The Paris

Tribune
S Rules v7.2 S

S
S April 1629 S
www.canterburygamers.org.uk
 An En Garde! game
The Paris Tribune Being in the Main a Game of the Life and Times of a Gentleman Adventurer and his Several Companions.

Credits:
Previous Editions of The Paris Tribune Rulebook have been published as follows:
S First Edition by Jon Longhurst, June 1987 (June 1607)
S Second Edition by Isabelle Lavigne & Paul Snow, September 1992 (January 1610)
S Third Edition by David Challoner, April 1997 (June 1612)
S Revised Third Edition by David Challoner, January 2002 (January 1621)
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
S Fourth Edition by David Challoner, July 2005
S Fifth Edition by David Challoner & Jon Longhurst, November 2006 (January 1625)
S Sixth Edition by Jon Longhurst, October 2007 (September 1625)
S Revised Sixth Edition (v6.3) by Jon Longhurst, March 2008 (January 1626)
S Seventh Edition by Jon Longhurst, November 2008 (September 1626)
S Revised Seventh Edition (v7.1) by Jon Longhurst, September 2010 (January 1628)
This, revised Seventh Edition (v7.2) of The Paris Tribune rulebook published in January 2013 (April 1629), was
written by Jon Longhurst in collaboration with Andy Scott, Ashley Casey, Ian Hargrove, Ray Farrel, Lois Scott &
Sean Kavanagh. My thanks go to them and all those who have helped with previous editions of the rulebook,
that this is built upon. Additional thanks must also go to Alan Smith & Manu for their proofreading and Lois Scott
for her ongoing automation of these rules.
While the rules of The Paris Tribune have evolved significantly over the past twenty five years, they are
ultimately based upon the Second Edition of the En Garde! rules originally published by GDW in 1977.
These original rules are still published by Margam Evans.

Glossary MiD: Mention in Dispatches.

Army: Commanded by a General and comprised of
2 Divisions. This is the largest unit type within the
military and two are formed for the summer
campaign season every year.
BR: Battle Result.
Battalion: Comprised of 2 Companies and
commanded by a Major. Equivalent to a Cavalry
Squadron and there are 3 Battalions to an Infantry
Regiment.
Brigade: Comprised of 2 Regiments and commanded
by a Brigadier General, this is the largest permanently
standing unit type within the military.
CO: Commanding Officer or Commander.
Company: The smallest unit, of which there are 6,
within an Infantry Regiment. Normally commanded
by a Captain and equivalent to a Cavalry Troop.
ConCon: Conspicuous Consumption.
d20: A twenty sided die.
d6: A six sided die, so 2d6 means two six sided dice.
Division: Commanded by a Lieutenant General and
comprised of at least 2 Brigades, this is one half of
an Army and four Divisions are formed for the
summer campaign season every year.
FC: Female Companionship.
GM: Game Master or referee.
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NMR: No Move (orders) Received.
NMS: Notable Member of Society (an NPC).
NPC: Non Player Character.
NS: Non-subscriber (an NPC).
PC: Player Character.
Regiment: Usually commanded by a Colonel, this is
the fundamental unit type within the military.
RMA: Royal Military Academy.
SL: Social Level.
Squadron: Comprised of 2 Troops and commanded
by a Major. Equivalent to an Infantry Battalion and
there are 3 Squadrons to a Cavalry Regiment.
Subscriber: A Player Character.
Troop: The smallest unit, of which there are 6, within
a Cavalry Regiment. Normally commanded by a
Captain and equivalent to an Infantry Company.
About this PDF
This document features the extensive use of internal
bookmarks and external hyperlinks. When clicked on,
they will take you to the relevant section within this
document, or else to an external website. In addition
to both the Contents and Tables listings on pages 3-6,
all instances of blue italic text throughout the entire
document are bookmarks or hyperlinks.
List of Contents
1 Character Generation............................................7
1.1 Social Level ......................................................7
1.2 Abilities ...........................................................7
1.2.1 Strength ...................................................7
1.2.2 Constitution .............................................7
1.2.3 Swordsmanship.........................................7
1.2.4 Marksmanship..........................................7
1.2.5 Panache ...................................................7
1.2.6 Tactics ......................................................7
1.2.7 Endurance................................................7
1.2.8 Improving Abilities ...................................7
1.2.9 Recovering Endurance ...............................7
1.3 Character Name...............................................8
1.3.1 Unique Identifier (UID)...........................8
1.4 The d20 Mechanic ...........................................8
1.4.1 Critical Success .........................................8
1.4.2 Success......................................................8
1.4.3 Partial Success ..........................................8
1.4.4 Failure .....................................................8
1.4.5 Fumble ....................................................8
1.4.6 Modifiers..................................................8
1.4.7 Attributes in Excess of 20 ..........................8
2 Time Sequence & Writing Orders ........................9
2.1 Types of Actions ................................................9
2.1.1 Special Orders ..........................................9
2.2 Writing Orders ...............................................13
2.2.1 The Applications Deadline ......................13
2.2.2 The Clarity of Orders..............................13
2.2.3 Sequencing Orders ..................................13
2.3 Conditional Orders.........................................13
2.4 Proxy & Collective Orders..........................14
2.5 Example Orders ............................................14
2.6 Submitting Orders..........................................14
2.7 NMR.............................................................15
3 Status & Social Level ..........................................15
4 Living in Paris.....................................................16
4.1 Support..........................................................16
4.1.1 Insolvency...............................................16
4.1.2 Conspicuous Consumption ......................16
4.2 Clubs.............................................................16
4.3 Carousing ......................................................17
4.4 Gambling ......................................................17
4.5 Residences ......................................................17
4.6 Attending Church...........................................18
4.7 Location.........................................................18
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5 Female Companionship ......................................19
The Paris Tribune
5.1 Courting ........................................................19
5.1.1 Feminine Attributes ................................20
5.1.2 Support ..................................................20
5.1.3 Status.....................................................20
5.2 Children ........................................................21
5.3 Bawdyhouses ..................................................21
5.3.1 Footpads.................................................21
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
5.3.2 The Clap................................................21
6 Entertaining ........................................................22
6.1 Toadying ........................................................22
6.1.1 Toadying Defaults ...................................23
6.2 Hosting a Dinner Party ..................................23
6.2.1 Mistresses as Hostesses ..............................23
6.2.2 Attending a Dinner Party .......................23
6.3 Hosting a Ball ................................................23
6.3.1 Grandee Attendance................................24
6.3.2 The Outcome of a Ball............................24
6.3.3 Attending a Ball .....................................25
6.4 Oversubscribed Social Events...........................25
7 The Theatre........................................................25
7.1 Attendance .....................................................25
7.1.1 Seat .......................................................25
7.1.2 Small Box ..............................................26
7.1.3 Gallery Box ............................................26
7.2 Staging a Play ................................................26
7.2.1 The Outcome of a Play ...........................26
7.3 Riot ...............................................................27
8 Finance ...............................................................28
8.1 Loans.............................................................28
8.1.1 Loans & Gifts between Characters ...........28
8.1.2 Loans from Shylocks................................28
8.2 Investment .....................................................28
8.2.1 Making Investments................................28
8.2.2 Investment Returns .................................28
8.2.3 Liquidation............................................29
8.2.4 Investment Modifiers ..............................29
8.2.5 Influence ................................................29
8.2.6 Clandestine Action..................................29
8.2.7 Appointments .........................................29
8.2.8 Military Circumstance ............................29
8.2.9 Investment Taxes.....................................30
8.3 Charity ..........................................................30
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 9 Duelling..............................................................30
9.1 Cause to Challenge .........................................30
9.1.1 Multiple Cause .......................................31
The Paris Tribune 9.1.2 Issuing Challenges ...................................31
9.1.3 Arranging Duels .....................................31
9.2 Duelling Overview .........................................32
9.3 Basic Duelling Mechanic ................................32
9.3.1 Critical Success .......................................32
9.3.2 Fumble ..................................................32
9.3.3 Reflexive Modifiers..................................32
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
9.3.4 Current Swordsmanship in Excess of 20 ...32
9.4 Damage .........................................................32
9.5 Duelling Styles & Knacks................................33
9.5.1 Fencing (Rapier).....................................33
9.5.2 Hussar (Sabre)........................................33
9.5.3 Main Gauche (Rapier & Dagger)............33
11 The Front .........................................................48
9.5.4 Dirty Fighting (Any)...............................33
9.5.5 Unrestricted by Style (Any) ......................34
9.5.6 Inherited Duelling Styles .........................34
9.5.7 Regimental Duelling Styles ......................34
9.5.8 Duelling Examples..................................35
9.6 Duelling Etiquette ..........................................37
9.6.1 Terms .....................................................37
9.6.2 The Etiquette of Seconds..........................37
9.6.3 The Four Cornerstones ............................37
9.6.4 Status.....................................................37
9.6.5 Other Social Consequences ......................38
9.6.6 Intervention ...........................................38
9.6.7 Multiple Opponents ................................38
9.7 Writing Duelling Orders .................................38
9.7.1 Acceptance & Surrender ..........................39
9.8 Duelling Advancement ...................................39
9.8.1 Practice ..................................................39
9.8.2 Training .................................................39
9.8.3 Experience..............................................40
9.8.4 Notes on Dirty Fighting ..........................40
9.8.5 Duelling Academies ................................40
9.9 Pistol Duels....................................................40
9.9.1 Terms of a Pistol Duel.............................40
12 Crime & Punishment .......................................54
9.9.2 Basic Pistol Duelling Mechanic ...............40
9.9.3 Deloping & Status ..................................41
9.9.4 Improving Marksmanship .......................41
9.10 Ambushes.....................................................41
9.10.1 Critical Success .....................................42
9.10.2 Success..................................................42
9.10.3 Failure .................................................42
9.10.4 Fumble ................................................42
9.10.5 Fleeing .................................................42
9.10.6 Status...................................................42
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10 Regiments .........................................................43
10.1 Structure......................................................43
10.1.1 Chain of Command..............................43
10.2 Joining & Advancement................................43
10.2.1 Ranks...................................................44
10.2.2 Calling for an NPC to Resign ...............45
10.2.3 NPCs Filling Regimental Vacancies .......45
10.2.4 Transferring Regiments..........................45
10.2.5 Colonels ...............................................45
10.3 Horses..........................................................45
10.4 The General Staff .........................................46
10.5 The Frontiers................................................46
10.6 Brigades .......................................................47
10.6.1 Enemy Regiments..................................47
10.6.2 Barracks ...............................................47
11.1 At the Front & the Summer Campaign .........48
11.2 Volunteering or being sent to the Front...........48
11.2.1 Commanding Others ............................48
11.2.2 Returning to Paris.................................48
11.2.3 Avoiding the Front................................48
11.3 The Summer Campaign................................49
11.3.1 Force Commitment ...............................49
11.3.2 Force Deployment .................................49
11.3.3 Force Organisation ...............................49
11.3.4 Substitution..........................................49
11.3.5 Frontiers...............................................50
11.4 Determining the Results of Battle ..................50
11.5 Interpreting the Results of Battle ....................51
11.5.1 Personal Outcome .................................51
11.5.2 Reckless Bravery & Poltroonery ..............51
11.5.3 Other Personal Outcome Modifiers ........52
11.5.4 Death ..................................................52
11.5.5 Mention in Dispatches ..........................52
11.5.6 Promotion ............................................52
11.5.7 NPC Outcomes ....................................53
11.6 Tactics Advancement.....................................53
12.1 Powers of Arrest ............................................54
12.1.1 Trumped Up Charges............................54
12.1.2 Arrests without Charge..........................54
12.1.3 Being Reported .....................................54
12.1.4 Making an Arrest .................................54
12.2 Trials ...........................................................56
12.2.1 Interrogation ........................................56
12.2.2 Conviction ...........................................56
12.2.3 Mistrials...............................................56
12.2.4 Retrials.................................................57
 12.3 Crimes ........................................................57
12.3.1 Duelling...............................................57
12.3.2 Bribery.................................................57
12.3.3 Embezzlement ......................................57
12.3.4 Harassment ..........................................57
12.3.5 Theft....................................................57
12.3.6 Murder & Attempted Murder................57
12.3.7 Arson ...................................................57
12.3.8 Sedition*..............................................57
12.3.9 Treason* ...............................................57
12.3.10 Heresy* ..............................................57
12.3.11 Witchcraft*.........................................58
12.3.12 Dereliction of Duty* ...........................58
12.3.13 Gross Incompetence* ...........................58
12.4 Punishment..................................................58
12.4.1 Civil Crimes.........................................58
12.4.2 Political Crimes ....................................58
12.4.3 Martial Crimes ....................................58
12.4.4 Religious Crimes ...................................59
12.4.5 Knavery ...............................................59
12.4.6 Death Sentences....................................59
12.5 The Bastille ..................................................59
12.5.1 Bastille Actions .....................................60
12.5.2 Early Release.........................................60
12.5.3 Bastille Encounters................................60
12.5.4 Escape ..................................................60
13 Influence ...........................................................61
13.1 Sources of Influence.......................................61
13.2 Refreshing Influence ......................................62
13.3 Bribery ........................................................62
14 Appointments ...................................................63
14.1 Applying for Multiple Appointments ..............64
14.2 Calling for an NPC to Resign .......................64
14.3 The Timing of Appointments.........................64
14.3.1 Determining the Enemy for the Summer
Campaign .......................................................65
14.4 Public Reprimand ........................................65
14.5 Military Appointments..................................66
14.5.1 Army Commander................................66
14.5.2 Army Quartermaster General ................66
14.5.3 Division Commander ...........................66
14.5.4 Brigade Commander.............................66
14.5.5 Commissariat Major.............................66
14.5.6 Adjutant General..................................67
14.5.7 Inspector General ..................................67
14.5.8 Military Governors ...............................68
14.5.9 Instructor at the RMA ..........................68
14.5.10 Aide to the General Staff
or a Cabinet Minister ......................................69
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14.5.11 Regimental Adjutant...........................69
14.5.12 The Kings & Cardinals Escorts ...........69
14.5.13 The Crown Princes Equerry ................70
The Paris Tribune
14.6 Political Appointments..................................70
14.6.1 Minister of State...................................71
14.6.2 Commissioner without Portfolio.............71
14.6.3 Minister of War ....................................71
14.6.4 Minister of Justice.................................72
14.6.5 Chancellor of the Exchequer ..................72
14.6.6 Inquisitor General ................................72
14.6.7 Commissioner of State...........................72
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14.6.8 Commissioner of War ............................73
14.6.9 Conflicting Jurisdiction & other
Clarifications...................................................73
15 Aristocratic Titles..............................................74
15.1 Earning Title Attempts .................................74
15.2 Receiving a Title...........................................74
15.3 Royal Displeasure .........................................75
15.4 The Ennoblement Procession .........................75
15.5 The Royal Court...........................................75
16 The Grandees ...................................................76
16.1 Current Grandees .........................................76
16.1.1 King Louis XIII ....................................76
16.1.2 Cardinal Richelieu................................76
16.1.3 Queen Anne .........................................76
16.1.4 Crown Prince Gaston............................76
16.1.5 Charles King of England .......................76
16.1.6 Princess Louisa .....................................76
16.2 Notable Members of Society ..........................76
16.2.1 Publicly Known Information .................77
16.2.2 Characteristics ......................................77
16.3 NPCs & the Rules of the Game .....................77
16.3.1 NPCs & Actions ...................................77
16.3.2 Grandees at the Front ..........................77
17 Clandestine Action............................................78
17.1 Carrying out a Clandestine Action ................78
17.1.1 Plotting & Scheming.............................79
17.2 Spheres of Action ..........................................79
17.2.1 Player Characters..................................79
17.2.2 Notable Members of Society...................80
17.2.3 Investments...........................................80
17.2.4 Military Enemies ..................................80
17.3 Being Reported .............................................80
17.4 Perseverance .................................................80
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 List of Tables
2 Time Sequence & Writing Orders
The Paris Tribune Pre-monthly Actions Table ................9-10
Pre-Weekly & Free Weekly Actions
Table ....................................................................11
Weekly Actions Table............................11-12
Bastille Actions Table ...............................12
4 Living in Paris
Front Support Refund Table .................16
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Clubs Table.......................................................16
Residences Table ...........................................18
5 Female Companionship
Courting Success Table ...........................19
6 Entertaining
Toadying Table ..............................................22
Grandee Attendance Table ....................24
Ball Outcome Modifier Table ...............24
Ball Outcome Table ....................................24
7 The Theatre
NPC Play Outcome Table...........................25
Play Outcome Table ....................................26
Play Outcome Modifier Table ...............27
Riot Modifier Table.....................................27
Personal Riot Outcome Table ..............27
8 Finance
Safe Investment Table ...............................28
Medium Investment Table .......................28
Enemy Investment Modifier Table......29
Risky Investment Table .............................29
Appointment Investment Modifier
Table ....................................................................29
Battle Result Investment Modifier
Table ....................................................................30
9 Duelling
Damage Table ..................................................32
Inherited Duelling Style Table ...........34
Regimental Duelling Style Table........34
First Example Duel .......................................35
Second Example Duel .................................35
Third Example Duel.....................................36
FourtH Example Duel.................................36
Pistol Duelling Actions Table .............40
Pistol Shot Location Table ...................41
10 Regiments
Regimental Structure Table .................43
Regimental Application Table ..............43
Regiments Table ............................................44
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Horses Table ...................................................46
General Staff Table.....................................46
Brigades Table ................................................47
11 The Front
Force Commitment Table ........................49
Force Deployment Table ..........................49
Battle Result Table.....................................50
Battle Result Modifier Table................50
Personal Outcome Table .........................51
Personal Outcome Modifier Table ....51
Poltroonery Table......................................52
RMA Table...........................................................53
12 Crime & Punishment
Jurisdiction Table .......................................55
Duelling Arrest Table ...............................57
Bastille Encounter Table .......................60
13 Influence
Influence Required Table .......................61
Personal Influence Table........................61
Mistress Influence Table .........................61
Refreshing Influence Table ...................62
Bribery Influence Table............................62
14 Appointments
Tactics Modifier Table..............................63
Appointments Calendar ...........................65
Army Embezzlement Table .......................66
Commissariat Embezzlement Table ....67
Military Appointments Table.................67
Civil Unrest Table ........................................68
Aide Appointment Table............................69
Political Appointments Table...............71
Exchequer Embezzlement Table..........72
15 Aristocratic Titles
Titles table ......................................................74
16 The Grandees
Grandee Table ................................................76
17 Clandestine Action
Clandestine Action Individual
Outcome Table ..............................................79
Clandestine Action Overall Result
Table ....................................................................79
1 Character Generation
1.1 Social Level
The most important thing a player must know about
his character is his initial Social Level. This depends
on his parentage, their wealth and title (if any).
Social level is a measure of your position within
French society; the greater your Social Level (SL) the
more important you are within society. As you rise in
standing, greater and more powerful jobs and
opportunities become available to you. Society is
made up of friends, acquaintances and enemies and
on occasion you may have cause for dispute with any
of these. The accepted way of solving these disputes is
through duelling. Characters therefore receive an
inherited duelling style for free, determined by their
family background (see Inherited Duelling Styles).
Money is measured using Crowns. Some characters
will be lucky enough to receive a monthly allowance
from their father. Others start the game with a large
amount of cash, an inheritance, while some will start
with little more than a few coins in their purse.
A characters family background and hence starting
Social Level and wealth are determined randomly by
the GM. Players cannot influence this.
1.2 Abilities
There are seven abilities pertaining to the game
environment: Strength, Constitution, Swordsmanship,
Marksmanship, Panache, Tactics and Endurance.
The first six are each determined by random die rolls
(2d6+6). The seventh, Endurance, is a derived ability
in that it is equal to 6x(Strength+Constitution).
1.2.1 Strength
The raw power and strength of the character; used for
determining the amount of damage done in duels.
1.2.2 Constitution
This shows the characters ability to recover from
wounds and illnesses. When wounded you regain
Endurance equal to your Constitution each week; if
you do nothing in any given week, you will recover
Endurance equal to twice your Constitution.
1.2.3 Swordsmanship
This is a characters starting ability with a sword
(see Duelling).
1.2.4 Marksmanship
This is a characters starting ability with a pistol or
musket (see Pistol Duels).
1.2.5 Panache
This defines a characters flair, cunning, intelligence
and anything not covered elsewhere. This is a catch all
ability used when the GM needs to make a check that
is not covered by any of the normal statistics.
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1.2.6 Tactics
The Paris Tribune
This is how good the character is at tactics; it is used
for determining the outcome of any military or
tactical actions (see Determining the Results of Battle).
1.2.7 Endurance
This measures how much damage a character can
take. When your Endurance reaches zero, youre dead.
A character reduced to less than 40 Endurance must
immediately take to their bed and lose their next
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
weeks action if in Paris (see Recovering Endurance).
1.2.8 Improving Abilities
It is possible to increase the basic abilities a character
is generated with, within a number of constraints.
Strength, Constitution and Panache cannot be
increased in excess of 15. Marksmanship and Tactics
cannot be increased in excess of 18, whilst
Swordsmanship cannot exceed 26.
It requires four (not necessarily consecutive) weeks to
increase your Strength, Constitution or Panache by 1,
which is carried out at ones residence. Each week of
practice costs the characters current level in Crowns.
Endurance will increase in line with a characters
Strength or Constitution (see Abilities).
Example: Athos has a Strength of 10 and wishes to
increase it to 11. Each week will cost him 10 Crowns.
Jacques has a Panache of 8 and wishes to increase it to 9,
this will cost 8 Crowns a week. Each man will need to
spend a total of 4 weeks improving their chosen ability
The specifics of increasing Swordsmanship are covered
elsewhere in Duelling Advancement, increasing
Marksmanship in Improving Marksmanship and
increasing Tactics is covered in Tactics Advancement.
1.2.9 Recovering Endurance
Regardless of how they are caused, either in a duel or
from fighting at the front, characters may recover
from their wounds over time whilst in Paris. Wounds
do not heal whilst a character is at the front, NMRs
or whilst imprisoned within the Bastille without
having paid for a private cell.
When wounded you regain your Constitution in
Endurance each week, starting the week following the
injury; if you take to your bed and do nothing in any
given week, you will recover twice your Constitution
in Endurance. In addition, the services of a doctor
may be employed, who will charge the wounded
character 100 Crowns and improve his recovery rate
to thrice his Constitution in Endurance, for each
week in which he is hired.
If the doctors discretion is required then the charge is
doubled. Hiring a doctor is a weekly action that may
not be combined with any other action. A doctor may
also be hired by a character within the Bastille,
provided that they have paid for a private cell. In that
case, the character recovers twice his Constitution in
S Page 7
 Endurance for a cost of 200 Crowns per week, with
no chance of discretion.
A character with less than 60 Endurance may decline
The Paris Tribune a duel, regardless of cause, without loss of Status
(see Status). If, however, a character in such a
condition accepts a duel, he will gain 3 Status
immediately, regardless of the outcome of the duel.
A character reduced to less than 40 Endurance must
immediately take to their bed and lose their actions
that week (and any Status the lost actions would have
earned them) if wounded during a pre-weekly action,
such as a pre-arranged duel. If reduced to less than
40 Endurance during the course of a weekly action,
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
such as attending a club or a party and fighting an
impromptu duel with a regimental enemy, the duel is
assumed to have occurred at an unspecified point
during the week and so the character loses their
actions for the following week. A character may
always hire the services of a doctor to aid his recovery,
even whilst still unable to carry out any other actions.
If that following week happens to be the first week of
the next month, then the character may not go to the
front, even if ordered to. Instead he will remain in bed
until at 40 Endurance and will then go to the front
the following month, assuming he is at 40 Endurance
or more. A character may not go to the front part way
through a month.
1.3 Character Name
After the GM has generated a new character, the
player must give him a name. If you wish to add more
background to your character that is your choice. If
the character has been generated as the son of an
aristocrat or actually holds a title by virtue of being an
orphan, then the estates in question should also be
given a name.
The GM holds a veto over the names of characters
and any estates they might hold or hail from. This is
not only to prevent duplication of existing character
and/or estate names, but also to maintain the tone of
the game - while well crafted double entendres will
be entertained by the GM, the game is intended to be
serious so ridiculous, anachronistic, overtly comical or
downright obscene names will probably fall foul of
the GMs veto.
This is a game of gentlemen after all, so decorum
must be preserved! Equally, if no names are chosen by
a player then the GM will assign them as he deems
appropriate. If in any doubt, please dont leave it to
the last minute, consult with the GM ahead of time!
1.3.1 Unique Identifier (UID)
Once a name is chosen for a character, a unique
identifier (UID) will be assigned to them also. This is
normally based upon the characters initials and is 2 or
3 characters long and case sensitive. The UID is
chosen by the GM and once allocated cannot be
changed, under any circumstances. The UID is used
during the automated processing of each monthly
game turn and is also a handy shorthand for all to use
when referring to individuals within the game.
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In addition to player characters, both Grandees and
Notable Members of Society have a UID. Grandee
UIDs are listed in the Grandee Table, while those for
Notable Members of Society are given in each issue of
The Paris Tribune.
1.4 The d20 Mechanic
While much of the games rules involve the rolling of
one or more d6, the specifics of which are detailed in
each particular instance, another prevalent mechanic
within the game is that of the d20. While the d20
mechanic is primarily a part of the duelling rules,
where the rolls are opposed, it is also applied in a
number of other situations.
This is particularly true where a specific ability is
being tested. While a more detailed explanation of
this mechanic is to be found in the duelling section
(see Duelling), what follows here is a basic explanation
of how it applies in other less complex situations:
1.4.1 Critical Success
Rolling exactly equal to ones ability on 1d20 indicates
a critical success. If the roll is opposed, a critical
success is treated as a roll of 20 to determine which
character triumphs.
1.4.2 Success
A roll under ones ability on 1d20, when the roll is
unopposed. If the roll is opposed then it must also be
higher than that rolled by the opponent, otherwise it
only constitutes a partial success.
1.4.3 Partial Success
A roll under ones ability on 1d20, when the roll is
opposed and is beaten by an opponents successful
roll, indicates some measure of success.
1.4.4 Failure
A roll in excess of ones ability on 1d20 indicates a
failure of some description.
1.4.5 Fumble
A roll of 20 when a characters ability is less than 20
indicates a fumble - a spectacular failure.
1.4.6 Modifiers
All modifiers are applied to a characters attribute, not
to the number rolled on the d20. Modifiers resulting
from Attributes in Excess of 20 are treated differently.
1.4.7 Attributes in Excess of 20
If a characters ability, after the addition of any
modifiers, is in excess of 20, the result of any d20 roll
made against it is increased by the amount that it is in
excess of 20. If a characters modified ability was 25,
that would mean he could never roll less than 6. It
also increases the chance of a critical success by the
amount in excess of 20 and you cant fumble. A
characters modified ability of 25 would mean a roll of
20, 19, 18, 17, 16 or 15 results in a critical success.
2 Time Sequence &
Writing Orders

