I received my copy a few days ago and have now read the book a couple of times. First I want to say that I like it a lot. I have yet to try it, but the system seems to be fine and the way the system and the setting have been tied to each other is praiseworthy. The book does good job on introducing a newcomer into the world of Tékumel. I especially appreciated the descriptions of the Tsolyáni names, society, ethics (noble-ignoble instead of good-evil), and family. They make role-playing in Tékumel a lot more easier and probably show up in the game much more often than the history of Tékumel, which is usually depicted in much greater detail than the everyday life.

I am a great fan of random encounters. They help to make the world appear real and to exist for its own sake instead of just providing a world of adventure for a group of vagabonds. The tables provided here are extensive and very useful, probably very enjoyable both for the GM and the players.

I also found the description of the clan system very inspiring, as well as the way the clan, status, and contacts are represented in the character stats. It made me literally to spark with ideas. When I'll GM Bethorm, the clan and the family will probably be at the very core of the plot and themes. I was thinking about a campaign in which the players would be members of a dishonored clan, trying to regain its prestige. So good job!

I have previously read The Empire of the Petal Throne, though I've never played it. Even though Bethorm is much more elegant as a gaming system, there are a few things I miss from EPT. Barker's gorgeous drawings come first to my mind, though I understand they are copyrighted etc. etc. Still, Bethorm could have had a few full-page drawings. Tékumel is very exotic and very alien world, so any help with imagining it is more than welcome. Similarly the pictures depicting alien races could have been larger. I know they can be found from your DeviantArt page in the original size, but I prefer books over Internet.

EPT presented a table of alien race alignments in regards to mankind. Of course grouping entire race to one of three categories --friendly, hostile, and neutral-- is very much a simplified version of reality, but still it is good to have easy-to-use reference for the basic things. Also, the bestiary could have been grouped into smaller categories, as in EPT, instead of having one huge list. On the other hand I can see the benefits of an alphabetical list too, so it is probably just a matter of taste.

Different chapters could have been separated more clearly from each other. The name and number of the current chapter could appear on each page so navigating the book could be easier. Having a full-page "front page" with a drawing would have been super cool. Anyway, I enjoyed reading Bethorm a lot and I will definitely run it one day with my friends. Well done and thanks!

Is there any place in the book where generic spells would be listed with appropriate temples? Or do I need to go through the list and check each spell individually?

After careful consideration, I've decided that resolutely negative reviews will not be allowed on these forums. This applies to ANY game, not just Bethorm. These forums are for positive, constructive discussions between Bethorm fans.

Thanks!
-Jeff

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/2061/Maps-for-Empire-of-the-Petal-Throne

-Jeff Dee