Quote from: Shemek hiTankolel;945264That's great! Thanks for the info.
The Hekellu Underworld sounds intriguing, and just what I'm looking for. I seem to recall from one of Phil's (?) posts on the Blue Room that this city was an important (primary?) staging area for the Empire's eastern trade routes in Engsvanyalli times. This will give me a lot of freedom and flexibility when mapping out the "dungeon."

One more question, in what year did this take place, i.e., when was the governor Lord Ssunim appointed to office, and when did you and Lord Takodai go to Hekellu to investigate? It predates Dhichune's usurpation of the Petal Throne?

Shemek

Yep; it's an odd Underworld, as they go on Tekumel, because it's all mostly one flat level that's pretty close to the surface. Any stairways leading down end either in water-logged dead ends - you'd need diving gear to explore them - or in what I can only describe as 'dry upside-down islands' of small dry areas that are usually a lot better built and maintained then the rest of the place. Which means that they are also a lot more active and populated, which is why I thought that the place was more of a challenge then Jakalla is.

Hekellu was a huge trade center, being at the gateway to the hinterlands, and being on the lake. So, lots of ancient activity, and lots of ruins and stuff to explore. Mayhem always ensued, despite our usually having a lot of troops.

Ah, beginning of the 2360s, into 2363 or so; this was indeed right before the coup. Lord Ssunim had been in office for years, he came in with the original creation of the 1,500 NPCs that Phil did in 1974 / 2354. We had to fight our way into town, things had gotten so bad.

Quote from: Shemek hiTankolel;945265Chirine,

I also have some questions about Baron Ald.
1. Which legion did he command while in Tsolyani service?
2. When did he "fall out" with the Imperium, and what caused him to leave Tsolyanu.
3. Was he a former boon companion of Emperor Hirkane before he ascended to the Petal Throne?

Shemek

This is in EPT, I think. Let me look...

Nope; It's all in S&G I, The Sourcebook, section 1.381:

Scarlet Plume, 19th Imperial Heavy Infantry;

Political intrigue; they hung his and his legion's ass out to dry at Kaidrach Field;

Not really, no, not of Hirkane; of Kettukal, actually.

He's also a 'friend of the family', being Vrisa's clan-brother. So, we go back a ways, you might say.

Quote from: Hrugga;945275Friend, not so sure in this case...Uncle knows best!!!

H:0)

I do, but I promised not to tell.

Quote from: chirine ba kal;945256From AsenRG:
The Lords of Humanspace were not Nice People:).
There's an understatement!!!

I'm into careful statements, Uncle! Sometimes that reads as understatement.
What can I say? One can't commit too much, lest one's actions reflect negatively upon the honour of one's clan...
That's why last year's incident is an incident! I wonder why people still come to me with demands to repeat what I did as a result of hastily said words!
I mean, I understand they have the same issue, but seriously, now, what do you think I am? Some kind of adventurer?
That's why I've been into careful statements, lately:D!

QuoteNo, he did play one in his Crusader-era campaign, though.

What we know has just been added to:)!
And I'm not even going to ask how good of a fit he was for the role.

QuoteI'd agree with this. One of the very nicest things I've ever had happen to me occurred yesterday; I was given a standing invitation to join any of the D&D groups that play at The Source as a player. I guess I'm considered some sort of Elder Statesman, and people really enjoyed improving their game using some of the 'lessons' and anecdotes that I come up with. I'm looking forward to it; I'm now on the mailing list for their games, and will spend a Saturday or two a month imparting my hard-won experience...

Those people in your area have finally begun to see wisdom, and no doubt would profit from your experience!
 

QuoteAgreed. It's not a play style I like, but I can understand it from a business standpoint.

I think Gronan is most sorry he didn't think of the TCG paradigm himself...

QuoteChum those waters. Kill any "approved games" crocodiles that appear, and take their stuff - they tend to have nice stuff (skin and teeth from the crocodiles; dice from the "approved games" ones).

Yep. Luckily, I am not playing in anything like that; this set of players is all about the challenge and the run. And they've indicated that a return trip to see Lord Chirine and his family is being considered! Wow!

Smart players recognise a good Patron when they see one!

QuoteIt's a thought. I usually run paint-and-takes by letting people pick a primed figure, then learning how I paint them by painting it themselves; they get to keep the figure afterwards, and I like to hand out cards with the name of the company that did the figure. What I'm trying to do is show people that anyone can paint figures, and that they don't have to be a Da Vinci or anything. I've got so much spare metal lying around, it's no cost to me; same on the paint, which was all paid for decades ago.

As long as they're not a Picasso, it should all be fine:p!
And well, my logic was simple. If your free lead is Herself's and you have paints and the know-how, why not order a mini the customer picks and do a painting session;)?
Just a thought, as I said.

