1. Is there a stated price for Improved Norman Chain (11 pt) armor and what would it's availability be in the Uther and Anarchy periods?
I don't see it listed on the price list under "armor".

2. Is it appropriate for a pk to generate a love/loyalty passion for another pk if that pk was solely responsible for saving the former pk's life?

3. Would a non knight get the same amount of battle plunder or a lesser share than a knight? I still use the old "Knight's Adventurous" supplement in combination with
the BoKL and have warrior and mounted sergeant player characters. I'm of the opinion that a warrior/foot-soldier would get 1/3 and a mounted sergeant would get 1/2 of a knight's share of plunder.

All of these answers are In My Campaign:


1. Is there a stated price for Improved Norman Chain (11 pt) armor and what would it's availability be in the Uther and Anarchy periods?
I don't see it listed on the price list under "armor".


I don't think I have ever seen the price, but I think I used £4 in our early campaign. That being said, nowadays I don't bother with the transitional form and just introduce 12-point armor at the Boy King.

I am FIRMLY of the opinion that during Anarchy, all technological / horse-breeding development should screech into a halt. It is the Anarchy! Herds are constantly getting raided, there is no rich king to tinker with the horse breeds or commission a master armourer to come up with a better suit of armor. Thus, if you are introducing some transitional armor, my preference would be that the transitional 11-point armor would appear in the early 490s, and be very rare (barons only), and remain so during the Anarchy. And Reinforced Mail would appear only after Arthur establishes Camelot and gathers the best and the brightest there. Needless to say, IMC, Sir Gorboduc, living in a middle of a forest in a village, would not have the highest tech armor almost a full period before it becomes available.




2. Is it appropriate for a pk to generate a love/loyalty passion for another pk if that pk was solely responsible for saving the former pk's life?


Depends. Knights are saving one another all the time. In our campaign, it is common for the PKs to have Loyalty (Group) towards the whole group, so these actions would fall under it. I would certainly not impose such a passion on a PK without the player's willing consent. But if the Player wishes for his PK to feel that strongly, sure. Have at.



3. Would a non knight get the same amount of battle plunder or a lesser share than a knight? I still use the old "Knight's Adventurous" supplement in combination with
the BoKL and have warrior and mounted sergeant player characters. I'm of the opinion that a warrior/foot-soldier would get 1/3 and a mounted sergeant would get 1/2 of a knight's share of plunder.

Realistically, yes, they should get less. I'd be looking at something like 1/4th for the foot soldiers/warriors (although depends on the warrior: a naked pict vs. an aristocratic mounted Irishman is not equal) and half for the mounted sergeants.

However, generally putting some of the Player Characters on such a clear disadvantage from the chargen onwards is a bad idea, in my experience. Again, if the Players want to play that kind of class-divide, all fine and well. But otherwise, I would be leery about it. Certainly I would be looking for ways to knight the mounted sergeants especially ASAP, and look to boost the warriors, too. Because the other question is, how are they going to be able to contribute to the plot if they are commoners who are expected to shut up while their betters are making plans? How are they going to start families/dynasties?

The improved norman chain. I added 1/2 librum to the price of a normal chain mail.

Loyalty passion: If a PK wants a passion for another PK I never object. As Morien said I would not impose it upon them as a GM.
Althoug if they have such a passion I do feel obliged as a GM to use it and think of ways to make it not only a boon (getting inspired) but also a flaw, when he has to choose between his friend and some other passion (lord, lady, honor). KAP is a game where characters are defined by their passions, and the PK is driven by them.

Characters from different classes: As Morien also stated I would try to get them all knighted asap. Classes do not mix and it is rare when a commoner and a knight are friends. also remember that when someone approaches the group he will adress the knight first, and may not even acknowledge the others. Seeing them as nothing more than the henchmen of the knight.

2. Is it appropriate for a pk to generate a love/loyalty passion for another pk if that pk was solely responsible for saving the former pk's life?


I created a passion called Fellowship to cover devotions outside the ordinary three (familial, marital, and religious), which can be taken for individual knights (Galeholt for Lancelot for example), brotherhoods of knights (such as the Round Table), one's neighbors or fellow bachelors, and so forth.

