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09:18, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne.

Posted by horus
horus
member, 25 posts
Wayfarer of the
Western Wastes
Sun 22 Jan 2017
at 09:11
  • msg #1

Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne

Just a check for interest to see if anyone would be interested in playing/helping GM a campaign set in M.A.R. Barker's world of Tekumel.

I would probably use either the original Empire of the Petal Throne rules or the newest system, Bethorm.

This game would take extensive preparation and setup before launch, which is why I'm checking for interest before even starting.

EDIT:  My apologies for not saying this at the outset of this thread:  Tekumel definitely qualifies as an ADULT setting.  As such, I will be compelled to require players be of the age of majority and capable of accessing adult games here.

Thanks in advance for your replies.
This message was last edited by the user at 11:12, Sun 22 Jan 2017.
lensman
member, 166 posts
Crestline, CA, -8 GMT
Sun 22 Jan 2017
at 09:33
  • msg #2

Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne

I have an unhealthy obsession to participate in a Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne game.  It is the one that I never played and have heard great stories of.

Knowing posting rate and ruleset, number of characters and campaign idea would seal my decision, count me as an enthusiastic interested RTJ.
horus
member, 27 posts
Wayfarer of the
Western Wastes
Sun 22 Jan 2017
at 09:53
  • msg #3

Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne

In reply to lensman (msg # 2):

Thanks for posting.  Tekumel is a very detailed and richly developed milieu, so posting rate would probably be about once a week unless the scene degenerated to combat, which might post more often just to keep things moving.

Number of characters?  I think, if each player plays one character, a group of from six to eight players would be optimal.

Rulesets:  Empire of The Petal Throne was published in 1975 by TSR and is hard to come by (but I have it, along with various supplements).  It is very similar to original Dungeons & Dragons.  One should not confuse it with the much more recent Tekumel: Empire of The Petal Throne by the now defunct Guardians of Order.

Bethorm:  The Plane of Tekumel by Uni Games is the most recent rule set I know of (I supported its Kickstarter campaign).  It appears to be more complicated than I might like, but I'm willing to do more research.

Over the 'net I tend to run things "loosely based" on an existing rule system - that is, I tend not to be hidebound by the rules when they get in the way of a good game.
This message was last edited by the user at 09:56, Sun 22 Jan 2017.
Jhaelan
member, 162 posts
Prefers roles to rolls
Based in UTC+1
Sun 22 Jan 2017
at 10:46
  • msg #4

Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne

I might be tempted. Never played D&D but if you're happy to handle rules behind the scenes
horus
member, 31 posts
Wayfarer of the
Western Wastes
Sun 22 Jan 2017
at 13:55
  • msg #5

Re: Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne

Jhaelan:
I might be tempted. Never played D&D but if you're happy to handle rules behind the scenes


Yup.  I'll tend to do rules-related stuff in private lines to the affected character(s), and try to keep the play action sweeping and cinematic as befits High Fantasy.
Jhaelan
member, 163 posts
Prefers roles to rolls
Based in UTC+1
Sun 22 Jan 2017
at 16:14
  • msg #6

Re: Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne

Count me in then
horus
member, 33 posts
Wayfarer of the
Western Wastes
Mon 23 Jan 2017
at 03:39
  • msg #7

Re: Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne

Jhaelan:
Count me in then


Thanks.  Looks like I might want to start noodling on something serious, then.
Alvyn
member, 42 posts
Mon 23 Jan 2017
at 07:25
  • msg #8

Re: Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne

I am definitely interested. Recently discovered Tekumel and am very eager for a chance to explore the setting.
horus
member, 35 posts
Wayfarer of the
Western Wastes
Mon 23 Jan 2017
at 11:27
  • msg #9

Re: Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne

Seems there is definitely sufficient interest for me to put something together.  One thing:  I may look at the open-source rule system Tirikelu as an option.  It will likely be the easiest for everyone to get hold of (I can legally give you copies of it).  It's very "rules-light" which is kinda my style anyhow.

Folks, anyone who has posted here by the time I get the game built will receive an rMail notifying them when the game is ready.  Thanks to all who have already posted, and to those may express interest between now and then.

If you want to get a leg up on this, begin familiarizing yourself with the Tsolyani Empire, its customs, people, and institutions.  That will be the setting for Adventure One.

This will be my second game on RPoL, but I've been a fan of Tekumel for decades, and have some experience running it.
StarMaster
member, 259 posts
Mon 23 Jan 2017
at 17:38
  • msg #10

Re: Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne

Even when the game came out originally, there were so few Americans that knew a second language that most gamers struggled over the names. Everything looked too 'foreign' for us, and it was too annoying to struggle over odd spellings and pronunciations. That would be my 'excuse' for never getting into the game.

The industry and the role-playing game itself has evolved since those early days. I'm inclined to give it a try now (even if I pronounce everything 'george').
Alyse
member, 547 posts
Pretty, witty, and gay
(married since 2011!)
Mon 23 Jan 2017
at 21:53
  • msg #11

Re: Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne

The official website contains a wealth of information about the setting, without going so deep as to hurt anyone's brain.

 ~ http://www.tekumel.com/
InvisibleSword
member, 95 posts
Tue 24 Jan 2017
at 00:22
  • msg #12

Re: Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne

Very interested in playing this classic setting.
Alvyn
member, 43 posts
Tue 24 Jan 2017
at 06:10
  • msg #13

Re: Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne

horus:
Folks, anyone who has posted here by the time I get the game built will receive an rMail notifying them when the game is ready.  Thanks to all who have already posted, and to those may express interest between now and then.


Very keen about this. I am more happy with rules-light systems so that should be fine, and I'm already reading through the Guardians of Order version of the corebook.
horus
member, 39 posts
Wayfarer of the
Western Wastes
Tue 24 Jan 2017
at 08:27
  • msg #14

Re: Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 10):

I get the language barrier - my Tsolyani is terrible - I sound like a redneck from Mu'uglavya somewhere.

I'll post a glossary somewhere to explain terms, but I don't expect anyone to actually try to use Tsolyani or any of the other numerous languages of Tekumel here (too darned many diacritical marks, for one thing...)

We'll probably use private groups to simulate the various different languages.

I'm in offline development right now, and when I have enough to get this started (to take care of character creation, etc.) I'll go ahead and create a game and notify.

I may be running dangerously close to being outside the purpose of this thread, so I'll stop posting here except to keep saying "Thank you".
This message was last edited by the user at 06:00, Tue 31 Jan 2017.
horus
member, 45 posts
Wayfarer of the
Western Wastes
Fri 27 Jan 2017
at 21:48
  • msg #15

Re: Tekumel:  Empire of The Petal Throne

In keeping with usual traditions hereabouts, here's a link to what I have so far.

Tsolyani Blue

It's gonna take me a while to get this set up to where I'm comfortable running a game, but that will give interested player a chance to join, enter the pre-game discussion, create characters, and basically keep me motivated...

To those who expressed interest here, your rMail is waiting.  Thanks!

I apologize for one thing:  I overlooked the option to use The Petal Hack as a game system.  It's free, it's written by a long-time confidant of the late Professor Barker, and it's a great intro to Tekumel gaming.

See you in the Tsuru'umyal!
This message was last edited by the user at 22:03, Fri 27 Jan 2017.
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