Pendragon

KAP · King Arthur Pendragon · Pendragon TTRPG

Pendragon

  • 2 – 6 players
  • 3 – 4 hours
  • Moderate rules
  • All ages
  • Chaosium
    • 6th Edition (2023) (6e)
    • 5.2 Edition (2016) (5.2)
    • 5.1 Edition (2010) (5.1)
    • 5th Edition (2015) (5e)
    • 4th Edition (1993) (4e)
    • 3rd Edition (1990) (3e)
    • 2nd Edition (1989) (2e)
    • 1st Edition (1985) (1e)

Pendragon is Greg Stafford’s Arthurian roleplaying game centred around chivalry, romance, and difficult choices. You take on the role of knights in a mythical Britain where honour and passion are as significant as steel. Sessions unfold like a living legend: featuring feasts and courtly scenes, hunts and duels, desperate battles, and quests that challenge your virtues. Magic is rare and perilous, politics is personal, and glory comes at a price. A professional Game Master adjusts the tone from bright and gallant to gritty and tragic, ensuring the lore remains clear and inviting.

Pendragon is ideal for story-driven players, whether new or experienced, and is suitable for birthdays, gatherings of friends, and team events. It can be tailored to be focused and beginner-friendly for a one-shot, or evolve into an expansive family saga over the years. If you have a passion for Arthurian tales, begin with our quick overview of Arthurian games to capture the essence, then book a session that suits your group.

How to play Pendragon

You describe what your knight does, from bold speeches to charging with a lance. When an action is uncertain, you roll a d20 and aim to get equal to or below the skill the GM calls for. In a clash, both sides roll, and the better success determines the outcome. Traits guide your behaviour, and Passions can inspire a bonus when a vow or love drives you, albeit with some risk if they fail. Combat employs weapon skills opposed by the foe, with damage in d6s reduced by armour. The GM sets stakes, rulings, and consequences so you can focus on your choices.

You bring a knight concept, a few ideals to draw upon, and a willingness to be brave, courteous, or stubborn when it matters. A professional Game Master provides characters if you wish, teaches the rules as you progress, and frames scenes at court, on the field, and throughout the seasons. One-shots spotlight a tournament, a rescue, or a hunt, fostering quick bonds between knights. Campaigns introduce the Winter Phase, managing households, forging alliances, and even heirs, allowing your story to span generations. Meet our available GMs here: our Game Masters.

Three friends at a D&D table taking a selfie, wearing elf ears, surrounded by character sheets and colorful dice.
Three friends at a D&D table taking a selfie, wearing elf ears, surrounded by character sheets and colorful dice.
Close-up of a purple six-sided die with a gold number 5, used for tabletop role-playing games and dungeons and dragons games.
Close-up of a purple six-sided die with a gold number 5, used for tabletop role-playing games and dungeons and dragons games.
Purple eight-sided die with gold numbers 5 and 8 visible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know about Arthurian lore or the rules?

No. A professional Game Master provides a brief introduction to chivalry, court customs, and the key figures, then teaches the rules as you play. Pendragon employs a straightforward d20-under-skill roll, allowing you to concentrate on choices and roleplay. Your knight’s personality Traits and Passions assist in guiding decisions and can offer bonuses when oaths and ideals are significant. If you are familiar with the legends, that’s great, but it is not necessary. The group will collectively experience the essence of Arthurian tales through play.

How does Pendragon differ from D&D?

You play as knights whose honour, ideals, and loyalties are as important as swordplay. There are no classes or spell lists. Skills encompass both combat and courtly life, and your knight’s Traits and Passions can lead you towards brave or conflicted choices. Magic exists, but it is rare and unsettling, not an everyday tool. Advancement is through Glory, earned by deeds and reputation. Campaigns often progress year by year, with winters spent managing households and families growing, creating a saga across generations.

What characters can we play? Do we have to be knights?

Pendragon is designed for knights at the heart of the narrative, and your Game Master will offer pre-generated knights or assist you in creating your own. Tables can also feature squires, ladies, courtiers, or other noble roles if you favour intrigue over combat. Knights of any gender are welcome if that aligns with your group's tone. Both historically grounded and more contemporary interpretations are supported. Your GM will customise the cast to fit the story you wish to tell.

Which edition will the Dungeon Master use?

Most sessions use the 6th Edition, released in 2023, as it is current and easy to learn. If your group prefers 5.2 or an earlier edition, please mention it when you book. The core experience, featuring Traits, Passions, and opposed combat, is consistent across editions, and adventures can be adapted. Pre-generated characters are available for each edition. You can browse and message available GMs to confirm edition preferences here: our Game Masters.

How deadly is combat, and how is romance managed?

Battles are perilous. Even armoured knights can sustain serious injuries from just a few heavy blows, and recovery requires time. Your GM can adjust the level of risk by emphasising jousts and tournaments, which are less lethal than battlefield melees. Themes of love and marriage are classic in Pendragon, but they are always subject to the table's preferences. Courtship can be tender and fade to black, or it can be minimised for a family-friendly game. Lines, veils, and other safety tools are available and can be employed upon request.

