Tekumel FAQ
Brett Slocum
Archive-name: games/roleplay/tekumel-faq
[Empire of the Petal Throne]
Tékumel Frequently Asked Questions
This document resides on the World Wide Web on Illuminati Online
(http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/tekumel/tek_faq.html ).
Last update: 20-Nov-2000
Version: 3.1
If you have any suggestions for new FAQ questions, or if you discover any
mistakes, or if you feel some additional info would help a FAQ question, or
if you want to write up a FAQ question, feel free to suggest/correct/ do it
and send it to Brett Slocum (slo...@skypoint.com).
Contents
* 1: Recent changes to the FAQ
* 2: Information about this document
* 3: General Questions
o 3.1: What is Tékumel?
o 3.2: Who is M.A.R. Barker?
o 3.3: What does 'M.A.R.' stand for?
* 4: Game Products Questions
o 4.1: What Tékumel products are available?
o 4.2: What is happening with the current TOME publications?
o 4.3: What Tékumel products are now out-of-print?
o 4.4: Where can I get Tékumel miniatures?
o 4.5: When will the third volume of the Sourcebook reprint be
published?
o 4.6: When will Mitlanyál be published?
o 4.7: I have $50 to spend. Which books should I buy?
* 5: Tékumel Resource Questions
o 5.1: What magazines have had Tékumel articles?
o 5.2: What Tékumel fanzines are available?
o 5.3: What Tékumel books have been published?
o 5.4: What BBSes have Tékumel groups?
o 5.5: Is there a WWW page for Tékumel?
o 5.6: What newsgroups discuss Tékumel?
o 5.7: What material is available via FTP?
o 5.8: Where can I get out of print materials?
o 5.9: Is there a Tékumel mailing list?
o 5.10: When will the third Tékumel novel, Lords of Tsámra, be
published?
* 6: Other Questions
o 6.1: Do I have to use [insert rule system] to play a Tékumel
game?
* 7: Credits
1: Recent additions and changes to the FAQ
* The list of available products was expanded to include all the
wonderful reprints from Carl Brodt and Tita's House of Games in
section 4.1.
* Section 4.3 - Out-Of-Print Products was greatly reduced for the above
reason.
* Robert Smith's 15mm miniatures were removed from section 4.4, since
they are no longer available. Contact info for PHD Games, Inc. was
updated.
* The answer to section 4.5 was changed.
* The new mailing list at egroups.com was added to section 5.9.
* Various other minor changes and fixes were made.
(Up to Table of Contents)
2: Information about this document
This is an introduction to the fantasy world of Tékumel. It is aimed at
people who know little about Tékumel, but want to know more.
This informational document is posted to alt.games.frp.tekumel,
rec.games.frp.announce, news.answers, alt.answers and rec.answers monthly.
The latest and best version is always available on the web as
http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/tekumel/tek_faq.html.
For information on FTP, send e-mail to mail-...@rtfm.mit.edu with:
send usenet/news.answers/finding-sources
in the body (not subject line) of your message, instead of asking me.
Brett Slocum maintains this document. Feedback about it is to be sent via
e-mail to slo...@skypoint.com.
Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies in the posted version of this
document, as it is automatically generated from the HTML version.
(Up to Table of Contents)
3: General questions
3.1: What is Tékumel?
Okay, a (not really) brief description of Tékumel: explorers from Human
space discovered Tékumel about 60,000 years in the future. There was a
terrible nuclear war on Earth around 2013, and the European nations and the
U.S. and China were destroyed. South America, the Indian subcontinent, and
the Middle East (for some reason) survived (no mention is made in the brief
introduction of Africa) survived, and gradually rebuilt and became a world
state of sorts, and humanity spread to the stars, using miraculously high
technology (FTL ships--the "Three-Light Drive," contra-gravity, beam
weapons, super-dense alloys, androids, and power systems which poked holes
in the continuum and drew near-limitless energy through from n-dimensional
space). Tékumel was a large world, but had a light core and a low density.
It was home to acidic native life forms, several of which were sentient and
had even attained early space flight. Humans, and their alien allies,
conquered the natives and terraformed the planet, making its ecosystem very
earthlike and installing massive gravity engines that gave it an Earthlike
day and year and 1.0G. Tékumel was situated on a major trade route, and
became a mercantile pleasure world, which had to import metals and
industrial goods for the very rich that lived there.
Then Something Bad (tm) happened.
