Your character may benefit from one or more “solo scenarios”

How many summer solo scenarios should a character that didn't adventure get? Is there any particular guideline that should be used?

Would you use the same number of solo scenarios for 'compensatory play' vs 'previous experience'? (two of the listed possible uses of solos)

As a rule of thumb, I'd give one solo scenario.

Granted, I often don't bother to do even that, as I tend to deal out 'compensatory' checkmarks at the end of the year. So for example, if one character has 10 skill checkmarks and the other has 5, assuming that they have both been active in play, I might give the 10-skill char 1 more checkmark in some skill that the player wants, and the 5-skill char like 3 or 4. Of course, if the 5-skill char has so few checkmarks because the player missed out on most of the play, I might be a bit more stingy, but I probably would still give like 2 checkmarks or something.

I try to be relatively generous on the checkmarks. In short, if you rolled the skill successfully during the year in a real situation, the chances are good that I'd give you a checkmark. Same with traits.

I would also say 1 solo.

And as Morien I usually do not bother with it. I usually give a few checkmarks as well. Usually these include courtesy and intrigue as I assume the PK is at court and acting as a courtier.

As for glory. As with XP in other systems I see it also as a thank you for participating. So if a player is not present he or she does not get XP or in this case glory. If I do a solo adventure it is usually a means to get the PK in trouble so he will need to involve his fellow PKs the next year to solve the problem.

Your character may benefit from one or more “solo scenarios”
How many summer solo scenarios should a character that didn't adventure get? Is there any particular guideline that should be used?
Would you use the same number of solo scenarios for 'compensatory play' vs 'previous experience'? (two of the listed possible uses of solos)

The gents called it right
one solo per year
Rather than give our checks, I just have the player roll on a list of appropriate skills
and no Glory for solos
Glory is for players

Thank you all for the replies.

I have a more general question to ask but perhaps it would be better to start a new topic. (it's not really directly related to solos)

And as Morien I usually do not bother with it. I usually give a few checkmarks as well. Usually these include courtesy and intrigue as I assume the PK is at court and acting as a courtier.


Exactly so. You guys rode to and fro Logres this year? Everyone, check Horsemanship. You were chasing a bandit chief through Forest Sauvage, finally tracking him down? Good reason for a Hunting check. You swung your sword in anger and killed two bandits? Sword check.

This is partially to compensate for the fact that I don't always remember to award checkmarks as they happen, so it is good to have the players reminding me of stuff they did, or were exposed to. Even if they might not have high Intrigue, and didn't manage to use it successfully in the adventure, being exposed to it at Court does mean gaining some familiarity with how the game is played. Similar arguments can be extended to Heraldry and Recognize, having seen all those sigils and faces at Court. But keeping the number of checks a bit limited, it forces the player to focus a bit what he wishes his character to concentrate on.



As for glory. As with XP in other systems I see it also as a thank you for participating. So if a player is not present he or she does not get XP or in this case glory. If I do a solo adventure it is usually a means to get the PK in trouble so he will need to involve his fellow PKs the next year to solve the problem.


I did some 'expanded solos' that I posted here that involved more than just one roll, and might entail fighting and damage. I would be willing to give a character glory for something like that, but generally I'd agree with 'you missed the game, so you were stuck in boring garrison duty, twiddling your thumbs'.

Thank you all for the replies.

I have a more general question to ask but perhaps it would be better to start a new topic. (it's not really directly related to solos)


No worries. I think you will find that most of us here like to yammer on about Pendragon, so thank you for providing us with an excuse to type out a couple of lines. :)

And yes, I think a New Topic would be in order. Easy enough to press the New Topic button again and post.

No worries. I think you will find that most of us here like to yammer on about Pendragon, so thank you for providing us with an excuse to type out a couple of lines. :)

And yes, I think a New Topic would be in order. Easy enough to press the New Topic button again and post.


Understood, I enjoy a good yammer myself. On a related note... what about questions that don't relate directly to the rules per se. What forum should I post questions that are more "GM advicey"?

Understood, I enjoy a good yammer myself. On a related note... what about questions that don't relate directly to the rules per se. What forum should I post questions that are more "GM advicey"?


That would be the "Game Play: Your Campaigns, the GPC, and Story Line Questions" -section. 'How did you handle this kind of a situation in your games?' 'How did this work historically?' That sort of stuff. Besides, it is not as if there is always a right section to post, either. The Administrators won't bite your head off for a honest mistake. :)