Quote from: tenbones on September 08, 2022, 10:10:15 AM

Among Tal-superfans (of which I'm a card-carrying member) I actually like 3e a LOT. But the reality is you can plug-and-play all the editions together. Even ripping out the magic systems and replacing them with the edition you like with almost no impact to the rest of the system. Or you can get crazy and use them all simultaneously.

The system, the setting and the scale of the game was *way* ahead of its time. And I'd argue it still is better than *most* stuff out there.

That's very useful information. As I said, I have 1st-3rd in physical form, but having done nothing was thinking about using the QS from 4e on the website. Good to know the editions are at least B/X<->BECMI or AD&D<->AD&D2 levels of compatible.

Do you have a recommendation on where in the timeline (I know 3rd jumps a few decades...not sure if 4th and 5th do as well) to play?

Quote from: tenbones on September 08, 2022, 10:10:15 AMI like the cut of your jib, sir.

Among Tal-superfans (of which I'm a card-carrying member) I actually like 3e a LOT. But the reality is you can plug-and-play all the editions together. Even ripping out the magic systems and replacing them with the edition you like with almost no impact to the rest of the system. Or you can get crazy and use them all simultaneously.

The system, the setting and the scale of the game was *way* ahead of its time. And I'd argue it still is better than *most* stuff out there.

Yes, Tal 1e was admirably broad in imaginative scope and succinct in its rules. I often wished Bard Games had paired Tal rules with their Atlantis setting, instead of the unwieldy Arcanum rules. Someone should do that...

Quote from: rhialto on September 08, 2022, 05:04:05 PM

Yes, Tal 1e was admirably broad in imaginative scope and succinct in its rules. I often wished Bard Games had paired Tal rules with their Atlantis setting, instead of the unwieldy Arcanum rules. Someone should do that...

What's your opinion of Cyclopedia II-VI?

Quote from: PulpHerb on September 08, 2022, 05:02:22 PM

Quote from: tenbones on September 08, 2022, 10:10:15 AM

Among Tal-superfans (of which I'm a card-carrying member) I actually like 3e a LOT. But the reality is you can plug-and-play all the editions together. Even ripping out the magic systems and replacing them with the edition you like with almost no impact to the rest of the system. Or you can get crazy and use them all simultaneously.

The system, the setting and the scale of the game was *way* ahead of its time. And I'd argue it still is better than *most* stuff out there.

That's very useful information. As I said, I have 1st-3rd in physical form, but having done nothing was thinking about using the QS from 4e on the website. Good to know the editions are at least B/X<->BECMI or AD&D<->AD&D2 levels of compatible.

Do you have a recommendation on where in the timeline (I know 3rd jumps a few decades...not sure if 4th and 5th do as well) to play?

Honestly - just play it anywhere you think is fun. 5-editions of the game did very little to push the timeline. Our proposed 6e which fell through for silly reasons, would have pushed things a little further but ideally would have pushed the game in some interesting new directions.

Of course Talislanta: The Savage Lands takes place centuries before the modern era. So that's is a distinctly *different* set of parameters and is very different than the standard game. It's much more primal and barbaric. The system is more 2e but you can plug-and-play it with any other editions as needed. You can even bring your characters into that setting via time-travel if you wanted.

Quote from: PulpHerb on September 08, 2022, 05:13:17 PM

Quote from: rhialto on September 08, 2022, 05:04:05 PM

Yes, Tal 1e was admirably broad in imaginative scope and succinct in its rules. I often wished Bard Games had paired Tal rules with their Atlantis setting, instead of the unwieldy Arcanum rules. Someone should do that...

What's your opinion of Cyclopedia II-VI?

They're all good extensions of both the setting (detailing the various regions) and rules (which if I recall correctly most involve new race-class combos, with the occasional new skill: it's been a while since I looked though).

Quote from: ForgottenF on September 07, 2022, 08:24:09 PM

Quote from: PulpHerb on September 07, 2022, 12:20:21 AM

If you're open to Runequest/BRP you might look at The Chronicles of Future Earth. While there is a very late KS for a FATE version the original was a BRP book. Sadly, it appears to be out of print.

Fortunately I have means of getting a hold of out of print pdfs. One of my regular players has been lobbying for a BRP game, and that looks like being well within the tone I'm looking for. So thanks, That one goes on the short-list.

I assume most of us do, but I'm not sure of local etiquette on discussing them (the account may be old, but I don't really post much).

If that is what you run, I'd love to hear how it goes.

Quote from: PulpHerb on September 08, 2022, 11:48:29 PM

Quote from: ForgottenF on September 07, 2022, 08:24:09 PM

Quote from: PulpHerb on September 07, 2022, 12:20:21 AM

If you're open to Runequest/BRP you might look at The Chronicles of Future Earth. While there is a very late KS for a FATE version the original was a BRP book. Sadly, it appears to be out of print.

Fortunately I have means of getting a hold of out of print pdfs. One of my regular players has been lobbying for a BRP game, and that looks like being well within the tone I'm looking for. So thanks, That one goes on the short-list.

I assume most of us do, but I'm not sure of local etiquette on discussing them (the account may be old, but I don't really post much).

If that is what you run, I'd love to hear how it goes.

Whatever I end up going with, I'll try and remember to report back here. I tend to start brainstorming on a new campaign up to a year before I intend to run it, though, so it'll probably be a while.