I don't think I have ever seen the price, but I think I used £4 in our early campaign. That being said, nowadays I don't bother with the transitional form and just introduce 12-point armor at the Boy King.

I am FIRMLY of the opinion that during Anarchy, all technological / horse-breeding development should screech into a halt. It is the Anarchy! Herds are constantly getting raided, there is no rich king to tinker with the horse breeds or commission a master armourer to come up with a better suit of armor. Thus, if you are introducing some transitional armor, my preference would be that the transitional 11-point armor would appear in the early 490s, and be very rare (barons only), and remain so during the Anarchy. And Reinforced Mail would appear only after Arthur establishes Camelot and gathers the best and the brightest there. Needless to say, IMC, Sir Gorboduc, living in a middle of a forest in a village, would not have the highest tech armor almost a full period before it becomes available.


Your pricing on the armor sounds about right to me. And your limits on it's availability are very reasonable. I can see why you don't use it anymore, since it's most likely a PK will never have access to it anyway.


Loyalty passion: If a PK wants a passion for another PK I never object. As Morien said I would not impose it upon them as a GM.
Althoug if they have such a passion I do feel obliged as a GM to use it and think of ways to make it not only a boon (getting inspired) but also a flaw, when he has to choose between his friend and some other passion (lord, lady, honor). KAP is a game where characters are defined by their passions, and the PK is driven by them.


My concern about obtaining this type of passion is what Morien said: ".Knights are saving one another all the time". I suppose it's a reasonable request but as you stated a passion is a double-edged sword. So the PK will have to live with the negatives that go along with it. Undead Trouts Fellowship passion is an intriguing idea which I will look to implement in the future of our current campaign.


Characters from different classes: As Morien also stated I would try to get them all knighted asap. Classes do not mix and it is rare when a commoner and a knight are friends. also remember that when someone approaches the group he will adress the knight first, and may not even acknowledge the others. Seeing them as nothing more than the henchmen of the knight.

I've experienced the problems that arise when mixing classes. Non knight classes are excluded from many social interactions- as was previously stated- which defeats the purpose of the game in my opinion. But the players wished to play these classes so I didn't object at the time. In the future I think I'll follow the character generation in BoKL. You could still start out as an esquire, but he's a nobleman (albeit the lowest level) and close to becoming a knight. Unlike a member of the warrior class.

Thanks for the replies and advice.

May I ask what kinds of procedures you've used to transition from warrior class to noble class? I'm working with a similar scenario and would be happy to have further input.

My plan has been to have the characters fulfill their duties as warriors under their lord, and display valor and prowess such that in the environment of a need for knights, available land, and etc. they are selected for advancement. This is during Ambrosius' reign, so very early when things were arguably more fluid, even. Meanwhile, they can tag along with their lord (who has few retainers as he's on campaign) and interact with either other warriors or knights who are more egalitarian.

--Khanwulf

My procedure would look something like this:
- First you must do something heroic. Saving a lord from harm could be a start, but it must be something that will probably kill the warrior. If he is killed maybe the son will get a chance, but also needs to show his worth. This action will bring the attention to the warrior and may have the nobility take notice.
- Secondly. Get a sponsor (This could be the knight you saved heroically). An experienced knight (hopefully someone without heir) sees you as a good man and may wish to help you. If you are lucky he will take you on as a squire.
- Thirdly. Some more acts of heroics and knightly behavior so you are still in the picture and show your sponsor that you are truly a knight in heart.
- Lastly. Get the money to be knighted. Either your sponsor or you yourself or your family brings together the libra to get you knighted. As you have shown that you are worthy to be a knight the lord may choose to accept you. (Especially if he is short in knights).

A scenario could be that the sponsor gets a chance to develop some area of land for his own lord. He needs good and trusted men to join him. A warrior could show his worth in the above manner and finally get a knighthood from his sponsor as a thank you.

Yep. I'm more or less following that script. So far points 1 and 4 are checked, and 2 half-checked. If things work out well the PW (player-warriors?) will be responsible for dragging Hengest out of his heordgeneats (later attributed to Duke Eldol, who so far at least knows they exist). Or they'll be dead... something like that.

Ambrosius handed out knightings like candy after the Saxons were defeated, or at least that's my impression.

--Khanwulf