[Chaosium] Paladin • Warriors of Charlemagne

[Marc_C]

Failed my saving throw today at the gaming store.

Always wanted to do a Charlemagne campaign. The AD&D HR series was interesting but lacking. The Paladin core book is 444 pages includes the Frank setting, a bestiary and a few short adventures. I also bought the Adventures book. Very simple yet elegant graphic design. It's a d20 roll over system but not derived from D&D.

I read too fast. It's a d20 roll equal or under Attribute system. If you roll above the attribute you fail. A roll of exactly the number required (after modifiers) is a critical (ultimate) success. If you have 14 as target and roll 14 it's an Ultimate success. If you roll a 20 it's a Fumble.

I never played or read Pendragon but this is very similar to how INFINITY the wargame works. So it is familiar to me and my players.

Adventures Book Interior

 

[Dumboldt]

Gorgeous, it's on my wishlist... I hope I'll succeed in my saving throw for now though!

 

[Marc_C]

Gorgeous, it's on my wishlist... I hope I'll succeed in my saving throw for now though!

The paper edge is gold gilded!
-2 to your saving throw!

 

[aramis erak]

it isn't a roll over.... it is high-but-not-above. See page 107. (it is the same system as Pendragon.) When a rating is over 20 (after mads are applied), the amount over 20 is added before comparing to the opposing roll.

 

[TerraDave]

it isn't a roll over.... it is high-but-not-above. See page 107. (it is the same system as Pendragon.) When a rating is over 20 (after mads are applied), the amount over 20 is added before comparing to the opposing roll.

Is it a related, compatible game?

 

[Marc_C]

it isn't a roll over.... it is high-but-not-above. See page 107. (it is the same system as Pendragon.) When a rating is over 20 (after mads are applied), the amount over 20 is added before comparing to the opposing roll.

Indeed. I read too fast. I updated the OP. I think I got everything right this time.

 

[Bluenose]

Is it a related, compatible game?

Similar but not identical to Pendragon 5th edition (I suspect some of the changes are tests for Pendragon Ultimate Edition when that comes out). But they're close enough that you could run a combat between Lancelot and Roland from their stats in the rules without noticing any problems.

 

[aramis erak]

Is it a related, compatible game?

There are more differences between 4th and 5th pendragon than 5th and Paladin. The rules are fundamentally the same, with minor changes to armor, and to character gen.

Then again, characters from any edition (including Paladin) are directly comparable to every other edition without needing numerical changes. The skill test process is identical across all. The passions system is the same across all.
Pendragon 4th magic-users aren't doable in any other edition... they only happen in 4th.
I'd put KAP 5.2 to Paladin about the same distance from each other as D&D3.0 vs 3.5.
Tis a great engine. I'm running KAP 4E right now.. as one of two games weekly.
I am, however, looking forward to the Japanese Samurai port of Pendragon.

 

[pemerton]

@Marc_C

I'm glad you're enjoying this system. I have a copy of Pendragon 5.2, and it's an elegant game.

But in these threads about knightly roleplaying, I am always obliged to point people to Prince Valiant if they're not familiar with it. I think it's now hard to find a copy but maybe not impossible - but if you want to RPG pseudo-historical knights I think it's unsurpassed.

I know that Greg Stafford favoured Pendragon over Prince Valiant, but I'm not sure he properly rated the genius of his own work.

 

[Marc_C]

@Marc_C

I'm glad you're enjoying this system. I have a copy of Pendragon 5.2, and it's an elegant game.

But in these threads about knightly roleplaying, I am always obliged to point people to Prince Valiant if they're not familiar with it. I think it's now hard to find a copy but maybe not impossible - but if you want to RPG pseudo-historical knights I think it's unsurpassed.

I know that Greg Stafford favoured Pendragon over Prince Valiant, but I'm not sure he properly rated the genius of his own work.

Thanks for the recommendation. I did look it up also but opted for the Carolingian campaign setting of Paladin.