Apparently, through unknown agency, Tékumel and its entire star system fell
into a pocket dimension. Gravitic stresses nearly tore the planet apart,
and destroyed many cities and installations. Interstellar trade was
immediately and permanently severed. The native races, who'd been confined
in prison-like "reservations", broke free and made war. Civilization fell
rather messily, and the Time of Darkness descended.
Sometime after the disaster, human scientists/philosophers (perhaps aided
by the some of the more psychically gifted nonhumans) discovered that in
the new dimension, the power of the human mind alone, unaided by
technology, could draw power through from extra-dimensional space, and
"magic" developed. The sorcerers of the ancient Empire of Llyán of Tsámra
mapped nexi between various dimensions and made pacts with various dwellers
of other planes, called "demons" by the uninitiated. Great empires rose and
fell over the next 30,000 years; the presence of "magic" (really psychic
phenomena), along with the obvious superiority (and near-complete
inscrutability) of the sciences of the Ancients (whose technology was
largely irreparable due to a lack of necessary raw materials) led to a
stagnation of the sciences, and to societies which depended largely upon
tradition, precedent, and the bonds of family and clan for stability.
Contact was also made with a race of extremely powerful beings that were
for all human purposes gods. These beings subtly encouraged human worship
and dependence; great unchanging religious bureaucracies developed, and
after several millennia of religious warfare, the temples agreed upon a
Concordat which disallowed open religious conflict, which further
exaggerated the Tékumelani tendency toward stagnation. The people of
Tékumel lack the anthropocentric belief that the universe is knowable and
conquerable; they know that there are races and beings which dwarf them in
power, and that there are magics and sciences which are far beyond their
grasp; intellectual and scientific curiosity is rare and even subtly
discouraged.
As a result of these historical processes, there exist upon the face of the
great primary continent of the northeastern hemisphere of Tékumel the Five
Empires, all of which are monarchical/theocratic oligarchies in which
precedent and tradition hold the strength of law, and many smaller states
which balance themselves between two or more of their larger neighbors.
There are small enclaves of nonhuman races, most of whom owe allegiance to
a human empire, and several states ruled by the inimical races, who still
hate humanity and its allies with a passion, but are outnumbered by the
more invaders. The Five Empires (one of which is the titular Empire of the
Petal Throne, Tsolyánu) have technology about on the level of the European
Renaissance (aqueducts, good roads, simple mechanics, wheeled carts, siege
engines, crude surgery and slightly more advanced pharmacology, crossbows,
water clocks, etc.). Their governments are greatly hidebound and
bureaucratic, like those of ancient China. They have mighty, well-organized
legions like those of the Romans. Their gods are like those of the Hindus,
with a heavy dose of the bloodthirsty Aztec or Mayan deities. Their legal
codes and sciences are much like those of the Arab philosophers of the
Middle Ages; they are obsessed with personal and family honor, much like
the medieval Japanese. The societies presented with the game are very
intricate and very old (the youngest governments are some 2,500 years
developed, and they have histories, traditions, and myths stretching back
some 25,000 years). Professor M.A.R. Barker, the author of the game, is a
full professor of linguistics and anthropology; he has developed scripts,
languages (and I mean a language one can speak, with a grammar handbook and
lexicon, like Tolkien's Elvish or Roddenberry's Klingon, in the case of
Tsolyáni), histories, modes of dress, etiquettes, architectural styles,
weapons and armor, religions, legal codes, demographics, sciences, etc. for
all of the major and most of the minor cultures.
Since the societies are so intricate and formal, political maneuvering and
subtlety, combined with the right amount of heroic action and appropriate
posturing, are the keys to power, and many campaigns, as well as that of
Professor Barker himself from reports, thus deal mostly with intrigue and
plotting between the various power groups, combined with expeditions after
some bit of lost knowledge or some sorcerous object from an ancient tomb
(yes, dungeon crawling!!!). There are bits and pieces of ancient
technology, which still function (many are self-repairing within limits,
others have been maintained carefully by human and nonhuman sages or by
robot servitors); these are fought over as powerful tools. The game's scope
is very grand; the Tékumelani do everything *BIG*. There are mighty legions
of thousands of soldiers wearing brightly-lacquered armor, wearing great
Kheshchál-plumes, and beating huge Karéng war drums, sorcerers calling on
terrible demons with secret names, giant pyramidal temples thousands of
years old upon which hundreds of war-captives are sacrificed to Vimúhla,
the Lord of Flame, etc.
