In the KAP 5.2 book, it is mentioned in the Lover's Solo scenario that the lady's reluctance factor will automatically be reduced with time. However, it never mentions the rate of reduction. What is the normal reduction rate for reluctance factor? Thanks!

Well, I never did figure it as a set amount.
Her reluctance should diminish by the magnitude of her lover's deeds
I'll leave that up to the Gamemaster for now, though

So, basically have her reluctance factor reduce automatically each year by some amount corresponding to the knight's deeds over the course of that year? This would be in addition to the deeds mentioned in the Lover's Solo Scenario, correct?

KAP 5.2, p. 233, Step 2 of Lover's Solo:

"The starting RF value is equal to 20 + 1⁄4 of the lady’s Chaste
value – the value of her Amor Passion for the knight (if any)."


p. 234, Step 3, subsection b) has the rules for reducing the Reluctance Factor on successful completion of the tasks or increasing it, if the lover fails in his assigned tasks.


However, both in Step 3 and Step 4, a reference is made to RF being reduced due to time having passed, separate from the accomplishment of the tasks. There are no rules given for this whatsoever, as Seosaidh pointed out. Unless one takes this from Step 2 to mean as to the time: "The length of time, in months, that she is willing to resist his advances (even if she is favorably impressed), is equal to the value of her “Reluctance Factor” (RF);" This would imply that the RF plummets at 1 point per month, which makes a mockery of accomplishing the tasks, which one may only try once per winter.

Lets say that the Lady is famously Chaste (16). This gives her a starting RF of 24. The First Winter the wooing starts, and the Lady assigns a task. The knight fails and RF increases by 2. However, by the next Winter, her RF has reduced by 12(!), for a new total of 14. Wooing proceeds and the knight fails again, for another +2 to RF. Year passes, the Lady's RF is now just 6! Knight fails again, for RF of 8. Year passes and Lady's reluctance is now -4. Whohoo, consummation without ANY task successes whatsoever, in just 3 years! This CANNOT be right.


How I would run it (off the top of my head):
Step 2: Starting RF = Chaste (This should be the most important factor, not the flat 20 + a hint of Chaste.)
Step 3. Wooing: Each successful Amor roll & gift in Step 3a reduces her RF by one. Each task may reduce her RF on a success, or increase it on a failure as per normal in Step 3b. (In other words, if you succeed, her RF goes down by 2 per year.)
Step 4. Harsh Taskmistress: I might allow the successes to reduce the RF even here. It is basically just a difference of a year or so. It is bad enough that the tasks are harder and that the penalties for failure are basically doubled.

This means that if you go after a Famously Chaste Lady, you are looking to spend a decade doing her bidding, assuming you succeed in all the tasks assigned to you (unlikely). However, if you go after a Lady with a more libertine reputation (Chaste 4), you might whittle her down in a couple of years. Which sounds about right to me.

One thing to keep in mind that the game of Amor is usually played between a knight and a married lady, and the goal might not even be the consummation, but the Glory won in doing the tasks for her. While it does say that it can be used to court a woman, I'd say that in most cases, you are better off trying to impress her father/guardian. Unless she is already widowed often enough for her to make up her own mind, she is unlikely to be kept on the shelf for a decade for you to do your Amor soloing.

As an afterthought, I would probably rewrite the task list as well. With 2d6 + number of tasks completed (successfully, I presume), it is almost certain that tasks 2-5 get very little air time, whereas tasks 7-15 get a lot more. Yet it is those latter tasks that usually occupy a couple of slots, making them even more probable. Anyway, something to ponder later.

Thanks Morien. That's a good idea.

One thing to keep in mind that the game of Amor is usually played between a knight and a married lady, and the goal might not even be the consummation, but the Glory won in doing the tasks for her. While it does say that it can be used to court a woman, I'd say that in most cases, you are better off trying to impress her father/guardian. Unless she is already widowed often enough for her to make up her own mind, she is unlikely to be kept on the shelf for a decade for you to do your Amor soloing.

Just to follow up on that thought... If I were to use this to see about thawing a lady to a marriage rather than an adulterous relationship, I would likely start her reluctance off from Chaste/2, rather than Chaste. This would roughly halve the time it would take to convince her to marry you, rather than risk her life and reputation by having an affair.

As an afterthought, I would probably rewrite the task list as well. With 2d6 + number of tasks completed (successfully, I presume), it is almost certain that tasks 2-5 get very little air time, whereas tasks 7-15 get a lot more. Yet it is those latter tasks that usually occupy a couple of slots, making them even more probable. Anyway, something to ponder later.

Just to add a thought here, too...

I think I would use something like 1d6 + Reluctance as the task randomization, and flip the table so that the smaller the number, the harder the task. First of all, it makes sense to me that the greater the reward (Lady granting liberties) the greater the task should be. Secondly, it is much easier to keep track of the remaining Reluctance (that you are doing anyway) than it is to keep track of how many successful Tasks have been completed. Less book-keeping = good thing.

The idea of modifying the starting value of the reluctance factor might be a good idea as well as Morien hints at. Other possibilities might include the lady's age, the knight's charisma and glory, reputation, status and such.

And as a final point, we are talking about ladies. Do we have a system for a lady knight approaching males?

The idea of modifying the starting value of the reluctance factor might be a good idea as well as Morien hints at. Other possibilities might include the lady's age, the knight's charisma and glory, reputation, status and such.


Sure, although rather than the lady's age solely, I would look at her marital status as well. A widowed lady past her childbearing years has much less to risk than a married lady or a virgin.

Reputation (as distinct from Glory) I would use mainly as a penalty, increasing the Reluctance Factor, if the knight is known to be a faithless lover or some such. Otherwise, I doubt it would much matter, as heroics and such would be covered by Glory.

Glory I would probably use as a tiered approach. Like -1 to RF for 4000 Glory, -2 for 8000 Glory, -3 for 16000 and -4 for 32000. Flat Glory modifier breaks down quickly with high Glory.

APP could very well play a big role as well, finally giving APP some function. I'd probably have a simple formula: -(APP-10)/2. This would give -4 RF for APP 17 or 18.

However, I would probably impose a floor below which the RF cannot sink without some heroics on the knight's part. At least RF 1 for a bride, necessitating at least one Task to prove his worth. I might up this to 3 in the case of an adulterous affair, since that is a much bigger risk for the woman, AND keeping the knight hanging is the primary way of having power over him...



And as a final point, we are talking about ladies. Do we have a system for a lady knight approaching males?

Your Pendragon May Vary, but I'd say no. Simply because the gender roles and expectations are different. Most importantly, as a knight, the lady knight shouldn't be simpering and swooning and getting other knights to do heroics for her; no, she should be the one to do the heroics and gain the glory herself! At the same time, the male courtiers, as males, shouldn't be simpering and swooning either, nor would their virtue be imperilled by an affair with the lady knight, while hers would be. Of course you can play an aggressively gender-egalitarian campaign where everything works exactly the same regardless of the gender. But in my campaigns, the lady knight's problem is not so much in attracting a suitor, but attracting a suitor that would be right for her. Although even then, if the player doesn't want the drama, marrying an esquire steward who takes care of the manor and the kids while she is out adventuring/warring works just fine.