It is interesting how many people are following my game on "Original D&D Discussion" yet nobody leaves feedback, good or bad.

I feel blessed that so many are, just interesting the lack of comments.
=

Quote from: Greentongue;945440It is interesting how many people are following my game on "Original D&D Discussion" yet nobody leaves feedback, good or bad.

I feel blessed that so many are, just interesting the lack of comments.
=

I tried a long time ago to register there and it didn't work. I do lurk there a couple times a week...Apart from your games, it seems a bit more alive here.

H:0)

Quote from: Shemek hiTankolel;945268Mighty Hrugga,

Are you saying Ald's well that ends well?

Shemek

What you two did there... I see it!

Well done.  I appreciate good puns!  

Which leads to a sudden question inspiration!  How do the Tsolyani and other members of the five empires view Puns?  Are they considered high wit?  Groan and roll eyes like modern English?  Keys to poetry like some languages I've studied?  (If it's addressed in Swords and Glory, I've long forgotten)

Quote from: Dulahan;945454What you two did there... I see it!

Well done.  I appreciate good puns!  

Which leads to a sudden question inspiration!  How do the Tsolyani and other members of the five empires view Puns?  Are they considered high wit?  Groan and roll eyes like modern English?  Keys to poetry like some languages I've studied?  (If it's addressed in Swords and Glory, I've long forgotten)

Not sure what Uncle will have to say. In my Tekumel they love all types of cheese foreign and domestic...!!! Be well.

H;0)

Quote from: AsenRG;945312I'm into careful statements, Uncle! Sometimes that reads as understatement.
What can I say? One can't commit too much, lest one's actions reflect negatively upon the honour of one's clan...
That's why last year's incident is an incident! I wonder why people still come to me with demands to repeat what I did as a result of hastily said words!
I mean, I understand they have the same issue, but seriously, now, what do you think I am? Some kind of adventurer?
That's why I've been into careful statements, lately:D!


What we know has just been added to:)!
And I'm not even going to ask how good of a fit he was for the role.


Those people in your area have finally begun to see wisdom, and no doubt would profit from your experience!
 

I think Gronan is most sorry he didn't think of the TCG paradigm himself...


Smart players recognise a good Patron when they see one!


As long as they're not a Picasso, it should all be fine:p!
And well, my logic was simple. If your free lead is Herself's and you have paints and the know-how, why not order a mini the customer picks and do a painting session;)?
Just a thought, as I said.

Still funny, though...

He was very good indeed; he loved the historical period, didn't like the Franks at all, and played the role to the hilt.

I hope so; at least they seem to be amused by my stories...

I think so; they were very impressed by their welcome, and are looking to repay the favor. Which is good; Djel has her coming-of-age ceremony, and the Higborn Djullanar has her enthronement, both coming up on the social calender; we're hiring as many mercenaries as we can, just in case. Mayhem will ensure, I suspect.

Ah, I need to be more clear, here. I've been at this miniatures thing for some forty years, and I have a huge assortment of miniatures that I've gotten in during my e-bay days as large lots; I'd have to buy the lot to get the particular figure I needed / wanted, and the net result is that I have a massive pile of unpainted metal that I frankly will never paint. (I do not need a set of D&D-style 'city guards', for example.) The figures that I got the Missus are not part of my collection, and are strictly untouchable - she does check them, every now and then, just to keep a finger on the pulse. (As it were.) My thought was to get the metal pile back into the hobby with the paint-and-take sessions.

I don't want to get into ordering figures for people; it's a cash outlay that I can't afford. If people dropped by and wanted to sit in on a painting session, using their own figures, I'd love that. I just don't to have anything to do with the 'commercial' side of the hobby; been there, done that, never want to do it again. I paint figures for my friends, like the ones I did for Kyrinn Eis for her NTRPG game session; that's a friend helping out a friend. And my kids helped with that project, too, which really meant a lot to her.

Quote from: Greentongue;945440It is interesting how many people are following my game on "Original D&D Discussion" yet nobody leaves feedback, good or bad.

I feel blessed that so many are, just interesting the lack of comments.
=

Is that the 'ODD74' board? I think they dropped the EPT section; mostly due to a lack of interest. I could quite understand that; it is a D&D board, after all...

EDIT: I'm wrong; they still have the EPT section, it's just further down the page. Some nice things said about TSTPT, too.

Quote from: Dulahan;945454What you two did there... I see it!

Well done.  I appreciate good puns!  

Which leads to a sudden question inspiration!  How do the Tsolyani and other members of the five empires view Puns?  Are they considered high wit?  Groan and roll eyes like modern English?  Keys to poetry like some languages I've studied?  (If it's addressed in Swords and Glory, I've long forgotten)

Phil loved puns, the more literate the better. I don't recall him every doing any in Tsolyani, and I don't recall it ever coming up in-game. I don't think there's anything in S&G I, but I'll look.