Tékumelani culture is very baroque, with titles like Reader of the Peerless
Scrolls of Martial Glory, huge statues of the 97th Aspect of Lady Avánthe,
Tánule the Patron of Lovers, and twenty-three forms of the pronoun "you",
to be used when speaking to individuals of varying status and profession!
Overall, the game world is quite alien to traditional FRP gamers (which I
happen to think is a good thing, but that's me). Many people feel that it's
*too* strange, and can't be run by anyone but Barker. I know that my
gamers, a very traditional sword-and-sorcery blood-and-thunder bunch, at
first found the difficulty of Tékumelani pronunciation and the lack of
comfortable stereotypes like barbarian, wizard, elf, orc, and dragon, to be
disconcerting, but after two years of gaming on Tékumel they like it a lot,
and use Tékumelani terms to describe *other* games and situations. It takes
some getting used to, and a good bit of homework on the part of the GM, but
if you're looking for a game world that is unique, interesting, and very
well- thought-out and developed, give Tékumel a go, it's cool. It's much
better than _Cats_. You will play it again and again.
(Source: Theron Goudeau)
3.2: Who is M.A.R. Barker?
Professor M.A.R. Barker is a retired professor of linguistics and South
Asian Studies at the University of Minnesota. He has published several
texts on the Urdu language, a common language of India and Pakistan.
For the most of the last twenty years he has run two weekly gaming groups
in Tékumel, though he dropped one group a few years ago.
3.3: What does 'M.A.R.' stand for?
Muhammed Abd-al-Rahman.
(Up to Table of Contents)
4: Game Products Questions
4.1: What Tékumel products are available?
The Book of Ebon Bindings, M.A.R. Barker, Theatre of the Mind
Enterprises (TOME), 1991. A book on Tékumelani demonology.
Adventures on Tékumel, Part One: Growing Up On Tékumel, M.A.R. Barker,
TOME, 1992. Character generation rules for the new game system.
Adventures on Tékumel, Part Two, Volumes I-III, M.A.R. Barker, TOME,
1992-1994. These three volumes are solitaire adventures. They give
details of the recent political events surrounding the war with Yán
Kór and the ascension of the new Emperor.
The Tékumel Bestiary, M.A.R. Barker and Victor Raymond, TOME, 1993.
Descriptions of the fauna (and some deadly flora) of Tékumel.
Gardásiyal: Deeds of Glory, M.A.R. Barker and Neil R. Cauley, TOME,
1995. It is a boxed set of three books (Player's Book, Sorcerous
Compendium, and Referee's Guide), plus a folder of pre-generated
characters and reference sheets. A full-color map and dice are also
included.
This is a completion of the Adventures on Tékumel
series, and Part One: Growing Up on Tékumel is required
to generate new characters. The pre-generated
characters are suitable for a quick start to
role-playing. The Tékumel Bestiary is needed to provide
descriptions of the creatures of Tékumel. Some form of
the sourcebook (see below) or the original Empire of
the Petal Throne (see below) is needed for more
extensive background material than is given in
Adventures on Tékumel: Part One.
Hordes of the Things, Phil Barker (distant cousin to MAR).
These miniatures rules contain army lists for Tékumel to use with
the system.
Armies of Tékumel:
Volume 1: Tsolyánu, M.A.R. Baker, Imperium Publishing
Company, 1978.
Later reprinted by Adventure Games in 1981, and now
reprinted by Tita's House of Games.
Volume 2: Yán Kór and Allies, M.A.R. Barker, Adventure
Games, 1981, and now reprinted by Tita's House of
Games.
Volume 3: Mu'ugalavyá, M.A.R. Barker and Bob
Brynaldson, The Tékumel Journal, 1983, and now
reprinted by Tita's House of Games.
Volume 4: Salarvyá, M.A.R. Barker and Bob Brynaldson,
The Tékumel Journal, 1983, and now reprinted by Tita's
House of Games.
Volume 5: Livyánu and Tsoléi, M.A.R. Barker and Bob
Brynaldson, The Tékumel Journal, 1983, and now
reprinted by Tita's House of Games.
Volume 6: Shényu,
These volumes are invaluable if you intend to do serious
miniatures gaming. There is little material for role-playing
here, but some of the background material may be worthwhile.
Swords and Glory Volume I: Tékumel Sourcebook, M.A.R. Barker,
Gamescience, 1982, reprinted by Tita's House of Games.
Empire of the Petal Throne, M.A.R. Barker, reprinted by Different
Worlds, 1985, reprinted by Tita's House of Games.
