ottarrus's page

Well folks, if you're like me and can remember when the Baptists were picketting game and toy stores because DnD summoned the Devil, you'll be sad to hear about the passing of another gaming great.

Two weeks ago, on 16 March, Professor MAR Barker passed away at a hospice home in Minneapolis MN.

For those who don't know of him, Professor Barker was a multiple PhD in Seriously Obscure Languages [his PhD is in Klamath tribal languages in the Southern Oregon/Northern California region] and designed the Empire of the Petal Throne/Tekumel milieu.

One of the most detailled, literate, sociologically well designed environments ever created, EPT/Tekumel was a wonder to explore. If Basic DnD was roleplaying at the kindergarten level, The Forgotten Realms was the elementary level, and Greg Stafford's Glorantha was high school, then EPT/Tekumel was post-grad study.

So, folks, in the last 4 years we've lost Gary Gygax [1938-2008], N. Robin Crossby (created HARN) [1954-2008], Dave Arneson [1947-2009], and Prof. Barker. I have no-doubt missed some people.

So, before you go blazing out to get the newest, hottest thing on the market, talk to an Old Geek and see about looking at some of the older settings like Tekumel, Skyrealms of Jorune, Talislanta, MERP, etc. What you find will amaze you.

Here are a couple links, one on Prof. Barker and another on Tekumel itself, just to give you a taste.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAR_Barker
http://tekumel.com

So, when can we expect a Player's Guide Download?

Ok, so I decided to put a game together in my area and after consulting some of the interested parties we all decided to do an Arabian Adventures theme, a' la Sinbad.

Rather than reinventing the wheel, I got into my boxes of old gaming stuff and pulled out my TSR al'Qadim setting. There were a couple of reasons for this. First, it neatly dodges the whole issue of Islam v Christianity and/or the Crusades. Secondly, they're waaaay better artists than I am.

What I'm wondering is if anyone has some input on converting AD&D al'Qadim Sha'ir class into a Pathfinder format.

This is a class that uses a minor genie familiar to go 'fetch' spells for the caster. It is somewhat similar to the Daivrat from the Qadira sourcebook, but adjusted to be a basic class.

One of my players is running a human sorceror with the Efreeti bloodline who wants to prestige into the Daivrat, but if I can save him some time by tooling the Sha'ir to fit, that would be better.

Second question: How do other GM's handle the Ride skill with alternate animals? Do you apply any 'adjustment time' or skill checks to a Western style knight trying to ride a camel, or worse, and elephant?

Thanks all!

I have a question regarding the Paizo PFS Character Registration website.

I was putting together a second character for PFS last night and somehow the system registered it as the wrong name. How do I erase a character that has not been played from the site so I can start over?

Any help at all would be gratefully received.

Thanks all!

Ok, I really, really did look in the archives before I posted this, but I have a couple quick questions in re: the falcata.

Firstly, I get the impression that the falcata stats in the APG are final. Is that right?

Second, is there any source for falcata specific feats other than the Campaign Guide's 'Taldori Duelling Style'? I was pretty disappointed to see that the Taldor book had nothing about the supposed cultural weapon of the country.

Thanks all!

First of all, I'm deeply saddened to see Dragon and Dungeon go into that good night. As a longtime geek (I lost my first toon in Temple of the Frog when it was the ONLY 'dungeon' out there...), all I can say is that it won't be the same game without them. Still, KUDOS to the staffers at Paizo, WotC, and TSR! The magazines are going down on a very high note. Thanks for the memories.

Next thing: Silly question. Is Paizo barred from reprinting D20 material from Dragon/Dungeon now that the decision has been made? If not, I would like to put in a humble request: PLEASE reprint the Core Beliefs and Demonomicon of Iggwilv series of articles in a bound format!! These have been the articles that I've been most enthusiastic about in years, and I'd looked forward to them for quite awhile! Most especially, GIVE IUZ A FULL WRITEUP!! Maybe even a writeup on Iggwilv herself....

Look, we all know that Greyhawk is dead from WotC's point of view, and your support for my favorite game milieu/world/whatever has been a beacon of light in a world awash in Realmsian...uh, stuff. :) And, yes, I know that was a market-driven decision, and I know about the upcoming Expedition to Greyhawks Ruins, but I still miss Zagyg's cackle...

Again, thanks for your time, effort, sweat, blood, tears, stomach ulcers, and stess-induced early onset male pattern baldness.

One geek to another, you folks did/have done/are doing a hell of a job.