Start Gaming On Tékumel

So you have decided to explore the amazing world of Tékumel!

The first question most people ask is “what do I need?”  The answer to that question is simple - buy a copy of Empire of the Petal Throne or Béthorm, start reading, and go ahead and play the game!  Prof. Barker provided excellent advice about how to do this:

“...If you are planning a campaign, all you need is the first, immediate locale and an introductory scenario. You will need maps of the underground labyrinths in which your players will want to adventure, plus some ideas about the terrain and the inhabitants of your region. Other things can come later. Then utilize either the older gaming systems of Empire of the Petal Throne or the new rules which will follow. Construct a few characters, learn the basics of the movement, combat, and magic systems – and play! I think that you will quickly find yourself ‘at home’ on Tékumel, and as your campaign grows and your players become more experienced, further details will just flow.”

While there are a LOT of helpful resources and materials available for Tékumel, they are not needed to start playing. Don’t worry about whether or not you are “getting it right” - it’s your Tékumel, and you can fix any mistakes you think you’ve made later. To get started, all you need to do is this:

1. Buy a copy of the rules you would like to use
2. Construct some characters
3. Use those characters to familiarize yourself with the rules and how they work
4. Choose a starting locale in Tékumel - the city of Mighty Jakálla, The Kúrt Hills in the center of the Empire, or someplace else that works for you.
5. Put together some adventures to start off your campaign - perhaps a scholar of a temple wants help exploring the Underworld, or a scion of a noble clan needs help clearing a rural plantation of bandits, or a warrior needs help finding their one true love who has disappeared? There are many possible adventures - a little imagination can come up with many more than these three.
6. Recruit some players - even one or two is enough!
7. Begin play!

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