|
|
Post by Falconer on Dec 7, 2010 14:06:34 GMT -6
I’ve read a lot of comments lately that EPT is (or was or can be) of the sword & planet genre. How so, and what are the implications of that perspective? In what ways does it resemble Barsoom in particular?
|
|
|
|
Post by greentongue on Dec 7, 2010 18:27:20 GMT -6
I would start with ... Alien Planet, then add Ancient Science!
While the characters are low level, give them SCIENCE! devices to fight alien monsters and save High Clan daughters.
Allow improbable coincidences to occur and loosen cultural restrictions to a bare minimum.
=
|
|
|
|
Post by foxroe on Dec 7, 2010 19:52:32 GMT -6
Well, some similarities: John Carter is initially a stranger in a strange land. This is similar to a beginning player's experience in EPT. The flora and fauna of Barsoom is utterly alien, with many of the creatures/races being multilimbed. This is very much the experience in Tekumel. Barsoom is an astronomically separate world from Earth. So is Tekumel. Travel to either world is via trans-dimensional means. The denizens of Barsoom are scantily clad... a la Tekumel.  However, if I recall, there are differences in the treatment of science and magic. Barsoom is not very magical, relying more on magic-like "science" (from what I remember... it's been decades since I read the stories). On the flip side, Tekumel's science is ancient and rare, relying more on magic and communion with god-like beings. This is the aspect of EPT that I like best. If I ever get the chance to run an EPT campaign, my Tekumel will be more like Swords & Sorcery -- science and technology will be very rare and cryptic. |
|
|
|
Post by Falconer on Dec 9, 2010 10:58:43 GMT -6
I was thinking there should definitely be a Mars in my campaign world, and this makes me think of possibly using Tekumel for it.
|
|
|
|
Post by ckutalik on Dec 9, 2010 11:30:25 GMT -6
I was thinking there should definitely be a Mars in my campaign world, and this makes me think of possibly using Tekumel for it. I really like this idea, maybe I can finally have my Tekumel cake and eat it too by opening up a few nexus points in my campaign world that lead over there. It would an interesting way to set up some EPT adventures without getting overwhelmed by canon fatigue (or having to recruit new players for a new campaign). |
|
|
|
Post by Falconer on Dec 9, 2010 15:00:16 GMT -6
Exactly. A group of normal D&D PCs in my usual D&D world could get transported there in a similar manner to John Carter or Erac’s Cousin. So they are whisked away to “Mars,” and of course they find that the locals have another name for it. Magic-Users and Clerics immediately become Fighting Men, in order to really enforce the Sword & Planet feel. They have a few weird adventures, and eventually they have the option of going back to their home world or staying (or maybe going back and forth at-will, if the referee wants to allow it).
|
|
|
|
Post by ckutalik on Dec 10, 2010 9:43:59 GMT -6
Exactly. A group of normal D&D PCs in my usual D&D world could get transported there in a similar manner to John Carter or Erac’s Cousin. So they are whisked away to “Mars,” and of course they find that the locals have another name for it. Magic-Users and Clerics immediately become Fighting Men, in order to really enforce the Sword & Planet feel. They have a few weird adventures, and eventually they have the option of going back to their home world or staying (or maybe going back and forth at-will, if the referee wants to allow it). I was just thinking that Tekumel has both a red and green moon. Maybe the D&D world could turn out to be the green moon and the red moon...well...you know. |
|