Deeds of the Ever Glorious, M.A.R. Barker, Adventure Games,
1981, reprinted by Tita's House of Games.
A list of the then-active Tsolyáni legions, with detailed
histories of each one.
A Jakállan Intrigue, Mark Pettigrew, Tékumel Games, 1984,
reprinted by Tita's House of Games.
Political intrigue at a party given at a Lady's mansion.
The Tomb Complex of Nereshánbo, Mark Pettigrew, Tékumel Games,
1984, reprinted by Tita's House of Games.
Legions of the Petal Throne, David Sutherland, TSR Rules, 1977,
reprinted by Tita's House of Games.
The first published rules for miniatures combat on Tékumel. A
good set of rules for a beginner.
Northwest Frontier Maps and Gazetteer, Thomas Thompson and M.A.R.
Barker, Tékumel Games, Inc., 1986, reprinted by Tita's House of
Games. A set of six maps for the northwestern border of Tsolyánu
and a gazetteer for notable features in the area.
Qadardálikoi, Jeff Berry and M.A.R. Barker, Tékumel Games, 1983,
reprinted by Tita's House of Games.
The set of miniatures rules for Tékumel. Detailed, suitable for
campaigns, as well as single battles.
Swords and Glory, Volume I: The Tékumel Sourcebook, M.A.R.
Barker, Gamescience, 1983, reprinted by Tita's House of Games.
The encyclopaedic reference to Tékumel.
Swords and Glory, Volume II: Tékumel Player's Handbook, M.A.R.
Barker, Gamescience, 1984, reprinted by Tita's House of Games.
Swords & Glory Index to Volume 1 The Source Book, Thomas
Thompson, Tékumel Games, 1985, reprinted by Tita's House of
Games.
The Tsolyáni Language, Volumes 1 and 2, M.A.R. Barker, Imperium
Publishing Company, 1978.
Later reprinted by Adventure Games in 1981, now reprinted by
Tita's House of Games. A grammar,
English-Tsolyáni/Tsolyáni-English dictionary, and a handy phrase
book if you happen to be wandering around Tsolyánu. The source of
the list of the 34 different ways to say "you".
The Tsolyáni Primer, Curtis Scott, Tékumel Journal, 1982,
reprinted by Tita's House of Games.
An introduction to the Tsolyáni language in seventeen lessons.
War of the Wizards, M.A.R. Barker, Tactical Studies Rules, 1975,
reprinted by Tita's House of Games.
A board game of magical duels between two wizards in the
Hirilákte Arena that precedes Magic: the Gathering by two
decades.
Qadardálikoi/Battle Cards, Andrew Lorince.
Cards for recording information for Tékumel miniatures gaming
4.2: What is happening with the current TOME publications?
Gardásiyal: Deeds of Glory was released in April 1995. See the full
description under section 4.1.
TOME planned on publishing Mitlányal, a book of the religions of Tékumel,
but they took too long. See section 4.6 below for more info.
It is always better to get products through your local gaming store. You
don't pay postage and the local store and distributors know there is demand
for the product. If you can't get the TOME products from a local source,
here is TOME's address:
Theatre of the Mind Enterprises (TOME)
The Byrne Building, Lincoln and Morgan Streets.
Suite 200
Phoenixville PA 19460
4.3: What Tékumel products are now out-of-print?
Incomplete List:
The Art of Tactical Sorcery, John Tiehen, Tékumel Games, 1985.
Swords and Glory-type spells for military magical contingents.
The Book of Ebon Bindings, M.A.R. Barker, Imperium Publishing
Co., 1978.
A book on Tékumelani demonology. Currently reprinted by Theatre
of the Mind Enterprises.
Citizenship Document, M.A.R. Barker, Tékumel Games.
Declaration of War Color Poster, M.A.R. Barker, Tékumel Games.
Empire of the Petal Throne, M.A.R. Barker, Tactical Studies
Rules, 1975.
Later reprinted by Gamescience and Different Worlds.
Gateway to Tékumel Character Information Booklet, Curtis M.
Scott, 1983.
Miniatures for Tékumel, M.A.R. Barker and Chirené Bakál, Tékumel
Journal, 1982.
Painting guide with detailed drawings of the then-available
miniatures and some figures that were planned at the time. These
are the same figures currently being sold by PHD Games.
Míssum, Gary Rudolph, Imperium Publishing Company, 1978.
A simple set of rules, later superseded by Qadardálikoi.
