King Arthur Pendragon has always been more than just a game to me; it's a genuine gaming masterpiece. I've poured countless hours into roleplaying games throughout my life, and Pendragon holds such a special place because it perfectly combines two of my greatest passions: medieval history and mythology, all wrapped up in the timeless Arthurian legend. It's truly inspiring to me how much of this game, from its design to its rich background, was the singular vision of its creator, Greg Stafford. He managed to share his passion in such a meaningful way, and that's something I deeply admire.
I'm incredibly excited to announce a new journey for this blog: I'm diving headfirst into a solo playthrough of the 5th Edition Great Pendragon Campaign (GPC)! This edition, which was republished in 2005 by White Wolf Games under its ArtHaus imprint, is truly a monumental work. Greg Stafford himself expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity to create and publish this "massive tome," which serves as a guide for an entire 85-year campaign, stretching from before Arthur's conception to after his death. It’s a generational saga, and the perfect canvas for the kind of deep, personal story I want to tell.
Starting Early: The King Uther Period Expansion (480 AD)
While the GPC usually kicks off in 485 AD, I'm choosing to start my campaign even earlier, in the pivotal year of 480 AD, using The King Uther Period Expansion. This allows me to immerse myself fully in the initial, tumultuous years of Uther's reign, right from his ascension as King of Logres. This expansion is invaluable, offering crucial clarifications and updates to the original GPC (1st Edition) timeline.
Here are some of the key details from this expansion that will shape our campaign:
Court Locations: Easter and Christmas Courts aren't fixed; I'll decide their locations based on what makes sense for the narrative, or roll on Table G.
Key Ages Revised: Uther (b. 436), Prince Madoc (b. 459 – who is newly knighted in 480 AD!), and Duke Gorlois (b. 438) all have updated birth years, giving us a clearer picture of their maturity and roles.
Sir Brastias's Early Loyalty: From 480-490 AD, he's actually Duke Gorlois's captain, not Uther's. He only joins Uther's household in 491 AD after a pardon, becoming his captain then. So, Uther's early captain will be Sir Belleus.
Summerland: This region officially becomes part of Uther's kingdom in 482 AD.
Duke of Caercolun is Lucius: It's fascinating to learn that the "Duke of Caercolun" is actually young Lucius (b. 478), who is the heir to the Duke of the Saxon Shore title. Sir Marvis de Revel is his custodian from 483 AD. Tragically, both Sir Marvis and young Lucius die in a Saxon ambush in 486 AD.
Saxon Leadership: The East Saxon King who establishes his kingdom is Æscwine (not Aethelswith), and his son is Sledd (not Aescwine).
Syagrius's Arrival: The King of the Franks, Syagrius, comes to Uther's court in spring 487 AD, which makes perfect sense as Soissons falls in late 486 AD.
Uther's Illness: His later illness in 493 AD might stem from a grievous wound suffered in a duel against Sir Argan, or other mystical causes.
Duke Eldol's Heirs: In Glevum, it's his grandson Heli and great-grandson Chaleins who feud over the inheritance after Eldol's death in 494 AD. This internal strife keeps them out of the Battle of St. Albans and continues into the Anarchy.
Gorlois's Titles: He is also recognized as the Sheriff of Tintagel, in addition to his Dukedom.
Reduced Counts: The overall number of counts (earls) in Britain is reduced.
Why Solo The Great Pendragon Campaign?
For me, solo roleplaying is the ultimate way to dive deep into a game like Pendragon. It allows for complete immersion, focusing intensely on character development and the unfolding narrative without needing to coordinate a group. I can really take my time with decisions, get lost in the lore, and truly embody the struggles and triumphs of my chosen family.
This means embracing the core themes of Pendragon: the rise and fall of chivalry, the ever-changing landscape of Britain, and the personal glory and tragedy that defines a knight's service to his king.
Introducing Sir Ector Du Plain of Salisbury
My journey begins not with a grand castle, but with something far more humble: Du Plain Manor. This isn't some pre-built stronghold; it's a simple, unfortified medieval manor house located in the southeastern part of Salisbury County, right on the border with Hampshire. I even modified a map to mark its precise location:
Sir Ector Du Plain: The Knight (Starting 480 AD)
Let me introduce you to our protagonist, the first lord of Du Plain: Sir Ector Du Plain. He's a single, newly-made knight at the dawn of Uther's reign, tasked with overseeing his modest manor.
