Here's a list of the newspapers for each month of the En Garde! campaign (most recent at the top of the list):

• octobre 1624
• septembre 1624
• août 1624
• juillet 1624
• juin 1624
• mai 1624
• avril 1624
• mars 1624
• février 1624
• janvier 1624
• décembre 1623

Angelo Domenico Malevolti Fencing Print from 1763

Background

I will be hosting a play-by-email version of En Garde!. I will be using GDW's 1977 rule set as my basis as modified by a set of postal rules and further modified to allow a more abstract set of rules for the resolution of duelling. As always though the GM decisions are final. There is a more up-to-date version of the rules available to buy from current copyright owner which has no rule changes that I am aware of.

The important tables which you'll want to consult if you wish to play is available in a four page PDF from the En Garde! website. I do recommend that you download and use the tables as an initial reference!

As with my existing Liftoff! game there's a newspaper to record the events in the game, and there's also a list of characters in the game.

Each turn a player needs to submit a set of orders for their character. To help with that the character sheet page for each character includes an order template. Simply open the twistie on the character sheet page, fill in the details and then use the button to send the orders as an email to me./p>

Game Background

En Garde! is based on the swashbuckling era of the Three Musketeers, the Count of Monte Cristo, Cyrano de Bergerac and the Flashman novels. You will play a young gentleman newly arrived in Paris whose aim is to get to, and stay on, the top of the greasy pole.

I will attempt to guide novice players (which will be most players I expect) though their initial turns as required. Don't be surprised if, during the initial turns you seem to be sliding down the greasy pole, keeping up your status can be expensive!

Each turn there'll be a newspaper detailing the events of the month and showing the current status of the greasy pole. The links to the characters in the example newspaper's greasy pole are active and show the kind of detail I'll attempt to maintain for each character. I intend to avoid secret records as much as possible. I also intend to maintain a cadence of two real life weeks per game month - but that might need to change based on actual experience!

Players are encouraged to talk to each other before submitting their orders. However only what is written in their orders will be acted upon the GM - in particular note that if the GM doesn't know about it, it doesn't happen!

Character Attributes

Edward Teach, originally from an engraving by Benjamin Cole in A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorius Pirates (1724).

Your character's attributes will be generated by the GM and include:

Note: I recommend gauging your initial progress by how much your social level has changed rather than where you are on the greasy pole since the random variations of the starting positions can vary quite widely.

So how do I gain (or lose) Status Levels

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas (illustration of the Appleton edition)

Every game turn you need to provide the GM with orders covering your actions for the month. There will be a page for each character on this site and that page will allow you to generate a template for your orders. Each month you're in Paris¹ you accumulate status points. If you achieve enough status points to equal or exceed three times your next status level your status level goes up by one². On the other hand if your accumulated status points for the month are less than your current status level your status level will drop by one. You start each month with zero status points and each month is broken into four weeks.

Luckily there are various ways to gain status points:

• By conspicuously spending crowns equal to three times your current status level you gain one status point. If you decide not to conspicuously consume you must still spend crowns equal to twice your current status level to maintain your lifestyle³.
• If you are a member of a club you will gain between two and eight status points for the month depending on the club. You can only be a member of one club at a time and each club has different requirements as shown in the Clubs Table. Note that if you fail to pay the membership dues of the club for the month you will lose membership of the club.
• You spend the week at your club (or the Bawdyhouse) and go Carousing. Spend your current social level in crowns and gain a status point.
• You can be seen with another character (known as toadying) for a week - this requires mutual agreement and must be specified in both characters' orders. Can be combined with visiting a club and, if necessary, non-members can be guests of a club member. If you're a guest at a club you can't normally join you will gain status points. If you're toadying to someone close to your social level or above you will gain a status point (if you're toadying to someone of much lower social rank you will lose status points - presumably they will be repaying the favour in some other coin).
• You can gamble at your club or the bawdyhouse for the week - you can make up to nine bets in a week - each bet you win you gain a status point (otherwise you lose a point). You will also gain status points based on the total amount you gamble.
• Having a mistress will gain you a status point or more - see later for more details.
• Being a member of a regiment will gain status points. The regiments are ranked in prestige from the Royal Foot Guards (in charge of the King's personal bodyguards) to the lowly Gascon Regiment. You will gain between 2 and 11 status points depends on your regiment and your rank. See later for more details on these.
• Fighting a duel. Depending on your opponent and whether you have good cause for the duel, you could gain as many as seven status points (or lose up to four points). Note that you will lose status points if you refuse to issue a challenge when one would be expected (e.g. Someone else is discovered courting your mistress or is courting the same mistress; meeting a member of an unfriendly regiment to your own; a noble meets a non-noble of more than four social levels above him) and if you refuse to duel when a valid challenge is made.
• Having a title will gain you between ten and twenty status points a month (starting the game with a title is possible but rare)
• Being a military hero (i.e., having gone on campaign and been mentioned in dispatches or better) will gain you status points every month
• Providing useful information for the newspaper will gain you a status point at the whim and discretion of the GM.

