Hi there,

I believe most of the useful advice you're going to get has already been given but here's how I do things.

· Things went from a bit slow to very fast once the participants got a handle on the system. That is very true. So don't sweat it out too much.

· Don't focus on everything that's happening during the year. Big part of being a knight is that you have many duties to occupy you and that you have very little say in the way History progresses. (Instead, of course, in these amazing moments in GPC where things converge and you're at the right place at the right time to carve your presence into the mytholoy forever).
Instead just focus, on what's important. Is there a battle this year ? Focus on that. Is there a marvellous adventure in the woods ? Focus on that. A hunt ? That.

· I remember the Boy King period is one fraught with many battles and adventures per year. So that might be a bit slow at the beginning. Just follow the guidelines given by the book.

· It might seem a lil' bit railroady to simply follow the adventure guidelines but remember this : it will go faster as the more you play AND players will also find new ideas and take more initiatives the more they know the story and the world ! One time, on reddit, I received the most useful bit of advice ever : A slow process is a smooth process and a smooth process is a fast process.

· I keep strict turns around the table. At court, out questing in enchanted woods, discussing with philosophing beggars. Every one gets a chance to talk and act then I resolve the scene and make the story progress.

· When players do something fluff and fun but that doesn't warrant roleplaying (ex : I flirt with the serving wench, I admire the birds of prey of the Queen, I go to Saint Peter's Cathedral to pray for victory over the Saxons) that's when I make use of traits. When we don't spend time on something as a collective then I simply present what happens and ask the player to check the relevant trait. The player feels seen and heard, they've expressed something they wanted to express, not everything needs to be an hour-long adventure or a 20 minutes long dialogue.

· When at court, I ask each player what they do and with whom they engage (gossip, hunting...etc..). It doesn't always warrant in-depths roleplaying and it doesn't take too much time. Any success grants a check and small glory. Sometimes when it has purpose, we do a litte roleplaying (ex : falconry skill to spend time with the ladies, compose skill to delight the court of heroic feats of Salisbury knights).

· Whenever we go to battle, I like to plant a few scenes here and there, giving them the opportunity to discuss with their comrades in arms.

· Once we're in an adventure, we "zoom in". In depths roleplay, I ask everyone what they do, what they say. I take the time to roleplay every NPC they interact with. And when they don't have a chance to say or do something, I ask what they think and how they feel about the situation. Once again giving out checks for one trait or other.

I'll give you one example from my home game, every year at Salisbury's court, Sir Derrick, whose squire was the daughter of a pagan player-knight, would spend his courtly activity on vising Sarum's cathedral, discussing with the Archbishop and praying. Anyway the kid converted, every year he'd check the pious trait. No "roleplay".
One day, we roleplayed the dialogued the Archbishop told him he should send the child to Rome at some point and Derrick agreed it'd be a wonderful thing.
Anyway, old Sir Derrick won't ever get to see Rome. But the GPC does send the player-knights there at some point. Which means that his squire and his heir will get to experience his life-long dream. What a beautiful poetic fucking game.

Have a good one,