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Nice model! Strongly reminiscent of the early Carolingian kingdoms. I find it very refreshing that someone is dodging the Hollywood version of the 18th Century academic version of the late feudal version of the feudal system for once.

In mediaeval times, yes. For example, until Henry III died, the future Edward I was called "Lord Edward", not "prince Edward". In those times there was the king, earls, lords, and knights. All this rococco profusion of dukes, marquesses, viscounts, and baronets is late and post-mediaeval. If...

Whoa there! My uncle was a baron (life peerage). That made his eldest son "The honourable Dr. Jonathan Hunt", not a baronet. Baronetcies are independent hereditary titles, so far as I know never used as courtesy titles for eldest sons. By the way, baronetcies were invented in the late 17th...

Yeah. The point of the Hero's Quest is that after returning from the Land of Adventure he is able to work boons for his people. Without the Scouring of the Shire, Merry and Pippin are pretty pointless characters. Random extras could just as well have accomplished what they accomplished. Which...

Indeed! Novels of course require adaptation to be made into good films. And absolutely faithful filming of Lord of the Rings would be a dreadful movie. On the other hand, there is a reason that LotR is the best-selling literary property ever. The story needed to be adapted substantially from...

Except for the one that starts "On the banks of the Thames sat Lord Buckingham…". Try The Lure of the Limerick, by W.S. Baring-Gould. Regards, Agback

Indeed. But tens of thousands of Knights Templars and Knights Hospitallers, Teutonic Knights, Knights of St Thomas Acon, Mercedarian Knights, Knight of Calatreva, Knights of Alcantara, Knights of Santiago, Knights of Aviz, and Knights of Sao Thiago found ways to reconcile the two. If you are...

Well, if you insist that the paladin is based only on literary figures, and not on the actual example of warriors dedicated to God, then the case for their celibacy and chastity becomes weaker. Among the knights of the Round Table, only Galahad was mentioned as chaste: Lancelot and Perceval had...

However not all actual examples match with simplified stereotypes. Let me draw to your attention the Order of Santiago, a crusading order of warrior-monks who were allowed to marry. Also, let me remind you that confreres on temporary vows fought as brothers with the Templars and Hospitallers...

There is a discussion of the issue in the Catholic Encyclopedia. The upshot is that various authorities such as popes and councils have been enjoining bishops, priests, deacons, and subdeacons to celibacy since at least the 4th century AD. But a serious attempt to impose this as law throughout...

Jack Vance. Mary Renault. And Georgette Heyer, in a funny sort of way.

Sorry, but it's too early in the morning for me to pass up straight lines. "That usage displays an ignorance of three languages". 'Octopus' is from the Greek, and its native plural is 'octopodes'. 'Octopi' would be it's plural in Latin, but it isn't Latin (at least not originally): and we...

Now that is the sort of thing I would do! Regards, Brett

I think that perhaps you are confusing the Baltic States with the Balkans. Regards, Agback

Hispania. Catalonia/Castile/Léon/Navarre/Aragón/Portugal Crato Gaul Gallia Italia Deutschland Allemagne der Reich Norway/Sweden/Denmark/Finland Illyria Pannonia/Moesia/Dacia/Thracia/Macedonia Hellas Achaia Scythia

Easy. It is the French Revolution, right? There is nothing remarkable about teh sans-culottes. Regards, Agback

Mine too. I've plenty of money, but there just isn't anything being published that I want to buy. Not counting paper and toner for my printer, petrol for my car, and munchies for games, I've spent US$117.85 on gaming products, postage, and handling so far this year. Last year I bought a...

I'm sorry, but I don't remember. It must have been nearly (if not all of) twenty years since the incident, and I didn't undertand the gibberish on the character sheet at the time. I have had better Champions and Hero System GMs since then. The story is only worth repeating because it...

Is there any particular reason why you want the peasants to come in from the country to riot in the city? Could not the burghers riot? Could not the peasants riot in their villages? High food prices. Plague. Omens. Perceived miscarriages of justice. Desire to commit a racist or religious...

Sophocles live to the age of ninety. Living to sixty might not have been so very rare. Regards, Agback