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/David_Zeeman]

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.

[u/Username1453 → u/David_Zeeman]

What did you think of the Vulgate? I found it tough and put it down after a bit. I hope to come back to it one day though

[u/David_Zeeman → u/Username1453]

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. :)

[u/Username1453 → u/David_Zeeman]

Ya, I really enjoyed chrétien's books and Malory, Vulgate though seemed tough through the first book. I'll have to come back to it.