The d20 project

[Hlucha]

Ngangmuru,

The d20 project still lives.
Though frozen in the cold north of Yan Kor (Canada) for awhile, the prototype book in this project should be out sometime this summer. This will be availoable free to all playtesters and signatories of the non disclosure contract as well as a few interested parties.

regards,
Bill Hartley

Here is a sample from the introduction,

[H2] How is Tékumel d20 different from other d20 Role-Playing Games?

Many other d20 Role-Playing games attempt to ‘balance’ the types of encounters and individuals met and interacted with during role play. Tekumel has always been known as more of a ‘film genre’ setting where each and every encounter may be anything from the mundane to the disastrous. Imagine yourself in a modern city for instance. No ‘referee’ or rules exist to protect you against your own folly. If you choose to run across streets in traffic, walk at midnight in rough neighbourhoods and frequent dark alleys, you will encounter things that aren’t very ‘balanced’ at all.

Tekumel is the same. There are parts of cities where children play in the streets happily and safely, and there are places you simply know you should not go unless you have a pretty decent plan of action. Tekumel role-playing encourages mature thinking gamers rather than the ‘hack and slash’ and ‘complain to the ref if it didn’t work’ kind of gamer. Just like real life, players of Tekumel actually set up plans and prepare very carefully for their next episode. You remember that spike and rope that the basic role-play systems all seem to sell? There’s a reason for them, in fact many reasons, and as a Tekumel gamer you will learn them as well as invent a few more.

Fungus that walks up to you spitting spores to grow almost instantly in your lungs, things that have laser like devices designed to kill instantly, small snakes to curl up in your sleeping bag. This and more, oh yes, much more, await the unwary adventurer in the underworlds and wilds of Tekumel. The cities on the other hand may seem totally civilized and urbane until you realize how many other people out there are out to gain an advantage over any innocent traveller. No, my friend, be sure that you are of high clan, remember that in our lives we may work in mundane jobs, but in the world of Tekumel take a break and get some help from your advisors, your clan brothers and your wealth. Few peasants survive the wilds of the world and most are smart enough not to leave home.

[Epengar]

I'm glad to know the project isn't dead. It seemed moribund for a while. Is there some reason why you haven't posted this to the unmoderated Tekumel email list? It has a much larger community of Tekumel fans than this forum does.
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/tekumel/
_________________
Epengar hiVu'unavu
Clan of the Sweet Singers of Nakome

[Hlucha]

Well Tom, probably cause i'm not a member... funny that, thought I was.
Tried to log on again, says nope, so here I am.

Anyway, if you'd be so kind as to direct people here, or let them know I'm aliiiive.... Ian Sturrock has the final draft now and we'll be publishing a prototype [hopefully free for the testers] in the summer.

Bill

[siefertma]

Who does one become a playtester, if that's still an option.

Mark

[Epengar]

[degordon3000]

Hi Bill
Is this playtest still open? I was one of the playtersters for the GOO version and also run a D&D3.5 game with some friends. I would dearly love to convert them over to Tekumel and this would be the best vehicle.
David.

[Gurkhal]

I have a short question regarding this project which isn't abou tthe rules. The questonb is; how much setting information will this book contain? Will it be only rules or also have parts telling about the various parts of Tékumel culture, society, nature, geography, human races and non-human races?

If it does contain all the manner of different setting information will it be strictly focused on information about Tsolánu or will it have information on other parts of Tékumel as well?

[Hlucha]

Manuscript will hopefully be updated this August. There will be some surprises from Professor Barker in the final version.

Playtesters please contact me
Bill