Money

You can borrow money from other characters (only by agreement obviously) or from local moneylenders. Gentlemen do not charge other gentlemen any interest (but can demand payment at any time after three months). Moneylenders charge 10% interest every six months and if unable to repay at the endof the six months must join the frontier regiments

Female Companionship

Margot Grahame as Milady de Winter in The Three Musketeers - publicity still

Every month you must have a female companion of some sort or lose status points⁴. You could go to the bawdyhouse (which will satisfy the female companionship requirement at a cost of your status level in crowns), but ideally you would have a mistress. To do so she will need courting. To do so will cost crowns equal to three times her social level and is not certain. In fact even if you are of a higher social level than your (would-be) companion there is still a good chance of failure. If your social level is more than six levels lower than the good lady's you will automatically fail.

If two gentleman court the same lady on the same week, both will spend their money, both will fail and both will have cause for a duel.

If you court a lady who is already the companion of another gentleman you are less likely to succeed and, if discovered that will be cause for a duel (if you succeed you become the lady's companion replacing the other gentleman who will, obviously, have cause for a duel).

You may take your companion with you on a visit to your club for the week as long as you buy her drinks (at a cost of her social level in crowns).

Some ladies have exceptional beauty. You gain an additional status point if you are her companion. Some ladies are exceptionally wealthy. If you are her companion she will give small gifts if her social level is higher than yours. If not you will need to support her lifestyle at a cost of three times her social level. Some ladies are exceptionally influential. These will help you when you try to influence NPC officials in various actions. A given lady may have all or none of these exceptional attributes.

The military

Depiction of the Cardinal's musketeers, the great rivals of the King's musketeers.

The military is an excellent means to literally promote yourself. There are seventeen regiments ranging in status from the Royal Foot Guards to the lowly Gascon Regiment. Each regiment has an panoply of officers. You can apply to any regiment but obviously can only be a member of one regiment at a time (if you wish to change regiments you must resign from your existing regiment first). If your application is accepted (which will depend on your social level and your luck) you can buy a commission in the regiment rather than have to stay as a private. Note that the position must be available (i.e., not occupied by another character or by a named NPC). Note that the costs on the regiment chart is cumulative, i.e., to become a major you first need to buy a sub-alternship then a captaincy and then finally the major's position.

Some of the regiments are cavalry regiments. If you join a cavalry regiment you will to have a horse (Majors and above need three horses) and hire a groom to look after the horse(s).

Privates must spend two weeks in the month on duty with his regiments. Sub-alterns must spend one week a month. Captains and above need not spend any time being on duty (rank hath its privileges). Privates and sub-alterns may apply to their major to be excused from one week of duty per month.

Each regiment has another regiment with which it is friends and a second with which it regards as enemies. This affects when or if challenges to duels can be validly issued.

Each summer a portion of the army is sent on campaign. If your regiment is one of those sent to the front you will join the campaign and leave Paris for the duration. While out of Paris you gain your pay and allowances, but don't have to spend any money or maintain status points (their status level remains unchanged while out of Paris). At the end of the campaign the results of the campaign will be resolved. You could be a hero and be mentioned in dispatches, gain loot or even a promotion. Alternatively you could die (I will describe the options when the summer turns arrive). Your military ability will affect your personal outcome and could influence the overall result of the campaign if you hold a senior rank.