Quote from: ForgottenF on September 05, 2022, 04:57:41 PM
The Zothique supplement for Call of Chulhu

Not to go too far off topic, but I'm not familiar with this supplement. What is the full name of it?

Quote from: ForgottenF on September 09, 2022, 07:41:50 PM

Quote from: PulpHerb on September 08, 2022, 11:48:29 PM

Quote from: ForgottenF on September 07, 2022, 08:24:09 PM

Quote from: PulpHerb on September 07, 2022, 12:20:21 AM

If you're open to Runequest/BRP you might look at The Chronicles of Future Earth. While there is a very late KS for a FATE version the original was a BRP book. Sadly, it appears to be out of print.

Fortunately I have means of getting a hold of out of print pdfs. One of my regular players has been lobbying for a BRP game, and that looks like being well within the tone I'm looking for. So thanks, That one goes on the short-list.

I assume most of us do, but I'm not sure of local etiquette on discussing them (the account may be old, but I don't really post much).

If that is what you run, I'd love to hear how it goes.

Whatever I end up going with, I'll try and remember to report back here. I tend to start brainstorming on a new campaign up to a year before I intend to run it, though, so it'll probably be a while.

Please do. Also, I am a huge fan of Whitehack 3e for something like this. Solid mechanics and you can sprinkle in the sci-fantasy to taste.

On my list, and if you want a stronger undertone of sci-fi, is Suldokar's Wake by the same creator. It has a wonderful setting and premise. An extensive timeline gives you all sorts of possibilities.

The game mechanics for both games are bulletproof.

Quote from: mattplaysgames on September 10, 2022, 05:17:40 PM

Quote from: ForgottenF on September 05, 2022, 04:57:41 PM
The Zothique supplement for Call of Chulhu

Not to go too far off topic, but I'm not familiar with this supplement. What is the full name of it?

Ok, so I went and looked and it's actually not a Call of Cthulhu supplement. The pdf was in my folder for COC D20, I think, which is where I would have gotten that. But it's actually just a general D20 supplement called "Zothique: Gaming on the Last Continent; Based on the Works of Clark Ashton Smith" by G.R. Hager (2003). Also, "supplement" might be a bit of a stretch, as the document is only 16 pages long.

I'll go back and correct my original post to reflect that.

Talislanta has already been mentioned several times by people more qualified than me. It´s a truly alien world inspired by psychedelics (as far I´v heard) I have never played it myself, though I have owned and read quite a bit of the books. Can´t say I have ever seen another game world designed with such creativity. And it´s free on the website, so that might be a bonus.

This video inspired me at around late 90´s and early 2000´s to check Talislanta out and it still gives me goosebumps:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kudBb2mRs_s

There are a few Talislanta reviews on Youtube, which are all favourable. A channel called "DMJames" has done quite a few videos
about Talislanta also.

Tekumel, another one of the same caliber. Maybe slightly less alien than Talislanta, but superb in the ways how it is so deep in lore and the
lost technology is expressed in awesome way. If you want to have a feel what Tekumel is like, there is an interactive fantasy novel set in Tekumel for 3,99$, played it through and personally found it well written:

https://www.choiceofgames.com/petal-throne/

Quote from: caldrail on September 07, 2022, 10:44:20 AM
Check out Faded Suns. Scifi RPG with medieval overtones and some good ideas about basic resolutions.

There was a Bundle of Holding for the latest version just a few weeks back, I have no experience of this
newest edition though, only of the Revised Edition. I am not sure if the tech level is too high to be Dying
Earth-like, but like mentioned previously, very much like Dune or even Warhammer 40k. If you like Byzantine
Empire or The Name of the Rose, you can easily play a sci-fi version of those in Fading Suns.

Tekumel *is* interesting, if intimidating... I gave up on supporting, running, collecting (etc) it once I discovered the awful antisemitism of its author...

Quote from: soundchaser on September 11, 2022, 10:40:32 PM
Tekumel *is* interesting, if intimidating... I gave up on supporting, running, collecting (etc) it once I discovered the awful antisemitism of its author...

Many people share your stance. The author is dead by now and you won´t be giving him any money in any shape or form and the antisemitism
is not visible in Tekumel, atleast I haven´t seen any signs of it personally. The foundation that runs the show now, have given a formal apology
of sorts and clearly have washed their hands from Barker´s political views. Then again, some complain about Tolkien or Lovecraft having some views
on racial issues, of course, their work can´t be compared to writing and publishing a racewar novel obviously.

Quote from: Angry Goblin on September 12, 2022, 08:48:48 AM

Quote from: soundchaser on September 11, 2022, 10:40:32 PM
Tekumel *is* interesting, if intimidating... I gave up on supporting, running, collecting (etc) it once I discovered the awful antisemitism of its author...

Many people share your stance. The author is dead by now and you won´t be giving him any money in any shape or form and the antisemitism
is not visible in Tekumel, atleast I haven´t seen any signs of it personally. The foundation that runs the show now, have given a formal apology
of sorts and clearly have washed their hands from Barker´s political views. Then again, some complain about Tolkien or Lovecraft having some views
on racial issues, of course, their work can´t be compared to writing and publishing a racewar novel obviously.

Tolkien, who when asked if he was a Jew by an Anti-Semite answered: "No, I don't have the HONOR of belonging to such great people" (I'm paraphrasing), you're mixing him up with Barker and Lovecraft...