The Paris Tribune

Players of The Paris Tribune must adhere to a strict
time schedule of events, each player being responsible
for maintaining his own personal calendar showing
his actions each week. The basic unit of time is the
week. Four weeks make a game month, three months
make a season and four seasons make a year.
The Spring season comprises March, April & May;
the Summer season comprises June, July & August;
when only one may be carried out, only the first
action of that week will be adjudicated and all others
will be ignored (see the Weekly Actions Table).
Bastille Actions: an action that may only be
performed whilst within the Bastille, as a prisoner or
an interrogator (see the Bastille Actions Table). Some
other actions may also be performed within the
Bastille, as specifically noted within the relevant

RULES V7.2 S April 1629

the Autumn season comprises September, October &
November; while the Winter season comprises
December, January & February.
2.1 Types of Actions
There are a number of different types of action
allowed within the game, each of which happen
within a specific phase of a game month:
Pre-Monthly Actions: These are completed before the
month begins and multiple pre-monthly actions may
be made at the start of a month (see the Pre-monthly
Actions Table). All such actions may be made
regardless of whether the character is at the front or
not. The use of Influence and Bribery happens prior
to any other pre-monthly actions.
Pre-Weekly & Free Actions: Some actions are
completely free and may happen at any point during
the weeks of a month in combination with a
characters normal weekly action. The fighting of a
pre-arranged duel is a pre-weekly action and, as such,
is a free action but must happen at the beginning of a
week, prior to that weeks action (see the Pre-weekly &
Free Weekly Actions Table).
Weekly Actions: An action that takes an entire week,
though certain free actions may be combined with it
in the same week without penalty. If a player lists
more than one action to be carried out in a week,
Action Tables. Some of which are carried out using
special rules (see Bastille Actions).
The various Actions Tables only give a summary of
the actions concerned, they are not exhaustive. Players
are strongly advised to read the full description of all
actions given elsewhere in the rules.
2.1.1 Special Orders
While character orders not specifically covered within
the rules may be allowed, this remains entirely at the
GMs discretion. As such, any player who wishes their
character to do something a bit left field must
contact the GM well in advance of the order deadline
before submitting such orders for consideration.
Depending on the nature of the requested actions, the
GMs response may vary anywhere from a flat refusal,
through suggested alterations or conditions, to
acceptance. Equally, the GM will have to determine
whether such special orders constitute pre-monthly,
pre-weekly, free weekly or weekly actions.
All such requests will always involve a dialogue with
the GM, so ensure that they are clearly marked as
such and dont just include them as part of your orders
even if they are sent in early! Any such orders
submitted for a character without the GMs prior
approval will be ignored and the action will be lost or,
at the very least, modified to conform to an existing
standard action as the GM sees fit.

