How often do you use heraldry in your fantasy games?

I've always found it really interesting, though I certainly don't go by any of the rules or anything heraldry enthusiasts seem to go by.  I think it's just sort of a fun flavor thing.

In my upcoming campaign, I've mentioned players playing nobles can create their own coat-of-arms using the elements I found in this free heraldry clipart collection.

(Btw, here's the link to the coat of arms for various political entities in our homebrew, sorta inspired by the old illos of Greyhawk heraldry).

Quote from: Zachary The FirstHow often do you use heraldry in your fantasy games?

I've always found it really interesting, though I certainly don't go by any of the rules or anything heraldry enthusiasts seem to go by.  I think it's just sort of a fun flavor thing.

In my upcoming campaign, I've mentioned players playing nobles can create their own coat-of-arms using the elements I found in this free heraldry clipart collection.

(Btw, here's the link to the coat of arms for various political entities in our homebrew, sorta inspired by the old illos of Greyhawk heraldry).

Used well, I think Heraldry can be useful and interesting in so far as the symbolism can reveal aspects of the heraldic families.  These aspects could be personality/spiritual, and the selective use of them can help give a world more depth.  For example, the use of the Golden Lion and the White Unicorn has certain symbolic undertones, due to what these two symbols meant to the medieval mind.   When Heraldic symbols were assigned they appeared to try to select ones that "made sense" for the original designate.   My supposition is that there was a certain amount of Shamanistic / Druidic carry over in the symbolism.   For example the Lion, Boar, Bear, Fox and other animals had totemic meaning in Celtic lore.  So there is the possibility that there was some carry over into the use of various animals in Heraldry.  These "meanings" didn't necessarily make sense down the generations, but they may have had meaning when first assigned.  Anyway, whether they did or not, I would use them that way in my World.  Makes it more interesting to me.  And helps me to keep track of the symbolic framework I have created for my world.   So I see myself using Heraldry, yes.   Of course the main use, in practical terms, was so that armored Knights in battle could recognize one another.   It was all too easy in pre heraldic times for two allies to battle it out and bloody one another before realizing they were actually friends.  Ow.  The tall crests, I imagine, on helmets were so that the Leader would actually stand out in the crowd and his Knights could see where he was fighting.   Ok, well those are some thoughts about it.   Nothing too incredible, but I do like the idea of using Heraldry and can think of a few adventures where it would come up as important.  One of them of course is if any Character should get Knighted from a lower class than Noble, and therefore require the creation of a new Heraldry ... which could entail a totemic quest of some sort... which could tie into a larger campaign backstory of some sort.  Frankly, I think there's a lot that *could* be done with it, if you were of a mind.

- Mark

Quote from: Zachary The FirstI've always found it really interesting, though I certainly don't go by any of the rules or anything heraldry enthusiasts seem to go by.  I think it's just sort of a fun flavor thing.

Yeah, I tend to use them a lot, especially for different factions and organizations.  For the PCs, it tends to add some identity and inspire loyalty, sort of like a sports logo.    

Pete

Thanks for the clipart site.

Quote from: droogThanks for the clipart site.

No prob!

If you like heraldry, you may like Harn. Here is an example: http://www.lythia.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&req=viewdownloaddetails&lid=242&ttitle=Kaldoran_Greatclan_Geneology

I was just looking for something like this.


Thanks


QM

I haven't done so yet, but after reading the Heraldry bit in nWoD's Sanctum and Sigil, I want to design one for my cabal. I need to actually talk to the other players about it though.

Quote from: TheQuestionManI was just looking for something like this.
Thanks

No problem! The HarnWorld kingdom modules (Kaldor, Kanday, Chybisa Rethem, etc.) all have the heraldry of their major noble clans. There are some other free articles also on lythia.com that you may be able to use the heraldry from (check the locations tab, many of the manors have heraldry).
Enjoy!

In my Pendragon campaign if the PCs make a reasonable facscimile of a heraldic shield for their Knight, they get a bonus point in heraldry as a reward. Most of them just want to try to make themselves a shield.

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