Talislanta

[Argent Silvermage]

I was just reminded of this...
3rd edition Talislanta had a set of sourse books similar to the Gazetteers you find for Grayhawk and Ravenloft.
These are still available and fit in well with Tal 4 with little to no modification. So you can get a lot of background info at little to no cost because no one is thinking they will work with Tal 4. (It seems the main change in Tal 3 to 4 is the Magic and skill systems.)

 

[RangerWickett]

Well, there certainly seems to be some interest. I'm game. Shall I go email again Shooting Iron and see if they're still interested? I could probably brainstorm a rough battle plan of conversion today.

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Well, there certainly seems to be some interest. I'm game. Shall I go email again Shooting Iron and see if they're still interested? I could probably brainstorm a rough battle plan of conversion today.

You sir are a prince among men, Hobbits, elves, dwarves, etc.

I'll help in any way I can but I'm not up to the task of writing.

 

[Greatwyrm]

Tal Rawks!

That said, does anyone out there think that the new Eberron setting borrows heavily from the Talislanta milieu?

Eberron reminds me of Talislanta, that scores big points with me. However, I don't think it borrows from it so much as they may have the same inspiration. It seems both have roots in the kinda "balkanized" Europe of post WWI. Mr. Baker has made that pretty clear for Eberron. I can see a little of it in the way some of the different Talislantan kingdoms interact as well. I think Eberron will probably have a little more magic in it than Talislanta, but it's a little early to say.

 

[JEL]

I love Tal, but I'm failing to see what a D20 conversion would achieve. Other than adding some unneeded complexity, what would D20 do that the current rules don't already handle? Not trying to be a troll here; I honestly just don't see the point in it.

 

[Tenbones]

Talislanta d20????

I'm totally with JEL on this.

Why in the world would you *want* to make Talislanta d20? I've played Talislanta since 1st edition, which I backed into by complete accident, and I was blown away by it. It was like D&D... but not D&D.

By 2nd and 3rd edition, I was, and still am, convinced Talislanta's system is superior to any incarnation of D&D imho. Sure you can tweak it, and fudge it for your to your own level of complexity, the system itself, is what I wished 3ed would be. It's a perfect amalgamation of class/skill based systems that allows you to customize your PC in a (il)logical way that scales beautifully from level 1, to ungodly levels (book of Sorcery, HELLO?).

And the setting? Bar none, one of the best out there. Races? Awesome cool races! Magic? High or Low depending on where you're playing. Gear? Exotic and deadly. Combat? Beautiful system that melds perfectly with spellcasting.

What few holes that exist in the system are so minor that any GM worth his salt can *easily* customize to his tastes to account for.

3.5 d20 while similar in appearance, completely lacks the finesse of the Talislanta system. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of d20. But there are many many systems within d20 that are flat broken or need revamping (AC, Spellcasting, XP progression, Skill system, ECL/CR system... the list goes on) that you simply don't have any problems with in Talislanta. Also, Talislanta because of it's hybrid class/skill bases system enforces more character development and roleplaying than specialist role development in a strict Class-based system like d20.

I'd like to see Forgotten Realms done in the Talislanta system...

 

[Alcareru]

I'd like to see Forgotten Realms done in the Talislanta system...

That would be cool. Also Ive been out of the Tal loop for maybe 2 editions. Unless theres been any major changes to its present one, I dont see what d20 would gain you, conversion wise.

 

[RangerWickett]

Tal d20 would accomplish the same thing any other system adaptation accomplishes: it makes people who normally stay inside the d20 system look at things that they'd otherwise have missed.

And for the record, Tal does have its own layer of complexity, particularly with all those skills you can get. Hmm. Pondering, pondering.

So, if we were to do a Tal d20 adaptation, it would need:

1. Races. A racial level system would help also.
2. New spellcasting class or two. We'd need to change fighter a bit, since heavy armor is rare in Tal, but barbarian and rogue can stay the same. All the spellcasting classes would have to change or be replaced.
3. Prestige classes.
4. New magic system.
5. Local critters.
6. New gear.

 

[yipwyg]

Talislanta and Au

I agree a d20 Talislanta would get more notice from d20 players. After seeing the d20 verison they may look at the actual standard ruleset. Also, with more public notice, the people who make Talislanta perhaps would be able to release more products. They could even release dual format books, Tal4/D20.

I think some of the classes in Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed would fit, unfettered would make a great base for a light armored fighter.

 

[JEL]

Tal d20 would accomplish the same thing any other system adaptation accomplishes: it makes people who normally stay inside the d20 system look at things that they'd otherwise have missed.

So it accomplishes helping people who are too close minded and/or stupid to learn a new set of rules. Do these people play every board game using Monopoly rules?