Pre-monthly Actions Table

Action Summary

Influence can only be used in the pre-monthly phase. If a character is being held within the Bastille, then this
Apply influence
action is still valid.

Bribery can only be used in the pre-monthly phase. If a character is being held within the Bastille, then this
Apply bribery
action is still valid.

The majority of all appointments are made at the beginning of a specific month (see the Appointments Calendar)
Apply for or resign from an
and must have been been applied for prior to the Applications Deadline, via La Voix de Paris. If a character is
appointment
being held within the Bastille, then they may only resign, not apply.

Some appointments appoint subordinate ones. Player characters in such positions may decide whether to accept
Accept or reject an applicant for an
applicants or not and must place a pre-monthly order to that effect. The default is to reject all applicants. If a
appointment
character is being held within the Bastille, then this action is still valid.

Reprimanding a subordinate requires a posting in La Voix de Paris and makes the subordinates influence from the
Reprimand a subordinate appointment less reliable until revoked. This can only be done to another character holding an appointment, not
a rank, that the character issuing the reprimand actually appoints.

This requires a posting in La Voix de Paris and restores the subordinates influence from the appointment. If a
Revoke a reprimand
character is being held within the Bastille, then this action is still valid.

Dismiss an aide or a trooper This requires a posting in La Voix de Paris.

This requires a posting prior to the Applications Deadline, via La Voix de Paris, and if successful the NPC resigns
Call for an NPC to resign an
his appointment or commission at the end of that month and his vacant position can be applied for the next
appointment or commission
month.
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 Pre-monthly Actions Table (Continued)
Action Summary

Joining a regiment requires a posting in La Voix de Paris. The chance of being admitted depends on whether a
The Paris Tribune player character or NPC is in charge of the Regiment. Player character Colonels decide for themselves while
Apply to join or resign from a
NPCs decide on a dice roll (see Joining & Advancement). If already a member of another regiment, they
regiment
automatically resign from it when applying to join a new one. If a character is being held within the Bastille,
then they may only resign, not apply.

Player character Regimental Commanding Officers (usually Colonels) may decide whether to admit anyone or
Accept or reject a regimental
not and must place a pre-monthly order to that effect. The default is for them to reject all applicants. If the
applicant
Regimental Commanding Officer is being held within the Bastille, then this action is still valid.

Buy any rank up to Colonel in your current Regiment. There must be a vacancy at that rank and all ranks in
Purchase rank between. If buying Colonel, the character must have started the month as a Major or above in the regiment. If a
character is being held within the Bastille, then they may not purchase any rank.

Regimental & Battalion/Squadron COs may excuse Subalterns and Privates under their command from their
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
Request to be excused from or excuse monthly barrack duties. Members of the General Staff may excuse their aides while Captains of the Kings and
a subordinates barrack room duties Cardinals Escorts also have this power with regard to their respective Ensigns and Troopers. If a character is
being held within the Bastille, then excusing a subordinate from duty is still a valid action.

Money can be loaned either between player characters or borrowed from the Shylocks. Characters cannot charge
Borrow money interest, while Shylocks charge interest and require repayment after 6 months. If a character is being held within
the Bastille, then this action is still valid.

Used to repay all or part of an outstanding loan early. When the due date for a loan from a Shylock comes
Repay a loan around, this payment is automatically deducted during the pre-monthly phase, after payment of all other costs
such as support. If a character is being held within the Bastille, then this action is still valid.

A character may elect to loan money to another player character, though he may not charge interest. Such a loan
Make or recall a loan may be recalled at any time after 3 months. If a character is being held within the Bastille, then they may only
make a loan, not recall one.

Multiple investment blocks, each worth 1,000 Crowns, may be purchased at the beginning of the first month of
Make an investment
any season in any of three different types of investment: Safe, Medium or Risky.

Any investment block may be liquidated for a cost of 25% of original investment value before the end of the
Liquidate an investment
season. If a character is being held within the Bastille, then this action is still valid.

Make a charitable donation Wealthy characters may choose to donate to charity and so earn Status.

A character may elect to purchase and trade in any number of horses in the pre-monthly phase. Horses may
Purchase and trade-in horses only be traded in when purchasing new ones. If a character is being held within the Bastille, then this action
is still valid.

A character may elect to dispose of any number of horses that he no longer wishes to upkeep. If a character is
Dispose of horses
being held within the Bastille, then this action is still valid.

A character may elect to make a gift of money and/or horses to another player character. If a character is being
Make a gift
held within the Bastille, then this action is still valid.

A character may join any club that he is eligible to join, gaining the relevant Status for that month. If already a
Join or resign from a club member of another club, they automatically resign from it when joining a new one. If a character is being held
within the Bastille, then they may only resign from a club, not join one.

A character may elect to Consume Conspicuously. Once ordered, Conspicuous Consumption remains in place
Conspicuous consumption
until a change is ordered. If a character is being held within the Bastille, then this action is still valid.

A character may elect to stop paying upkeep to his current mistress, which will mean he loses her as a result
Forsake mistress
If a character is being held within the Bastille, then this action is still valid.

Give up ones residence A character may elect to move into a Garret, though this will cause Barons and above to lose Social Levels

Plotting Either the Investigator or Investigated may spend money to affect the outcome of a Clandestine Action.

A character may hire yobs to hiss and boo a play at a cost of 100 Crowns for a week. If a character is being held
Hire yobs
within the Bastille, then this action is still valid.

Book the Thtre Royal to stage a To stage a play, the Thtre Royal must first be publicly booked by a playwright via La Voix de Paris and
play bookings are allocated on a first come first served basis.

This requires a posting prior to the Applications Deadline, via La Voix de Paris and, if successful, the Cardinal
Call for a play to be denounced
and/or Inquisitor General will denounce the play.

Denounc a character for the crime This requires a posting prior to the Applications Deadline, via La Voix de Paris and, if successful, the Inquisitor
of Heresy or Witchcraft General will attempt to arrest the character (both subscribers and non-subscribers) for the crime, that month.

A character may elect to volunteer to go to the front (see Volunteering/Who is at the Front). This order should
include Reckless Bravery & Poltroonery orders, whether the character is accepting promotions or not, how many
Go to the front
horses of what type he is taking with him and, in cases where a character is a Major or higher and hence can take
troops under his command with him, whether he is taking his unit or else serving with a Frontier regiment.

The Minister of State determines Force Commitment in September and the Minister of War determines Force
Military command determinations Organisation and Force Deployment in October, though the latter may be changed every month thereafter. If a
character is being held within the Bastille, then this action is still valid.

A character may petition an NPC Minister of War to have a Regiment which is not going on campaign during
the Summer campaign season substituted for one which is. A player character Minister of War may choose to use
Petition for/make a substitution
Substitution as he wishes, within the rules as given for an NPC. If a character is being held within the Bastille,
then they may only make a substitution, not petition for one.

Embezzle The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Army Quartermaster Generals may embezzle funds.

Extort taxation All Military Governors may raise extortionate taxes from the masses at the beginning of a season.
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Pre-Weekly & Free Weekly Actions Table
Action Summary

At the start of a week, as a pre-weekly action, if you have already publicly arranged a time and place via La Voix
Fight an arranged duel de Paris, you may duel anyone who has given you cause to challenge. Thereafter you may then go on to have a

The Paris Tribune

weekly action that week. This assumes that you survive and have not taken to your bed to recover from the duel.

If you chance upon a Regimental Enemy, a Knave or anyone else who has given you cause to challenge, you will
Fight an impromptu duel
normally duel with them as a free action, unless attending a trial or the Royal Court (see Cause to Challenge).

Act as a second in a duel A character may always act as a second to another in a duel, unless they are a regimental enemy.

A playwrights current mistress may only be asked to take part in the play during the first week of rehearsals and
Ask ones mistress to act in a play
is combined with the rehearsal action. The base chance of her agreement is 3+ on 1d6, modified by her attributes.

When attending a number of locations and events, you are presumed to toady with all present as a free action.
Toady Specifics may be set out as conditional orders as to who you will or not toady with should they be present.
Toadying is not allowed when attending a Dinner Party or a Ball, both of which have their own mechanics

RULES V7.2 S April 1629

May be combined with visiting a club, a bawdyhouse, the Royal Court or any other social function. The default
is to carouse when attending all such locations, though a character may also use this order to specify that they will
Carouse
not carouse apart from when attending a Backstage Party at the theatre. Reckless characters may also choose to
drink until drunk, which results in automatic drunkenness without a roll

Female companionship May be combined with a number of weekly actions, as specified in the Weekly Actions Table.

Go to the opening night party of a If you visit the theatre for the opening night of a play written by a player character, and are invited, you may also
play elect to attend the backstage party afterwards.

Gamble May be combined with visiting a club or a bawdyhouse. The default is not to gamble.

A character infected by a mistress, whose affections he wishes to retain, may also hire a doctors services to
Hire a doctor to attend an infected
attempt to cure her of the clap as a free weekly action. This may be combined with the doctor attempting to
mistress
remedy the same ailment in the character at the same time as an entire weeks action.

Weekly Actions Table

Action Summary
Do nothing/rest & recuperate at A character may elect to do nothing for a week and stay within his residence. If injured, this doubles his healing
ones personal residence rate for the week from 1xConstitution to 2xConstitution.

A character may elect to do nothing for a week and hire the services of a doctor. The doctor can then either triple
Hire a doctor the characters healing rate from injuries for the week to 3xConstitution, or else improve the characters chances of
being healed of the clap that week. At extra cost, the doctors discretion may also be sought in the matter.

A character may change his residence as a weeks action, though downgrading to a Garret is a pre-monthly action.
Change residence
A characters mistress may accompany him and so fulfils his Female Companionship requirement.

Privates must complete 2 weeks and Subalterns must complete 1 week of duties each month. Duties can be
combined with training in the Regimental Duelling Style or practising Swordsmanship at no cost, or training at
Perform barrack room duties
the Royal Military Academy. Attending the RMA is not paid for by the Regiment and is not available to Privates.
This action cannot be combined with Toadying.

Cabinet Ministers are required to spend a week every month carrying out their duties. This may be combined
Perform cabinet ministerial duties with visiting the Kings court, where a characters mistress may accompany him and so fulfil his Female
Companionship requirement.

Cabinet Ministers may also, once per month, spend an additional week pursuing the duties of their office.
Work late as a cabinet minister
Working Late takes an entire weeks action and cannot be combined with any other action.

This may not be combined with any other action, apart from Female Companionship. Attending church may
Attend Church prove to offer a long term protection against conviction for Heresy or Witchcraft, or else make the Cardinal easier
to influence. However, neither of these outcomes are certain by any means

Whilst at his club a character has the choice to Carouse and Gamble. A characters mistress may accompany him
Visit club
and so fulfil his Female Companionship requirement.

A character may attend the theatre in any week of the month. He must specify what quality of seat he intends to
Visit the theatre purchase a ticket for and who his guests are, assuming he takes a box rather than a standard seat. A characters
mistress may accompany him and so fulfil his Female Companionship requirement.

Four whole, though not necessarily consecutive, weeks are required to write a play before rehearsals can begin.
Write a play Apart from the time demands, writing as a weekly activity requires no actual expenditure and cannot be combined
with any other actions.

A two week rehearsal must be held in the last two weeks of the month before a play is scheduled to open. The
Rehearse a play playwright must attend these rehearsals himself and this may not be combined with any other action apart from
Female Companionship if he has convinced his mistress to take part in the production.

A playwright must attend the theatre for the opening night of his play, always during the first week of the month,
Open a play
and host a backstage party afterwards.
A character may attend such an event, either at another characters club or residence. May be combined with
Go to a social gathering/party/ball
meeting the Female Companionship requirement. This also covers attending a public execution.
A character may decide to host such an event, either at his club or residence. Any costs are normally covered by
Host a social gathering/party/ball
the host. A characters mistress may accompany him and so fulfil his Female Companionship requirement.
The character must specify who the intended victim is and where it is to take place. When specifying where, there
Make an arrest
are 9 possible nominal locations (see Location).
The character must specify who the intended victim is and where it is to take place. When specifying where, there
Stage an ambush
are 9 possible nominal locations (see Location).
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 Weekly Actions Table (Continued)
Action Summary
A character may decide to call on a particular mistress, in an attempt to woo her. A mistress cannot be courted
Court a mistress
The Paris Tribune anywhere other than on her doorstep.

A character may decide to spend a week with his mistress at her residence. Apart from satisfying the Female
Visit mistress
Companionship requirement, this produces nothing other than a roll for pregnancy.

The character visits the Kings court where he may toady to the King, and carouse. A characters mistress may
Visit court
accompany him and so fulfil his Female Companionship requirement.

Visit a bawdyhouse
Attend a trial
Attend a public execution
Practice swordsmanship or
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
marksmanship
A character needs to acquire Female Companionship during a month, and may elect to do so via a Bawdyhouse. A
character visiting a Bawdyhouse may also gamble, but risks being robbed by footpads upon leaving.
As a judge, prosecutor, defendant, witness or merely an onlooker. May not be combined with any other action.
As a judge, prosecutor, defendant, witness or merely an onlooker. May not be combined with any other action.
A character may improve his Swordsmanship or Marksmanship at an appropriate location. May be combined with
Toadying with those present.

A character may learn a duelling style and/or its knacks at an appropriate location. May be combined with
Train in a duelling style Toadying with those present, which is the assumed default. If a character is being held within the Bastille, then
they may only train in Dirty Fighting, for which there are special rules on the subject

Attend the Royal Military A character in the military may improve his Tactics at the Royal Military Academy. May be combined with
Academy Toadying with those present in the same class, which is the assumed default.

Instructors at the Royal Military Academy must spend 1 week in each season (except the Summer season)
Instruct at the Royal Military
instructing at the academy. May be combined with Toadying with those present in the same class, which is the
Academy
assumed default.

A character may improve either Strength, Constitution or Panache at home but cannot combine it with any other
Improve an ability action. If a character is being held within the Bastille, then they may only improve either Strength or Constitution,
but not Panache.
Clandestine Action A character may spend a week discretely investigating whatever they wish within the game.
Scheming A character may spend a week to improve the chances of success in a subsequent Clandestine Action.

