So has anyone actually played in Tekumel?

Which rule set did you use?

What was it like?

What problems with the setting did you encounter?

I never have, but I've mined it for inspiration for other settings.

Original Empire of the Petal Throne and it was/is fun.

The temptation to play in "The Professor's" Tekumel and not my own was/is a problem.
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I played using the original rules and it was horrific as the DM was out to kill our characters by bringing all the gonzo elements to the fore and ramping up the carnage from day one when we wanted to ease ourselves into the setting and explore.

2 years or so over IRC, using a houseruled Tekumel: Empire of the Petal Throne (T:EPT), 15+ players total over that time, though I usually had a core of 6 or so players at any time.
campaign website
illustrated campaign pitch

Currently running other games but am thinking of retooling it for later this year using the Savage Worlds conversion Savage Tekumel tweaked to include some more of the newer bits like from T:EPT.

Wouldn't mind using EPT with an agreeable group or playing in such a game.

Quote from: DarranWhat was it like?

What problems with the setting did you encounter?

Very fun gonzo fantasy Incan Buck Rogers. Dungeoncrawl with meat, social & religious intrigue & weirdness with substance. Non-Western European fantasy mixed with Sword & Planet goodness.

All the depth I could want with no need to justify any of it except as I saw fit & no compunction to use any of it.

Never stuck with Barker's stuff anymore than I saw fit, most of it he hasn't revealed anyway & it likely only makes sense for his campaign anyway. I'll take dinosaur riding cyborgs over transparent insects anyday & Dr. Who over the College at the End of Time.

Some players don't quite get that direct actions have implications & that the letter of the law is just that, but I suspect they might have such problems in more than just Tekumel.

I'd like to one day.

I get the feeling it's one of those settings where the GM really needs to know his stuff to do it justice. So far I've yet to meet anyone with more than a passing familiarity of the books, at best.

I've never had much interest in it.  I've never known anyone who did.  I've never seen it run or even mentioned at any of the local gaming events.  That doesn't mean it isn't any good of course, I just have zero experience with the setting.

Quote from: DarranSo has anyone actually played in Tekumel?

Yup been running a game since the begining if the year.

Quote from: DarranWhich rule set did you use?

The first OEPT rules from from 1975, with a few extra combat options from basic D&D, Idea/Knowledge/Perception rolls inspired by CoC and a few extra Saving Throws types.

I only use the material I have from Swords & Glory, Gardasyial and GOO's T:EPT for background purpouses. Not any of the rules.

Quote from: DarranWhat was it like?

Best damn game I ever had the most fun running. My players seem satisfied too.

Quote from: DarranWhat problems with the setting did you encounter?

None, really. Could you be more specific? Granted, like I recently said on my game blog http://jakalla.blogspot.com/ it makes things a bit harder for the GM, compared to running other fantasy "old school" rpgs because the langauges, names, etc are real and very alien and you don't have orc-type moobs running around who can just be used as cannon-fodder.

I downloaded the RQ3 rules for it some years ago, but I've never met anyone else who's ever read the books. I've only ever read The Man of Gold.