00:00.50 Victor So today we’re going to talk about war of wizards which interestingly enough was produced I believe before empire the pedal throne now. Ah. 00:09.84 James I Think that’s right came out the same year as ever guy with pelotherome but it was published sooner I believe. 00:21.66 Victor Yes, Professor Barker actually […]

00:04.38 Victor Well it is February Twenty Twenty four and that means well yeah I suppose March February March. It’s the beginning of the year and that means that we are. At the fiftieth anniversary of the release of dungeons and dragons the original dungeons and dragons and not too surprisingly. Lots of people are […]

part 1 – 1 minute to 44 minutes in – a panel of Tekumel experts including Mark Siefert, Rob Smith, Steve Braun, and Mark Eggert recounting their interaction & hopes for miniature use in EPT. part 2  – 45th minute – end – Rob Smith & Scott McKinlay talk about their new miniature project & […]

Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the fantastic world of Tékumel.  In this judiciously-timed episode, our hosts discuss and compare Tèkumeláni holidays.  Then they take up the “graduate level” Tékumel subject of the Undying Wizards. Show Notes: [00:00:30] Holidays in the Five Empires!  The Intercalary Days are five days at […]

Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the fantastic world of Tékumel.  In this episode, our hosts discuss “Eyes”, a unique class of magical item commonly encountered by players in Tékumel.  Then James and Victor discuss the peculiar Tsolyáni institution of the clan house, its importance to Tsolyáni society, and how […]

This episode explores the relationship between the inimical nonhuman H'lüss and science fiction.

In this episode, our hosts discuss the use of languages in Tékumel games, before answering a question concerning the placement of Prof. Barker’s novels within the “game” and “real” Tékumel distinction.

Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel.  In this episode, our hosts discuss EPT’s divine intervention mechanics at length.  But first, James and Victor engage in a brief discussion about imperial heirs. Show Notes: [00:00:35] Children of the known Tsolyáni princes?  Victor found a reference […]

Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel.  Our hosts begin this episode with a discussion of “demons” as they appear in Empire of the Petal Throne.  How do EPT’s demons differ from Prof. Barker’s later conceptions of them? Then, James and Victor finish their review […]

Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel.  In this episode, our hosts discuss the enigmatic group of deities known as the Pariah Gods.  But before we get to that, Victor and James review the first twelve books listed in the magical tomes section of Empire […]

Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel. In this episode, our hosts review each entry in the “Miscellaneous Magical Items” section of Empire of the Petal Throne.

In this episode, our hosts discuss “you.”  That’s “you” the pronoun, and not “you” the listener, although I’m certain you’re very interesting in your own right.  Tsolyáni has around twenty different words for the second person pronoun, and their proper use is determined by the relative social and cultural context of the speaker and addressee.

Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel.  In this episode, our hosts welcome special guest John Till to talk about his adaptation of the Fate system to Tékumel. But first, Victor gives us an update on the publication of Flamesong, and the hosts discuss their […]

Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel.  In this episode, our hosts discuss the term “the Five Empires.”  Who coined this label?  Is it a concept used by the Tèkumeláni, or is it merely gaming terminology? Much of this analysis involves how Tsolyáni ideas of […]

Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel.  Our hosts begin this episode with a discussion of ways a referee can make Tékumel their own, with examples from James and Victor’s campaigns. This is followed by a discussion of the myriad creatures found in Tékumel’s underworlds, […]

Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel.  After a hiatus, we’re back!  But wait, does anyone else smell cinnamon? This episode is devoted to a discussion of the Ssú, one of the aboriginal races of Tékumel.  These strange beings are clever, dangerous foes, who are […]

In this episode, our hosts interview special guest Bill Hoyt. Bill has been involved with roleplaying games since the early 1970s, and was integral in getting TSR to publish Empire of the Petal Throne.

Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel. In this most-apposite of episodes, our hosts discuss sickness and disease on Tékumel.  Can magic fix everything?  No, it can’t.  But first, Victor discusses his recent experience running games at GaryCon 2020, which had to be moved online […]

Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel. In this episode our hosts return to their walking tour of Jakálla, a popular segment with listeners.  But first, they discuss whether or not “Prof. Barker is always right” and how they approach what at first might seem as inconsistencies within the Tékumel corpus. Show Notes: [00:00:57]  Is Prof. Barker always right?  James begins by noting that Tékumel was developed over several...

Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel.  In this episode, our hosts are joined by special guests Bill Acheson and Steve Braun, who talk about Tékumel miniature gaming on the East Coast. But first, our hosts discuss the person of one Gámalu hiBeshyéne, the High Princeps of the Temple of Thúmis. Show Notes: [00:00:53]  Victor explains the origin of the writings about the Temple of Thúmis.  Why was the first article Prof....

Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel. This episode was recorded on November 2, 2019 at GameHole Con in Madison, Wisconsin.  Special guests Jeff Dee, Karen Knight and John Till join regular hosts Scott and Victor to discuss their experiences at the con, and how they’re currently gaming on Tékumel. In the middle of the episode, our hosts put out the call for “Dispatches from the Tree of Time.”  Listeners are encouraged to...

Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel. In this episode our hosts talk to Keith Dalluhn, who played Sanjésh hiKirisáya, Priest of the Temple of Thúmis in Prof. Barker’s Thursday Night Group.  Keith supplies numerous anecdotes and fascinating stories about gaming in Prof. Barker’s Tékumel. But before they interview Keith, our hosts spend the first part of the episode exploring two of Tékumel’s most notorious inhabitants, the...