Bastille Actions Table

Action Summary

Pre-monthly Actions
Pay for parole Once per month, a character may elect to pay for a weeks parole away from imprisonment within the Bastille.

Pre-Weekly & Free Weekly Actions
Pay for a private cell A character may elect to pay for a private cell whilst imprisoned within the Bastille.

Weekly Actions
Do nothing/rest & recuperate in a
private cell
Do nothing/rest & hire a doctor
whilst recuperating in a private cell
Pay for a Jenny
Oversee an interrogation
Whilst imprisoned within the Bastille. a character who has paid for a private cell may elect to do nothing for a
week and if injured, this allows him to heal injuries at 1xConstitution.
Whilst imprisoned within the Bastille. a character who has paid for a private cell may elect to do nothing for a
week and if injured, this allows him to heal injuries at 2xConstitution if the services of a doctor is paid for.
A character may elect to pay for female companionship whilst imprisoned within the Bastille and risk the clap.
An arrestor may seek to force a confession from a prisoner. This cannot be combined with any other actions.

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2.2 Writing Orders
For each month of the game, all players note their
personal actions for each week on their orders, and
submit it to the GM by the published order deadline.
A character may engage in only one activity per week
from the list in the Weekly Actions Table.
Some activities dont take up any time: pre-monthly
actions happen at the months beginning and an
unlimited number may be made at the start of a
month (see the Pre-monthly Actions Table).
Other actions are completely free and may happen at
any point during the month in combination with a
characters normal weekly action (listed in the Pre-
weekly & Free Actions Table).
2.2.1 The Applications
Deadline
For each month of the game, in addition to the
published order deadline, there is also a published
applications deadline, normally three days prior to
the order deadline. A number of intentions must be
publicly declared via an in character application
through La Voix de Paris, prior to the monthly
applications deadline. Failure to do so will prevent a
characters application from being considered.
The actions that require such a public post via
La Voix de Paris, include:
S Applications for appointments, except for Aides to
the General Staff/Cabinet Ministers or Escort
Ensigns/Troopers.
S Applications to join regiments.
S Calls for NPC resignations.
S Dismissing an Aide or an Escort Trooper.
S Reprimanding a subordinate.
S Revoking a reprimand.
S Booking the Thtre Royal to stage a play.
S Calls for either the Cardinal or the Inquisitor
General to denounce a play.
S Issuing, accepting or declining a public challenge.
All such declarations made before the applications
deadline for a given month will be listed in a relevant
thread within the TPT forum.
In Character (IC) posts made via La Voix de Paris after
the applications deadlines, but before that issue is
itself published, will not be referenced by the issue.
This is because such posts are considered to be part of
the following month.
2.2.2 The Clarity of Orders
When attending an event, be that a pre-arranged
duel, a ball, a dinner party or just drinks with a friend
at a club, players must ensure that their orders cite
specifics, such as the host and location of the event.
So a weekly order of go to party is not sufficient and
the entire order will be ignored and thereby wasted
www.canterburygamers.org.uk
Even if the event in question is, from the players
perspective, the only one of its kind in the week you
must still be specific as to whose event it is. There
might be other events of the same nature going on
The Paris Tribune
that the player doesnt know about, which then raises
the problem of the GM having to determine which
one they do know about!
Here are just two examples of insufficient orders that
will result in them being ignored and the players
action for the week wasted. In both cases, the player
concerned does not state who the host is or the partys
location
Example: CG party, toady to betters, carouse.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
Attend dinner party with mistress.
Be explicit and dont write implicit assumptions in
your orders. If you dont refer to your mistress in a
week that you are doing something, then shes not
there. Even if you happen to be hosting a dinner party
or a ball, making her presence advantageous, your
mistress will not be present or acting as hostess unless
you specify it in your orders for the week. If in doubt,
put as much detail in your orders as you can.
Whilst there are orders, such as changing residences,
that some players still mix up as to whether they are
pre-monthly or weekly actions (in this case it is a
weekly action). There are other instances where
players are just poor in their layout of their orders.
Please ensure that all of the orders for a given week
are together in one place and clearly marked as such,
the same is true of pre-monthly orders
2.2.3 Sequencing Orders
The automated processing of the turn is done phase
by phase. Once a phase has been completed the next
is carried out and so on. As a result, any pre-monthly
orders given within orders for a specific week are very
likely to be missed by the GM.
If a player puts an order in the wrong phase within
their orders, it will be ignored by the GM. Processing
each phase of a turn takes a lot of time, so dont
expect the GM to rerun a phase just because you
wrote your action in the wrong place in your orders
2.3 Conditional Orders
While a character may write standing pre-monthly
conditional orders with regard to duelling (surrender,
who they will fight or otherwise stand down to),
when it comes to weekly orders they may only do so
within certain constraints:
S Weekly conditional orders for a character must be
based upon their own previous actions or the
actions of others that they witnessed, so orders that
stipulate if they fail to court a mistress in week 1
they will re-attempt to do so in week 2 are valid.
Similarly a character may order regimental duties if
they were accepted into a regiment.
S Weekly conditional orders for a character cannot be
based upon the events of the week in question. If a
character attends a party but it has been cancelled
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 he cannot have a conditional order in place to go
somewhere else instead. His weekly order is hence
wasted and does nothing for the week.
The Paris Tribune S If a character has already attended a social function
for which the host was indisposed and hence wasted
a weekly action, conditional orders to go elsewhere
if attending another function hosted by the same
individual are valid.
S Regardless of everything written above, if attending
a social function at a club for which the host is
indisposed, the character may always have a
conditional order in place to go to his own club
instead (as it is assumed to be just round the
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
corner). This fall back position is not available
when attending a social function held somewhere
other than a club in Paris.
S In the event of an indisposed host, a conditional
order by one of the guests to take over hosting the
social gathering is only valid if the party is held at a
club, of which he is also a member. If it is a dinner
party or ball held at a residence then you cannot
have an impromptu stand-in host and the party
cannot be moved to any other location, whether a
club or another residence.
2.4 Proxy & Collective Orders
As a general rule, orders by proxy are not allowed
within the game. The reasons for this are twofold.
Firstly, I dont wish to encourage laziness amongst
players. It is their responsibility to write their own
orders, for better or for worse. Secondly, proxy orders
are clearly open to abuse. How can the GM know
whether a proxy set of orders are legitimate or not?
Clearly there will always be potential exceptions and
I will try to accommodate them as and when they
occur. A good example would be a player forced to go
offline for a protracted period of time, though I
would both require ample advance warning of this
and would refuse to grant the use of a proxy beyond
three game months.
Regardless of how good your reason maybe, there are
always plenty of other players wanting to play in your
stead who currently cant, as the game is full. As such,
I have to favour those who are both willing and able
to play on a regular basis
So far, I have only discussed the use of a proxy for an
entire months orders at a time. With a single
exception, that I will discuss in more detail in
subsequent paragraphs, players may not give other
players a proxy use of only part of their orders. So, for
example, a player may never give a pre-monthly order
stating that their use of Influence for the month will
be determined by another player.
The main exception to this is where a large group of
players are acting in concert with a collective goal
during one or more weekly orders. Provided that the
collective order being performed by a group of
characters is simple (can it be written in just a
sentence or two?), involves less than six players and is
identical for everyone carrying it our, then all those
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involved should just repeat it verbatim in their
individual orders. Though if you are repeating your
own orders, then its a lot simpler for both you and
the GM to simply write Repeat orders from Week 1.
Similarly, if you just want to change a minor detail,
do the same and just add in a short explanation of
whats different.
If the collective group order is more complex, then
nominate one character in the collective to submit the
order. They should write the order in its full
complexity within their orders, while everyone else
involved merely writes Take part in the collective
action as specified in <insert UID>s orders for the
relevant week in their own orders, substituting the
relevant UID. Obviously this requires organisation,
trust and coordination by the players concerned, but
quite frankly thats rightly your problem as players
and not the GMs. Dont assume that youve all
written your orders correctly, or that the GM will
point out discrepancies between them
2.5 Example Orders
Pre-monthly:
Borrow 100 Crowns from the Shylocks.
Join Hunters Club.
Week 1:
Court Rachel Alvez.
Week 2:
If courting Rachel Alvez failed visit bawdyhouse and
carouse, else visit my club with Rachel. If I face a rival
suitor, then duel him.
Week 3:
Toady to Gustav von Braun at Bothwells and carouse,
take Rachel if successful in week 1, pay any costs
required. If hes not there visit my club with my
mistress, if I have one.
Week 4:
Practice Swordsmanship at my regimental barracks.
2.6 Submitting Orders
All orders should be sent via email to this address:
tptorders@nwi.demon.co.uk
In addition, the Subject line of the email should be:
TPT Orders for <UID>, <Month Year>
Example: TPT Orders for GvB, May 1629
If you do not follow this syntax then the GM cannot
be held responsible for orders that are not received. If
you wish to amend your orders after having submitted
them, re-supply them in full with the relevant changes
as, when I come to processing the turn, I will only use
the last version that I have received, complete or not!
Orders will not be accepted via Personal Messaging
from the CGN site or any other means
2.7 NMR
NMR is a three letter abbreviation of No Move
Received. Within The Paris Tribune this is when a
player does not submit orders before the stated order
deadline for a given game month. All deadline dates
are to be found both within a given issue of The Paris
Tribune and on the CGN site. In addition, in extreme
circumstances, should a players orders be totally
incomprehensible or illegal then this will also be
considered as an NMR. Individual weeks actions that
are incomprehensible or illegal will be treated as no
action for that particular week, though the GM will
always attempt where possible to seek further
clarification from the player concerned.
If you are in any doubt as to whether your orders have
been received, check the TPT forum and look for a
thread entitled with the month concerned. Therein
should be a list of all the characters that the GM has
received orders from to date.
Should a character NMR, the following will happen:
S All current incomes and expenses will be added or
deducted from the characters wealth, including the
repayment of due loans.
S If in Paris, the character will still be subject to the
usual tally of status earned and so could, as a result,
drop in Social Level but not rise.
S If due to go the front for whatever reason, such as
his regiment going, an appointment he holds or
because he is in pecuniary disgrace, the character
will still go.
3 Status & Social Level
A players objective is to accumulate enough Status in
a month, in order to raise his Social Level. Status is,
with one exception (see Aristocratic Titles), the only
way in which a characters Social Level can be raised.
To raise a characters Social Level by one, Status equal
to three times the new Social Level sought must be
accumulated in a single month. So for a character of
Social Level 4 to attain Social Level 5, he must
accumulate at least 15 Status within the month.
At the end of the month, once any change in Social
Level has been noted, all Status accumulated that
month are dropped and the character begins anew.
Please note that while Status is dropped at the end of
a month, Social Levels are not. A player who is raised
from Social Level 6 to Social Level 7 during June
starts July at Social Level 7. In order for a character to
maintain his Social Level, he must accumulate Status
during any given month, equal in number to his
Social Level at the beginning of that month.
For instance, take a character who began in July at
Social Level 3 and, during the course of July,
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S If at the front, the character will be treated as a
non-subscriber. Meaning that he will only roll for
Death and Promotion (which cannot be refused) in
his personal outcome. They receive command
The Paris Tribune
modifiers (if appropriate) and the seasonal
modifiers, but no modifier from their horses.
Neither do they earn title attempts or apply
Reckless Bravery or Poltroonery. In addition they
receive any negative regimental death modifier and
the full regimental promotion modifier. Should
they successfully roll for a Promotion, if it is
contested by another player character, then they are
considered last of all.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
In addition, any player that NMRs for three
consecutive months will have their character die and
be permanently removed from the game. If a player
faces personal real life issues that prevent them from
submitting orders, then they are advised to contact
the GM who may then decide to place their character
on hiatus to potentially be re-introduce back into the
game at a later date. The GM will also be keeping
track of players who NMR and, as such, may decide
to ban serial offenders or only re-admit them into
the game under probation
accumulated 7 Status in total. He would have
sufficient Status to maintain his Social Level of 3
(the minimum of 3 needed), but an insufficient
number to elevate himself to Social Level 4 which
requires three times the aspired level (3x4=12). This
character will enter the next month at Social Level 3,
starting August with zero Status.
A character who fails to maintain his Social Level will
drop one level. If the level 3 character in the above
example had attained only 1 Status in July, he would
have started August at a level of 2.
A characters Social Level may not be raised by more
than one level per month, except as a result of
receiving a title (see Aristocratic Titles). Some actions in
the game can result in the loss of Social Levels. When
this happens, it should be noted that it is not
automatically a net loss. So if a character loses a Social
Level but still earns enough Status during the month
to gain one, then his Social Level remains unchanged
at the end of the month.
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 4 Living in Paris
The Paris Tribune 4.1 Support 2 As many currently held investments as necessary
will be liquidated, beginning with Risky ones first.
Normal support costs 2 x Social Level in Crowns and
3 Any Conspicuous Consumption is replaced by the
covers clothes, food and housing in a garret.
minimum required personal support.
Whilst a character is at the front, the military will
4 The character will resign from his club and hence
provide such that a character does not need to pay for
stop paying his club dues. (NB He may not rejoin
either his personal support or that for his required
the same club for six months)
number of horses. However, the military will only pay
out horse support at the standard rate and any 5 The character will give up his mistress by virtue of
shortfall must be met by the character. Equally, this no longer paying for her support, unless she is
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
means that a character who has nags will receive more wealthy as she does not need supporting.
from the military than it actually costs him to support
6 The character will downgrade his residence, to the
his horses! To summarise, whilst at the front, a
minimum level required by his position: a mansion
character will receive the following refund of support
for those of Baron and above or a Garret for all
costs for horses as follows, according to his rank and
other characters. Such enforced downgrading does
regiment:
not require the usual weeks action to do so.
Front Support Refund Table 7 If normal personal support (2xSL) and any required
Rank or Regiment Monthly Refund for Horses residence still cannot be paid, the character will
Major or above 15 Crowns enter Pecuniary Disgrace and must go to the front
Subaltern or Captain 5 Crowns until such time as he has sufficient funds to pay his
Private in the cavalry 5 Crowns
way in Paris (though he must remain at the front
until the end of a season). Should a character be
Whilst a character is at the front, they are still liable unable to go to the front, regardless of the reason,
to meet all of the following costs: he loses 1 Social Level. This holds true for example
causes such as being injured or imprisoned within
S Support of his mistress.
the Bastille.
S Club dues.
S Support of his residence. 4.1.2 Conspicuous
S Payment of any taxes levied by the King or Consumption
Government. Conspicuous Consumption includes tipping well,
meeting friends for dinner and picking up the tab,
S Repayment of all debts. Failure to meet this results
dressing a little better and eating out at ones club
in Insolvency.
more often, etc

4.1.1 Insolvency A months Conspicuous Consumption costs a

character 4 x Social Level in Crowns, double the cost
Should a character end up in the red with a
of normal support. However such expenditure is made
negative cash balance at the end of a month, the
instead of normal support, rather than in addition to
following procedure will be enacted in the following
it, and gains the character 1 Status for the month.
pre-monthly phase of orders. This is only done in the
absence, or failure, of any orders from the player to
deal with the situation. The procedure is designed to
forcibly resolve the characters fiscal inadequacies, in
4.2 Clubs
the order specified, until such time as he is restored to Clubs offer a variety of services for gentlemen, such as
a positive cash balance: gambling tables, drinks and the opportunity to
socialise with ones peers and to entertain ladies. They
1 Any remaining credit rating will be used in raising a are also a good way to gain Status.
loan from the shylocks (see Loans from Shylocks).

