Specifically male ones. To what degree was cross-dressing discouraged, if at all? I ask because one of my players has expressed interest in playing a male transvestite, preferring dresses and the like when not in armor. I've honestly never read about or even thought about the medieval view on cross dressing. My gut reaction tells me it would probably be viewed in a negative light and be open to public mockery and scorn, but I honestly don't know enough about the subject to outright tell her that her character is going to have a really rough time of it if they make a habit of wearing women's clothing in public. Has anyone grappled with similar issues in their own campaigns?

Historically, very negatively amongst the Christians.

Amongst the Pagan Norse, less of a big deal. However, I am not sure if it was more of a 'pick one' situation: if you dressed up like a woman, you were expected to fulfil the female role socially, rather than be a warrior (more of a male role).

I think the Pagan Celts would have been more or less fine with it, too, although this is based more on a gut feeling of the Celt mores being more permissive of variant sexualities than anything specific that I have read.

As far as your Campaign is concerned, it would be totally up to you and your players. Just like a female knight would have been technically in violation of canon law (see the accusations levelled towards Joan of Arc in her heresy trial), but you could allow them in your campaign anyway. If you decide not to make it a big deal, it doesn't have to be, in your campaign.

I think I would talk with the player and try to find out WHY he wants to play a transvestite knight. What's the allure there? Is he looking to be condemned by the society but prove himself via his prowess in quests and duels until everyone has to admit that yeah, he is a knight?

If memory serves, one of the principle Roman and medieval reasons for condemning homosexuality was that it placed a man "in a woman's role." I would imagine the same reasoning would apply to transvestites. A man who puts himself in the position of "being a woman" would be seen as weak and unmanly. If one wanted to go that route, I could even imagine Honor penalties akin to cowardice potentially being applied.

On the other hand, as Morien said, you campaign is your campaign. You are free to play the situation however is most enjoyable for your players. In one of my campaigns, we had a cross-dressing woman and a gay knight. Both managed to prove themselves, the woman by being a better hunter than most of the men and the knight by defeating a renowned lord in single combat (afterward, the lord declared that any man who considered said knight "less than a man" would face him - the lord - in single combat, as he would have his own honor so impugned as to have it suggested that he was bested by a weak man).

One thought that comes to mind would be to give the cross-dressing a more 'respectable gloss' by making (or at least claiming!) that it is a faerie curse/geas or something like that.

The last route is the one I would choose if someone approached me for a PK. The only thing you would want to make sure if how to change back, and what quests/passions/traits would be required.

I let female knights exist and one, at least, dressed as a man, to many wonderful exploits later, so it can be done.

One last point, are the rest of the group ok with it as well?

I'm assuming your question refers to someone who is dressing in drag and is not actually trying to fulfill the societal role of a woman. in other words they are transvestite not a transgender


It depends on the characters religion I think

This is how I would break it down.

Trinitarian or Roman Christian - this is a violation of Canon Law, accusations of homosexuality, if it gets reported enough investigation by friars on behalf of the bishop in order to determine whether this is the work of unclean spirits. simply put the great chain of being worldview theory does not allow for this to be a choice. God made things in its own place and when things are out of place it must be to work of dark forces.

British Christian- this is semi -pelagianism At its heart. due to the rejection of things like original sin and the construction of theological mores along cultural lines instead of absolute theological ones I may be a little more forgiving here. even still, I don't think Cymric values Would allow this much leeway. I believe that local man of the cloth would pursue a similar tactic to the Roman Christian. work of dark forces, great chain of being, and so forth.

Irish British Christian- it's been awhile since I opened up pagan shores but I really feel like there was a mention of some sort of Geas/ madness about this? it could have been something my players were joking about as well I'm not sure.

