The 6th edition of the Talislanta game and setting (being billed as the final edition) by Everything Epic released in pdf to crowdfunding backers last week. I haven't gotten a chance to review the books in depth yet, but being as Talislanta is a setting that I'm quite fond of I couldn't wait to share some initial thoughts.
One of the main questions for me regarding this edition was going to be how updated was it going to be? I mean this is several different ways. Most (or at least several) editions have advanced the timeline and altered some of the cultures or the political climate. For example, the Arduans became Aeirads and "evolved" in a more human direction in 3e (as I recall), and at some point, the Quan Empire was overthrown by their soldiers, the Kang.
It looks like this edition has again updated the timeline, changing the political picture and bringing in some of the cultures/species which had appeared in the spinoff setting Midnight Realm--though I'm unsure if there's in "in world" reason given for this last part.
The other, large question of updating was in terms of modernization. The desires and expectations of gamers are different in 2024 than they were in 1987 and even in 2006. The art and presentation in the new edition is largely in keeping with modern gaming which is both more heroic in its depiction of the characters and sexied up at times as well. This will not afford you the chance to play a Marukan dung-merchant, if such was ever your desire.
Given Talislanta's age and source material there were aspects that would be problematic in the current era. Their approach to this is varied, one might even say haphazard. Some things have been removed; others were tweaked in an attempt to ameliorate the more problematic elements. Others appear to have been left as they have always been. I guess this could be viewed as the middle road, which I guess was the way to go, I'm just not sure how they chose what got changed and what didn't.
System-wise, this is just another tweaking of the system Tal has had since the beginning, which is fine, because I think it's a pretty good one. I have read in places that there is a need for some errata, but that's sort of to be expected.
Anyway, look for more posts on this as I get to read more. Maybe I'll continue my survey of Talislanta across editions and some point.
3 comments:
I have never owned, read, or played ANY edition of Talislanta. A series of reviews from an aficionado would be much appreciated.
; )
@JB Every previous publication for every edition of Talislanta is right at the link below for free. You can just look the game over yourself with ease and at your leisure. Short form description, it's a picaresque high-fantasy world with many, many cultures and species sharing a single primary continent divided by regional politics and power balances, with no single Big Bad or central power. There are other lesser-known continents with less varied natures covered in some editions, as well as otherworldly dimensions and realms. Pretty much nothing is directly lifted from Earthly historical cultures but you'll find enough familiar features to ground things for you.
http://talislanta.com/talislanta-library
@Dick - Good call out.
@JB - I may just do that. I already have a few posts in a series under the "Talislanta" tag.
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