Clubs Table
Class Name Requirements Monthly Dues Monthly SPs House limit in Crowns Gambling divisor Cost per Visit

0 No club - - - - - -

1 Red Phillips SL of 3+ 5 2 50 150 5

2 The Frog & Peach SL of 5+ 10 3 100 150 10

3 The Blue Gables SL of 7+ 15 4 150 200 10

4 The Horse Guards Cavalry Officer 20 4 250 300 15

5 Hunters SL of 9+ 20 6 200 300 15

6 Bothwells SL of 12+ 30 8 None, minimum of 100 500 20

7 Fleur de Lys SL 18+ or Minister 50 10 None, minimum of 200 600 25

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The Clubs are listed on the Clubs Table, giving
specific information for each; membership
requirements vary between clubs. Members are
required to pay monthly dues, and should these lapse
the character is considered to have resigned.
A character may only belong to one club at a time,
and may not visit a club unless he is either a member
or the guest of a member. A character may resign
from a club at any point without penalty. Upon
resigning, a character may not rejoin that club for six
months, but may immediately join a different one.
Membership is automatic upon application, provided
the character meets the clubs requirements and is not
a knave. Status for membership is gained immediately.
It is not necessary to visit a club every month in order
to get Status for membership, as long as the
membership dues are paid each month. Only related
actions may be ordered at the same time as visiting
the club, such as gambling, duelling and toadying
- of which toadying is a presumed default action.
4.3 Carousing
This is the potentially excessive consumption of
alcoholic refreshment at a club, bawdyhouse or other
social engagement such as a party or ball, and gains
you 1 Status. Carousing costs for the various clubs are
covered by the Cost per Visit column listed in the
Clubs Table above, though this cost does not change
regardless of whether a character carouses or not. This
cost will also need to be paid for any guests in
attendance, including mistresses, though exactly who
actually pays is irrelevant and the club member who
invited them will be assumed to pay if no orders to
the contrary are given.
The costs of carousing at a party or ball are covered in
the costs to the host of such an event. It is possible for
the host not to pay for the costs of his guests at all,
but is not the norm at a social gathering and might
leave his guests with an unexpected expense.
Carousing is optional though, by default, characters
will be assumed to do so in all social settings unless
they explicitly indicate otherwise in their orders.
A character may not carouse more than once each
week (four times a month), and this itself does not
constitute an action, as it must be done in
conjunction with a visit to a club, social engagement
or suchlike. However, carousing involves the
consumption of large quantities of alcohol and, as a
result, there is a chance that a character will become
drunk (on a 11+ on 2d6) and perform a variety of
strange actions. Consuming non-alcoholic drinks is
not an option when carousing.
If you do become drunk, the GM will determine the
consequences of a characters actions randomly. Such
consequences are various and range from automatic
loss of Social Levels to the award of extra Status each
month. It is also possible for a character to order that
they will drink until drunk and so automatically
become drunk, without any roll being required. This
does not make the act of carousing any more
expensive, apart from what may happen as a result
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4.4 Gambling
Characters may gamble at a club or bawdyhouse, in
the following manner. The character states the
The Paris Tribune
amount that he wishes to bet, bearing in mind the
house limits (or minimums, bawdyhouses have no
limits). The GM rolls 1d6; this is the house roll. He
then rolls another 1d6 which is the characters roll.
The character must either roll higher than the house
to win or withdraw without rolling and take back half
his stake (known as cutting ones losses, or a cut). Ties
and rolls lower than the house roll are won by the
house, in which case the stake is lost.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
Each bet a character wins gains him 1 Status, his bet
and the same amount again; each loss, loses him 1
Status. Each cut results in no Status gain or loss. The
character also gains Status equal to the total amount
he has bet in that week, divided by the clubs
gambling divisor and rounded down. This does not
apply to Bawdyhouses, where Status is only gained or
lost according to wins and losses.
A character may only make a total of nine bets in any
one week. Players should indicate the amount they
wish their characters to bet, how many bets, and the
odds on which they will cut.
Example: Francois visits Bothwells and makes
4 bets of 500 Crowns each and chooses to cut on 5+.
Thus Francois will cut when the house gets a 5 or 6.
The house rolls a 2, a 5, a 4 and a 1. Francois rolls a 3,
cuts on the second bet, a 4 and a 2. So Francois wins,
cuts, loses and wins. This gains him 1 Status (2-1) for
wins and losses, plus 4 Status for the amount bet (2,000
Crowns/500).
4.5 Residences
A character may move to another residence, either as
an upgrade or a downgrade, as a weeks action.
Though any character may always downgrade to a
garret as a free pre-monthly action, this will
immediately incur any penalties due. A character may
have his mistress accompany him when selecting a
new residence and so fulfil the Female
Companionship requirement at the same time.
A garret is not suitable to entertain guests in.
If a character wishes to hold a party then he must
have a suitable residence, or else invite other
characters to Toady at his club. Barons and above
must reside in either a mansion or a palace. Failure to
do so results in the aristocrat losing 1 Social Level per
month until a mansion or palace is acquired. Newly
ennobled Barons have until the end of their first full
month in Paris, following becoming a Baron, to
arrange a suitable residence for their new position
within society.
A character may not have more than one residence.
The cost of renting a garret is already covered in a
gentlemans support each month. The Residences Table
gives the monthly cost of maintaining a residence, the
Status each class of residence yields, the maximum
number of player character guests they can host at a
party and the maximum Social Level of a mistress
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 Residences Table
Class Residence Minimum SL or Title Monthly Cost in Crowns Monthly Status
0 Garret None 0 (Included in Support)
The Paris Tribune 1
2
Apartment
Town House
Social Level 4
Social Level 7
10
20
3 Fine House Social Level 10 40
4 Mansion Chevalier 80
5 Palace Baron 160
*The Party Limit refers to the maximum number of player character guests that can be hosted at a dinner party,
the host and any mistresses are not included towards this limit.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
who would be willing to act as a hostess of a party or
ball at such a residence.
All residences, apart from a garret, have either a
minimum Social Level or rank of Aristocratic Title
that is required by any character wishing to live there.
If a character does not meet a given residences
requirement then he cannot upgrade to it.
Equally, should a character drop in Social Level or
Aristocratic Title and hence no longer meet the
requirement of the residence he is living in, then he
will be forcibly downgraded to a class of residence
that he does meet the requirement for. Such enforced
downgrading does not require the usual weeks action
to do so. While aristocrats within the game are
assumed to also have residences within their actual
aristocratic estates, hundreds of miles away from Paris,
they play no part within the game whatsoever.
4.6 Attending Church
On occasion, a character may wish to attend church
to give thanks or perhaps confess his sins. Each visit
costs the characters Social Level in Crowns in
donations, but does not provide any Status.
This action may not be combined with any other,
apart from Female Companionship. Attending church
prevents arrest or ambush and may even prove to offer
a long term protection against conviction for Heresy
or Witchcraft, or else make the Cardinal easier to
influence. However, neither of these outcomes are
certain by any means
4.7 Location
Orders to carry out an Ambush or make an Arrest
require a location to be specified for the attempt.
Similarly, characters must be in the same location for
either Toadying or a duel due to regimental enmity to
occur. There are nine nominal locations that can be
ordered for such attempts:
S At home covers someone who is entertaining at
home, doing nothing (which includes those who
NMR but are not at the front), improving a
statistic, writing or rehearsing a play.
S At barracks covers anyone attending their own
regimental barracks. If the intended victim is
attending the barracks of a regiment not his own
(to train in Dirty Fighting for example), then the
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Dinner Party Limit* Maximum SL of Hostess
0 0 0
1
2
3
5
10
15
3 10 20
4 10 25
5 10 No limit
specific barracks must be stated by anyone
attempting to arrest or ambush him.
S At a specified duelling academy, if no specifics are
given then the academy of the intended victims
regimental or inherited style is assumed.
S At a specified class at the RMA, though no specifics
are required with regard to an Instructor who is
assumed to be present at all of the different classes.
S At court covers someone who is attending the royal
court or working late as a Cabinet Minister.
S At a specified, named Mistresss apartments or upon
the doorstep thereof.
S At a club covers someone visiting his own club, if
visiting another club then it must be specified
either by name or as per a named social event.
S At a bawdyhouse, no specifics are required beyond
that as they do not exist as individual locations
within the game.
S At a specified, named social engagement. This
includes attending a public execution or the theatre.
Characters may not be targeted by either Ambush or
Arrest at any of the following locations:
S At the front.
S Attending church.
S Whilst changing residence, though they may not
change their residence more than once a month.
S Attending a trial in whatever capacity.
S In the Bastille, either as an inmate or whilst
overseeing an interrogation (see Interrogation).
S Anywhere during a week in which they are either
Scheming or carrying out a Clandestine Action,
unless the roll is fumbled in the latter case.
It should also be noted that, as both Ambushes
and Arrests are weekly actions, characters cannot
be ambushed or arrested during either a pre-monthly
or pre-weekly phase, such as when attending a
pre-arranged duel. In addition any part, or all. of the
rules for Location may be deemed relevant by the GM
when characters carry out other actions within the
game. Special actions are an obvious example and the
GM will always attempt to raise this with the player
concerned, as and when the situation arises
5 Female Companionship
Once per month, characters must have some form of
female companionship. As well as suffering some
degree of discomfort (mental and physical), characters
lose 2 Status for each consecutive month that they are
lacking feminine company. Thus at the end of the
third consecutive month without female
companionship the character will lose 6 Status.
Female companionship requirements may be met by
visiting or being accompanied by a mistress; by
visiting a bawdyhouse, or by trying but failing to
court any mistress, providing the lady concerned
decides to hear the characters advances. If a mistress is
not at home when a character calls in an attempt to
court her, because she is accompanying her current
lover at another location, this does not count as
meeting the female companionship requirement.
5.1 Courting
Eligible young ladies are listed each issue in the
Femmes Fatales table. Each young lady has her
statistics listed next to her name; her Social Level
(a number), and whether she has any additional
attributes. A character may only have one mistress at a
time and courting another automatically loses you
your existing mistress, regardless of whether your
courting elsewhere is successful or not.
To gain a mistress, a character must go courting,
spending three times the ladys Social Level in Crowns
on gifts. Mistresses more than 6 Social Levels higher
than a suitor will not even agree to see him. Any
attempt to court a mistress that has no chance of
success, whether due to a lack of Social Level, losing a
duel with a rival suitor or the mistress just not being
at home, does not count for the purposes of satisfying
the Female Companionship requirement.
Neither does it constitute a mandatory cause to
challenge if the mistress already has a lover. However,
if the lady in question does have a lover he retains the
right of discretionary cause: while not obliged to issue
a challenge over the incident, he may choose to
challenge the would be suitor (see Cause to Challenge).
Success depends on the difference in Social Level, as
laid out in the Courting Success Table. This roll may be
modified in the characters favour by 1 for each
additional three times the mistress Social Level in
Crowns that the character spends on gifts, over and
above the initial expenditure. Wealthy mistresses
cannot be influenced in this manner.
A natural roll of 1 is always a failure, regardless of
modifiers. If the character fails to woo the young lady
then he is, of course, free to attempt to court her
again during another week in the month. Of course
he will have to buy a new set of gifts. Regardless of
whether a courting attempt succeeds or fails, it takes
up an entire weeks action and no subsequent actions
can then be performed in the same week.
If two characters find themselves trying to court a
young lady at the same time, there may be difficulties.
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Either may withdraw in favour of the other, though if
the withdrawing character is of higher Social Level
The Paris Tribune
than the other, he loses Status equal to the difference
in Social Level.
Courting Success Table
Difference in Social Level Die roll Needed or Higher
-6 6
-5 or -4 5
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
-3 to -1 4
0 to +2 3
+3 or more 2
If neither withdraws, then a duel is required to settle
the issue. Remember that extra problems occur if both
characters are of the same regiment, so keep this in
mind. Both characters will have spent the time and
money on gifts whatever happens. Should both men
elect to withdraw then neither lose any Status for
withdrawing, there is no duel, neither man gets to
court the mistress in question and both end their
weekly action at that point.
Unless indicated otherwise by the player, the GM will
assume that neither character will withdraw, and the
two suitors will fall upon each other with their
regimental weapons. The victor gains the chance to
court the mistress after the dispute is settled, while the
losers weekly action is over at this point - he cannot
elect to then do something else, regardless of any
conditional order written.
When more than two suitors turn up at a ladys
doorstep, duels take place in an order decided by the
GM as being most suitable to the circumstances.
Normally this will be largely based upon the
ascending social level of the characters involved
following a progressive knockout formula. However,
other factors that might also come into play and
influence the GMs decision as to who duels whom
and in what order, could also include regimental
rivalry and already established history and back story
with regard to the specific characters in question.
For each duel you win on the doorstep that week, you
gain +1 to your courting roll, but shell still reject you
on a natural roll of 1. If one suitor stands down, for
whatever reason, their weekly action ends there while
the other suitor gets to then attempt to court the
mistress and gains +1 to his courting roll as if he had
won the duel.
It is of course possible to court the mistress of another
character, but a -1 penalty is applied to this roll. Such
an action obviously gives rise to a cause to challenge.
Once youve successfully courted a mistress then you
can automatically get her to accompany you to
various social events in subsequent weeks and months,
providing that another character does not steal her
affections away from you in the interim.
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 Equally, you cannot court a mistress and then have
her accompany you somewhere in the same week, as
courting a mistress is an entire weeks action.
5.1.1 Feminine Attributes
The Paris Tribune As noted above, a mistress can have a number of
attributes, all of which are cumulative with all other
modifiers that apply to courting a mistress.
S Attached (A) - The mistress has a long standing
relationship with an NMS, who will be exceedingly
upset and vengeful against any character who might
seek to steal her away from his affections. All
Attached mistresses automatically also have the
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
Beautiful, Promiscuous and Influential attributes.
The identity of the NMS, with whom they have an
existing long standing relationship, will be a closely
guarded secret that can only be uncovered by a
successful Clandestine Action. As that relationship is
a secret, once slighted the specific NMS concerned
will not sully himself by challenging his opponent
but will choose to thwart them thereafter through
diverse Machiavellian stratagems of the GMs own
devising, so long as they court said mistress. It
should be noted that mistresses never lose the
Attached attribute and continue to carry a flame for
their secret NMS lover
S Beautiful (B) - The mistress provides 1 extra Status.
S Chaste (C) - The mistress is not so easily swayed by
potential suitors, who suffer a -2 penalty to their
roll when attempting to court her.
S Influential (I) - The mistress has her Influence
refreshed seasonally rather than annually.
S Promiscuous (P) - The mistress is more easily
swayed by potential suitors, who gain a +2 bonus to
their roll when attempting to court her.
S Titled (T) - The mistress is from an aristocratic
family. As such, she may attend the Royal Court
once a month and take her current suitor with her.
This is in addition to any visits that he himself is
already entitled to make. As she may only attend
once per month, a successful suitor may find that
she has already exercised her privilege earlier in the
month, with a former lover. In addition, a Titled
mistress gives a +1 modifier to all Grandee
Attendance rolls at all qualifying social events that
she herself attends, providing that her current lover
is the host or playwright.
S Wealthy (W) - The mistress cant be bought with
extra gifts to sway her to the suitor and doesnt cost
anything to support each month. She also provides
her suitor with a monthly income of 20 Crowns, if
she is of a higher Social Level than him, at the
beginning of each subsequent month that she is his.
5.1.2 Support
Once youve managed to capture the heart of a young
lady, you need to keep her sweet. As such you need to
spend 3 times her Social Level per month on gifts and
the like. Any character who does not support his
mistress during the pre-monthly phase immediately
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loses her. Though paying such support is always
assumed and does not need to be specifically ordered.
As a result, such an occurrence should only be the
result of Insolvency or an explicit pre-monthly order by
a character to forsake his mistress.
However if your mistress is wealthy then she requires
no such inducements (support cost zero) and,
provided she is of a higher Social Level than you, she
will give you gifts of 20 Crowns at the beginning of
each month that she remains as your mistress.
5.1.3 Status
A mistress provides her lover with Status, which is
calculated as follows:
