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An introduction to the game by the creator, Stephan Michael Sechi
If this is your first exposure to Talislanta, a word of explanation is probably in order. Talislanta is not your average role playing game. Unlike most fantasy games, Talislanta isn't based on traditional European mythology or some archetypal medieval setting. Instead,Talislanta is a strange and exotic place populated by unusual cultures, creatures, and characters such as Wizard Hunters, Dream Merchants, Thaumaturges, Rogue Magicians, and Mystic Warriors, to name just a few. If you're looking for elves here, you're out of luck. However, if you're looking for a unique and colorful role playing experience, you've come to the right place.
To find out more, take the Tour of Talislanta
A Short History of the Game
In 1988 a small company called Bard Games published The Chronicles of Talislanta, the first in a series of books about a role playing game called Talislanta. The fantastic artwork of P.D. Breeding-Black and a quirky world setting influenced by the works of author Jack Vance soon earned the game something of a cult following in certain circles, as well as some pretty good reviews. "Out of the ordinary", said Dragon Magazine. "So rich with information that even non-role-players will enjoy reading it", said Science Fiction Age. "Top 10 Recommended Games" (Heroic Worlds, by Lawrence Schick); "Ten Favorite Games" (The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games, by Rick Swan).
And my personal favorite, also from Mr. Swan: "It's as if H.P. Lovecraft had written Alice in Wonderland with Hans Christian Anderson and William S. Burroughs".
Ten years have passed since then. In that time, Talislanta has been through three different publishers (and one non-publisher), four different editions (including the brand-new 10th Anniversary Edition), and enough perils pitfalls, and near-death experiences to kill-off a dozen other games. Yet despite the problems Talislanta has survived, thanks mainly to the efforts of its fans, whose loyalty and support have made Talislanta "the Rasputin of role playing games" -- hard to kill (and also a little weird).
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