Hello all!

I just started running a GPC campaign with some local friends. As Pendragon is a bit of a classic, I have had significant trouble finding advice on some story-related dilemmas. Luckily, a friend at a local gaming store pointed me to gspendragon.com (http://gspendragon.com), which, in turn, has led me here. Glad to have found this forum!

My Question:

One of my players has set quite a lofty personal goal for himself: He wants to try to become a king.

Now, to me, this seems to lean a bit on the side of ridiculousness, but usually, I am a GM who likes to let his players attempt what they will and stack the odds accordingly, rather than give them an outright "no."

Is there even a precedence for such a thing in this game, or should I just strike it down and tell him to keep his sights within his station?

I'm entertaining the idea of letting him try, but making the likelihood nigh impossible. For example, obtaining a high enough amount of glory to be worthy of even being considered (I think we all know how deadly this system can be for an overly ambitious knight), making the right political connections (alliances and friendships with important nobles of the realm), marriage (maybe he makes a bid for Ellen's hand during the Anarchy Period, or some other such marriage that would elevate his status), natural leadership (once Uther has died, can he unite enough of the divided nobles under one banner? and then, can he hold off the other powers vying for control?).

Now, assuming he manages to do everything right, (obviously, he will have to figure everything out on his own), I would still remove him from game play, making his character take on a more political role. Kings can't be running around having adventures, after all (Well, except for that silly King Pellinore, anyway.) He would then play a brother, son, or bannerman. His "kingdom" would most likely be some small portion he manged to carve out of Logres. Certainly not the whole thing. And then, he will have to deal with Arthur when he comes about.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Anyone can call himself a king. The trouble is making the other people do it, too. Also, Logres has a bit of a history as a unified kingdom, and if you start calling yourself a King during Anarchy, the other nobles might presume it means you intend to rule the whole of Logres. Besides, it shows hubris.

Saxon Kings rule their kingdoms by Conquest. Cadwy is ancient and his title vanishes into the mists of time. Nanteleod lives outside Logres and has his own Kingdom. Same for Idres and the Centurion King.

The best chance for a 'legitimate' kingdom would be to carve one out outside of Logres. Get hundred knights or so together and try your luck in Cambria. One of those little hill tribe kingdoms would do, or you can try and aim for Estregales, which is in chaos since the death of their king in 494. Hey, you can even ally yourself with Nanteleod and agree to support him as the High King, if he gives you free hand!

One of my player's characters got really close to becoming the new King of Builth during the Cambrian War scenario in Savage Mountains book. He was a Round Table Knight who was placed in command over the Army of Builth, critted his way through the first battle, totally crushing the opposition and capturing the rebellious tribal king. Alas, he was unable to force his son to marry a tribal princess for political gain, which would have pacified another big tribe. Some bad rolling on his part and he died in a fight against a giant. If only he had married his son to that princess (not pretty enough, was the son's opinion, played by the same player), it would have been almost certain that he would have mopped up the rebellion, won the respect of the tribal kings and been acknowledged by Arthur as the new King of Builth. Oh well. :)

That's awesome, Morien. What fun!


T.

Becoming King of Logres is nigh-impossible if you follow canon.

But in Cumbria, Cambria, Gaul and Ireland... the crown is there for the taking! Arthur is called the High King because other Kings exist but pay homage to him (or at least send him money). Ireland had tons of different kings, as did Cambria/Cumbria. Lots of great locations to stage a takeover!

That's awesome, Morien. What fun!


It was awesome and fun, indeed.

Paraphrasing from memory:
GM (me): "You lead the army into Builth. Roll Battle to maneuver against the enemy for an advantageous battlefield."
Player: "Critical."
GM: "Uh... Yeah, so your scouts tell you that the enemy, elated by their earlier victory against your predecessor, have grown complacent. You order a night march and catch the enemy still sleeping in their tents."
Player: "I'll sound the charge."
GM: "OK, first charge, everyone roll."
*rolling, Player criticals Lance*
GM: "The battle is on. Roll Battle again."
Player: "Critical."
GM: "Again? Huh... well, you see the rebel king's pavilion and the king himself, as he hops out of the tent pulling his pants on."
Player: "I lead my eschille there."
GM: "OK, his bodyguards try to intervene. Roll Sword."
*Player crits again, another player crits too, others succeed*
GM: "Well damn. You go through them like hot knife through butter. The king is fleeing with his remaining bodyguard. The whole enemy army is routing."
Player: "We give chase and try to capture the king."
GM: "Hunting roll."
*another player (the group's tracker knight) succeeds, the king... fumbles*
GM: "You come upon the king and his bodyguard as they have managed to ride into a dead end. The king, figuring that a higher power is trying to tell him something, surrenders without a fight."

It was as lopsided a battle as I have ever seen in Pendragon. :)

Alright, that gives me a much better idea to go on, and I would be much more accepting to that idea than the former. Looks like I'm going to have to get ahold of a Savages Mountains book!

Thanks for the input everyone!