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Pendragon: Gamemaster's Handbook

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Bring Arthur's Britain to Life!

The Grail

In Pendragon, the Gamemaster is the leader of the game, the source of knowledge, the organizer of society, armies, and the land itself. Without the Gamemaster there would be no game; in roleplaying there is not a more noble act than to take on this great responsibility.

What's Inside

The Pendragon: Gamemaster's Handbook contains everything required for a fledgling or veteran GM to open the window to the fantastical world of King Arthur!

The Fabled Realm

Nimue with a Sword

Pendragon: The Gamemaster’s Handbook greatly expands the setting of the game. From highlights of important characters and time periods, to courtly intrigue and a myriad of strange and wondrous beasts, spirits, fairies and fiends which lurk in the dark places of Arthur’s Britain. The book also includes in-depth discussions of religion and magic, and how to use them in your game.

Knights on the March

Arthurian Acts

Fairy Woman

In addition to guidelines for fine-tuning the game to your preferred style of play, this book contains an entire section dedicated to ‘Arthurian Acts’. These expanded rules cover events such as tournaments, seduction, and an entire system for running Feasts, where gossip, courtesy, and Honor hold sway. Inside, you’ll also find rules for running battles, from the smallest skirmish to the most legendary clash of arms!

Tournament Table

New Scenarios

This book contains two all-new scenarios for Pendragon, designed as either a starting point for a group of fresh Player-knights, or for use in an ongoing campaign.

Battle

The Adventure of the Crucible

This scenario, intended for starting characters, is the perfect way to kick off your Pendragon campaign. Lords, ladies, allies, and rivals are introduced as the Player-squires earn their spurs in a time of anarchy and desperation.

Horse Battle

The Adventure of the King's Gambit

The County of Sarum faces annihilation when the Saxons of Wessex launch an invasion. Can the Player-knights break through enemy lines and ride for aid in time?

The Pendragon Gamemaster’s Handbook is designed for use with the Pendragon Core Rulebook.


Play Pendragon Online and In-Person with Roll20 VTT!

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Pendragon Core Rulebook
A complete rules compendium and game addon that includes 6 pre-made characters, along with useful handouts for play!

Pendragon Starter Set
Contains the Adventure of the Sword in the Stone solo scenario and The Sword Campaign, both beginner friendly ways to learn!

The Grey Knight Module
An adventure module spanning Britain, involving 5 maps, 39 tokens, and a quest that can be played on its own or as a part of a longer campaign!

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Reviews (0)
Discussions (9)
Customer avatar
Benjamin S May 31, 2025 7:55 pm UTC
Useless preview. Not even a table of contents?
Customer avatar
Andrew R May 14, 2025 1:02 pm UTC
Preview is just a bunch of cards - doesn't seem to be the correct content?
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Customer avatar
Seth C P May 18, 2025 8:17 am UTC
The cards are the Feast Cards which are bundled with the book's PDF and also available separately on Chaosium's website. They are used to generate events at feasts, a BIG part of the game.
Customer avatar
Jeff M May 13, 2025 3:22 pm UTC
Reviewed by Jeff McAleer of The Gaming Gang over on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWncgsODQm0
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Customer avatar
Seth C P May 18, 2025 8:17 am UTC
LOVE your review!
Customer avatar
Rolfe B May 13, 2025 2:08 am UTC
Are there any plans to offer this Gamemaster's Guide on Roll20?
Customer avatar
Keith D May 06, 2025 8:08 pm UTC
The image on page 45. That fruit isn't going to be one of my five a day.
Customer avatar
David D April 24, 2025 4:44 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Is anyone having a problem with the pdf crashing?
Customer avatar
Robert S April 24, 2025 2:28 am UTC
Is this page correct in saying that Pendragon is now using the BRP system?
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Customer avatar
Nicholas P April 24, 2025 7:18 pm UTC
The system is the same as it's always been, which is close enough to BRP you could call it that and changed enough you could call it its own thing. It's still d20 if that's what you're asking.
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Customer avatar
Roger M April 24, 2025 10:20 pm UTC
No.
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Customer avatar
Patrick M April 25, 2025 8:29 am UTC
Pendragon system has always been categorized as a member of the BRP family - even though it is more of a distant cousin. The new Pendragon system still is very close to the previous versions (e.g. D20 black jack style roll below stat)
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Customer avatar
Patrick M April 25, 2025 8:29 am UTC
Pendragon system has always been categorized as a member of the BRP family - even though it is more of a distant cousin. The new Pendragon system still is very close to the previous versions (e.g. D20 black jack style roll below stat)
Reply
Customer avatar
Jason F April 26, 2025 12:06 am UTC
Pendragon has always used its own variation of the BRP system, same as RQ, same as Stormbringer.
Reply
Customer avatar
Rory H May 05, 2025 8:42 am UTC
The Pendragon ‘version' of BRP is used - with a D20 core mechanic. Essentially, this is just branding - they rules remain the same.
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Customer avatar
Rolfe B July 07, 2025 4:31 am UTC
The roots of Pendragon are BRP. It uses a d20 instead of d100, but the stats and the xp mechanics are all very reminiscent of BRP. Pendragon is it's own thing, with some really unique mechanics like Winter Phase and the paired personality Trait systems. Fun minigames and clever subsystems designed to really catch the feel of Arthurian Legend are packed all throughout Pendragon. But if you've played BRP or Call of Cthulhu, you'll see their fingerprints all over the Pendragon character sheet. It's a little lighter and faster than Cthulhu in most situations, but has some fiddly and flavorful subsystems for really drilling down and focusing on the story elements that feel the most like Le Morte de Arthur.
Customer avatar
Keith D April 23, 2025 6:41 pm UTC
Will there be a print version?
Reply
Customer avatar
Roberto M April 25, 2025 3:21 pm UTC
Yes, and you can already pre-order it on Chaosium's own website:
https://www.chaosium.com/pendragon-gamemasters-handbook-hardcover/
Reply
Customer avatar
Jason F April 26, 2025 12:07 am UTC
Yes. Chaosium started preorders for the physical book in March. People who preordered it got a notification of shipping in the the last week.
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Customer avatar
Keith D April 26, 2025 1:00 pm UTC
Ordered. I hope it's in the same style as the base game book; that was one of the most beautiful RPG books I've bought.
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Customer avatar
Michael O April 28, 2025 2:48 pm UTC
The book is now available in print. You can order it at the Chaosium website.
Customer avatar
Jordan E April 23, 2025 6:29 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I'm glad to see the latest edition of Pendragon finally receive a Gamemaster's Handbook! =D If anything, I wish this was released back when the Core Rulebook was released. Timing can make all the difference. =)
Reply
Customer avatar
Roberto M April 25, 2025 3:25 pm UTC
Well, since the GM's Handbook was obviously not ready a year ago when the Core Rulebook was published, the alternative was to have the latter a year later. So, I greatly prefer to have had 1 year of play with the CRB than to have both available right now!
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Product Information
Electrum seller
Author(s)
Pages
240
ISBN
978-1-56882-538-0
Publisher Stock #
CHA2733-PDF
File Size:
4.08 MB
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File Last Updated:
March 16, 2025
This title was added to our catalog on April 23, 2025.