Well, three years ago I tried to run a game of Pendragon-I don't really think they GOT THE IDEA. At all.
I mean, here I was with ready to run a dead serious game of Pendragon last year, noble knights on a quest, Passions and tourneys, lasting legacies, making of Legends,the whole enchilada...
What do the Players come up with?
A Hedge Witch who makes jokes about outlasting her three previous husbands(at the ripe old age of twenty!) with a thorough knowledge of deadly mushrooms...
A mercenary from Constantinople who blatantly uses his favorite weapon-the Crossbow, declared anathema by the Pope in this timeframe...
A dark-skinned Egyptian maniac on the run from the Old Man of the Mountain-blends in GREAT with the natives(not), even knows a few words of English...
A Priest who knew just enough Sorcery to Screw Up Royally, and the lack of sense to apply it to EVERY situation...
A Peasant lad who abused the Industry Skill (a catch-all for NPC non-knightly types) to become the Dark Ages McGuyver(Tailor, Baker,Carpenter,Cook,etc. etc.) This guy would best armed knights by TACKLING them and using his Grappling skills to disarm them...
ME: As the Bandit leader approaches, you can see at least a half-dozen companions with bows in the bushes-
Eileen: Is he handsome? I look for a Love Powder in case he wants to, you know, parley over a glass or two...
Hakim: Hail and Well Eaten, felow rabbit! I wish to give you money for brothel-woman, yes no?
ME: The bandit looks shaken by your odd looks and speech-"art thou a Devil from Hell, ye iron-skinned beast?"
Father Philipe: YES HE IS! Throw down your weapons lest he drag your screaming souls to Perdition! You are all EXCOMMUNICATED!!!
ME: only the Pope can do that-
Father Philipe: THEY don't know that!
Jack the Peasant-I fling my Quicklime and Ash Grenades into the bowmen and scramble up a tree, the better to use my Lasso-
Ponitus the Merc-cocking the Crossbow here...
Father Philipe: I use my Godly Magics to Curse them into everlasting torment!
Eileen: I help!
Me: what part of Subtle Enchantment do you not get? and Eileen, you're a Pagan-
Eileen: So?
(two fumbles)
Me: (take a break, slam head into a wall violently to clear it, take a deep breath...and finally decide to Go With The Stupid tonight...)
ME: OKAY, two absolute botches from both a Pagan and a Priest...there's a buzzing in the air, a smell of old blood and a DEAD MAN IN ETRUSCAN ARMOR reaches out and grabs Pontius!! Its teeth grind against your stolen Norman Mail, but it's only a matter of time...
Pontius: SHOOT IT IN THE HEAD!
ME: You take 2D6 as you pin the revenant's head to your shoulder-it collapses, dragging you to the ground by your bleeding arrow wound...screams erupt as the blinded, coughing Bandits are grappled by ancient Etruscan Dead...
Hakim: They are a long way from home-
ME: so are you-maybe they're on the lam from your Assassin Cult...
Jack(from perch): now THIS is a SHOW!
The Devil: I'm glad you like it.(kicks the peasant out of the tree)
Jack(lands on Dead Guy, shoves Lasso into gaping Zombie mouth): AAAAAAAHHH!!!!
ME: I know this farmhouse, cries the Bandit...
Never again.