The frontier regiments

As the frontiers of France need guarding and patrolling all the year round, you are always permitted to join the frontier regiments for a non-regular season (autumn, winter, spring) of campaigning. Again the character will be out of Paris for the duration of the season.

21^st November 2017

You need three times the next level in status points to go up a social level

22^nd February 2020

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10^th January 2023

Fix another typo

Silk Crisis continues to grow

Auriane Delaunay showing off the lacework of Madam Yar

The cries of distress from most of the ladies of Paris can even be heard in the royal palaces. Almost no new silk dresses can be obtained after the audacious theft of several gowns from the establishment of Marie Àpropos on the Île-de-la-Cité. About the only lady sporting the latest fashion is Gisèle Barthélemy, whose latest dress was a gift from her beau, Phillipe Lemoine. Although being denied by the Guild of Tailors, rumours persist that there is a huge stockpile of silk being hoarded by a rich client of the Guild.

One other lady that doesn't seem to be concerned about the shortage is Auriane Delaunay who has been sporting some intricate lace work in place of her linen ruff. This is the work of Aline Yar's Italian Mother and apparently took many hours of patient work. Whether this is the start of a new fashion trend remains to be seen. Madam Àpropos has expressed the view that, unlike the ruff, it fails to encourage the correct posture - though as the ruff can, in general, be only used once, she may have a business reason to support its continued use!

Flora Pernet showing that the silk crisis is requiring some sacrifices.

Meanwhile Cochon de Lait and Marius Thibodeaux have assiduously worked to distract their companions from the crisis. M. de Lait has ensured his continued following of the rules of floral etiquette by presenting Flora Pernet with a bouquet of asters while M. Thibodeaux has presented Émilie Beaufils with the season's finest pruneaux d’Agen fourrés, which were quickly gobbled up!

All of the above were much luckier than Fourier Transformée who was wooing Brigitte Silvestre. When he arrived with a large box, she admitted him at once but when she discovered that the box did not contain the expected silk dress he was quickly shown the door and told to remove the painting kit he had brought. Better luck next month!

Billiards match between Hunter's and Bothwell's

After the successful indoor billiards tournament at Hunter's last month, Phillipe Lemoine was invited to give a demonstration at the prestigious Bothwell's club. With an enthusiastic reception there (possibly aided by some of the worst octobre weather making the billiards pitch at Bothwell's completely waterlogged), a competition match between Hunter's and Bothwell's has been set up for the end of novembre. Members of the Hunter's team will be invited into Bothwell's for the event.

Victoria Gainsbourg fickle affections

With the departure of Jean Huile for the frontier, it seems that Victoria Gainsbourg has been quick to forget him and has been seen in the company of Omer Dalors. M. Huile has cause to issue a challenge to a duel, but does not need to do so until his return from frontier.

Continued slide of Henry Lightfoot

It seems that M. Lightfoot has been somewhat distracted by the continued political turmoil in London. Word has reached us that his father had invested in the play A Game of Chess which played in August until a prosecution against the play was brought by the Privy Council (the pretext being the portrayal of a living king rather than the political content of the play). As a result M. Lightfoot has not been seen around Paris this month and is steadily losing social status.

Roget Thésaurus scares off muggers

After watching one of the many plays of the month, Roget was accosted by a small group of gentlemen who suggested that he might like to have them accompany him on his way home for his own safety. Roget quickly demonstrated how he on his duel against Jean Huile earlier this year to show that he was perfectly safe thank you!

Army planning major siege at Namur

In a clear follow up to last season's successful siege at Château de Montaigle, the army is planning a major advance to the city of Namur next year. All regiments apart from the 69^th Arquebusiers and the Gascon Regiment will be required to join the army during julliet, août and septembre 1625. Investors in arms companies receive a payout of 80%, while those investing in finance need to find an additional 60% to keep their investments afloat. Those investing in commerce receive a 10% payout.