The Nightmare Maze of Jigrésh, Michael E. Mayeau, Judges Guild,
1981.
Some copies are available from the sources for out-of-print
products listed below
Other unpublished material:
An introduction to Tékumel, Donald A. Kaiser, ed., 1989.
Compiled from the writings of Prof. M.A.R. Barker. Handout given out
at GenCon 1989.
World of Tékumel Temple of Vimúhla (Lord of Fire) in the City of
Kátalal.
2 page handout accompanying display of temple model at GenCon.
World of Tékumel Battle Kibitzers Guide 1 & 2, Ken Fletcher, 1982.
World of Tékumel Battle Kibitzers Guide 3 & 4, Ken Fletcher, 1982.
Explanatory sheets for EPT miniatures game at GenCon.
(Sources: Brett Slocum, Robert Dushay, Bruce Roberts, Phil Polli, Zane
Healy, Ted Lyng, and Chris Davis)
4.4: Where can I get Tékumel miniatures?
The original 25-mm figures produced by various companies since the '70's,
as well as new figures, are available from PHD Games (phdga...@aol.com).
Send to the email address above a price list. Or send to:
PHD Games Inc.
588 Evangeline Road
Montz LA 70068
Robert Smith's 15 mm miniatures are no longer available.
4.5: When will the third volume of the Sourcebook reprint be published?
Carl Brodt and Tita's House of Games are going to publish this in 2001 or
so.
(Source: Carl Brodt)
4.6: When will Mitlanyál be published?
Bob Alberti had a signed contract with TOME to publish Mitlanyál, the
sourcebook of Tekumeláni religions. TOME had until mid 1999 to publish it.
Since they didn't, Bob is pursuing other publishing options.
(Source: Bob Alberti)
4.7: I have $50 to spend. Which books should I buy?
It depends.
The most important setting book is the Tékumel Sourcebook from Gamescience.
Don't be fooled by the version from Different Worlds, as the two DW books
only have 2/3 of the info from the Gamescience version. You can get this
from Tita's House of Games for $30. It also includes the wonderful maps of
the continent. Get this regardless of whether you want a complete, playable
game or just setting material.
If you want a complete, playable game, the cheapest option is buying a copy
of the Tita's House of Games version of Empire of the Petal Throne.
Another option is to get a copy of the GURPS Tékumel web book (free), a
copy of GURPS Lite (also free), and a copy of GURPS Magic ($19.95). This
will get you a good start, but the full magic system also needs GURPS
Grimoire ($19.95).
If you only want setting material and can adapt it to whatever game system
you want, get the Gamescience Sourcebook, and then add options from Tita's.
You might consider the Jakálla map ($2.50 also from Tita's). This is the
map for a metropolis in Tsolyánu, the main empire for most campaigns. The
Index to the Sourcebook might be worth your while ($4.95 - Tita's again).
If you add Gardásiyal Book 2: Sorcery and Spells ($14.95 from your local
game store, or Tita's, if you can't find it), then you have descriptions
for spells, some of which are very specific to Tékumel. Shipping from
Tita's will push you over your $50 (more like $60), but you'll have plenty
to build your campaign.
The books you need to play Gardásiyal are :
* Gardásiyal Boxed Set ($44)
* Adventures on Tékumel, Part One: Growing up on Tékumel ($10.95)
* The Tékumel Bestiary ($18.95)
* The Gamescience Sourcebook ($30)
This clearly goes over your budget.
(Source: Brett Slocum)
(Up to Table of Contents)
5: Tékumel Resource Questions
5.1: What magazines have had Tékumel articles?
The following magazine articles have appeared in the past:
* "Tsolyáni Names Without Tears", M.A.R. Barker, Strategic Review #4,
p.7.
* "To the Everlasting Glory of the Petal Throne", M.A.R. Barker,
Strategic Review #7, p.20.
* "Reports Submitted to the Petal Throne", M.A.R. Barker, Dragon #4
(December 1976), p.4.
* "Jakálla Encounters", S. Klein, Dragon #4, p.10.
* "Battle of the Temple of Chánis: 2020 A.S.", M.A.R. Barker, Dragon #4,
p.12.
* "The Mihálli", no author listed (probably M.A.R. Barker), Dragon #4,
p.18.
* "The Vriyágga", no author listed (probably M.A.R. Barker), Dragon #4,
p.19.
* "Eye Chart", no author listed (probably M.A.R. Barker), Dragon #4,
p.21.
* "Roads From Jakálla", J. Westergaard, Dragon #4, p.23.
