Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal - part II

[QUOTE=Neshm hiKumala;981617]Incompetence. Lack of vision. Lack of ambition. Lack of creative talent and business sense. It all boggles the mind, and, yes, in the end, a lot of it comes down to way too much ego.[URL="h[/QUOTE]

Neshm,

Don't hold back. Tell us what you really think.

Shemek

Originally Posted by Neshm hiKumala

Incompetence. Lack of vision. Lack of ambition. Lack of creative talent and business sense. It all boggles the mind, and, yes, in the end, a lot of it comes down to way too much ego. I came to a similar conclusion yesterday when it suddenly dawned on me that The-Powers-That-Be are actually not interested in supporting the world, or publishing anything of note.

Otherwise they wouldn't be pettily stalling any attempt to spread the word on Tekumel, as has just happened to Dave Morris and his new, completely free "Tirikelu" package of adventures and rules: Morris had made the package available as a print-on-demand file on his own Lulu page (you would only pay for the print), until he was asked to remove it ... because, well, it's quite unclear, as all of the stuff contained in said "Tirikelu" package is already freely available online, and can therefore still be rather easily printed via print-on-demand services, as most RPG-hobbyists know, like Lulu.

(Can you imagine being so incapable of publishing anything of quality or worth that you spend your time stopping actual authors and game/world designers (who also happen to be incredibly generous with their time) from expressing their love of Tekumel, a fantasy world the vast majority of fantasy fans don't even know exist!?)

And let's have a thought for Jeff Dee and his partner, Talzhemir, who have seen their Kurt Hills guide project stall thanks to the Foundation being incapable of sending them feedback since receiving a copy of the guide's content in March-April 2017.

And let's have a second thought for the new edition of "Flamesong" (forget the later books) that should already be out or close to being released. And I'm not even going to mention the "Dlash Gazetteer" or the "Jakallan Underworld" booklets which were announced by the Foundation in early 2016.

(Speaking of the Jakallan underworld, thank the gods for map illustrator Dyson Logos who has already produced thirteen, excellent maps representing the giant dungeon ... and the project's not over yet!)

Meanwhile, the amazing Kevin Crawford, one of the very best and most productive one-man-band rpg publishers working today (not his day-job either), the very same person who briefly toyed with the idea of releasing a free version of a new Tekumel rpg called "Swords of the Petal Throne", in view of releasing a full-blown game later on, is having a huge success with the second edition of his very good "Stars Without Number" Traveller-like rpg.
What a good move it was on the Foundation's part to turn his project down, 'cause, clearly, he doesn't know what he's doing, mad man that he is.

(Can you imagine having so little business acumen and such an inflated sense of self-worth as a game writer/publisher that, when a incredibly creative and savvy rpg author like Crawford comes knocking on your door with a project to revitalize your world, you can't find a way to work with him, for fear of "losing control", for fear of not having your name writ large on the cover of some stale book no one will buy, instead of letting him produce his own line of Tekumel games under, say, a "The Empire of the Petal Throne, Second Edition" flag, which would include a free starter rules and GM-guidelines pack containing a short introductory adventure?)

To paraphrase a Polish saying, the moths have taken over the library ... and they're not letting anyone in. And so, the magnificent remains of Barker's genius creation lie in the vast and ever expanding graveyard of dead fantasy worlds and missed opportunities.

What a grand and beautiful corpse it is though.

Oh well.

I find solace in the thought that, there is a bethorm out there, where the world of Tekumel powers a well-established line of games and supplements.

I came to the same conclusion, which you so excellently stated in your post, the other day while listening to a Tekumel podcast. They were discussing military campaigns and "ways in which player characters can become involved with the legions, how to set up military-based campaigns." It became evident, quickly, that for one of the three it was about pontificating and not about Tekumel. One of the presenters asked the "authority" if in Phil's game the players had been part of the Legions. He gave a cursory answer and the question was quickly brushed aside and the conversation was steered in another direction. I found it kind of odd that he didn't answer fully (truthfully?) and say that Phil's original (real) Thursday Night Group were actively involved in Military Campaigns, and tell the listeners about some of Chirine's and the Glorious General's exploits? There really seems to be a reluctance to acknowledge the existence of these two Grognards in "official" Tekumel circles. You really should listen to the podcast and you will see what I mean.


