A few weeks ago, a simple poll here was "Which legendary realm is better suited for adventure, Arthur's Britain or the Empire of Charlemagne?"
I expected Arthur to win in a landslide, but the Holy Roman Emperor knocked off the King of Britain, 57% to 42%. (Um, go Franks?). Seriously though, there's a strong old school D&D sensibility in Charlemagne's Saxon frontier and the theme of civilization vs the barbarians. I'm going to put some notes together for a simple, yet literary, setting for the younger kiddos to learn the beloved classic D&D, and a fantastic version of the Frankish Empire would be fun, and serve a bit of education too. Hopefully we can kick it off while it's still "teach your kids to game" week.
Because the Frankish frontier with the Saxons is one long borderlands area, a few classic adventure modules jump out as being immediately relevant: B2 Keep on the Borderlands, or B5 Horror on the Hill. Both involve forts or castles on the frontier facing off against a wilderness where monsters lurk.
Any other adventure modules (TSR, D&D, AD&D, OSR, or whatever) come to mind as being well suited for chivalric adventures, or at least easy to dress them for the part?
I don’t see any issues with plate mail or Medieval stone castles if you're basing the milieu on the anachronistic stories of the chansons de geste, so it's not going to reflect the historical 8th or 9th centuries.
Aardvarks in Aachen! The African-diaspora Charlemagne game.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea, but while you're anachronizing it up, why not have a Moorish reconquista on the side, for two layers of civilisation vs barbarism? Or orcs/men/elves, as a Tolkien traditionalist might put it.
Agree with the Spanish March idea. And add the Breton March for some Celtic-ish shenanigans.
DeleteFunny, I voted for Charlie because of a/ chauvinism (I'm french); b/ I expected , like you did, Artie to be the winner; and thought that the flowery bearded emperor needed some help!
ReplyDeleteI voted for Charlemagne because Three Hearts and Three Lions is a great D&D adventure disguised as a novel.
ReplyDeleteSadly I missed the poll, but I would've voted for Arthur "Fonzarelli" Pendragon because I would assume that the old schoolers who loiter in this neighborhood would be flocking to Charlemagne's banner. I mean c'mon, Arthurian legend has been updated, chivalrized and sterilized over the centuries while Charlie kept true to his old school roots; he's the perfect role model for the OSR.
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ReplyDeleteHave you seen Charlemagne's Paladins Campaign Sourcebook that TSR put out in 1992?
ReplyDeleteI still have my map for that, but I seem to have mislaid the book.
DeleteI do have HR2 - I love the HR series in general - but its really geared towards running a historical game (with dark ages institutions and technology). It had a chapter on the Matter of France, though, that I can use as
DeleteHey Sean B - that's pretty funny, I know where my book is but I misplaced the map ages ago!
I too voted for Charlemagne because of Poul Anderson's Three Hearts and Three Lions. I think a sandbox built from its pages would be great campaign material.
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