I just received a new edition of an old favorite game I have never actually played. Yes, I know this sounds very unusual, but it is all true. (Unfortunately, there are several games I really like and which I have never played.) Chivalry & Sorcery is a game I have enjoyed reading and studying (and day dreaming about) through all its editions dating back to the "redbook" 1st edition published in the late 1970s. The first edition I actually purchased was the boxed 2nd edition and I instantly fell in love with the idea of this game which took its fantasy medieval setting seriously.
As a history enthusiast and wargamer I came to the role-playing hobby with an interest in "medieval authentic" (to borrow a term from Lion & Dragon) gaming. My first foray into the then fledgling role-play aspect of wargaming came in the form of the three Little Brown Books published by TSR which paid very little attention to medieval society as a whole, and in all fairness, medieval simulation is not the emphasis espoused by authors Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson who seemed to be looking to make a fun game (which they very much did!). Rather Original D&D strives to leverage the fantastic literature of authors such as R.E. Howard, L. Sprague DeCamp and Fritz Leiber, and is not overly concerned with "history" per se.
In the wake of TSR's White Box came a number of home improvements to the concept in the form of people who wanted to take the game in a new direction. The authors of the early editions of Chivalry & Sorcery, Ed Simbalist and Wilf Backhaus, aimed to create a role-playing experience that was closely tied to a fictional version of the western European Middle Ages in terms of knighthood, feudal manors and the medieval Catholic church. Magick (always spelled with a "k" in C&S) is based on a medieval superstitious mindset and their game draws heavily upon historical sources for their magick inspiration.
Characters in C&S have always had their place in society based on birth rank, social status and reputation gained. In C&S there are few "murder hobos" - a name sometimes given to wandering adventurers out to kill monsters and take their stuff. Rather the emphasis is on immersion in the imaginary life of your character as they interact with the game setting which is built with knowledge of medieval history. For some the intrigue, romance and pageantry of the medieval era holds great appeal and for these gamers C&S can be lots of fun.
My recent game readings have centered on the medieval authentic theme. In addition to Chivalry & Sorcery 5th Edition, I have spent time with Harnmaster, Lion & Dragon and Dark Albion, the latter two both written by the RPGPundit. Harnmaster is the rules written by N. Robin Crossby to accompany his fine Harn world setting and can deliver a very satisfying and engaging "gritty" game. Currently there are two versions, Harnmaster 3rd Edition published by Columbia Games and Harnmaster Gold available through Kelestia Productions.
The historic middle ages in Europe was very different from our own society today. Social mobility was almost non-existent and most folks followed in their parents lifestyle. The church and the nobility were the sources of power, wealth and justice, and all other folks appealed to them for favors. (You didn't talk back to your "betters" or it was the stocks for you!) Superstition made "magic", witches and demons seem real and folks often blamed fairies or imps for disease, mishaps and unexplained happenings.
One of the appealing aspects of the role-playing hobby is the ability to temporarily suspend our daily existence and for a time to engage ourselves within a fantastic setting where life is perhaps more exciting, more dangerous and even more rewarding and through the avatar of our game character, to have great adventures. If medieval romance, chivalry and perhaps a little sorcery excites your imagination, then a medieval authentic game may be right for you.
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