Shemek

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

You really should listen to the podcast and you will see what I mean.

Shemek

I did listen to it (I've listened to all the shows actually), and I totally know what you mean. It's a bit silly actually when you are able to "listen between the lines" a little and pick up on the unspoken stuff.

Besides that particular show on legions, which I couldn't sit through in its entirety as I felt it was getting nowhere, I like the show and am very glad it exists. It's well moderated and flows well, but I wish James Maliszewski spoke much more. He's the sort of super experienced GM that people interested in running adventures and campaigns in the world need to hear a lot from.

Originally Posted by Baron

Yeah, I wrote up the pertinent facts, which I'll share here:

Wall Levels, Base to Top

Gears: water-powered

Blade Carts: cut outside the wall

Trebuchets: Loaded from inside

Flying Rigs: for Crane Warriors

Eagles Nests: multi-fire crossbows (four bows each)

Additional Features

Signal drums

Harpoon guns

Exploding Spears, Fire Arrows and Explosive Arrows with Incense fuses, Grenades

Hot-Air Balloons

Corps, Colors

Crane Corps: Blue, Spears
Bear Corps: Black, Melee
Eagle Corps: Red, Archery
Tiger Corps: Gold, Artillery
Deer Corps: Purple, Cavalry


I grew up in the sixties, so I watched quite a few bad movies on Saturday TV. ;-)

Agreed!!!

Originally Posted by Bren

I guess WRG = Wargames Research Group with Phil Barker, yes?

Yep; our Phil's distant cousin Phil, to be precise.

Originally Posted by Neshm hiKumala

Incompetence. Lack of vision. Lack of ambition. Lack of creative talent and business sense. It all boggles the mind, and, yes, in the end, a lot of it comes down to way too much ego. I came to a similar conclusion yesterday when it suddenly dawned on me that The-Powers-That-Be are actually not interested in supporting the world, or publishing anything of note.

Otherwise they wouldn't be pettily stalling any attempt to spread the word on Tekumel, as has just happened to Dave Morris and his new, completely free "Tirikelu" package of adventures and rules: Morris had made the package available as a print-on-demand file on his own Lulu page (you would only pay for the print), until he was asked to remove it ... because, well, it's quite unclear, as all of the stuff contained in said "Tirikelu" package is already freely available online, and can therefore still be rather easily printed via print-on-demand services, as most RPG-hobbyists know, like Lulu.

(Can you imagine being so incapable of publishing anything of quality or worth that you spend your time stopping actual authors and game/world designers (who also happen to be incredibly generous with their time) from expressing their love of Tekumel, a fantasy world the vast majority of fantasy fans don't even know exist!?)

And let's have a thought for Jeff Dee and his partner, Talzhemir, who have seen their Kurt Hills guide project stall thanks to the Foundation being incapable of sending them feedback since receiving a copy of the guide's content in March-April 2017.

And let's have a second thought for the new edition of "Flamesong" (forget the later books) that should already be out or close to being released. And I'm not even going to mention the "Dlash Gazetteer" or the "Jakallan Underworld" booklets which were announced by the Foundation in early 2016.

(Speaking of the Jakallan underworld, thank the gods for map illustrator Dyson Logos who has already produced thirteen, excellent maps representing the giant dungeon ... and the project's not over yet!)

Meanwhile, the amazing Kevin Crawford, one of the very best and most productive one-man-band rpg publishers working today (not his day-job either), the very same person who briefly toyed with the idea of releasing a free version of a new Tekumel rpg called "Swords of the Petal Throne", in view of releasing a full-blown game later on, is having a huge success with the second edition of his very good "Stars Without Number" Traveller-like rpg.
What a good move it was on the Foundation's part to turn his project down, 'cause, clearly, he doesn't know what he's doing, mad man that he is.

