and reprinted later as a single book by Different Worlds Publications in 1987. Whether the perception is fair or not, it would later plague Barker's acceptance and reputation.Įmpire of the Petal Throne was first published in 1975 as a boxed set by TSR, Inc. (Note that when DAW published his first book he was able to obtain the "Superstar" imprint for it, resulting in other authors - many who had more than one Hugo - requesting the same and a great deal of discontent). In addition, Barker was perceived as having a very strong ego. As a result, the product was more expensive and thus less profitable. They had agreed to pay a "finders fee" on sales in addition to royalties as well as to certain expensive overrides. TSR was locked into a deal that made the financial end of the game unpalatable to them. While published as fantasy, the game is sometimes classified as science fantasy or, debatably, as science fiction. Over the subsequent thirty years several new games based on the Tékumel setting were published, but to date none have met with commercial success. The game was the subject of articles in early issues of Dragon Magazine, but factors including inconsistent support from TSR led to its decline in popularity. Bringing a level of detail and quality to the concept of a campaign setting which had previously been unknown in the nascent RPG industry's publications it could be considered a qualitative reimagining, less heavily entrenched in the tactical mass-combat, wargaming roots of D&D. Barker's roleplaying game and setting as a standalone game under the title of The Empire of the Petal Throne (a synonym for the Tsolyáni Empire), rather than as a "supplement" to the original D&D rules. In 1975, Tactical Studies Rules, Inc., the publishers of Dungeons & Dragons, published M. Empire of the Petal Throne Any interest on: November 21, 2007, 12:43:24 PM As an upshot from this WTF thread, I thought there might be sufficient interest hereabouts to strike up a game of Empire of the Petal Throne, ideally to show how accessible the setting really can be. Barker, based on his Tékumel fictional universe, and first published in 1975 by TSR, Inc. For the game produced by Guardians of Order, see Tékumel: Empire of the Petal Throne.Įmpire of the Petal Throne is a fantasy role-playing game designed by M.