What group size is most suitable for Pendragon?

Pendragon is designed for 2 to 6 players, with the ideal number being 3 to 5. This is because duels, hunts, and court scenes typically focus on one or two knights at a time. With 6 players, the GM will streamline tournaments and large battles to ensure everyone remains engaged. Two-player games work particularly well when the characters are a sworn pair, such as siblings or companions, with strong personal story arcs. Your GM will craft scenes to ensure each character has distinct moments to act and earn Glory.

What can be accomplished in a single session, and what do campaigns contribute?

A single session typically revolves around a specific quest, a high-stakes hunt, a rescue, or a tournament accompanied by a feast and courtly interactions. In campaigns, the calendar progresses between adventures, and the Winter Phase allows you to manage your estate, form alliances, marry, and raise heirs. Over time, you may pass the mantle to the next generation. Whether you favour courtly drama, battlefield action, or a combination of both, you can select a GM whose style aligns with your preferences: GM playstyles.

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Genres you can play in Pendragon

  • Arthurian

    Knights, courtly romance, and fateful quests at Camelot, where honour matters and destiny strikes. Think The Once and Future King: vows…

    View genre: Arthurian
  • Romance

    Slow-burn glances, bold confessions, and tangled hearts. Imagine Pride and Prejudice at the table, where decisions about trust…

    View genre: Romance
  • Heroic

    Stand tall, choose the right path, and triumph in the end. Heroic games evoke the spirit of The Lord of the Rings, featuring bold oaths…

    View genre: Heroic
  • Epic

    Grand tales of world-altering stakes and legendary heroes, from the initial spark to the ultimate confrontation. Imagine the scale of The…

    View genre: Epic
  • Low Magic

    A gritty fantasy where a whispered charm holds more weight than fireballs. Steel, cunning, and difficult choices propel the narrative, much…

    View genre: Low Magic
  • Medieval

    Knights, castles, guild halls, and the burden of oaths. Feudal politics, harsh winters, and hard-earned honour, much like Game of Thrones…

    View genre: Medieval
  • Tragic

    Embrace delicate hopes and steep costs as characters confront their fatal flaws, grief, and the meaning that emerges from loss. Consider…

    View genre: Tragic

What players think

  • First of all, I want to say that Sebastian was really great as a DM. For his first run as a booked DM, he did a really good job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot and yet wasn't a complete story. Discovering that there are two more parts wasn't very positive for us, as it meant there was no satisfying conclusion to the story. 2. As new players, it was difficult for us to understand the English character sheets in such a short time. In German, it would have been much easier. Even receiving the character sheets a few days in advance would have been helpful for preparation. 3. More guidance would be beneficial. Especially for beginners, a more linear one shot would have been preferable. We wasted a large portion of the adventure time doing unnecessary things because we didn't really know how the game worked. Overall, I think the StoryForgers concept is really good and I see a lot of potential in it, especially for introducing new players to D&D. I hope you don't take my feedback the wrong way but as honest criticism. Best regards, Mario

    Mario

  • Bryan was exceptional. We had a group with varying levels of experience, and he managed to keep everyone engaged and involved. His attitude was fantastic, and he made the game enjoyable for all. I particularly appreciated how he could clearly explain what was required from our less experienced players while keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his extensive knowledge of the game. Everyone in our party had a wonderful time thanks to Bryan.

    Jeremy

  • Dayron was fantastic. Well-prepared, punctual, and had a brilliant sense of humour.

    Corey

  • Dayron was fantastic; he provided an excellent experience. Thank you!

    Casey

    The Merry Meeple

  • The game was incredibly engaging. I arranged a session as a gift for my boyfriend, who is very enthusiastic about it, and he was thoroughly pleased and appreciated Leonardo's professionalism. I don't have much experience with DnD, but I found the game to be quite straightforward and enjoyable.

    Marina

  • A very good GM, Baptiste adapted well to our group and helped us progress in this one-shot. One issue was with the character sheets provided, which were not complete or clear. Some of the French translations were rather approximate. For instance, our cleric was missing spells (no healing spell) even though they were meant to have some.

    Pierre

  • Rachel was fantastic; my daughter and her friends left their game saying it was the most fun they'd ever had, and my daughter wanted to sign up for another game with her straight away. She was friendly, and her approach enabled the players to fully immerse themselves in the game by allowing them to control how they wanted their actions to be carried out. I would certainly work with her again.

    John

  • A pleasant and straightforward introduction to D&D. Amber was adept at explaining and guiding the game, allowing us as players to quickly get into the rhythm and concentrate on the narrative. Collaborating with my colleagues to devise attack strategies was an enjoyable experience and provided valuable insights into each other's characters, thought processes, and differences. Overall, I found it to be a highly enjoyable session.

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

  • Pim is truly brilliant as a DM! Cheerful, adaptable, and exceptionally experienced. With a group of novice players, he managed to create an amazing experience in just a few hours. He maintained control in an enjoyable manner and engaged every player in the story, regardless of whether they were vocal or reserved. If you embark on an adventure with him, it will certainly be unforgettable!

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

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