The Chronicles of Prydain: What would you use from it, and how?

[AFGNCAAP]

I have a question for those of you who are familiar with Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain (The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, etc.):

If you wanted to, what elements woul you use from these books in your campaign? Would you have an entire campaign based in the setting? Would you borrow a character or 2 from the stories & use them in your campaign (like Taran or Gwydion)? Would you introduce new creatures or foes based on ones found in the book (perhaps a race of creatures like Gurgi, or the Cauldron-born undead of Arawn)? Or would you use/create magical items based on those in the books (like Fflewddur's harp of truth, or the flaming sword Dyrnwyn)?

If so how would you do it? Just modify existing material? Create the new elements wholecloth? Would you use D&D as it is, would you use a modified version of it, or would you use a different rule set (like Grim Tales, for example)?

Just curious to see y'all's opinions.

 

[Dioltach]

I once put together some Huntsmen of Annuvin. They started as first-level Rangers, then gained extra HD and attack bonuses as more were killed. As I recall, the PCs (6 2nd-level characters) killed three of the five before running away.

 

[random user]

I really liked Elionwy's (sp? it's been a while) bauble... ie a magic item that seemingly only works for her.

For some reason I always thought there was only one Gurgi. Even if that wasn't true, I would never want to make a race of him. He is special because he is unique.

I think Gurgi or the bard would both make great NPCs, and if my party didn't know the stories pretty well, would definately be inclusions in my campaign.

I think it would be interesting to make a campaign world out of it, but I have no idea where to start. If you come up with something I would love to hear it though!

 

[Arnwyn]

All of the above. I've used characters, magic, and especially foes and locations in my games over the years (adapted to my rather large FR setting). I, personally, used it with D&D as it is (and would do so in the present, as well).

I'd consider running an entire campaign based on the setting for sure, but to do so I'd need a very comprehensive, detailed setting given to me (as my very valuable time is quite limited).

 

[ecliptic]

I would run a campaign in it if I had the material.

Although it has had some inspiration for my own campaign setting.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Best.
Series.
Ever.


I don't have much to add to what's been said but, Huntsmen are begging to be used in any campaign.

About 20 years ago, I was lucky enough to go to a lecture of Lloyd Alexander's. He was Fflewddur Flam incarnate. A very funny and remarkable man.

 

[Varianor Abroad]

About 20 years ago, I was lucky enough to go to a lecture of Lloyd Alexander's. He was Fflewddur Flam incarnate. A very funny and remarkable man.

Cool!

I would throw the entire series into a setting along with material stolen from Under Sea, Under Stone, The Dark is Rising, and the rest of that series by Susan Cooper.

You could make a quite decent campaign off of just what's in the five Prydain books though. Liberally add in doses of the Mabinogion (like the author) to add new material.

 

[PJ-Mason]

Ummm................The Horned King....yeah, baby, yeah!!

I loved Gurgi's pouch of endless food. I've used that more than once in my campaigns, i tell you.

I think those books truly sold me on how awesome True Names are. Nothing like screaming an enemies True Name and have them melt before you. Yes!!

It would work fine in D20. Magic, naturally, would need to be different, but mostly it would fit just fine.

 

[AFGNCAAP]

Thanks for the replies! Keep `em coming!

I've always had a fond memory of the books, and they're pretty much what got me into fantasy fiction, & thus D&D (the first 4 fantasy stories that I read were, in order, Chronicles of Prydain, Dragonlance Chronicles, The Hobbit, & The Lord of the Rings).

I enjoyed watching the animated movie by Disney, but it's nothing in comparison with the books. However, I have to say that the movie's depiciton of Gurgi stuck in my head, & I couldn't shake that image of him at all. (IIRC, that idea of a fuzzy lil' humanoid creature popped up in Ultima III as a PC race, not long after the Disney Movie--IIRC, that is.)

I don't think I'd ever run a full-blown campaign completely set in Prydain, but I'd definitely use elements from the stories IMC--the sword Dyrnwyn, the Black Cauldron/Black Crochan, the Horned King, Arawn, and Gurgi, for example.

 

[Shalimar]

Best.
Series.
Ever.


I don't have much to add to what's been said but, Huntsmen are begging to be used in any campaign.

About 20 years ago, I was lucky enough to go to a lecture of Lloyd Alexander's. He was Fflewddur Flam incarnate. A very funny and remarkable man.

He really is very nice, and he still goes to the local elementery schools to talk about reading and how important it is. I still remember when he came to the hospital and gave me an autographed copy of the Arkadians when I was in for my appendix to be removed. He's a neighbor of mine so when I was younger, we used to sit out on his porch and talk about Prydain, it was right when I was first reading the books. That ability to pick his brain on it was what got me into reading, and eventully roleplaying.