S 1 for simply having a mistress.
S +1 if she is Beautiful.
S Modified by the Toady rule (See Toadying).
This Status is earned by a character who meets any of
the following criteria, all of which are cumulative:
S Successfully courts a mistress as a weekly action.
S Starts a month with a mistress.
So, should a character start a month with a mistress,
successfully courted in a previous month, and then go
on to successfully court other mistresses in each week
of the month, he would effectively gain the Status
from five mistresses in one month.
Example: Bleys starts January with Janine as his mistress,
having courted her in November and nobody having
since taken her from him. In successive weeks in January,
he then successfully courts Josephine, Madeleine, Janis &
Claire. He will thus earn Status for all five women for
the month of January and also earn the Status for Claire
in February. If he failed to successfully court Claire in the
fourth week of January then he would earn the Status for
the previous four women but would not start the
following month with any Status carried over from
January as he would start February without a mistress
While the Toady rule (See Toadying) is part of the
calculation to determine the Status a mistress provides
her lover, mistresses do not specifically toady at social
events. The Status gain or loss from having one covers
everything due to a character. Similarly, while
Mistresses count towards the cost of holding a party
(someone has to pay for their drinks!), they affect the
Status gained or lost by the host differently from
actual player characters.
If in a month a player gains 4 times her Social Level
in Status then his mistress will go up 1 Social Level.
This only applies to mistresses who started a given
month with a given character and were solely his
throughout the month. Similarly, if a player
accumulates less than his Social Level in Status then
both he and his mistress will drop by 1 Social Level.
Whilst a character is at the front this calculation is
still made, meaning his mistress may increase in Social
Level. However as the character cannot drop in Social
Level, whilst at the front, neither can the mistress.
5.2 Children
Every week in which the Female Companionship
requirement is satisfied, apart from cases of a failed
but valid courting attempt, there is a chance that the
mistress concerned will become pregnant. This occurs
on a roll of 12 on 2d6.
Should a mistress become pregnant, this will remain
unknown to all bar the GM until the end of the third
month of pregnancy. At this point, her current lover
will be informed that she is pregnant and the fact
reported in The Paris Tribune. He will then be
considered by the world at large to be the father and
be liable to acknowledge and support the offspring,
even if he is not the real father! Only the GM and the
young lady will know for sure who the real father is,
unless a successful Clandestine Action is employed
At the beginning of the eighth month of pregnancy
a mistress will enter confinement, making her
unavailable to be courted by anyone, and no
longer able to fulfil her current lovers Female
Companionship requirements until the beginning of
the month after the child is born. The birth will take
place in the pre-monthly phase of the tenth month of
pregnancy. Once her period of confinement is over
she returns to the game and is once again available to
her lover, assuming he hasnt already wandered onto
pastures new, and any other potential suitors.
Example: Mademoiselle la Bicyclette gets pregnant in
January. At the end of March her current lover Jean, will
discover that she is pregnant on his game return for that
month and by it being reported in the Tribune. From the
beginning of August to the end of October, Mademoiselle
la Bicyclette will be confined and will not satisfy Jeans
Female Companionship requirement. The birth will take
place at the very beginning of October
When children are born the GM rolls 1d6. On a roll
of 1 the child is stillborn and on a roll of 6 the lady
has given birth to twins. A second dice is rolled to
find the sex for each child born, 1-3 indicates a boy,
4-6 indicates a girl. A third dice is rolled: 1-2 the
mother dies in child birth. All children must be
supported at a cost of the (presumed) fathers Social
Level x 25 in Crowns per month, per child, for the
first three months. Such payments are automatically
deducted from the character concerned and could lead
to Insolvency and Pecuniary Disgrace. Children do,
however, yield Status to their fathers: 5 Status per
month for the first three months for a boy, 3 Status
per month for the first three months for a girl.
While society at large will frown upon it, it is possible
for a character to refuse to acknowledge his offspring
and hence avoid having to pay for their support. To
do so requires a Special Pre-Monthly Order. Failure to
explicitly give such an order in the month that the
birth takes place, results in the character automatically
acknowledging his offspring and hence being liable to
pay for their support. Such a decision by a character
still comes at a cost, however. Whenever a character
refuses to acknowledge a birth he immediately loses a
Social Level and is knaved for three months. This
penalty applies per birth, not per child born
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5.3 Bawdyhouses
Bawdyhouses are open to all who wish to avail
themselves of the services of such establishments.
The Paris Tribune
Gambling, Female Companionship and Carousing are
all available. Gambling is as outlined in the Gambling
rules, but without house limit or house divisor. One
Status is gained per win, and one lost per loss, but no
points are gained for the total amount bet. Attending
a bawdyhouse costs Crowns equal to double the
characters Social Level. No credit is available to a
character at a bawdyhouse.
5.3.1 Footpads
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
At the end of his visit, any character in the red light
district risks being set upon by footpads and relieved
of his money. This occurs on a roll of 6 on 1d6.
In addition to any proceeds from the bawdyhouses
gaming tables, a character stands to lose Crowns equal
to ten times the sum of their Social Level and
Aristocratic Class. A character may give an order to
refuse to pay his assailants, which may be conditional
on their endurance or wealth at the end of the
previous week. By default, if no order is given, then a
character will always be assumed to pay up when set
upon by footpads.
Should a character refuse to pay his assailants, then
they will take it out on his hide instead. So while he
would not lose any money, he automatically suffers a
loss of endurance equal to 1d6+3 x 10.
5.3.2 The Clap
Whilst visiting the bawdyhouse it is possible for a
gentlemen to catch the Clap. The Clap is a nasty
disease that affects ones manhood. The chance of
catching the malady at a bawdyhouse is a roll of
12 on 2d6. Until cured, that character then risks
passing the disease onto any lady that he has an
encounter with, on a roll of 3+ on 1d6. Other player
characters are at the same risk if they have an
encounter with an infected mistress.
Should a character pass the Clap onto a mistress, then
he will immediately lose her and become the subject
of gossip. This will result in him being knaved until
he is cured of this unwholesome affliction! As soon as
the unfortunate gentleman is cured, his knavery will
be immediately removed by the GM.
While the lucky few may recover from this affliction
without any intervention, on a roll of 10+ on 2d6
each week, hiring a doctor will improve these chances.
The doctor will charge the character 100 Crowns and
improves the chances of a cure to a 7+ on 2d6, for
each week in which he is hired. If the doctors
discretion is required. then the charge is doubled.
Hiring a doctor is a weekly action that may not be
combined with any other action. A character infected
by a mistress, whose affections he wishes to retain,
may also hire a doctors services to attempt to cure her
as a free weekly action. This may be combined with
attempting to remedy the same ailment in the
character at the same time in a single weeks action.
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 6 Entertaining
The Paris Tribune Entertaining guests can be a very private and intimate
affair or a very public spectacle, or somewhere
between the two. A character may entertain guests at
his club, via toadying, or at his residence at a dinner
party or a ball. In order to act as a host, a character
must issue an invitation or else he will risk having
no guests!
Invitations may be made in private, by whatever
means, or publicly via La Voix de Paris. Regardless of
how they are made, all invitations should include the
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
following information:
S Date
S Location
S Any other relevant specifics of the event
While it is permissible to announce a social
engagement publicly and to invite everyone, be that
explicitly or simply by omission, it is not
recommended! A host could end up losing Status or
being forced to fight a duel as a result
Regardless of what a host might specify in his
invitations, even if they are made publicly, the GM
will only act upon whatever is explicitly specified in
the hosts actual orders. In the event of a host not
explicitly indicating in his orders to the contrary, the
GM will make the following assumptions:
S All knaves will be refused admittance, unless the
host is a member of the 69th Arquebusiers or
Gascon Regiment.
S Any and all of the hosts regimental enemies will be
refused admittance.
S All mistresses will be admitted.
S All other characters will be admitted.
S The host will meet the costs of all his guests and
their mistresses attending the event and carousing,
but not including gambling.
Whether at a club or a characters residence, all guests
are assumed to carouse at all events unless they
specifically indicate otherwise in their own weekly
orders. Backstage parties are an exception: at such
events carousing is mandatory. A knave cannot host a
dinner party, ball or any other kind of social event,
apart from at a bwdyhouse. Any Status gains or losses
resulting from drunkenness or duelling are applied
after any arising from attending or hosting a social
engagement.
In the event of a host being indisposed (whether due
to injury, arrest, imprisonment or any other reason),
then the event will probably be cancelled and all
guests will therefore lose that weeks action
(see Conditional Orders). Where the reason for the
hosts indisposition was due to negligence on his part,
the GM will award all inconvenienced guests a
discretionary cause to challenge the host, or even
impose mandatory cause and/or knavery in extreme
cases, as he sees fit.
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6.1 Toadying
Characters gain Status for being seen with their social
betters, who may likewise benefit from the cultivation
of such a sycophant. Characters taken as guests to a
club receive Status equal to the difference in Class
between the club at which they are a guest
and their current club. So being a guest at a lower
Class of Club than the one that a character is
currently a member of, can result in a loss of Status!
It should also be noted that a host cannot guarantee
that either he or his guests will not meet a regimental
enemy whilst at a club. Such an enemy might be a
member of the club himself or attending it as another
characters guest. While they will not necessarily be at
the same social gathering for the purposes of Toadying,
if they are present at the same club in the same week
then they will meet and a duel ensues as required
When a character toadies with another character of
higher Social Level, the lower character receives Status
equal to half the difference in their Social Level
(rounded up). There is no extra cost, other than for
drinks, that needs to be paid when taking a guest to
your club. The higher level character receives (or
loses) Status according to the difference between his
and each of his player character guests Social Level, as
shown on the Toadying Table.
Toadying Table
Difference in Social Level: Status Awarded:
0 to 3 +1
4 to 6 0
7 or 8 -1
9 or 10 -2
11 or 12 -3
13 or 14 -4
15 or 16 -5
17 or 18 -6
19 or 20 -7
21 or 22 -8
23 or 24 -9
25 or 26 -10
Beyond 26 An additional -1 for every 2 SLs beyond
Status is determined independently for each guest,
who only receive Status from toadying with the host.
The host receives status from toadying with all guests
that are present. Characters are free to agree upon any
manner of recompense they wish for this service. In
addition the host (the character who made the
invitation) receives 1 extra Status for every 5 guests at
his gathering, excluding mistresses. A knave may not
toady under any circumstances.
The financial cost to the host of such a gathering is
simply that of drinks for the number of guests
(including the host and all mistresses) at that
particular club. So a social gathering at Hunters will
cost 15 Crowns per person that attends. This amounts
to a total of 150 Crowns if 9 guests attend, comprised
of 4 player characters and 5 mistresses. While the host
is not obliged to pay for his guests drinks at the club,
it is expected and the GM will charge the host
accordingly unless he writes orders specifically to the
contrary. Up to 20 guests can attend such a gathering
(including all ladies, but not the host).
6.1.1 Toadying Defaults
Whenever two or more characters are present in the
same week at the same location, where toadying is
permissible, then they will toady unless any of the
characters involved have written orders to expressly
forbid it. There are a number of caveats to this
S Nobody acts as a host in such situations. As a
result, in such impromptu situations, each player
toadies only once with the highest available social
level character present
S So while multiple characters might all receive status
from toadying to the same character, who is the
highest available social level character present, that
character still only receives or loses status from
toadying with just one of the other characters; this
is determined by the highest social level character
toadying with him.
S This knowingly contradicts the situation of a
character being a host, in which case he would
receive or lose status from all characters who
toadied to him.
S The rules concerning dinner parties and balls,
supersede the Toadying mechanic.
S A character may not, Toady with a regimental
enemy or anyone else that he has an unresolved
mandatory cause to challenge, such as over a
stolen mistress. Members of the 69th Arquebusiers
or Gascon Regiment may always toady with knaves,
though they must still duel them.
S It is incumbent upon the players concerned to
consider whom they might meet and specify if they
dont wish to Toady with certain individuals. This
may be done specifically by name, or by reference
to relative Social Level. Clearly this puts the onus
on higher Social Level characters, to guard against
bumping into others who are so far below them as
to cause the loss of Status from Toadying.
6.2 Hosting a Dinner
Party
Whilst a character may host a social gathering at his
club (see Toadying), the Status received from such
events can sometimes prove to be an uncertain unfair.
Hosting a dinner party at his residence is a much
more predictable way for a character to gain Status.
A garret is not suitable to entertain guests in. If a
character wishes to hold a dinner party, then he must
have a suitable residence, or else invite player
characters to Toady at his club instead. Status, number
of guests and costs are all dependent on where the
dinner party is being held (see the Residences Table). At
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such dinner parties, gentlemen open the doors of their
home for drinks and convivial conversation over
dinner. The cost of hosting a dinner party is equal to
the Residence Class x 10 Crowns per guest (including
The Paris Tribune
the host and any mistresses who attend).
A host may not charge for entry and so must shoulder
the entire cost of hosting the dinner party himself,
neither may he spend any additional money to gain
any extra Status. Unlike Toadying, Status is gained by
the host at a rate of 1 Status per player character
guest, regardless of their respective Social Levels, plus
he receives an extra Status for every 5 guests at his
dinner party, including mistresses.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
The maximum number of guests depends on the
Residence Class of the characters abode (see the
Residences Table). This limit applies to player character
guests only and neither the host nor any mistresses are
counted towards the dinner party limit. However, as
dinner parties are such an intimate affair, a host may
not invite his regimental enemies or any knaves to
attend.
6.2.1 Mistresses as Hostesses
If a characters mistress attends a dinner party that he
hosts, she will act as the hostess and oversee the
decorations and domestic servants, ensuring that the
event benefits from the feminine touch.
This is subject to the hosts Class of Residence, as a
mistress will only act as a hostess at a residence
suitable for her Social Level, though she will still
attend merely as a guest (see the Residences Table).
When a characters mistress does act as a hostess, the
host earns additional Status equal to the Class of
Residence at which the dinner party is held.
6.2.2 Attending a Dinner Party
All characters who attend a dinner party receive
2 Status plus the difference in Class between the
residence at which they are a guest and their current
residence. So being a guest at a lower Class of
Residence than the one that a character currently
resides at, can result in a reduction of the Status that
might otherwise be earned. When a characters
mistress does act as a hostess, all guests earn an
additional 3 Status. Regardless of any other rules,
apart from Status gained or lost from duels or
drunkenness, all guests gain a minimum of 1 Status
for attending a dinner party.
6.3 Hosting a Ball
It is expected that holders of the title of Baron or
above, host at least one ball per calendar year; from
the first year they start the month of January as a
Baron. So if a character becomes a Baron during
1627, they do not have to meet the requirement until
1628 and then have all of that year in which to do so.
If they became a Baron in 1626, then they are already
subject to the requirement and must meet it by the
end of 1627 and each and every year thereafter (that
they remain a Baron or higher)
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 If an aristocrat does not meet his requirement to hold
a ball, then he will lose his current title and drop
down to the next available rank of title below him. So
while that would normally mean an offending Duc
The Paris Tribune would drop to being a Comte, his fall from grace
could be far worse than that.
If there is already a maximum number of player
character Comtes then the character will be reduced
down in title until he reaches a level where there is
space. In addition, the former Duc will lose Social
Levels as required to comply with his new titles
maximum Social Level. Also, if their reduction in
aristocratic rank means that they immediately qualify
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
for a title roll at their new lower aristocratic rank then
that roll is treated as an automatic failure
name, then a +1 modifier is applied to their specific
attendance roll. If the host is a member of a Grandees
Escort or his Equerry, then a further +1 modifier is
applied to their specific attendance roll. Or, if the
Captain of a Grandees Escort or his Equerry, who is
not the host, attends the ball, then a +1 modifier is
applied to the specific Grandees attendance roll.
All of these modifiers are cumulative and the
attendance of Grandees may be further influenced by
titled mistresses and the use of favours and/or bribery.
Grandee Attendance Table
Grandee Hosts SL<21 Hosts SL>20
King 11+ 9+
Queen 10+ 8+

