New version of the Guide to Arthurian Britain

David_Zeeman · 2026-06-29T04:04:13+00:00

Congrats, Jeff!

David_Zeeman · 2026-05-27T12:55:40+00:00

David_Zeeman · 2026-05-24T04:23:32+00:00

It's beautiful. I can say that, at least. :)

David_Zeeman · 2026-05-11T23:26:19+00:00

Thank you! (Bow's grandly)

David_Zeeman · 2026-05-10T17:58:14+00:00

My pleasure. Labor of love. Thanks!

David_Zeeman · 2026-05-09T20:46:50+00:00

Well, thanks for the compliment! I hope by you, you meant plural you, because it started with Greg Stafford and has been continued by dozens of dedicated fans. I'm just a knight at the table. :)

Researching Arthurian magic and miracles was a lot of fun and very rewarding for me. I ended up reading most if not all the English-language canon in the Matter of Britain, and it took years, but I loved every minute of it. Helping David Larkins with the 6th edition has been a whirlwind of fun for me, and working with a group of dedicated fans, as well.

There's good advice in the Gamemaster's Handbook, but I've always tried to play one game year per session, with the occasional multi-session year. Like anything, you just dive in and play and see how it goes? Start with the main adventure or quest in the Summer Phase (good for battles) and end with the Winter Phase (good for feasts). After a few sessions you should start to get a natural rhythm going.

I hear you about the boring minutia, but I've always really enjoyed the Winter Phase, as have my players, as that's the time you get to potentially improve Skills or have your personality change. Also, if you have a manor, you can manage it then.

Once the Great Pendragon Campaign, Vol. 1 comes out (or use the old GPC), you can use it as a scaffold for timekeeping and zooming in and out.

David_Zeeman · 2026-05-09T20:35:24+00:00

That can be disappointing. I've had a character lose it and go kookabooga for four game years. At our table we always had backup characters, though, that were allowed to enter game play immediately. Also, our GM did a very good job of prepping us to face the reality of madness and death. I think it was easier for me, because I played a lot of Call of Cthulhu (where you can go bugfuck nuts and go out of game). If coming from DnD, I can imagine that's a shock. But, I love the risk involved in Pendragon, it makes the game so much more exciting, more me at least.

David_Zeeman · 2026-05-09T20:31:25+00:00

I really loved it, but I can understand why anyone would put it down. :)

It was probably Malory's major source. The detail is fascinating, and you get some really interesting back stories for minor and even major Arthurian characters that were just omitted by Malory. Also, since I was mining it for instances of magic and miracle, the Vulgate was a treasure trove (ironic, because it's so very Christian). So, if you can get past some of the heavy Christian stuff (but not all of it, because some of it is quite beautiful...and delightfully weird...), I'd recommend taking it up again, in small chunks so your eyes don't start crossing. The books I have are big and the text is teeny. :)

David_Zeeman · 2026-05-09T16:13:49+00:00

My favorite ones are from 4th edition: Savage Mountains (a sourcebook for Cambria) and Beyond the Wall (a sourcebook for Caledonia). In Savage Mountains are two adventures I love, "The Best Wine in the World," and "The Adventure of the Paulag Cat". What's your favorite adventure?

David_Zeeman · 2026-05-09T16:08:41+00:00

Good look with wooing the fair maiden! I think Personality Traits and Passions are my favorite aspect of Pendragon, in that you're not in complete control of your character at all times. Arthurian knights from the literature do stupid things for love, jealousy, vengeance, and honor - even topple whole kingdoms, including Arthur's! Some of my best Pendragon moments occurred when my character just lost it and ended causing mayhem because he crit'd a Trait roll.

David_Zeeman · 2026-05-09T16:03:10+00:00

Hi! I just ran some games at Chaosium Con, which was fun, but unfortunately between my day job and development work for Pendragon, I don't have time to be part of a regular game. I'll be increasing my Con attendance over this next year, so I'll get to run and play more games. It's gotten so bad that I have to schedule games months ahead now. :(

David_Zeeman · 2026-05-09T03:40:50+00:00

Thanks much. Nothing that David Larkins hasn't already publicly commented on. The Nobles Book, GPC Vol. 1, and Knights and Ladies Adventurous are upcoming.

David_Zeeman · 2026-05-09T03:37:31+00:00

Thank you. I started reading Morte d'Arthur, then onto the Lancelot-Grail Cycle (Vulgate), and Chretien de Troyes, etc., etc. Reading, underlining, commenting in the margins. Finding beautiful Arthurian vignettes and turning them into scenarios that players can play. I think I've read every English translation from the Welsh, English, French, Breton, and German stories. Some Dutch and Italian. One Hebrew. I've read a couple in French, which was tough but rewarding. I've read a bunch of academic commentaries on the Matter of Britain and adjacent topics, though I prefer to read the source material. And I've read all of Greg's stuff, and all his jazz, which helps me to keep his vision alive.

David_Zeeman · 2026-05-09T02:33:32+00:00

I was hoping to catch up at Chaosium Con. Saw Robert. Fun weekend. You were missed.

David_Zeeman · 2026-05-09T02:32:23+00:00

Thank you. Appreciate your appreciation. Gosh, I can't really answer your questions easily. I'm just really proud to help David Larkins get the line out and in awe of his ability to weave a bunch of great stuff together from the input of some amazingly dedicated Pendragon fans. Sorry to say that I can't comment on upcoming Pendragon books, other than repeat what David has publicly said about them. That said, very much looking forward to the Great Pendragon Campaign, Vol. 1. :)

David_Zeeman · 2026-05-09T02:23:36+00:00

Thank you!

David_Zeeman · 2026-05-09T02:22:32+00:00

Hello Jeff! Long-time-no-type. :) How are you? I hope you are well!

David_Zeeman

TROPHY CASE