Chaosium Brings the Bayeux Tapestry to the Table with Tapestry: Age of Conquest

The Norman Conquest is heading to the gaming table. Chaosium has announced Tapestry: Age of Conquest, a historical tabletop RPG launching on 4th December 2026, alongside a special games night at the British Museum.

Developed with the British Museum and the University of Edinburgh’s History and Games Lab, the 76-page book uses streamlined Basic Roleplaying rules. Ready-made characters and three connected adventures aim to make it accessible with minimal preparation.

Today at Chaosium Con EU in Gdańsk, Poland, renowned game publisher Chaosium announced the forthcoming release of a new tabletop roleplaying game themed around the Bayeux Tapestry, the famous embroidered cloth that depicts the Norman conquest of England in 1066.

From September 2026 to July 2027 the Bayeux Tapestry is on loan to The British Museum, the first time in more than 900 years it has been on English soil. This roleplaying game was commissioned to commemorate and celebrate that occasion.

Developed in association with The British Museum and the University of Edinburgh’s History and Games Lab (H&GL), Tapestry: Age of Conquest takes players through the events portrayed in the Bayeux Tapestry. Through three linked scenarios they experience the rise and fall of Harold Godwinson, culminating in the Battle of Hastings in 1066, where William of Normandy led the Norman army to victory over the English.

Tapestry: Age of Conquest was written by award-winning game designer Jason Durall. It features art by Ossi Hiekkala and Katrin Dirim, and cartography by Glynn Seal. Dr Gianluca Raccagni and Dr James Holloway were historical consultants for the project.

Jason Durall said, “Historical accuracy was a paramount concern for this project, but the primary source was the tapestry itself. So, where the historical record and the tapestry differed, the tapestry’s depiction of these events was our guiding source.”

The 76 page Tapestry bookcontains game rules based on Chaosium’s renowned Basic Roleplaying System that are easy to learn and designed for quick play with little-to-no preparation. It also features ready-to-play characters, and three linked adventures.

Dr Gianluca Raccagni said, "With Tapestry: Age of Conquest historical accuracy does not go against having fun, it allows players to interact with and immerse in the momentous events of 1066 via the Bayeux Tapestry”.

Attendees at the British Museum Games Night on December 4th will receive a copy of Tapestry: Age of Conquest. The book will go into general release on December 4th and be available for purchase at chaosium.com.