* "Legions of the Petal Throne (miniatures)", no author listed (probably
M.A.R. Barker), Dragon #4, p.28.
* "Legions of the Petal Throne Painting Guide", M.A.R. Barker, Dragon #6
(April 1977), p.8.
* "Military Formations of the Nations of the Universe", M.A.R. Barker,
Dragon #7 (June 1977), p.16.
* "Seal of the Imperium (EPT Q & A)", M.A.R. Barker, Dragon #9, p.21.
* "Seal of the Imperium (EPT Q & A)", M.A.R. Barker, Dragon #11, p.12.
* "Distributing Eyes and Amulets in EPT", M. Crane, Dragon #20, p.6.
* "Naming People, Places and Things in EPT", G. Rahman, Dragon #24,
p.39.
* "Birth Tables and Social Status in EPT", G. Rahman, Dragon #26, p.33.
* "A New Profession for EPT", G. Rahman, Dragon #31, p.27.
* "This is a Tékumel Test", M. Crane, Dragon #34, p.26.
* "Talismans of Tékumel", Jack McArdle, White Dwarf #10, p. 6.
* "Temple of the Doomed Prince", Phil Holmes, White Dwarf #54, p. 32.
* "Tékumel: The Best of All Possible Worlds", Frederick Paul Kiesche
III, Space Gamer #71 (Nov./Dec. 1984), p. 15.
* "Featured Review: Swords and Glory", Frederick Paul Kiesche III and
Steve Sherman, Space Gamer #71, p. 17.
* "Interview with M.A.R. Barker", Frederick Paul Kiesche III and Steve
Sherman, Space Gamer #71, p. 20.
* "Capsule Reviews: Tékumel Products", Frederick Paul Kiesche III, Space
Gamer #71, p. 26.
* "Company Report: Tékumel Games, Inc.", Michael Mornard, Space Gamer
#71, p. 26.
* "The Battle of Rü", M.A.R. Barker, Wargamer's Digest, Vol. 3 No. 5, p.
24.
* "Create a Religion in Your Spare Time for Fun and Profit", M.A.R.
Barker, Gryphon #2.
This is not a Tékumel article, but interesting nonetheless.
* "Conversions in Lead", Different Worlds #17.
* "Temple of Vimúhla", M.A.R. Barker, Different Worlds #47.
* "GURPS Tékumel: Roleplaying in the Empire of the Petal Throne", Brett
Slocum, Pyramid #11, 1995.
Fanzines:
The Tékumel Journal No. 1, 1977
"The Temple of Thúmis, Sage of the Gods", M.A.R. Barker, p. 4
"Selected Biographies", G. Rudolph, p.13
"On Customs: The Méshqu", G. Rudolph, p. 15
"The Splendor of Shényu", M.A.R. Barker, p. 18
The Tékumel Journal No. 2, 1978
(Light blue with a picture of a Priest and Priestess of Ksárul on the
cover.)
"Journal Notes", Gary Rudolph, p. 3
"Dispatches from the Imperium", by David Cheeney, Gary Rudolph, and
M.A.R. Barker, p. 5 (includes a nice map of Táne)
"The Chyrstálli", by Craig Smith, p. 13
"Ksárul, Prince of the Blue Room", by M.A.R. Barker, p. 14
Journal of Tékumel Affairs Vol. III, No. 1, Summer, 2360 A.S.(1982)
"The Pé Chói", M.A.R. Barker, p. 3
"A Merchant's Tale", M.A.R. Barker, p. 10
"Kévuk", M.A.R. Barker, p.14
Maps, p. 17
Journal of Tékumel Affairs Vol III, Nos. 2-9.
Summer 2360 AS - Summer 2361. (1982 - 1984).
(Note: Vol III, No. 2 was mislabeled as Vol. 2, No. 3.)
(Later published by Tékumel Games)
The Imperial Military Journal Vol. II, No. 1.
The Imperial Military Journal Vol. II, No. 2.
The Imperial Military Journal Vol. II, No. 3.
The Imperial Military Journal: Vol. II, Nos. 4-7.
Fall 2358 AS - Spring 2361. (1980-1983)
(Note: Vol II, No. 5 is mislabeled as another Vol. II, No. 4).