Quote from: chirine ba kal;945466He was very good indeed; he loved the historical period, didn't like the Franks at all, and played the role to the hilt.

Unsurprising, that... I mean, who liked Franks, except other Franks (and usually not even most of those:D)?

QuoteI think so; they were very impressed by their welcome, and are looking to repay the favor. Which is good; Djel has her coming-of-age ceremony, and the Higborn Djullanar has her enthronement, both coming up on the social calender; we're hiring as many mercenaries as we can, just in case. Mayhem will ensure, I suspect.

Somehow, I think "suspect" might be the wrong word, here!
Mayhem will ensue. It's statistics:)!

QuoteAh, I need to be more clear, here. I've been at this miniatures thing for some forty years, and I have a huge assortment of miniatures that I've gotten in during my e-bay days as large lots; I'd have to buy the lot to get the particular figure I needed / wanted, and the net result is that I have a massive pile of unpainted metal that I frankly will never paint. (I do not need a set of D&D-style 'city guards', for example.) The figures that I got the Missus are not part of my collection, and are strictly untouchable - she does check them, every now and then, just to keep a finger on the pulse. (As it were.) My thought was to get the metal pile back into the hobby with the paint-and-take sessions.

Okay, I misunderstood the situation...
And yes, scratch the ordering, keep the paint-and-take sessions. I mean, you're a miniature gamer, and you like painting those - it should be a win-win!
Worst case scenario, you announce you're out of stock, and stop the whole endeavour;).
Of course, you know best if it's doable, I've got distance working against my judgement.

Quote from: AsenRG;945477Unsurprising, that... I mean, who liked Franks, except other Franks (and usually not even most of those:D)?

Somehow, I think "suspect" might be the wrong word, here!
Mayhem will ensue. It's statistics:)!

Okay, I misunderstood the situation...
And yes, scratch the ordering, keep the paint-and-take sessions. I mean, you're a miniature gamer, and you like painting those - it should be a win-win!
Worst case scenario, you announce you're out of stock, and stop the whole endeavour;).
Of course, you know best if it's doable, I've got distance working against my judgement.

True; the history of Outremer is rife with all sorts of stuff that makes "Game of Thrones" look timid and restrained in comparison.

Agreed; I am really looking forward to running that particular game!

Gotcha! No problem. There is no market for unpainted figures in bulk hereabouts, and not much of one for painted figures either. Miniatures have to be, it seems, painted by one of the 'name' commercial artists - who do some wonderful work, by the way; see my blog - and in some way 'collectable' to have much value.

Shrug. I just play with the things, and paint them for the fun of it...

Quote from: chirine ba kal;945490True; the history of Outremer is rife with all sorts of stuff that makes "Game of Thrones" look timid and restrained in comparison.

Or as somebody else said around here somewhere, "The 14th Century, like Game of Thrones without the warm and cuddly parts."

And yes, I very much wish I'd thought of collectable card games.  Hate them as a gamer, love them as marketing.  Uncle Chirine and I would have retired to some balmy tropical isle with our respective families by now.  "Peel me a grape, would you, Kyalein?"

Quote from: chirine ba kal;945490True; the history of Outremer is rife with all sorts of stuff that makes "Game of Thrones" look timid and restrained in comparison.

Yeah, and even those that didn't even get to the Holy Lands managed to distinguish themselves...in the wrong way:).

QuoteAgreed; I am really looking forward to running that particular game!

Keep us updated about what happens, Uncle!

QuoteGotcha! No problem. There is no market for unpainted figures in bulk hereabouts, and not much of one for painted figures either. Miniatures have to be, it seems, painted by one of the 'name' commercial artists - who do some wonderful work, by the way; see my blog - and in some way 'collectable' to have much value.

Shrug. I just play with the things, and paint them for the fun of it...

You really live in a weird place, Uncle. And I don't mean Tekumel, that part I can understand much more easily...
(Being a snob in Tekumel makes sense, it identifies you as someone who can afford it. Being a snob in 21st century USA makes much less sense to me. But that attitude towards "name" commercial artists is nothing if not snobbish...)

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;945547Or as somebody else said around here somewhere, "The 14th Century, like Game of Thrones without the warm and cuddly parts."

That's a good one:D!

QuoteAnd yes, I very much wish I'd thought of collectable card games.  Hate them as a gamer, love them as marketing.

Yeah, I remember that from upthread. Unless it was another thread, I'm not sure and ultimately, it doesn't matter...

QuoteUncle Chirine and I would have retired to some balmy tropical isle with our respective families by now.  "Peel me a grape, would you, Kyalein?"

Yeah, I can see how the world would have been a better place for it;).