At the risk of provoking the purists, I offer two custom house rules that I have developed in anticipation of an upcoming Pendragon campaign.

I like the ubiquitous but low-key magic of Runequest, such that a Pagan or Heathen warrior might get an edge by saying a minor spell, or by extension a Christian knight might get a bonus in combat by saying a prayer. I also wanted a less arbitrary system for more powerful magic. So I made a magic system. -> LINK (https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzDeXs4yYhbfdnVaelM4S0pQMkE/edit?usp=sharing) <-

For the occasional player who doesn't want to play a knight, I made a system to determine skills, upkeep, etc for characters with non-knightly professions. -> LINK (https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzDeXs4yYhbfZEhtOWVQMlFzQ00/edit?usp=sharing) <-

Any feedback would be appreciated.

I have revised the magic rules slightly. The new version still uses the link above. I fixed a few typos, added more explanation, and added the text of some incantations, in case GMs wanted to read them aloud when characters overhear a spell or miracle being cast.

For example, here is the incantation for the "Battle Victory" miracle: "Domine misisti angelum tuum sub Ezechia rege Iudae et interfecisti de castris Sennacherim centum octoginta quinque milia et nunc Dominator caelorum mitte angelum tuum bonum ante nos in timore et tremore magnitudinis brachii tui ut metuant qui cum blasphemia veniunt adversus sanctum populum tuum!"

(From II Maccabees 15:22-24: "And in his prayer he said after this manner: Thou, O Lord, who didst send thy angel in the time of Ezechias, king of Juda, and didst kill a hundred and eighty-five thousand of the army of Sennacherib; Send now also, O Lord of heaven, thy good angel before us, for the fear and dread of the greatness of thy arm, That they may be afraid, who come with blasphemy against thy holy people. And thus he concluded his prayer.")

This looks very interesting, especially liked the magic point system, some spells seem to be quite powerful so it seems you need a very high magic campaign for these. I suppose that is why the low MP recovery? I'd like to use these for a more fantasy orientated ruleset, say Pendragon Pass? Have you playtested these?

Mikmo

By chance have you read Greg's essay "Genre and Generic"?
http://www.gspendragon.com/genreandgeneric.html

It goes into detail about why there are no non-Knight characters, and why he removed magic.

I've found running Pendragon that keeping everyone knights really focuses on the Arthurian theme and focus. The legends are about the Knights and their Ladies.

Just a thought (grin).

SirUkpyr

By chance have you read Greg's essay "Genre and Generic"?
http://www.gspendragon.com/genreandgeneric.html

It goes into detail about why there are no non-Knight characters, and why he removed magic.

I've found running Pendragon that keeping everyone knights really focuses on the Arthurian theme and focus. The legends are about the Knights and their Ladies.

Just a thought (grin).

SirUkpyr


While all that is true, some players, coming from other games, may really not dig the whole Knights-only thing with Pendragon. Using magic, if the GM is ok with it, may be a nice way to incorporate those players. Personally, I don't like to have mixed parties along the lines of more traditional fantasy because it tends to change the focus of the game to much and adventures have to somehow be changed to accommodate these characters throughout the campaign. However I understand the interest. But it seems to me that a lot of people would be all over a new book on magic.

I think there is one special situation in which magical characters are very useful, even in a more conventional KAP campaign, and that's when you have a female player that wants to play a female. Of course, you can always allow for female knights in shiny armor, or turn her into a Saxon female warrior friendly to Arthur's court, but you may not like that. A good way is let the female player play with one of the sorceresses who serve the Lady of the Lake. These gentlewoman show up all through the legends, they have a lot of freedom to come and go from the court when then want, they sometimes accompany knights and no one complaints, etc. Give them some magical powers and this is an excellent way to introduce female characters in the game.

Thanks everyone for the feedback.



This looks very interesting, especially liked the magic point system, some spells seem to be quite powerful so it seems you need a very high magic campaign for these. I suppose that is why the low MP recovery? I'd like to use these for a more fantasy orientated ruleset, say Pendragon Pass? Have you playtested these?

Mikmo


I have not yet had a chance to playtest, though I hope to soon. I don't want for spellcasting to be too powerful and take over the game, but on the other hand I want for it to be significant enough to matter. I will probably tone down the magical items; a +10 skill bonus is probably too much. We'll see.

I have tried to provide spells and miracles that fit the setting. I'd appreciate suggestions for more spells, especially if they come with references to the Arthurian stories in which they are found.



By chance have you read Greg's essay "Genre and Generic"?
http://www.gspendragon.com/genreandgeneric.html

It goes into detail about why there are no non-Knight characters, and why he removed magic.

I've found running Pendragon that keeping everyone knights really focuses on the Arthurian theme and focus. The legends are about the Knights and their Ladies.

Just a thought (grin).

SirUkpyr


I understand, and I am not proposing that everyone should use these optional rules. I think an occasional non-knight character should not spoil the whole game, and could add some interesting variety.

I have wanted magic rules even if none of the characters use magic. As the GM, I'd like to have a system for adjudicating magic so that I am not just arbitrarily hand-waving events related to magic.

I can see some things I think worth using in my game. I've been trying to better integrate magic into my very not exactly genre breaking game. I flat out said that everyone has a to play a knight, but getting caught using magic against any non-fantastic or -magical combatant would incur losses of honor, and possibly being hunted down.