The Imperial Courier Vol. 1 No. 1, August 1984
The Imperial Courier Vol. 1 No. 2, October 1984
The Imperial Courier Vol. 1 No. 3, December 1984
The Imperial Courier Vol. 1 No. 4, February 1985
The Imperial Courier Vol. 1 No. 5, April 1985
The Imperial Courier Vol. 1 No. 6, June 1985
The Imperial Courier Vol. 2 No. 1, August 1985
The Imperial Courier Vol. 2 No. 2, Spring 1987
The Best of the Journals Volume I, 1986
(articles by M.A.R. Barker unless noted otherwise)
"Seal of the Imperium", p. 2
"Seal of the Imperium", p. 5 (yes, two different ones)
"Military Formations of the Nations of the Universe", p. 9
"Percentile Roll to Obtain an 'Eye'", p. 17
"Jakálla Encounters", S. Klein, p. 17
"Legions of the Petal Throne Painting Guide", p. 18
"Creature Features", p. 25
"The Battle of the Temple of Chánis: 2020 A.S.", p. 27
"The Temple of Thúmis, Sage of the Gods", p. 37
"Selected Biographies", G. Rudolph, p. 46
"On Customs: The Méshqu", G. Rudolph, p. 49
The Best of the Journals Volume II, 1986
(articles by M.A.R. Barker unless noted otherwise)
"Tsolyáni Names Without Tears", p. 1
"Mu'ugalavyáni", p. 4
"Classical Tsolyáni", p. 9
"The Kázhra va Ngakóme", p. 12
"Llyáni", p. 17
"The Temple of Ksárul", p. 19
"The Temple of Vimúhla", p. 28
"The Temple of Kárakan", p. 36
"Seal of the Imperium", p. 40
"The Splendor of Shényu", p. 47
"The Chyrstálli", Craig Smith, p. 54
"The Pé Chói", p. 56
"The Tinalíya", Curtis Scott, p. 66
"A Thousand Flowers", Mark Pettigrew, p. 68
The Best of the Journals Volume III, 1986
(articles by M.A.R. Barker unless noted otherwise)
"The Battle of Rü", p. 1
"The Clan of Crimson Ivory", John E. Tiehen, p. 7
"Swords and Glory Errata", p. 15
"A Merchant's Tale", p. 16
"Kévuk - A Dice Game", p. 21
"Coinage of Tékumel", Ken Fletcher, p. 24
"The Tsolyáni Week", p. 26
"A Visit to the Armorers", p. 27
"Marching with the Ever-Glorious", p. 30
"Selected Biographical Information: The Clan of the Utter Dark", p. 35
"The High Seas of Tékumel", Mark Pettigrew, p. 36
"The Underworld", Mark Pettigrew, p. 39
"New Magical Items for EPT", Mark Pettigrew, p. 46
"The Hirilákte Arena", Mark Pettigrew, p. 49
"Staffs of Power", George Spelvin, p. 51
"Encounters in the Empire", Wes Postithwaite, p. 52
"NPC Personalities in EPT", Mark Pettigrew, p. 53
"Index to all three volumes of 'The Best of the Journals'", p. 56
(Source: Ed Whittaker, Brett Slocum, Steve Lopez, Bruce Roberts, Phil
Polli, Zane Healy, Ted Lyng, and Chris Davis)
5.2: What Tékumel fanzines are available?
Eye of All-Seeing Wonder is a very high quality magazine with good original
art and well-written articles. Sometimes better than old Imperial Couriers
in content, always better in production quality. Or check out Steve
Foster's website at http://www.compulink.co.uk/~origob/the_eye.htm
Sadly, the Eye of All-Seeing Wonder has ceased publication. All issues are
available from Tita's House of Games or Andrew Lorince (see section 5.8).
Regretfully, James Roach, publisher of Realms of Wonder, a RPG fanzine with
lots of accounts from his alternate Tékumel campaign, died in July 1997.
Carl Brodt (carl...@aol.com), of Tita's House of Games, has published the
first issue of Seal of the Imperium, a new Tékumel fanzine. Right now he
needs article submissions for issue 2.
5.3: What Tékumel books have been published?
Man of Gold, M.A.R. Barker, DAW Books, 1984.
Flamesong, M.A.R. Barker, DAW Books, 1987.
5.4: What BBSes have Tékumel groups?
Shadowlands BBS [(703) 904-7911] had an active Tékumel board on it. A PBEM
campaign was played on it at one point. No information is available as to
whether it still exists.
Archives of this PBEM campaign are available from the Tékumel archive site.
5.5: Is there a web page for Tékumel?