Here are his stats, reflecting his impressive capabilities forged during his squire years:
Homeland: Salisbury
Culture: Cymric (Logres)
Religious Outlook: Christian (Orthodox)
Family Estate: Du Plain Manor, Salisbury
Basic Stats
STR: 18
CON: 21
DEX: 10
SIZ: 18
INT: 12
CHA: 17
HP: 39
Healing Rate: 2
Damage Bonus (DB): +2
Movement: 6 yards/turn (unarmored)
Derived Stats
Glory (Initial): 1,000
Chivalry: 1
Total RP: 1
Passions
Honor: 15
Love (Family): 10
Loyalty (Liege: Count Roderick of Salisbury): 12
Loyalty (Logres): 8
Pious: 16
Valour: 12
Personality Traits (Sorted with Opposing Traits)
Chaste: 16 / Lustful: 4
Conscientious: 8 / Lazy: 12
Curious: 8 (No standard opposite)
Energetic: 14 / Lazy: 6
Forgiving: 10 / Vengeful: 10
Generous: 10 / Selfish: 10
Hateful (Heathens): 14 / Tolerant: 6
Honest: 10 / Deceitful: 10
Hospitality: 8 / Unsociable: 12
Just: 10 / Arbitrary: 10
Modest: 10 / Proud: 10
Prudent: 10 / Reckless: 10
Temperate: 10 / Temperamental: 10
Trusting: 10 / Suspicious: 10
Military & Combat Skills
Battle: 10
Brawling: 10
Bow: 5
Great Sword: 20 (Specifically for hacking down heathens!)
Lance: 20
Large Shield: 20
Ride: 25
Siege: 10
Spear: 10
Sword: 15
Tourney: 10
Warfare: 10
Other Skills
Awareness: 10
Boating: 5
Compose: 5
Courtly Love: 5
Courtesy: 15
Customize: 5
Dance: 5
Faerie Lore: 5
Falconry: 5
First Aid: 5
Flirting: 5
Folk Lore: 5
Gaming: 5
Heraldry: 10
Hunting: 10
Intrigue: 5
Orate: 5
Play: 5
Read (Latin): 5
Recognize: 10
Religion (Christian): 10
Sing: 5
Speak (Cymric): 15
Speak (Latin): 10
Speak (Romance): 5
Spotting: 10
Stewardship: 15
Swimming: 5
Equipment
Weapon: Lance, Great Sword, Large Shield, Spear
Armor: Mail Hauberk (6 AP), Coif, Helmet
Horse: Warhorse (Unbarded)
Miscellaneous: Good quality clothing, saddlebag, traveling gear, a few shillings.
Du Plain Manor: The Starting Point (480 AD)
My vision for Du Plain Manor, drawing on The Pendragon Book of the Manor, is that it starts as a basic, unfortified estate. It has the essentials, but nothing more:
Manor House: A simple, timber-framed Great Hall.
Stables: For his mounts.
Barn/Granary: For storing the manor's produce.
Outbuildings: Including a separate kitchen and basic servant quarters.
Chapel (Small): A simple wooden structure for worship.
Well: A basic water source.
Agricultural Lands: The fields and pastures that provide sustenance and income.
Village: A small community of 100-150 tenant farmers and laborers who work the land.
Defenses: Crucially, there are NONE of the purchasable fortifications like a palisade, moat, or watchtowers. It's completely exposed.
Manor Personnel: A few loyal housecarls (5-8 armed retainers), a reeve, a priest, and other basic staff.
Starting Funds: A meager 0 Librae. Any income from previous years has gone directly into upkeep.
This initial setup means Sir Ector's immediate challenge will be to survive and, hopefully, to begin fortifying his home.
Sir Ector's Personal Goals
Beyond the survival of his manor, Sir Ector has a specific, driving quest: to find a magical blade that can help him in his relentless fight against heathens. This will be a long-term arc, influencing his decisions and adventures.
And as for his skills, a mid-term objective is to push his Battle, Siege, Sword (general), and Spear skills up to 20 through earned Experience Points, making him a true master of war.
So, the stage is truly set for Sir Ector Du Plain's epic saga. I'm ready to begin his story in 480 AD.
Now, let's see how far we get!
Yours for now Captain Hedges As Sir Ector Du Plain.
No comments:
Post a Comment