What makes Arthurian fantasy its own genre, different from more traditional D&D-ish medieval fantasy? What are some Arthurian-style plots?

[Faolyn]

I will probably be running a game in that genre, but when I do a search, all I get is recommendations for novels.

OK, so the system will probably be Daggerheart. The actual setting will be Ravenloft. Yes, I realize neither of these scream Arthurian. Yes, I realize that my lack of knowledge of the genre isn't helpful. Anyway. I'm planning on running in Nidala/Shadowlands (which is described as Arthurian) and connect some other domains with similar feelings to create a cluster.

So keeping that in mind, what would you recommend. Keep in mind, I can make anything into horror, so you don't need to limit yourself to Arthurian horror ideas. Anything will do.

 

[Aldarc]

See Pendragon by Chaosium.

 

[Faolyn]

See Pendragon by Chaosium.

Yeah, I don't want to have to buy an entire game just to get a few tips on what adventures are like. Thanks, though.

 

[Reynard]

See Pendragon by Chaosium.

Pendragon is great, but it is a particular flavor of Arthurian, being generally much more grounded than a lot of actual Arthurian romances. Arthurian romances of the late medieval period have knights doing all sorts of superheroic things and encountering all many of monsters, devils, faeries and angels. Pendragon is better called Excalibur: The RPG, or the T.H. White RPG. Again, it is good but it does one particular flavor of Arthurian legend.

 

[Distracted DM]

Don’t sleep on Mythic Bastionland!

For OP, I’ll take a look and see if I can grab some examples.

 

[Wolfpack48]

So Pendragon is the go-to game for this genre. Free materials here: Pendragon Resources

 

[Morrus]

It’s lower magic—no fireballs or teleporting, druids rather than wizards. And fewer fantastical monsters (but there are some). It’s kinda like a low-magic D&D where everybody is human.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It’s lower magic—no fireballs or teleporting, druids rather than wizards. And fewer fantastical monsters (but there are some). It’s kinda like a low-magic D&D where everybody is human.

But not typically as miserable as low magic D&D often implies, although the Excalibur movie and Monty Python and the Holy Grail lean into that vibe.

I think there's also a tonal and thematic element to Arthurian fantasy: that good people are capable of not just making the world a better place on a small scale, but a single good-hearted (if naive) person can change the course of a whole country. Or at least, for as long as he lives.

Obligatory plug for the fantastic novel The Bright Sword, which is one of the best books I've ever read and is a great contemporary Arthurian fantasy.

 

[Distracted DM]

This review of The Grey Knight gives you a good idea of themes that are center to the adventure. I’d screencap or quote but I think the review deserves some views

REVIEW: The Grey Knight

Back in June, Chaosium didn’t just release the Pendragon Core Rulebook—they also released their first hardcover adventure for the game line: The Grey Knight. I’ve already reviewed the prior, so now…

akhelas.com

But I think one big thing is the knights themselves, their vows and passions.

Here are some snippets from Mythic Bastionland, there are a ton them but these give you some ideas. Incredible book.

 

[Reynard]

It is too bad that there is only one well known Arthurian game, because it gives the mistaken impression that "Arthurian" is one thing.