The Official Tékumel: The World of the Petal Throne web site
(http://www.tekumel.com/), maintained by Peter Gifford, is gorgeous. Best
source of background for Tékumel on the web. Copious use of Java and
JavaScript.
The semi-official Tékumel web site maintained by Bob Alberti is permanently
defunct.
Brett Slocum's Tékumel home page (
http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/tekumel/) has a variety of resources
available, including a chat room, campaign notice board, and alternate
rules for Tékumel (GURPS, RQ, Tirikélu, etc.).
The Tékumel Web Ring has been created. A web ring connects related sites
together. For more information on how to join the Tékumel Web Ring, go to
http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/webring/.
A list of other web pages is on Brett Slocum's site.
5.6: What newsgroups discuss Tékumel?
The important Tékumel newsgroup is alt.games.frp.tekumel. The main
roleplaying news group, rec.games.frp.misc, discusses Tékumel occasionally.
5.7: What material is available via FTP?
The Blue Room FTP Archive maintains an extensive archive of new Tékumel
materials, distributed as shareware. Grammars for several languages, a
treatise on Engsvanyáli history, and other materials are available. Other
non-shareware material is available as well. It is currently on hiatus and
moving to a new server.
This Tékumel FAQ and some old archives of the alt.games.frp.tekumel
newsgroup are available from http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/tekumel/dl/.
Also, the archives of all issues of the Tékumel Digest, a mailing list that
ran before the alt.games.frp.tekumel newsgroup started, plus some archives
of the Tékumel board on Shadowlands are also available here. Rule
conversions, pronunciation .WAV files, word generators, and other resources
are available here.
5.8: Where can I get out of print materials?
Sometimes Tékumel materials show up in the used game bins of game stores.
I've picked up many items, including an original TSR set of EPT.
Tita's House of Games has many out-of-print books in stock. Carl is also
reprinting many of the classic Tekumel books. Yah!
Tita's House of Games
c/o Carl Brodt
1608 Bancroft Way
Berkeley, CA 94703
Phone: (510) 848-3260
Or contact Carl Brodt (carl...@aol.com) for more info.
Also, Andrew Lorince has a lot of stuff available at very reasonable rates.
Send inquiries to the following address:
Earth Tékumel Transfer Station
C/O Andrew Lorince
862 Flemington Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15217
USA
(Source: Brett Slocum, Carl Brodt)
5.9: Is there a Tékumel mailing list?
The Blue Room moderated mailing list has world-based discussions about
Tékumel. No rules discussion is allowed. Prof. Barker participates and
answers questions. This mailing list is a wealth of information about
Tékumel. Send a message to blue...@prin.edu, asking for membership. The
Blue Room mailing list is currently on hiatus.
An unmoderated mailing list has been started at egroups.com. Several
members of the Thursday Night Group are members here. This site also has
downloadable files, a chat room, links, some player/referee databases,
polls, etc. To subscribe, send a message to: tekumel-...@egroups.com
or go to http://www.egroups.com/subscribe/tekumel.
(Source: Brett Slocum)
5.10: When will the third Tékumel novel, Lords of Tsámra, be published?
Lords of Tsámra has not been finished, so, therefore, there are no plans to
publish it. Prof. Barker is still talking about finishing it.
(Source: Brett Slocum)
(Up to Table of Contents)
6: Other Questions
6.1: Do I have to use [insert rule system] to play a Tékumel game?
Well, since their are currently three 'official' rule systems for Tékumel,
I'd say a most definite 'No'. I've played using Runequest, Chivalry and
Sorcery, Traveller, GURPS and the Thursday Night Group's freeform rules.
I've heard of people using AD&D, Rolemaster, and several home-grown rule
sets. So, the important thing is to play in the world, not what rules you
use.
(Source: Brett Slocum)
(Up to Table of Contents)
7: Credits
First, without Professor Barker, none of this would exist. Thank you for
the gift of your imagination.
I'd like to thank several people for their continuing support of Tékumel:
Chris Davis
Bob Alberti
Andrew Lorince
Carl Brodt
Peter Gifford
Many thanks to the legion of contributors to this FAQ, including, but not
limited to:
Theron Goudeau
Robert Dushay
Bruce Roberts
Phil Polli
Zane Healy
Ted Lyng
Steve Lopez
Ed Whittaker
Maintainer (1/94 to present): Brett Slocum <slo...@skypoint.com>.
(Up to Table of Contents)
---
Brett Slocum <slo...@skypoint.com> - ICQ #13032903
http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/
GURPS: http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/gurps/
Tekumel: http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/tekumel/