If you like the stories of King Arthur as told by Thomas Mallory, Howard Pyle and John Steinbeck as much as I do, this publication is of some interest. Romance of the Perilous Land (RotPL) is an RPG by Scott Malthouse inspired by the OSR and set in his interpretation of traditional British myth and legend, including King Arthur, Merlin, Robyn Hood and Ivanhoe. It's a mix-mash of influences, cultures- both historic and fantastic and rules styles.
Mr. Malthouse abandons the implied milieu of White Box and although he sticks to a rules-lite approach, has created a game which has much of the flavor and style of the classic tales and uses mechanics both old and new. (This is Boorman's Excalibur, T.H. White's Arthur, not the more recent "historic" Cornwell Arthur, for that version see the excellent Mythic Britain by The Design Mechanism.) His rule mechanics depart from White Box, but the play-style seems similar. Perhaps too similar for my taste - the default party is a homeless mix of adventurers traveling about righting wrongs and defeating evil.
PC classes are Knight, Ranger, Thief, Cunning Folk (magic users), Barbarian and Bard. The Ranger, Cunning Folk and Bard can heal, each by a different means. There is no Wisdom attribute, but the other attributes resemble the remaining five from White Box although the names of some are changed. RotPL uses a basic mechanic which is a d20 roll under an attribute score (modified?). Magic is subtle and seems within the tolerable limits of the tradition. Spells are cast using a roll against Mind (Int) and burn spell points. Armor reduces damage rather than making one harder to hit. Saves are rolled against an attribute score using the "universal mechanic" (my term, not Malthouse). RotPL makes extensive use of the 5E advantage/disadvantage mechanic and it seems to fit well with the system.
Several nice illustrations help RotPL feel like King Arthur. Mr. Malthouse includes a brief description of an area of his Perilous Lands (someplace up north around York) which provides a stage for beginning adventures. Several critters, most drawn from myth and legends are described in game terms in a bestiary. The 50 page digital document is a complete game.
One of the advantages I see with most OSR inspired rules is the ease with which rules can be customized. If I were to run this game I would like PCs that are more attached to their society. Part of the charm of the Arthurian legend for me is the courtly society depicted. Immersion in such a fictional culture, achieving fame and rank, serving a passion, religious, romantic or other, and feeling a part of the setting would be the major appeal, I think. To just joy-ride through the setting as a wandering knight errant seems somehow less appealing. Maybe not, however and I should probably give the game a chance as written, before deciding it needs my "tinkering".
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