Because the "pendragon-l" and Chaosium Digest lists are the "loyal retainers" of the Pendragon tradition, I wanted to describe a new program created for promoting the playing and enjoyment of King Arthur Pendragon.

Gamemasters and players, and the channel support of retailers and distributors, are the heart of the success of any roleplaying game. They provide value by organizing and playing special or regularly scheduled events, either at home, in game shops, or at conventions or convocations. Retailers and distributors provide value by being the "grapevine" for the industry, actively supporting the best products, and letting the sleeping "dogs" lie. Unlike many industries, gamers, retailers and distributors provide more direct feedback to the publisher to ensure their voices are listened to, so new and revised products match consumer interests.

Gaming communities, both online and face-to-face can answer questions, provide honest feedback on game quality, and of course, dish out all the latest industry gossip and rumors. By listening to our customers and channel partners, Green Knight hopes to create a bond of mutual loyalty and respect. The reasons to do this are obvious and common sense: to engender a great sense of fun for our customers and ensure our long-term commercial success for Green Knight, Chaosium, and for channel supporters.

Green Knight wants to reward outstanding individuals and channels by recognizing their contribution to the growth of Pendragon customer delight and sales.

We want the best and most dedicated individuals to be rewarded, because they provide a draw to other customers, and set a shining example of how to play a game like Pendragon, rich in roleplaying and storytelling. You begin, of course, as "Mercenary Knights." Once you achieve a certain amount of Glory, you become Bachelor Knights of King Arthur, then Vassal Knights, Bannerets, and Lords. Exemplary individuals, reknown at convention and tournaments alike, will be invited to become a fellow "Knight of the Round Table."

You can get "Glory" for running an ongoing, private adventure or campaign, as long as you "publish" your adventure updates or game reviews in print or online. You also gain Glory for running Pendragon events in a public location, such as a store, at a convention, through a college club, community center, or other organization.

Of course, the pinnacle of Glory is to see your name in print as an author or credited artist, along with Greg Stafford, John Carnahan, Roderick Robertson, Stephen King (the "other" one -- our artist), and Terri Midgette, and all the other contributors to the Pendragon "canon."

For every Pendragon event hosted by a retail store, the store will also be awarded "Glory." Such loyal retailers will gain the titles of lands of King Arthur's realm, working up from a "Manor" through a "Duchy" or "Kingdom". The best, most supportive retailers will gain the distinction of being a "Court of King Arthur."

Titles

Gamemasters

Any individual who recieves Glory as a Knight may use the honorific Sir or Dame. You can call all other people who help with the production your "Squires."

Retailers

The proprietor or store manager of the retail location holds any title for the store's demense. There is no title for holding a Manor; other ranks include Baron/Baroness, Earl/Countess, Duke/Duchess, King or Queen, as appropriate. So, if one were to achieve 10 Glory points, one could start fashioning business cards proclaiming oneself "Baron" or "Baroness."

Benefits

Though there are no announced benefits for doing any of this at this time, except for a planned "certificate," to prove you are in the program, plus "free advertizing" for any gamemaster or retailer who wants to be listed on the Green Knight web site in an ongoing list of credits. In the future we plan to add more concrete incentives to the program. For now, it is a program for roleplayers at heart -- just to bring fun, and a little friendly competition back to the hobby. And of course, to bring honor and glory to our leige, Arthur, King of the Britons!

Honor System

Since we are all honor-bound as members of a chivalrous elite, this system will work through self-reporting and self-policing by ethical individuals. Please don't make stuff up, or it really won't work in the long run.

Signing Up

Send a letter to:

Green Knight Publishing
attn: Knights of the Realm
360 Chiquita Avenue #4
Mountain View, CA 94041

or email gawaine@greenknight.com.

Include your name, retail store name, and all appropriate address, phone, fax, email, and other relevant information or questions about Pendragon.

Helping Out

Though I have done initial work setting up this program, after a while, there may be more than I can get done in a day keeping up with correspondence, granting credit where credit is due, etc. Any individual who would like to volunteer to be a coordinator would recieve, of course, a very special Glory award.