Revived old ways/. British paganism- We have very little historical data on this, and this is way out of my wheelhouse. that being said. http://www.gspendragon.com/pagans1.html has the official reconstruction of British Paganism according to Greg for the purposes of use in King Arthur Pendragon 5.1. Based on what scant informations there I would suggest that it is entirely up to the GM whether or not this will be accepted and pagan society. But one thing I would like to point out is this is not the fluffy bunny paganism of the 1960s. This seems to be more in line with the Pagan theologies we do know about. the gods didn't really care about you on a personal level unless you gave them sacrifice and homage. depending on how u want to interpret this logic this could be a good thing for the player. in other words even if you were to determine that under paganism this is a violation of natural law or what have you the gods might simply not care unless it became the pet issue of a druid or priestess. what's interesting to note is that according to Merlin’s discussion with the knight on that same page the British Christians should not have a problem with it according to Merlin. as a Student of theology this is very frustrating for me. because according to Merlin the Old Testament is ignored For the purposes of British Christianity however depending on which study you look at 60 to 80% of the Old Testament is repeated or rephrased in the New Testament Merlin also claims that the Romans and the British worship different gods despite both thing called Christians. I think the old gent is a little confused as that would be more accurate to say about Arian Christians.

Heathenism- I think the pics might find it more amusing that the man was wearing impractical clothing than the fact that he was wearing a dress. I'm not sure what sources where are used in the construction of King Arthur Pendragon heathenism so I can't comment on their historical validity but I can see if it were my game, my ruling would be man in dress not a problem; man in big frilly dress, problem. I have a tendency to romanticize and simplify heathenism in my game.It's brutal and simple and animalistic but in terms of behavior whatever helps a clan and tribe survive.
that being said women hold the power in Pictish society so I could see a more cynical thinker in that culture believing that your player character was just doing it to gain more power.

Norse paganism- this is pretty much been touched on earlier, it would be less of a problem but it's one or the other.

Wotanism - I honestly don't know my temptation is to say call it like Norse paganism

Zaazamec- My understanding is Mohammad and the resulting Islamic expansion destroyed a lot of what came before it. Additionally, this is an amalgamation of many cultures and belief systems. so, this is going to be a GM call I think.

I'm leaving out the various Byzantine churches and Aminism/tengrism Of the Huns But I think it's important to touch on Grail Christianity I think it's fair to say that within that belief system i as the game master would allow for a lot more of what other Christian belief structures would call sin because its primary tenant seems to be the modern-day interpretation of the word compassion

YPMV

I believe in some legal codes wearing a woman's clothing was grounds for divorce. I remember some Viking saga where the wife tricks her husband into trying on woman's shirt and then divorces him. Bloodshed ensues.

In your game, I think it is what you make it. I'd agree with Morien with regards to talking with the player about the point of the character's cross-dressing. Does the player want it to be an issue in the game or just some 'famous trait' for which the PK is known? Are you as GM expected to make create situations that we (today) would interpret as sexist or homophobic and offensive but in context are part of the challenge that the group has agreed to include? Or is it mean in a more silly Monty Python-esqe sort of way.

NT

Or is it mean in a more silly Monty Python-esqe sort of way.


I'm a knight and I'm OK, I sleep all night and I quest all day...

If the historical accuracy is cranked high, this swiftly becomes a 'party-wide' problem. "Hey, you are the friends of that pervert!" In that case, make sure that the other players are aboard with the idea, too.

Were it my campaign, I would be hesitant to include cross-dressing as a Big Thing. First of all, I didn't sign up to GM a story about a cross-dressing knight in King Arthur's court at the expense of everything else. Secondly, some of my players, quite legitimately, would be upset that this becomes the centerpiece of the campaign. They didn't sign up to be the supporting characters in a story about someone else's character and the problems he has being accepted.

Instead, if I were to allow it, I would treat it like I do the female knights. Sure, there are bigots out there and some people might use it as an insult or a potential weakness to be exploited, but as long as you show up to the muster in armor and can fight as well as any man (and preferably better than most), then the crossdressing is seen more like an eccentricity.
"Yeah, that is Sir Ffinan. He is a bit odd, but a good man to have by you in a fight."
"Faerie curse, I hear."
"I heard that he was dropped on his head as a kid."
"In any case, he killed the Griffon of Yendor when it was about to eat my head, so he is a-OK in my book."
"Generous man, too, helped me with that dreadful harvest."
"And at least he shaves."
"..."
"What? Would you rather look a bearded man in a dress? Would you?"
"... point."