Talislanta d20 edition at the printer

[morrigan]

Tal

Could you provide a link that will give me a good "briefing" on this campaign setting? I remember having players years ago who loved the setting, but I have never personally looked at this setting before. All I can remember about it is "We don't have Elves!", or something to that effect.

NO ELVES! The battle cry of the late 80's. Our new slogan is... Still No Elves. Creative no?

Check out the Talislanta web site for more background info on the setting. www.talislanta.com

 

[Treebore]

It does have a very distinct flavor, but it also seems to add a LOT of rules to achieve it.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Well, that's not quite true.

The first edition was somewhat based off of D&D and it's variants. I used them all the time. I stopped playing about 3rd ed, when (ironically enough), Wizards of the Coast was doing it, because they were supposed to have some deal with SJG to do GURPS Talislanta, so I thought I'd just get my fix that way.

The d20 edition looks to take a lot of the mechanical aspects and bring them to the d20 system, in much the same way that say, Eberron manages to use the d20 rules to bring a different flavor and feel to the setting.

 

[Greatwyrm]

It does have a very distinct flavor, but it also seems to add a LOT of rules to achieve it.

Not as much as you'd think. Like D&D, 4e Talislanta used a core d20 mechanic for pretty much everything from spellcasing to attack damage. Spellcasting is very flexible. Monster stats were ridiculously easy. I wasn't real wild about how xp and advancement were handled, but it was no big deal.

The biggest thing I hope that translates well is the magic system. Similar in some ways to Elements of Magic, if you've seen it.

 

[Treebore]

Yes, i bought the pdf. I may like this. Of course the trick will be the same. Convince people to play it instead of "normal" D&D. I have had some success in that department. Ravenloft, Traveller, and Rokugan.

 

[Greatwyrm]

Any chance we'll see some previews, Mr. Agnew? How about an idea of how much of the magic system is preserved going to d20?

 

[warlord]

So your the infamous "No Elves" setting I applaud your anti-elfitism and am hapy your still around. But what was that wolf-thing that was always in your Dragon ads? Oh and whats the deal with the magic system does it use spell points?

 

[morrigan]

So your the infamous "No Elves" setting I applaud your anti-elfitism and am hapy your still around. But what was that wolf-thing that was always in your Dragon ads? Oh and whats the deal with the magic system does it use spell points?

The "wolf-thing" you refer to, I am assuming, is a member of the Jaka race. Jaka are one of the over 40 playable races in Talislanta (and my personal favorite). They are fully detailed in both the 4th edition fo Talislanta AND the soon-to-be-released d20 edition.

As to magic, the Tal4 magic system has been carefully ported to d20. There are no spell points, rather, spellcasting has been made a skill using the Mode system from Tal4. There are no spell lists like D&D (although sample spells are provided). Spellcasting characters are able to design their own unique spells using our spell design rules. Each spell will have it's own casting DC with the characters relevant Mode skill rating acting as a modifier. FOR ALL THE D20 PLAYERS: The Tald d20 magic system is NOT like D&D. In keeping with the themes and feel of the Talislanta setting, magic is much more versatile but generally less powerful in Talislanta than, say, the Forgotten Realms. That said, part of the fun of Tal is uncovering lost arcane secrets from the glorious (and magic rich) bygone ages. These ancient magics are normally far more powerful than presnrt-day Talislantan magic. (people lived in flying cities in past ages of Tal).

 

[Greatwyrm]

As to magic, the Tal4 magic system has been carefully ported to d20.

And with that, Tal20 goes to the top of the wish list.

 

[Razuur]

And with that, Tal20 goes to the top of the wish list.

I second the motion.

I have it pre-ordered from my FLGS and am waiting eagerly for the phone call that it is in!

Razuur