Hey all, I'm new to the group.

I've posted this on the yahoo group, but I wanted to post it here as well to get more opinions.

I'm starting a new campaign as GM but none of my players are very
familiar with the setting. They are familiar with "generic fantasy"
settings such as Tolken's Middle Earth but are fairly blank slates as
regards Camelot and Arthur.

A good way to deal this seems (to all of us) to have the players play
continental characters. It provides ample excuse for the GM (me) to
explain things to the players as outsiders and also excuses what will
surely be their many inappropriate actions. We'll be running the GPC
starting at the beginning with characters arriving as foreign
mercenaries (unless someone has a better idea).

All that's settled, but I'm really uncertain of how to deal with their
relationships to their homelands.

How should I deal with the characters becoming knights? Is it
reasonable to assume they would be knighted by Uther or another early noble?

Would it be reasonable to assume they hold fiefs in their homelands?
Would it be normal for them to return to their homelands for the
winter? Would they go back to search for a wife? Would they send their
children back for an education?

Any help on any of this would certainly be useful.

If I were running a campaign with continental characters, I'd say that, in most situations, they've either emigrated to be in Uther's service, or they've somehow lost their lands...or, if they're 4th sons or lower, they've come to Britain to seek their own fortunes. This gives them the ability to establish non-conflicted ties to Logres.

If they're coming out as young warriors seeking knighthood, I think it would be perfectly appropriate for them to be knighted by Uther or the lord they serve under (like Roderick of Salisbury).

It would be, in my mind, impractical to have the knights go back to the continent each winter, especially in times of hostility between Logres and the Franks. As far as a wife, they could search wherever they like, but I'd rule that going to the continent to search for a wife would take that knight out of the campaign for a while (maybe even a few years, unless they marry quickly). If they wanted to send their children to the continent for an education, I think that would be okay, although it would mean that their survival rolls would be purely in the hands of the GM and the PC knight may just never hear from the child again.

There are certainly many ways to play it, although, for my games, I would want to give the continental characters a reason to stay in Logres and establish roots.

Hey all, I'm new to the group.


Welcome.
Take a check to Courage, for speaking up. :)



I've posted this on the yahoo group, but I wanted to post it here as well to get more opinions.

I'm starting a new campaign as GM but none of my players are very
familiar with the setting. They are familiar with "generic fantasy"
settings such as Tolken's Middle Earth but are fairly blank slates as
regards Camelot and Arthur.



5th edition is designed for those players, as long as they have some vague idea of what a knight is. They will have to read "Your Homeland" of course. But there are many ways to get in, so...



A good way to deal this seems (to all of us) to have the players play
continental characters. It provides ample excuse for the GM (me) to
explain things to the players as outsiders and also excuses what will
surely be their many inappropriate actions. We'll be running the GPC
starting at the beginning with characters arriving as foreign
mercenaries (unless someone has a better idea).



Then I'd suggest creating an NPC who has recruited these guys frmt he continent somewhere, and come over to Britain and hried out with his old friend Uther Pendagon. Or Madoc, or Merlin--whatever suits your story.



All that's settled, but I'm really uncertain of how to deal with their
relationships to their homelands.

How should I deal with the characters becoming knights? Is it
reasonable to assume they would be knighted by Uther or another early noble?



Certainly, if you wish. I'd probably NOT make them all knights right away, but then, Uther has a lot of mounted, amored men who are not knights. The class is just forming up, being made during the reign of Uther. Your knights, tossed into the early mix, can become knighted (one by one, I suggest) by King Uther as a reward.




Would it be reasonable to assume they hold fiefs in their homelands?


For my game, no.


Would it be normal for them to return to their homelands for the
winter?

For my game, no.


Would they go back to search for a wife? Would they send their
children back for an education?

For my game, maybe.
Those things, though, are way down the line anyway, I imagine. Let the player knights form their own opinions on w=whether they'd do that.

--greg

The idea of continental characters is a novel way to introduce new players to the genre. I would let them choose which country if they have a preference and a familiarity with it. In that way, their culture/customs could come out in a more satisfying way.

The one problem I see, is explaining HOW they get there and why they would stay. If it is starting early in GPC, around 485, then have them be recruited because Uther needs new knights after the terrible cost at Mt. Damen. None of my players had a real background in Arthur either. I let them come from various areas around Logres and were either sent to Uther for helping them out, or because their family had been moved. Some, therefore, were household knights and did not have to return home for the winter as they had a home.

Good luck on the campaign.