(Can you imagine having so little business acumen and such an inflated sense of self-worth as a game writer/publisher that, when a incredibly creative and savvy rpg author like Crawford comes knocking on your door with a project to revitalize your world, you can't find a way to work with him, for fear of "losing control", for fear of not having your name writ large on the cover of some stale book no one will buy, instead of letting him produce his own line of Tekumel games under, say, a "The Empire of the Petal Throne, Second Edition" flag, which would include a free starter rules and GM-guidelines pack containing a short introductory adventure?)

To paraphrase a Polish saying, the moths have taken over the library ... and they're not letting anyone in. And so, the magnificent remains of Barker's genius creation lie in the vast and ever expanding graveyard of dead fantasy worlds and missed opportunities.

What a grand and beautiful corpse it is though.

Oh well.

I find solace in the thought that, there is a bethorm out there, where the world of Tekumel powers a well-established line of games and supplements.

So they shut down Dave, eh? Bad move, this, and certain to cause a certain level of annoyance out in the wider world.

On the other hand, it's also typical of the way that their personal prestige and control issues have come to rule the roost. I could tell you a lot more stories like these, but it's a nice evening and I'm enjoying painting my Romans. However, I will give you a sample of what I have to deal with...

Back a while ago, a very old and very dear friend asked me to paint his huge collection of Tekumel figures for him, in the same style as I had and was painting mine. I agreed, because he's my friend. He then offered to pay me for my time, and I told him that he should think about what he thought that it might be worth and make his decision accordingly - I did not quote him a rate or anything, because he's an old friend and I like painting figures. He happened to mention at a well-know southern Wisconsin game convention to the TF person who was there that he was doing this; I then got a rocket from the TF insisting that by "accepting any kind of compensation for the use of the Tekumel (TM) IP, I was in violation of the TF's sole and exclusive license for the commercial exploitation of the Tekumel (TM) IP" and that I was required by the TF to get a license from them and pay them a fee for said license as well as a percentage of whatever compensation my friend might choose to give me. I declined, and so my friend will get his figures painted for free; the TF, by their ham-handed tactics, will get nothing.

Please do keep in mind that these are the same people who ruined my relationship with Phil, so that they could get to where they are today.

Originally Posted by Neshm hiKumala

Incompetence. Lack of vision. Lack of ambition. Lack of creative talent and business sense.

Honestly, I also noted a deathly fear of making a decision.

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

I came to the same conclusion, which you so excellently stated in your post, the other day while listening to a Tekumel podcast. They were discussing military campaigns and "ways in which player characters can become involved with the legions, how to set up military-based campaigns." It became evident, quickly, that for one of the three it was about pontificating and not about Tekumel. One of the presenters asked the "authority" if in Phil's game the players had been part of the Legions. He gave a cursory answer and the question was quickly brushed aside and the conversation was steered in another direction. I found it kind of odd that he didn't answer fully (truthfully?) and say that Phil's original (real) Thursday Night Group were actively involved in Military Campaigns, and tell the listeners about some of Chirine's and the Glorious General's exploits? There really seems to be a reluctance to acknowledge the existence of these two Grognards in "official" Tekumel circles. You really should listen to the podcast and you will see what I mean.

Shemek

But, The Authority wasn't playing in Phil's campaigns then; he literally doesn't know anything about the early days. So, we don't talk about those days, or the people who did all those publications and artwork and stuff - they don't exist in the Official Approved Tekumel (TM), and will be written out of history. That's why you'll never see any of our old 'zines republished - it's an era that Does Not Exist.

Originally Posted by Neshm hiKumala

I did listen to it (I've listened to all the shows actually), and I totally know what you mean. It's a bit silly actually when you are able to "listen between the lines" a little and pick up on the unspoken stuff.

Besides that particular show on legions, which I couldn't sit through in its entirety as I felt it was getting nowhere, I like the show and am very glad it exists. It's well moderated and flows well, but I wish James Maliszewski spoke much more. He's the sort of super experienced GM that people interested in running adventures and campaigns in the world need to hear a lot from.

Agreed; I'd like to hear a lot more from Jim, and a lot less of the usual pontificating.