Professor Muhammad Abd-al-Rahman (MAR) Barker, known to his friends as “Phil,” died peacefully in home hospice on March 16, 2012 with his wife Ambereen Barker at his side. Professor Barker is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ambereen. Details on memorial services will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Tékumel Foundation are… Continue reading Another friend passes away

This looks rather interesting. I’ve always had something of a soft spot for 2300AD, after originally rejecting it as “that weird game that was mislabeled as ‘Traveller’.” Once I figured out what the game was about, I rather liked the connection between it and Twilight:2000. I never really had a chance to play, and now… Continue reading Traveller Tuesday: 2300AD reborn!

When I first started playing D&D, back in 1975 or so, I was just a teenager. I played mostly with my high school friends, but after awhile I wanted to see how other people played.  So even though I was in high school, I discovered the Conflict Simulation Association at the University of Minnesota –… Continue reading Learning from Lessnard

The attached picture is a preview of a new release coming VERY soon from Prof. Barker and the Tekumel Foundation. It will be available through DriveThru/RPG Now. Details to follow soon!

Over at Playing D&D with Porn Stars, Zak is exploring some of the same issues I’ve experienced attempting to talk with Forge adherents about what, exactly, gaming is and is supposed to accomplish.  I pointed out Glenn Blacow’s excellent article about different kinds of gamers, which is itself an exploration of the different expectations that people… Continue reading What Zak said

I have completed three character “sheets” for three different games: Original D&D, Empire of the Petal Throne, and Mutant Future.  They are all 3×5 card sized, as they should be.  I’m feeling accomplished.  🙂

Well, maybe they had a good reason – at least insofar as Terry Jones can tell: What’s interesting about this is pretty straightforward.  In a quick half-hour show, Terry provides a glimpse of medieval life for peasants and that’s pretty useful for the aspiring RPG referee.  Past that, some of what Terry talks about gets… Continue reading The Peasants Are REVOLTING!

Wizards has recently made two announcements.  First, about the development of 5th Edition D&D, and then about the release of 1st Edition reprints (with new covers).  I think the idea of reprints to benefit the Gygax Memorial Fund is a great idea, so I’m all for that.  But as for a new edition of the… Continue reading Feeling unmoved

“Rise, Farashu, and hear the edict of the Ever-Lasting Guardian of the Gods.  Whereas you are said to be the last survivor of the Legion of the Sun-Bright Disk, and whereas that legion was known to all to have died to the last soldier in Katalal in the terrible War of 2020 A.S., and whereas… Continue reading The Best Laid Plans….

James Maliszewski and I were talking the other night about the practice of naming campaigns.  I got my start in gaming back in 1975, and after reading The Strategic Review, it was pretty clear to me that naming your campaign was a way to signify that it was your own interpretation of the game.  This wasn’t… Continue reading When “different” meant “interesting”