As part of the preparation for next year's campaign, the frontier regiments welcome Jean Huile who has decided to spend the autumn season helping them.

Le Perche du Coudray Updates

Congratulations to OMer Dalors, Cochon de Lait and Phillipe Lemoine who have completed courses in Rapier, Cutlass and Sabre respectively. M. Dalors' Rapier skill is now rated as 10, M. de Lait's Cutlass skill at 11 and M. Lemoine's Sabre skill at 8.

Regimental News

Grand Duke Maxmillian Dragoons

Roget Thésaurus is promoted to subaltern.

Royal Marines

Sir Alex Kuzbidon is promoted to captain of C company.

Picardy Musketeers

Aline Yar is promoted to captain of C company.

10^th January 2023

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Recital by Marius Thibodeux a big success

Rapt attention being paid to Marius Thibodeux

Several of the notable gentlemen in Paris took advantage of the opportunity to listen to the latest works by Marius Thibodeux in the prestigious surroundings of Hunter's. Several of the spectators, including Aline Yar and Roget Thésaurus, took advantage of the opportuity to hobnob with their better and gawp at the opulent furnishings. The usual suspects of Phillipe Lemoine and Guillame De Batz (the host) were in attendance with their good lady friends, Bernadette Cuvier and Gisèle Barthélemy, along with a still somewhat bemused René Descartes. In honour of the occasion, Marius presented two new sonnets:

Should I by happenstance be rendered blind
Or, since a newborn babe, be lacking sight
Cast into darkness by a Fate unkind
In deepest cavern, quite bereft of light
My hands outstretched before me as I tread
A stumbling path set out before my feet
How then to fix my pounding heart 'gainst dread
When that my senses be thus incomplete
Yet, in the darkness I should not be lost
However Stygian remain the gloom
Not I, an unremark-ed, wild'ring ghost
Fated to be alone in silent tomb
For thy love shines a beacon on my way
In that dear light, how can'st I step astray?

What is it that a man may truly dread?
'Tis not the battlefield that some surmise
To lie amongst the fallen, valiant dead
May be considered Fortune's dearest prize
It is the thought that he shall be alone
Unthought of, unremarked, a bladeless haft
A heart that stays unmoved as a stone
Or broken and ill-served by Cupid's haft.
'Gainst such a fate, I threw up ramparts high
Sufficient strong that none should ever breach
With sturdy watchtowers clamb'ring to the sky
To keep my tender heart safe out of reach
I kneel now, midst the ruins of that wall
The proof that love can truly conquer all.

Duke Gaston's ball lightly attended

Much to the chagrin of the Duke, the mai ball was only lightly attended, particularly in comparison to the poetry recital. Aline Yar and Roget Thésaurus (who did keep being mistaken for a servant) joined Phillipe Lemoine and Guillame de Batz at the ball (along with Bernadette Cuvier and Gisèle Barthélemy). The uncrowded dance floor did allow Phillipe to show off his Rigaudon dance moves and he was able to direct the dancers in their moves by the end of the evening. Guillame de Batz and the Duke were seen having a long discussion and it later transpired that the Duke has rented one of Guillame de Batz properties for the month.

Cardinal Richelieu reshuffle

The reshuffle caused by the recent promotion of Cardinal Richelieu to the council of ministers. The reshuffle is affects all the appointments to both the government and the military. While most of the posts require either a high military or noble rank (for example the Commissioner of Public Safety requires a Colonel or Knight to be the office holder), the various brigades are looking for subalterns who wish to serve as the aide to the Brigadier¹.

Roget Thésaurus Challenges Jean Huile

Roget Thésaurus has, as expected, challenged Jean Huile to a duel. This will be fought at the start of the fourth week of juin².

Fickle Love

Despite the excellent poetry of Marius Thibodeux, his erstwhile partner, Flora Pernet, appears to have a new beau in the shape of Cochon de Lait. M. de Lait took advantage of the absence of his rival at his fencing school to woo Mlle. Pernet presenting her with a bouquet of exotic flowers from the Carribean³.

