I have just returned from North Texas RPG Con 2025, where I was a Special Guest again this year. I had a fantastic time, running two Tékumel adventures using Empire of the Petal Throne rules. I also had a chance to see the two Legions of Tekumel miniatures battles, run by Rob Smith and Scott… Continue reading Tékumel Thursday: NTRPG Con 2025
In my previous Tékumel Thursday, I talked about understanding the map of the city of Jakálla, and one of the questions I did not answer was “where are the marketplaces of the city?” That is a very good question, and one that needs direct attention. But I want to start with two observations to act… Continue reading Tékumel Thursday: In the Foreigners Quarter
One of the interesting aspects of Empire of the Petal Throne is that it includes the first city map for a roleplaying game, the map of the city of Jakálla. (The first fully-detailed city setting, The City-State of the Invincible Overlord, was published by Judges Guild in 1976, a year after Empire of the Petal… Continue reading Tékumel Thursday: The City Half As Old As The World
Okay, this blog post has been delayed for a day, due to taking my cat Dorian to the vet. He’s doing much better now, so I can finish this post. I have also decided to split this post into two posts, because there is just so much to talk about when it comes to combat… Continue reading Tékumel Thursday 13: EPT Rules Updates-Combat Sequence
One of the biggest issues I had to deal with in starting my Tékumel campaign had to do with alignment. Tékumel’s alignment system is different from the various alignment systems in D&D, and is more grounded in the setting, which is helpful. My experience in the original campaign was that the player-characters worshiped different gods,… Continue reading Tékumel Thursdays 12: Alignment in my Tékumel campaign
The need to convey news about what was happening elsewhere in the Empire presented a challenge to Prof. Barker in the original campaign – or player-characters were along with Prince Eselné when this encounter took place: “…Know ye, O Omnipotent Eye Which Sees the World, that your excellent son, Lord Eselné, has travelled to Chéne… Continue reading Tékumel Thursday 11: Trolls in the Woods
It is worth keeping in mind that Empire of the Petal Throne (EPT) was one of the first roleplaying games published after Original D&D. The fact that it is well-written and laid-out in a clean and attractive fashion for the time can mask this fact. But that also means that there are things not necessarily… Continue reading Tékumel Thursday 10: EPT Rules Updates – Introduction
Tékumel is very well suited to the long-form tabletop roleplaying campaign. It has cultural, social, and historical depth, it covers a vast area, and has tremendous detail to it. It is also incomplete, which invites further participation by game masters wanting to contribute their own ideas to the game. So it should not be surprising… Continue reading Tékumel Thursday 9: Starting My Campaign
