Does anyone have a method for determining a "sketch" for a PC squire's knight? I would assume the knight would be a pretty important figure to the squire, and yet we have no way to determine some basic info about the him. Should we use ready-made NPC's from the rulebooks and supplements? Prolly not enough of 'em. So I guess we make our own up? Or choose one from the six archetypes provided on pages 176-177? They seem all of a similar type, just progressively more advanced. What if I want some that are darker, in tone—cruel even? Is there a chart to roll randomly for traits to add some variety?

Sorry, I'm no stranger to RPG's but very much a greenhorn when it comes to PENDRAGON. Just want to make sure this isn't provided for somewhere in the rulebook or one of the supplements. Don't want to spend time rolling my own if it already exists elsewhere.

Thanks!


M.

I first answer the question of why that particular knight was chosen for the squire. The best match is when the knight's key skills match what the squire wants to learn. A squire with high Hunting and Awareness who wants to make his knightly rep via superior scouting for his liege's army/patrols (see the Book of Battle) will chafe under the tutelage under a Courtly knight who only rides the tourney circuit. Once that is decided, I then take the archetypes and tweak accordingly.

If the player-squire's knight is not going to factor into the story in a huge way, I give him abbreviated stats much like an NPC squire of a player-knight. Assign him a notable Trait, a Family Characteristic, basic knightly skills, then flesh him out with a few years' seasoning as you would an older NPC squire (i.e., roll 1d6 for each skill; on a roll of 1, add one to that skill). The archetypes provide a solid basis when you need more detail, and are easily customized.