In a less decisive move Aurélie Pueyrredón has finally accepted the entreaties of Sir Alex Kuzbidon and is now his companion. Apparently his persistence wasn't a factor in her acceptance of her fate. She claims that her servants had not been passing on his enquiries to her - though we couldn't confirm with the staff concerned.

Rumours of a midsummer event

Is something is being planned? Guillame de Batz has been seen at the theatre, but only to talk with the minstrels providing the accompaniment to the show. At the same time, Phillipe Lemoine has been seen on the outskirts of Paris looking for a location where where tedious stuff such as peasants and farm animals can be excluded

Sir Alex Kuzbidon planning a barbeque?

Is the notoriously staid Sir Alex Kuzbidon planning something special for the autumn? He has been seen talking with several chefs well known for their hot fires and tasty food. On the other hand he has also been talking with several tradesmen too...

Frontier regiments take Phillipeville

The success of our frontier army has continued with the capture of Phillipeville. We are awaiting the reports on the activities of our gentlemen at the scene with interest⁴.

Praise from Le Perche du Coudray

In a break from the more usual rapier, Le Perche du Coudray has praised Albert Kestrel's sabre work saying that the improvements shown by the young gentleman shows great promise. Le Perche du Coudray also complimented Guillame de Batz for the improvements in his rapier techniques, though he did comment that Guillame still has a lot to learn!

More gentlemen for Provence

Following their troubles last month, both Côte de Boeuf and Lombard Chequers have retreated to the country to avoid the pressures of the city⁵. Investigations into the mugging of Lombard Chequers are continuing however after Phillipe Lemoine suggested to the current Commissioner for public safety that perhaps an actual investigation into the events could be warranted. After all if a newly arrived gentleman can't travel safely around Paris one wonders if any one is safe. The investigation could be hampered by the absence of both the victims and, apparently, any witnesses willing to talk.

Regimental News

Queen's Own Carabiniers

Albert Kestrel is commended for his devotion, giving up his club membership to concentrate on his duties within the regiment

Royal Marines

Cochon De Lait joins A troop as a private. We thank M. de Lait for the recruitment posters recently seen around Paris.

Picardy Musketeers

Both Jean Huile and Marius Thibodeux have been promoted to Subaltern.

13th and 53rd Fusiliers, the 27th Musketeers, the 4th and 69th Arquebusiers

Members of these regiments are reminded that they will be required to join their regiments for the summer campaign during juillet, août and septembre

4 March 2018

Update image links to point to media page

22 June 2022

Update image to avoid accented characters causing trouble in my build process for the static version of the website

Jdécembre 1623

First newspaper

Janvier 1624

Game start

I have run a game of En Garde! (currently suspended). There's a summary of the rules, notes on Influence and investments. You can also find a list of characters and map of paris. There's also a newspaper for each month of the campaign.

Shady dealings

An important resource for all gentleman is the favours owed to them. In game terms there are nine classes of favour ranging from the lowly level one favour to the mighty level nine favours.
Gentlemen with a social level of 8 or higher will gain a favour every season (i.e., during janvier, avril, juillet and octobre). Female companions grant favours at the end of janvier (with additional favours from influential companions, and with the high social standing ladies providing higher level favours.

The level of favour needed to influence an NPC is shown in the table below. Each favour can provide a modifier of either +1 or -1 at the discretion of the character using the favour. Favours can be used to affect decisions affecting other players. If you are an member of the same regiment as an NPC any favour used is will be used as if it is of one class higher than in actually is. Favours can be converted to and from the immediate next highest class at a ratio of two to one (e.g. a level 4 favour can be converted to/from two level 3 favours).

Level 9

The King

Level 8

The Crown Prince, Cardinals

Level 7

Minsters¹,Field Marshals

Level 6

Generals

Level 5

Lieutenant Generals

Level 4

Brigadier Generals

Level 3

Colonels²

Level 2

Lieutenant Colonels

Level 1

Majors, Captains³

Favours recorded in this manner do not affect player character decision should they be in post.

Using a favour is assumed to take no time (you are assumed to be calling in the favour via a quit tete-a-tete, this does not take a whole week!

9 November 2017

Favours take no time to use