Example: A Comte requires 3 attempts before he gets an Cardinal 10+ 10+

roll to become a Duc whilst a Vicomte only requires 2 to Crown Prince 8+ 6+
roll to become a Comte. If the Comte de Monte-Cristo
Princess Louisa 12+ 11+
has acquired 2 attempts at the point he is demoted to
Vicomte, then despite having the requisite number of An NMS (at GMs discretion) 10+ 8+
attempts to immediately roll to be reinstated, it is instead
treated as a failed roll. 6.3.2 The Outcome of a Ball
Balls can only be held at Class 4 or 5 Residences. In addition to the Status gained from Hosting a Ball,
The cost of hosting a ball is equal to the Residence as outlined above, additional Status may be gained or
Class x 15 Crowns per guest who attend (including lost dependent upon how successful the ball is. The
the host and any Grandees and mistresses). There is success of the ball is determined by rolling 1d20
no limit to the number of guests that may attend. In against the hosts Panache modified by all applicable
addition, the mandatory musical entertainment will modifiers from the Ball Outcome Modifier Table, all of
cost an extra 200 Crowns. which are cumulative. The success or failure of the
ball is then determined by the Ball Outcome Table.
A host may not charge for entry and so must shoulder
the entire cost of hosting the ball himself. Unlike Ball Outcome Modifier Table
Toadying, Status is gained by the host at a rate of Modifier Circumstance
2 Status per player character guest, regardless of their
+2 The ball has a hostess
respective Social Levels, plus he receives an extra
Status for every 5 guests at his ball, including -2 The balls hostess is Attached
mistresses. If a characters mistress attends a ball that +1 The balls hostess is Beautiful
he hosts, she will act as the hostess but, unlike at a
+1 The balls hostess is Influential
dinner party, does not directly increase the Status
received by the host. Instead, a hostess affects +1 The balls hostess is Titled
The Outcome of the Ball. A host may invite both his +1 For every 5 player characters attending the ball
regimental enemies and knaves to a ball but to do so
+1 For every 500 Crowns spent above the minimum required
is most unwise!
+1 One or more Grandees (or an NMS) attend

6.3.1 Grandee Attendance +3 The King attends

A roll of 2d6 for each Grandee determines if they +1 The Host is a Comte or a Duc
attend the ball, as per the Grandee Attendance Table. If -1 For every regimental enemy of the host that attends
the ball does not have a hostess, then all such rolls are
-2 For every knave that attends
made at a -2 penalty. While a Chevalier may choose
to host a ball, if he has the required class of residence, -5 The ball has no hostess
he must have a hostess for any chance of Grandees
attending and all rolls are then made at a -2 penalty. Ball Outcome Table
If the King is already attending the ball then the roll Panache Roll Outcome Guest Status Host Status

for the Queen attending gains a +3 modifier. The Flop: A sorry shambles &
Fumble -3 -5
Cardinal only attends balls that the King attends, most guests leave early!
unless the host is a member of the Cardinals Guard
Lacklustre: A dull
or the Captain of the Cardinals Escort attends. Failure
evening out.
0 -1

Now that she is Queen of England the attendance of Success: A satisfactory

Success +2 +3
Princess Louisa is very unlikely but, if she does attend, evenings entertainment.
then her husband King Charles of England may also
Triumph: A gala event
attend determined by a roll of 6 on 1d6. If the host is Critical
not to be forgotten!
+5 +5
a member of a regiment that bears the Grandees
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6.3.3 Attending a Ball
All characters who attend a ball receive 5 Status plus
the difference in Class between the residence at which
they are a guest and their current residence and the
difference in Class between their Aristocratic Title and
that of their host. So being a guest at a lower Class of
Residence or of a host of a lower Class of Aristocratic
Title, can result in a reduction of the Status that
might otherwise be earned. This status is further
modified by the Ball Outcome Table.
Regardless of any other rules, apart from Status gained
or lost from duels or drunkenness, all guests gain a
minimum of 1 Status for attending a ball.
6.4 Oversubscribed
Social Events
Should a character invite more player characters than
can be accommodated by the venue (either his club or
7 The Theatre
Every month a new production is commissioned at
the Thtre Royal and it is possible for characters to
take in a show either on their own, with a mistress or
a select group of friends. Going to the theatre is a
weekly action and can be performed in conjunction
with female companionship and toadying, dependent
upon whether a seat, small box or a gallery box is
purchased for the evening.
Only one play is actually staged in any month and
there is always one to be seen courtesy of an NPC
playwright. Whether a show is successful or not
directly impacts upon how much Status characters in
the audience receive for attending.
The success or failure of a production is determined
differently for player characters and NPCs, but is
always done monthly, during the opening night. The
NPC Play Outcome Table is used if the playwright is
not a player character, otherwise the Play Outcome
Table is used.
NPC Play Outcome Table
1d6 Roll Outcome Audience Status
Flop: Most of the audience fall asleep or
1
otherwise choose to leave early!
2
Lacklustre: A dull evening that might
have been better spent elsewhere.
Success: A perfectly satisfactory evenings
3-5
entertainment.
Triumph: A must-see show which only
6 +2 Status
the uncultured would miss!
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residence) then, unless he gives conditional orders to
the contrary, the GM will admit guests to the social
event in the following order of preference:
S Regimental colleagues, including old boys.
The Paris Tribune
S All others, excluding regimental enemies, in order
of descending Social Level.
Regimental enemies, including old boys, will always
be the last to be admitted and the first to be turned
away. Beyond that, the GM will do whatever he
deems most appropriate. Anyone turned away from a
social event to which they were invited, including
regimental enemies, will have a discretionary cause to
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
challenge the host.
7.1 Attendance
There are various qualities of seat within the theatre
that a character may purchase a ticket for. There are
also standing room only terraces frequented solely by
the common folk of Paris, which are completely
unsuitable for a character to enter! While refreshments
are available at the theatre, carousing is not permitted.
Attendance on opening night doubles ticket prices
and all Audience Status modifiers as well. Opening
night is defined as week 1 of any given month.
Example: Cyrano attends the theatre in week 1 and hires
a gallery box. He invites his friends Pierre and Ricardo to
join him and all three bring their mistresses. Sadly
though the show is a flop and as its opening night this
means Cyrano loses 2 Status accordingly, however because
of his gallery box he gains 4 Status. This means his
overall tally for the night is 2 Status, before figuring in
any Status from toadying with Pierre and Ricardo, plus
they all meet their months female companionship
requirement.
7.1.1 Seat
-1 Status The basic seat is on the main floor and costs 10
Crowns. Toadying is not possible when in a basic seat
None and gets a character no Status bonus. In the event of a
Riot such a seat will penalise your roll on the Personal
Riot Outcome Table by -1, due to its proximity to the
+1 Status
common terraces.
A mistress will not accompany a character to a play if
all she is offered is a basic seat! In order to have ones
S Page 25
 mistress attend, and so provide Female
Companionship, requires the purchase of either a
small or gallery box by the character concerned.
Similarly, a character who only purchases a basic seat
The Paris Tribune may not toady with fellow theatre-goers during the
actual performance.
7.1.2 Small Box
A modest box, which may be shared by up to
4 people, be they characters or mistresses. This
gives the opportunity for toadying and female
companionship. Regardless of who paid for the box,
any player characters within the box get a further
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
1 Status for the box. These boxes cost 50 Crowns for
the week and, in the event of a Riot, provide a
+1 to your roll on the Personal Riot Outcome Table.
7.1.3 Gallery Box
The grander gallery boxes can cater for up to
6 people, be they characters or mistresses. This
gives the opportunity for toadying and female
companionship. Regardless of who paid for the box,
any player characters within the box get a further
2 Status for the box. However, the character paying
for the box must be a minimum of Social Level 10.
These boxes cost 100 Crowns for the week and, in the
event of a Riot at the theatre, provide a +3 to your
roll on the Personal Riot Outcome Table.
7.2 Staging a Play
Four whole, though not necessarily consecutive, weeks
are required to write a play before rehearsals can
begin. Apart from the time demands, writing as a
weekly activity requires no actual expenditure and
cannot be combined with any other actions. Once
written, a plays production costs the playwright 100
Crowns payable at the beginning of the month in
which rehearsals take place. A 2 week rehearsal must
be held in the last two weeks of the month before the
play is scheduled to open.
But first the Thtre Royal must be publicly booked
for a month by the playwright via La Voix de Paris.
This may only be booked by one playwright per
month and is allocated on a first come, first served,
basis. The playwright must attend rehearsals himself
and they may not be combined with any other action
unless he has convinced his mistress to take part in
the production, in which case they may be combined
with Female Companionship.
A playwrights current mistress may only be asked to
take part in the play during the first week of
Play Outcome Table
Panache Roll Outcome
Flop: Most of the audience fall asleep or otherwise
Fumble
choose to leave early!
Lacklustre: A dull evening that might have been better
Failure
spent elsewhere.
Success: A perfectly satisfactory evenings
Success
entertainment.
Triumph: A must-see show which only the uncultured
Critical
would miss!
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rehearsals. She will agree on a roll of 3+ on1d6, with
the roll required modified by her attributes:
+1 if wealthy, +1 if titled, +1 if chaste and -2 if
promiscuous. These modifiers are cumulative.
Grandees will only attend the plays opening night
and no other. They attend on a 6+ on 1d6, each
rolled for separately. The Cardinal only attends on a
7+ on 1d6 unless the play is of a suitably religious
subject matter in which case the roll reverts to a 6+ on
1d6. If the Cardinal has denounced the show then
neither the Queen or Crown Prince will attend. The
Cardinal will not attend a play that the Inquisitor
General has denounced.
The play runs for the whole of the next month and
the playwright is required to both attend the first
weeks opening night and host a party backstage at the
theatre the same night. Attendance is by invitation
only and only player character playwrights hold
opening night parties to which other player characters
are invited. Backstage parties are treated as a social
gathering (see Toadying) at a club, costing the host
20 Crowns per guest, including mistresses. Unlike all
other forms of Entertaining, all those who attend must
Carouse as backstage parties are notorious for drunken
debauchery! No Status is gained or lost from a
difference in the class of club, as the theatre is not
actually a club. The Crown Prince will attend the
party on a roll of 6+ on 1d6 if the show is a success or
a 3+ if a triumph, regardless of whether he attends the
play or not, gaining guests an extra 5 Status. If the
Crown Princes Equerry attends the party, then a
further +1 modifier is applied to the roll for the
Crown Princes attendance.
7.2.1 The Outcome of a Play
Players may hire yobs to hiss and boo the production
at a cost of 100 Crowns, though on a roll of 1 on 1d6
they take the money and run and do not actually turn
up to disrupt the play. Each time this is successfully
done -1 is added to the plays outcome up to a max of
-4. Also a +1 is added to the chance of a riot up to a
maximum of +4.
The identity of a character who hires yobs remains
secret though a successful Clandestine Action could
uncover evidence of such activity which could then
lead to potential cause to challenge and/or
prosecution. The success of the play for the entire
month is determined by rolling 1d20, against the
playwrights Panache modified by all applicable
modifiers from the Play Outcome Modifier Table. The
degree of success or failure of the play is then
determined by the Play Outcome Table.
Audience Status Playwrights Share of Ticket Sales Playwrights Status
-1 Status None -3 Status
None 250 Crowns +1 Status
+1 Status 750 Crowns +3 Status
+2 Status 1500 Crowns +9 Status
A letter must be published via La Voix de Paris by the In addition to this, every player character in
character trying to get either the Cardinal or attendance at the play rolls 2d6 on the Personal Riot
Inquisitor General to denounce the play, before the Outcome Table. Remember that your seat or box
Applications Deadline for the month the play is to modifies your personal riot outcome.

