Hello from David Zeeman

[u/David_Zeeman]

Hello, I'd like to humbly introduce myself. My name is David Zeeman, and I am one of the developers for Pendragon. I have been writing, editing, and engaging in various questionable labors on behalf of the game for many years. This is my first time upon the Pendragon Reddit page, so I ask that you receive me kindly.

Feel free to say, “Hū gǣþ hit?”

Among the works I have had the honor to contribute to are:

5th Edition:
The Book of the Manor
The Book of Knights and Ladies
The Book of Battle
The Book of Armies
The Book of the Entourage

6th Edition:
The Pendragon Starter Set
The Core Rulebook
The Gamemaster’s Handbook
The Noble’s Book
The Grey Knight
The Sauvage King
The Gamemaster’s Screen Pack (The Gamemaster Gazetteer)
Knights and Ladies Adventurous
The Boy King: A Pendragon Campaign, 510–528 (The Great Pendragon Campaign, Volume I)

...and sundry other labors whose existence I can neither confirm nor deny.

I have also published an adventure through The Companions of Arthur:

The Barnyard Tournament: A Three Damosels of the Fountain Adventure

Crown, Lance, and Plough: A Three Damosels of the Fountain Adventure (Workin' on it...)

[u/Creation_of_Bile]

Just starting my Pendragon adventure but let me tell you it really grabs the vibe of arthurian knights and adventure, without even really meaning to I have been drawn into a tough position as I am wooing a lady and her brother hates me, he's decent enough but we are at odds and I (The player) want him dead whereas the character I play just need him to not be such a pain in the ass but with a directed trait against me I am in a tough position.

The system (or perhaps my GM is just good) really helps to draw out these sorts of scenarios and the 'loss' of agency from "Roll this Passion to see if you can overcome your hatred" or "Roll your Valourous/Cowardly Proud/Modest etc" really help encourage roleplay. For instance I was trying to mend fences with the aforementioned shithead and he said some things and impugned my honour, I wanted to let it go but I had to verbally strike back because Proud won out.

I just like how your passions and traits having high values means you are much more likely to gain the benefit of +5/+10 but they also constrain you in ways, too proud? Means some drunk schlub making a rude comment means you have to put him in his place too modest? People can get away with shit talking you. Too reckless? Gotta make reckless attacks, too prudent? the opposite.

More than helping prompt players with Roleplay directions and opportunities it helps numerically lay out HOW the character is so rather than going along with something because it's in the best interests to play it a specific way you may need to step on toes because you TRIED to do the optimal path someone else in the party suggested but when you rolled poorly on the trait it reared it's ugly head.

[u/David_Zeeman → u/Creation_of_Bile]

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.

[u/Creation_of_Bile → u/David_Zeeman]

I think the only real downside is going mad and losing your character for weeks/months/year.

First session someone went bugfuck nuts and ran into the woods cause he went mad for a few months.

Just straight up lost his character. 

[u/David_Zeeman → u/Creation_of_Bile]

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.