TOURNAMENTS IN THE KINGDOM OF BRETONNIA

Way back in White Dwarf 215 we printed some fun rules for holding jousting tournaments in the Great Dukedoms in Bretonnia. Filt Tilt in a great little game that you can play when you want to take your mind off painting all those new Knights! All it takes is a few painted Knights, some friends and an endless repertoire of quotes from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"! Here are the rules that complement the article that is available in the Canadian White Dwarf Supplement, issue #4. Enjoy!

THE JOUST AND THE TABLEAUX de BATAILLE

The tourney in Bretonnia has been refined over the centuries into an art form with many conventions and traditions which can be baffling to foreigners who do not understand the subtle references involved. Tradition dictates that on the first day there is no combat at all. Instead the Knights gather for a parade and to solicit favours from the Bretonnian ladies in preparation for the contests ahead. There are two contests in a proper tourney: firstly there is the joust which takes place over a whole day, and this is followed the next day by the tableaux de bataille. Smaller events often feature only the joust or attempt to cram things together to reduce costs, but a full tourney would not be complete without the pomp of the parade or the final dramatic conflict of the tableaux de bataille.

Tourneys are usually fought a la plaisance which means fighting with blunted weapons. More rarely they are fought a l’outrance which means fighting with sharp weapons. Blunted weapons are used in most tourneys so that the best of Bretonnian chivalry is not slaughtered leaving the realm woefully undefended! Serious wounds are rare and the tourney is an excuse for outrageous fun. However, if sharp weapons are used, contenders may be mortally wounded and such contests are therefore reserved for matters of honour or trials by combat serious enough to warrant fighting to the death. The rules described here are intended for tourneys fought a la plaisance, so Knights will rarely die or suffer serious injuries.

HERALDS’ RULES AND TOURNEY ROLLS

Tournaments are not open to just any old Knight, only to those considered eligible on grounds of renown, prowess, honour, or in some other fashion. This is a matter for the heralds, who are versed in all matters of chivalry, heraldry and honour. The heralds organise the contending Knights into teams, usually two teams, one consisting of all the Knights from the host’s dukedom, and the other comprising Knights from the rest of Bretonnia. The heralds are great sticklers for the rules, and not only do they disregard those who are inexperienced or unknown, but also those who are rather too awesome!

To keep matters in hand the heralds maintain carefully worked out lists of eligible Knights called the tourney rolls. Only if a Knight is named on the tourney rolls can he enter the tourney as a contender. The herald selects the teams who will take part from the list of entrants for each tourney. This ensures that the teams are well matched to make for an exciting contest. Bretonnians are not amused by watching one paladin unhorsing a succession of hopeless contenders, a feat that does nothing for honour or entertainment!