1066: The Battle For Middle Earth

This was the two part drama shown on Channel 4 on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 May depicting the momentous events of the year 1066. Unlike many such historical blood-and-guts epics it showed the battles from the viewpoint of ordinary warriors. Another virtue in my book was that it made it clear that there was nothing “rightful” about William the Bastard’s claim to the English crown.

The Rise and Fall of the Kentish Empire

This is the second article on the Anglo-Saxon period of English history for role-players. It should be noted that the term “Kentish Empire” was never used by the Anglo-Saxons or by modern historians; however, since King Aethelbert did persue what can only be called an expansionist policy and did earn the title “Bretwalda” for himself, I feel it appropriate to use the term “empire” to describe the Kent of his reign.

The Coming of the English

This is part of my sporadic (proposed) series of articles on the Anglo-Saxon period of England’s history for role players. Again, there will be nothing geared to specific systems nor will there be any scenarios. My intention is to do exactly what it says on the tin (all right, in the title) and give a short history of the early period of English settlement in order that GMs have a flavour of the period and give them ideas for their own scenarios and campaigns.

ROLE-PLAYING IN THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD

From the mid eighties to early nineties I ran a role playing campaign set in fifth century CE Britain and seen from the viewpoint of the Celts and Romano-Britons. Those of you who have seen the recent “King Arthur” will have an idea of the flavour of the campaign but as my system was RuneQuest(TM) there was more magic around than in the film and indeed more than I would use myself if I was starting the campaign now.