if they got jobs/family/life and came to game for 4-6 hours once/month and not read your version of the Similarion.Norman J. Harman Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01319655075997712313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-63763655553950263082010-10-16T11:35:50.921-05:002010-10-16T11:35:50.921-05:00If you are going to go "lite"--and you c...If you are going to go "lite"--and you can field a group of players willing to trust your guiding GM hand--you may just consider Barker's ultra-lite adjudication I quoted in the previous post.Chris Kutalikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01414743509426875792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-75474643670447536452010-10-15T21:34:58.906-05:002010-10-15T21:34:58.906-05:00"What rules system are you thinking of using?...<i>"What rules system are you thinking of using?"</i><br /><br />That's a question I've been puzzling over. The format of the game is going to be pretty unique, and would probably be best if nearly diceless. I've been thinking about using this:<br />http://mimgames.com/window/welcome/migellitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17106614212764056058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-59420753185626834542010-10-15T21:04:07.349-05:002010-10-15T21:04:07.349-05:00@Migellito
I think this only underscores one of my...@Migellito<br />I think this only underscores one of my points, Tekumel can do with more people taking the setting, not sweating how precise their version of it is and just running with it as a game. <br /><br />The original set-up in OEPT (and apparently in the first campaign) is not a bad place to start without sweating too much about the canon as it presupposes that the PCs are a bunch of barbarian literally fresh off the boat. As such they wouldn't be too familiar with the details of Tsolyani life, giving you a lot more leeway to fudge or ignore many of the more subtle or obtuse setting details. <br /><br />What rules system are you thinking of using?Chris Kutalikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01414743509426875792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-8256062394342140602010-10-15T19:31:18.026-05:002010-10-15T19:31:18.026-05:00I'm still planning on running an online Tekume...I'm still planning on running an online Tekumel, but I don't feel like I've read enough background yet. However, I also get the sense that I could easily feel that way after reading everything ever published for the game, as well.<br /><br />I believe my solution is going to be the same one I turned to when running my Middle Earth campaign, that being: set it on an uncharted part of the planet.<br /><br />I'm fond of this option because it allows a thick dose of setting flavour without as much stress over specifics. It allows poetic license, while at the same time offering the possibility of eventually visiting 'Rivendell.'migellitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17106614212764056058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-80267881683244641942010-10-15T08:16:59.472-05:002010-10-15T08:16:59.472-05:00Thanks for the ups! And I got rid of a lot of gre...Thanks for the ups! And I got rid of a lot of great stuff last year ... EPT, every major Wilderlands product, first print Tegel Manor, First Fantasy Campaign, etc. 2009 was rough.<br /><br />I did, luckily, keep my 3LB and have rebuilt a small but consistently useful stack of gaming books.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00155926145150934199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-29006226211876388932010-10-15T08:11:13.267-05:002010-10-15T08:11:13.267-05:00@ Scott
Your approach smacks way too much of the s...@ Scott<br />Your approach smacks way too much of the sensible, time to take the high ride. Seriously though, I do agree that Barker, like Arneson, sets a great example of how to run a great game. <br /><br />Surprised to hear you let all that stuff go. But who am I to judge I have been ruthlessly purging my gaming collection by way of the Ebay auction--including the d20 Wilderlands box set. It's a good feeling letting go of all that flotsam and jetsam. <br /><br />And for other readers not familiar with Scott's blog, Huge Ruined Pile, you should definitely check out his dark fantasy version of the Wilderlands. It has that "man wish I was a player" in that game thing written all over it.Chris Kutalikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01414743509426875792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-36050792262696090162010-10-14T14:23:26.228-05:002010-10-14T14:23:26.228-05:00I love Tekumel, but usually look at it more as som...I <i>love</i> Tekumel, but usually look at it more as something to inspire one's own work and show what a creative Ref can do, rather than as a setting to run. Too darned much canon.<br /><br />(I actually sold my Mitlanyal 1 & 2, Book of Ebon Bindings, and Swords and Glory stuff.)<br /><br />If I were to run it, I'd do something similar to what I do with my Wilderlands and just use the original book. Victor Raymond, one of Barker's players, does something like this, I believe ... I got to play in one of his PBPs for a while but had to bow out right around the same time I took a hiatus from all gaming.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00155926145150934199noreply@blogger.com