Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal - part II

Originally Posted by Hrugga

Likewise Lord Shemek...Not sure if you saw it. You should also have one waiting for you. The Imperial runners are not like they used to be!!!

H:0)

Mighty Hrugga of the Epics,

I did and now check your inbox.

Originally Posted by Zirunel

yes I agree with you, and with The_Shadow on that. When it comes to visualizing his own creation, he was the best. Who could do it better?

Okay, maybe Kathy Marshall. She "got" Tekumel, and depicted it better than almost anyone else, but even so, the Professor's drawings are among the most evocative you could hope for. It's a shame to hear he was insecure about them. He should never have felt that.

Agreed; I suspect that a big issue was that some of the artists in his game groups were skilled technically then he was, and let him know that on a regular basis. Katy, Ken, and Chris never, ever did that, which is why _ I think - he tended to listed to them and cooperate with them more and more.

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

What's even funnier is that they are Vriddi, all from "better" lineages (rolled up before the game started), the expedition is being "led" by Churisan hiVriddi (of the Vriddi) a lush, an idiot, a fop and a womaniser too high up to dispose of but too "dangerous" to be given any really power (I see him as a Fredo Corleone type of character), with Horu hiFa'asu hiVriddi -former Molkar of the 10th Legion, and blood uncle to two of the characters, "commanding" the expedition who everyone, including Churisan, is terrified of. "Uncle is looking for you." has become a sentence that instantly incites worry in my game!
To compound the above mentioned, the characters have somehow gotten a reputation of being "fuck-ups" within clan circles and Uncle Horu has told them to personally see to the lodge and that they "better not mess this up..." To paraphrase you Chirine: much mayhem will ensue.
I also do a tonne of accents from Eastern European, to South Asian, to southern US, to whatever... These are usually good for a laugh or two especially after I've had a few drinks in me
I will certainly keep you posted.

It just gets better and better! I went through the same process when I renovated the old Engsvanyali palace Lord Chirine calls home; I should send you the notes, if I can find them...

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

Chirine,

When you get a sec, can you check your notifications. I PM'd you something.

Shemek.

Got it; reply on the way.

Originally Posted by Zirunel

So if "functionaries at Avanthar" is as old a drawing as the others, that would mean he had the Pe Choi fully visualized from very early on....I think that's pretty interesting

Agreed. I wish you could see the rest of the material I have on file from him in the 1948 - 1952 period. What we know today of Tekumel was very largely created back then, and the details filled in in the 1970s. The 'Ts Rani' language and script documents have survived 99% intact in the later tw0-book set, with additional materials, and the 'History Of The Ts Rani Empire' is the foundation of "Deeds"; the first section of the latter book is almost entirely the 1950s manuscript. When I compared the two texts, I realized just how Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax must have felt when they saw Phil's work for the first time.

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

Agreed. I wish you could see the rest of the material I have on file from him in the 1948 - 1952 period. What we know today of Tekumel was very largely created back then, and the details filled in in the 1970s. The 'Ts Rani' language and script documents have survived 99% intact in the later tw0-book set, with additional materials, and the 'History Of The Ts Rani Empire' is the foundation of "Deeds"; the first section of the latter book is almost entirely the 1950s manuscript. When I compared the two texts, I realized just how Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax must have felt when they saw Phil's work for the first time.

1948-52? So visually at least, much of Tekumel may have been "fixed" before he ever went to India. Maybe not all, but much of it. The basic "look and feel"

Originally Posted by AsenRG

And now Chirine, you confirmed my doubts - you're indeed a Twilight and a high-essence one at that...

In other words, congratulations, Uncle!

(And in regard to the game...you always play for strategic advantage, not for tactical advantage, right?)

I looked that reference up, having only seen a copy of the game on the shelf in the FLGS, but I'd say that you are right. I do wish other people would read it, as they might realize just what I really am.

Yes; I always think in strategic terms, as all too many opponents in all sorts of games have learned. I think in long-term goals and objectives, not in short-term tactical ones. And it's always been a great help to me that quite a few of my opponents over the decades have been so predictable, and can be counted on to not to think but to 'shot from the hip'. It makes them so much easier to manipulate, especially as so many of them don't stop and think what my goals and objectives might be, or what might be their - and my - optimal outcomes.

I will freely admit that this does annoy some people, when I decline combat at that point in time; I can remember one huge "Chainmail" game that Gronan ran where I opened the battle by retreating, at which my opponents called me a coward and other, nastier, things. They pressed their attack, and then discovered that I had conducted a fighting withdrawal into a superb defensive position, and being gamers quite willingly stuffed their larger army into my troops' meat grinder. They had 10-1 odds on me, and lost 10 to 1 casualties. I laughed a lot over that one...

I happen to prefer offensive defensive battles, if I can use that phrase, as it never seem to occur to people - aside from Gronan, who knows better! - that I might find it very much to my advantage to allow myself to be attacked...

Agincourt. Crecy. Poitiers. Waterloo. Gettysburg. Sedan. Omdurman. To name a few. I am that most dangerous of all foes, a historian with a good memory - the the wit to use it...

Originally Posted by Zirunel

Chris, would that be Chris Huddle?

Yes, Chris 'Bear' Huddle.