The Primal Order
Encyclopedia
The Primal Order, or "TPO", is a religion-based fantasy roleplaying game supplement". Of particular note, TPO was the first work published by Wizards of the Coast
and its president, Peter Adkison
. Through TPO, Wizards of the Coast introduced the "Capsystem" concept, enabling gamemaster
s to seamlessly integrate TPO and future Capsystem titles into other role-playing games.
The supplement covers high-powered gaming and the gods. TPO provides guidelines for gamemaster
s to develop individual gods of various power levels, as well as entire pantheons, as well as the vast support network, both divine and mortal, required to maintain and increase godly status. These guidelines stem from the foundational concept of primal energy, its sources and impact, as well as its resource management.
TPO received very good reviews from various sources, including Pyramid Magazine and RPGNet.
As part of the sale of Wizards of the Coast to Hasbro
in 2001, Adkison retained the rights to The Primal Order, his own original work.
Unfortunately, Kevin Siembieda
, the owner of Palladium Books and Palladium FRPG copyright holder, sued Wizards for copyright infringement. Both parties settled the suit out of court, and Wizards released a revised edition of TPO that excluded Palladium. In addition, the revised edition also excluded AD&D, D&D and WarpWorld. Ironically, the revised edition expanded its coverage to include:
The expanded coverage increased TPO's page count from 232 to 250 pages. It also included new cover art.
In addition, the following Capsystem works are mentioned in the Legal Stuff section of both the original and revised editions:
Unfortunately, none of these ever moved forward beyond mention in TPO itself. With the dramatic success of Magic: The Gathering, coupled with previous legal issues regarding their Capsystem approach, Wizards focused almost entirely on collectible card game
s and failed to release any more Capsystem books.
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
and its president, Peter Adkison
Peter Adkison
Peter D. Adkison is the founder and first CEO of Wizards of the Coast , as well as a hobby game professional.During Adkison's tenure, Wizards of the Coast rose to the status of a major publisher in the hobby game industry. Wizards achieved runaway success with its creation of "Magic: the...
. Through TPO, Wizards of the Coast introduced the "Capsystem" concept, enabling gamemaster
Gamemaster
A gamemaster is a person who acts as an organizer, officiant for questions regarding rules, arbitrator, and moderator for a multiplayer game...
s to seamlessly integrate TPO and future Capsystem titles into other role-playing games.
The supplement covers high-powered gaming and the gods. TPO provides guidelines for gamemaster
Gamemaster
A gamemaster is a person who acts as an organizer, officiant for questions regarding rules, arbitrator, and moderator for a multiplayer game...
s to develop individual gods of various power levels, as well as entire pantheons, as well as the vast support network, both divine and mortal, required to maintain and increase godly status. These guidelines stem from the foundational concept of primal energy, its sources and impact, as well as its resource management.
TPO received very good reviews from various sources, including Pyramid Magazine and RPGNet.
As part of the sale of Wizards of the Coast to Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
in 2001, Adkison retained the rights to The Primal Order, his own original work.
Published Supplements
Wizards quickly followed up the release of TPO with several supplements to help build on the system's foundation. These supplements included:- Pawns, The Opening Move. Written by Nigel FindleyNigel FindleyNigel D Findley was a game designer, editor, and an author of science fiction and fantasy novels and role-playing games .-Biography:Nigel Findley was born in Venezuela, in 1959...
, TPO's first supplement serves as a bestiary created with the TPO ruleset in mind. It was published in 1992. - Chessboards, The Planes of Possibility. Written by Dave Howell, this supplement details planar design and management with respect to TPO rules. It was published in 1992.
- Knights, Strategies in Motion. Written by Nigel FindleyNigel FindleyNigel D Findley was a game designer, editor, and an author of science fiction and fantasy novels and role-playing games .-Biography:Nigel Findley was born in Venezuela, in 1959...
, this supplement detailed three fictional deities and their approaches to building their respective religions based on the TPO ruleset. It was published in 1993.
Controversy
One of the driving forces behind the Capsystem concept was to provide gamemasters of various systems with conversion notes to port TPO into their respective games. As such, Wizards solicited conversions for various systems, and included the following conversions with TPO:- Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (both 1st and 2nd edition)
- Arduin Grimoire
- Ars MagicaArs MagicaArs Magica is a role-playing game set in Mythic Europe, a quasi-historical version of Europe around AD 1200 with added fantastical elements. The game revolves around wizards and their allies...
- Chivalry & Sorcery
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- Synnibarr
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- WarpWorld
Unfortunately, Kevin Siembieda
Kevin Siembieda
Kevin Siembieda is an American artist, writer, designer, and publisher of role-playing games, and the co-founder and president of Palladium Books....
, the owner of Palladium Books and Palladium FRPG copyright holder, sued Wizards for copyright infringement. Both parties settled the suit out of court, and Wizards released a revised edition of TPO that excluded Palladium. In addition, the revised edition also excluded AD&D, D&D and WarpWorld. Ironically, the revised edition expanded its coverage to include:
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- CORPSCORPSThe CORPS game system, or Complete Omniversal Role Playing System, is a generic role-playing game system. It was created by Greg Porter in 1990....
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games.
The expanded coverage increased TPO's page count from 232 to 250 pages. It also included new cover art.
Planned Supplements
Wizards initially planned several supplements, of which two are known:- Bishops, The Eternal Crusade. This TPO supplement, to be written by Loren Miller, was to focus on "Earthly" churches using the TPO ruleset. It was never completed, nor are there any notes or references available.
- Rivals of Estedil. Written by Jonathan TweetJonathan TweetJonathan Tweet is a game designer who has been involved in the development of the role-playing games Ars Magica, Everway, Over the Edge, Talislanta and the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons, as well as the Collectible Miniatures Game Dreamblade.-Early life:Jonathan Tweet started playing D&D in...
, this was an adventure using the TPO ruleset. It was never completed, although Mr Tweet compiled copious notes and an outline.
In addition, the following Capsystem works are mentioned in the Legal Stuff section of both the original and revised editions:
- The Military Order
- The Economic Order
- The Governmental Order
- The Underworld Order
Unfortunately, none of these ever moved forward beyond mention in TPO itself. With the dramatic success of Magic: The Gathering, coupled with previous legal issues regarding their Capsystem approach, Wizards focused almost entirely on collectible card game
Collectible card game
thumb|Players and their decksA collectible card game , also called a trading card game or customizable card game, is a game played using specially designed sets of playing cards...
s and failed to release any more Capsystem books.
Other Conversions
Although TPO received no further official support beyond the 1995 revised edition, several folks have put forth other game system conversions for the system, to include:- GURPSGURPSThe Generic Universal RolePlaying System, or GURPS, is a tabletop role-playing game system designed to allow for play in any game setting...
4th Edition - Mythus
- UnisystemUnisystemUnisystem is a generic role-playing game system produced by Eden Studios, Inc. It is used in All Flesh Must Be Eaten, the Buffyverse role-playing games, CJ Carella's WitchCraft, Conspiracy X , and several other games. Games designed using Unisystem have been nominated for, and won, Origins...