The Paris Tribune

open. The roll to see if an NPC Cardinal or Inquisitor
Personal Riot Outcome Table
General decide to denounce a play is made
immediately in the month that the public call is made 2d6 Roll Outcome

by a character. Such calls may be made at any point
2
prior to the Applications Deadline for the month the
play opens.
The playwright gets a gallery box at no cost for the 3-5
shows opening night, but not the additional Status -
though any guests sharing his gallery box do. He also 6-8
You are injured in the fighting and robbed. 75 Endurance
damage and lose 25 Crowns.
Caught up in the fighting, you are injured when the City
Watch arrive to restore order before they realise you are a
gentleman. 25 Endurance damage.
You avoid the unpleasantness.

RULES V7.2 S April 1629

gains a title attempt for every fourth successful
You save an actress from the melee and as such meet the
production he stages, whereas each triumph 9-11
female companionship requirement for the month.
immediately gains him a title attempt.
12 Special*
Play Outcome Modifier Table
Modifier Circumstance *The Special outcome will be used by the GM to reflect
+1 A professional producer is retained at a cost of 50 Crowns
the best possible outcome for a character. If the King is
there then a title attempt for saving his life is possible, the
+1 The show is advertised as bawdy
Queen, Crown Prince or Cardinal might bestow a level 8
+1 The playwrights last production was a triumph favour. You might save the leading lady from the clutches
+1 For each 100 Crowns spent on lavish props (max of +3) of the mob, for which she will be extremely grateful
+1 For every 4 characters attending the show (max of +3)

+1 For a mistress in the show, a further +1 if she is beautiful

+1 A Grandee attends

+2 The Queen or Crown Prince attend

+3 The King attends

-1 The playwrights last production was a flop

-1 For each group of yobs hired (max of -4)

-2 If the Inquisitor General denounces the show*

-3 If the Cardinal denounces the show**

*A player character Inquisitor General may choose

whether or not to denounce the show, but an NPC will
do so if asked on a 7 on 1d6 and so requires influence.
** The Cardinal will denounce the show if asked on a 7
on 1d6, unless it is advertised as bawdy in which case the
roll required is 6 and so does not requires influence.

7.3 Riot
The common folk in the audience do, on occasion, let
emotion get the better of their reason! To determine
whether or not there is a riot in a given week 2d6 are
rolled and any riot modifiers (see Riot Modifier Table)
are added to the roll. If the modified number reaches
12 a riot occurs!
Riot Modifier Table
Modifier Circumstance

+1 For each group of yobs hired (max of +4)

+1 The show is advertised as bawdy

+1 If the Cardinal denounces the show

If a riot occurs and the playwright is a player

character, then he is held responsible and incurs
1d6 x 100 Crowns in damages he must pay for
immediately. Plus, if a Grandee is present, the
playwright automatically loses one Social Level.

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 8 Finance
The sole currency used within the game is the Crown,
of which there is no sub-denomination. As such, all
The Paris Tribune financial amounts are always recorded as integers with
no fractions. When a monetary value is derived from
a formula that does not result in an integer, the result
is always rounded mathematically, so any fraction of a
half or more is always rounded up with fractions less
than a half rounded down.
Example: 4.5, 4.7 and 4.9 are all rounded up to 5;
while 4.2 and 4.4 are both rounded down to 4. Think of
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
it as a world in which there are only pounds sterling ()
with no pence (p), or only dollars ($) with no cents ().
end of six months time. This repayment is
automatically made before any other payment of
pre-monthly costs: support, mistress, clubs, residence,
etc. So if a Social Level 5 character borrows 500
Crowns in January, 550 Crowns will be automatically
deducted from the character by the GM in the
pre-monthly phase of July.
When borrowing from a Shylock, the maximum
amount that any character can borrow is 100 times
his Social Level. If a character has borrowed up to his
capacity and rises in Social Level, he may, if he
desires, borrow more up to his new limit. There is no
financial benefit to repaying a loan early to a Shylock.

8.1 Loans
Characters may borrow money from other players, or 8.2 Investment
Shylocks, as a pre-monthly action. Loans can only be Players may invest money in various ventures in order
repaid in full and not in installments. to gain more money. There are three levels of
investments: Safe, Medium and Risky.
8.1.1 Loans & Gifts between
Characters 8.2.1 Making Investments
Investments are made at the beginning of a season for
Characters do not charge interest on loans to others;
the entire season. Each investment is 1,000 Crowns.
this is ungentlemanly. At any time after three months
Any person wishing to invest money must do so in
from the date of the loan, the lender may publicly
separate amounts of 1,000 Crowns. Each investment
demand payment that month from the borrower via
is rolled for separately at the end of the season for
La Voix de Paris prior to the Applications Deadline and
which it was invested. It is not possible to tie multiple
include a pre-monthly action to recall the loan in his
investment blocks together in order for them to have
orders. If the borrower is unable to pay, he suffers
their return determined by one single dice roll.
Pecuniary Disgrace: he must join a Frontier Regiment
Investments are not automatically carried forward into
and remain with it until he is able to pay.
the next season. The character must explicitly reinvest
Both the lender and the borrower must include the at the start of each season.
relevant complementary orders (lend to & borrow
from). Otherwise nothing happens and no loan 8.2.2 Investment Returns
takes place. Should a character in receipt of a loan exit
For each investment 1d20 is rolled and any modifiers
the game prior to its repayment, then the monies
applied at the end of the season. Compare the result
involved are lost to the character who originally lent
to the relevant table below.
them. Similarly, if a character that made a loan exits
the game prior to its repayment, the character to Safe Investment Table
whom it was lent need no longer repay the debt. d20 Roll Investment return Notes

If a character that made a loan does not recall the A roll of 1 is always treated as a 1
1 -50%
debt and require payment by the end of six months, it regardless of bonuses
is thereafter considered to be a gift and the character 2-3 -10%
to whom it was lent need no longer repay it.
4-7 0%
However, the character that made the loan may, at the
end of the six months, extend the loan by another six 8-17 +10%

months. In such cases, it is otherwise treated as a new 18-19 +15%

loan and so the character in receipt of it receives 20 +20% Rolls in excess of 20 count as a 20
another three months before it can be recalled.
A character may also choose to make a gift of money Medium Investment Table
or horses to another character as a pre-monthly d20 Roll Investment return Notes
action. Only gifts may be made in an unsolicited way,
A roll of 1 is always treated as a 1
as a gift has no obligation attached to it. Loans and 1 -75%
regardless of bonuses
gifts, as a pre-monthly order, are the only means of
2-5 -20%
transferring money between characters
6-8 0%

8.1.2 Loans from Shylocks 9-13 +15%

When a character borrows money from a Shylock, he 14-17 +25%

must pay back the money plus 10% interest at the 18-20 +50% Rolls in excess of 20 count as a 20
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Risky Investment Table made at the start of the Summer season. A success
d20 Roll Investment return Notes
gains a +1 and a critical gains a +2. A failure results in
no modifier, while a fumble results in all the usual
A roll of 1 is always treated as a 1
1-5 Investment Lost
regardless of bonuses
consequences such as being reported for Harassment

The Paris Tribune

though it has no negative effect on the investment.
6-10 -50%
11 0% The action is versus a nominal Notable Member of
12-15 +50%
Society. Their Social Level depends on the type of
investment: a Safe investment is Social Level 14, a
16-18 +100%
Medium investment is Social Level 18 and a Risky
19-20 +200% Rolls in excess of 20 count as a 20
investment is Social Level 22. If reported for
Harassment, for whatever reason, an enquiry into
8.2.3 Liquidation Medium or Risky investments results in you being
An investment is for an entire season. There is no fee reported to the Commissioner of State for a mid-level

RULES V7.2 S April 1629

at the end of season when the investment matures, political crime. If a Safe investment, then you are
though it may be taxed. Any number of 1,000 Crown reported to the Paris Military Governor for a minor
investment blocks may be liquidated before the end of civil crime.
season but each one only returns 750 Crowns.
8.2.7 Appointments
8.2.4 Investment Modifiers Certain appointments gain a bonus to Medium and
There are several sources of modifiers to investment Risky investments. However, the appointment must
rolls, all of which are cumulative. be held for the entire first month of the season in
which the investment is made. Either by starting the
S Influence
month with the appointment, or by being appointed
S Clandestine Action to it in the first first month of the season, and not
then resigning it in the same month.If a character
S Appointments
holds two such appointments during the qualifying
S Military Cirumstance period then he gains both modifiers. If he loses the
appointment later in the season he does not lose the
All modofiers to investment rolls are applied to all
bonus, nor does gaining a new appointment later in
investments held by a character within a specific risk
the season gain him an additional bonus.
level. When using Influence, each favour must be
applied to a specific risk level and only to investments Example: Aramis is both Minister of State and Inspector
held by the character. Each Clandestine Action must General of Cavalry throughout June, the first month of
also be made concerning a specific risk level of the Summer Season. As a result, he gains +3 to Medium
investment. Bonuses from Appointments generally and +1 to Risky investments for the Summer Season.
only affect Medium investments, though more
Appointment Investment
powerful appointments also affect Risky investments.
Modifier Table
Appointment Medium Investment Risky Investment
8.2.5 Influence Minister of State +2 +1
Influence can be used to affect the roll. The level of Minister of War +2 +1
favour required depends on the type of investment. A
Chancellor +2 +1
Safe investment requires a level 4 favour. A Medium
Quartermasters +1 +1
investment requires a level 6 favour. A Risky
Minister of Justice +1 0
investment requires a level 8 favour. Any number of
favours may be applied in any month during the Military Governors +1 0

season of the investment. The bonuses achieved in Inspector Generals +1 0

each individual month of a season are cumulative.
8.2.6 Clandestine Action
A Clandestine Action in the season prior to the
investment may affect the roll, so such actions made
during the Spring season can then affect investments
8.2.8 Military Circumstance
Unlike other investment modifiers, those caused by
the wars France fights have a wider area of effect.
During the Summer season only, modifiers are applied
to investments according to the enemy that Frances

Enemy Investment Modifier Table

Enemy Safe Investment Medium Investment Risky Investment

Spain 0 +1 -1

Spanish Client States 0 0 0

Dutch United Provinces -1 +1 0

England -1 0 +1

German States +2 +1 -3

Civil War/Rebellion +4 -2 -2

Colonial -2 0 +2
S Page 29
www.canterburygamers.org.uk
 armies are campaigning against, as detailed in the
Enemy Investment Modifier Table. In the unlikely event
that France finds itself arrayed against multiple
enemies during the summer, then the modifies of each
The Paris Tribune enemy are cumulative.
In addition, a cumulative modifier is applied to a
given seasons investments for every Battle Result of 1
or 6 received by a French army. The specifics are
detailed in the Battle Result Investment Modifier Table,
but typically this only affects the Summer season as
this is usually the only time when Frances armies are
deployed in the field.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
8.2.9 Investment Taxes
A characters net seasonal investment return is subject
to a 70% tax on all such returns that have shown a
profit in excess of the first 10,000 Crowns.
Example: Francois invests 8,000 Crowns in risky
investments and due to extremely good fortune receives a
net +150% return on his total investment for the season.
This mean his return amounts to 20,000 Crowns, minus
Battle Result Investment Modifier Table
French Army Battle Result Safe Investment
1 0
2-5 0 0
6 -1
9 Duelling
Duelling is a socially acceptable, if illegal, way of
settling disputes between gentlemen. The winner
receives vindication of his honour and the Status
accorded a victor. The loser receives humiliation,
grievous wounds and sometimes even death.
In addition, both parties risk being arrested despite its
illegality being largely overlooked by society most of
the time (see Crime & Punishment: Duelling). Each
character has a basic ability with a sword; this is
indicated by his Swordsmanship. The art of duelling
very much depends on the style that you select and its
associated weapon type.
9.1 Cause to Challenge
When two characters are in the same place (that is,
performing the same activity), a duel may take place.
There must, however, be cause. Unless permitted to
by the rules, any character who has cause and an
opportunity to fight and does not (for any reason
except being wounded to less than 60 Endurance),
will lose Status equal in number to half his current
Social Level (rounded up).
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his initial stake of 8,000 Crowns, which is a profit of
12,000 Crowns. As such, he must pay a 70% tax on
2,000 Crowns of his profit totalling 1,400 Crowns.
8.3 Charity
Characters may on occasion wish to be seen doing
charitable works. Rather than getting their hands
dirty, they are more likely to make a grand gesture
and give someone else some cash to do the actual
work. Donations may be given to a number of
charitable causes as listed below.
A donation of 100 Crowns gains a character 1 Status,
while a donation of 1,000 Crowns gains 2 Status. A
character may not make more than one charitable
donation in a month. There are only four charities
within the game: the Royal School for Disadvantaged
Ladies, the Montmarte Chamber Orchestra, the Petits
Hpitaux de la Souffrance and St Ophelias Last
Refuge, though others may be proposed
Medium Investment Risky Investment
+1 +2
0
-1 -1
If two characters meet during a month and one has
cause with the other, they will only duel there and
then if they have not already publicly set a place and
time to settle the matter. If they have already arranged
a duel then the matter will wait until then. There are,
however, two locations where duelling is not
permitted: when attending a trial or the royal court,
in whatever capacity. Judgement of whether or not
there was cause is up to the GM, though common
examples of sufficient cause for a duel include:
S Two characters who are members of enemy
Regiments meeting (see Brigades).
S Committing an indiscretion with another
characters mistress, such as attempting to court her.
S Insulting a member of a characters regiment.
S Two characters courting the same mistress.
S Insulting a characters mistress.
In addition to the examples of mandatory cause to
challenge, there are also circumstances that give rise to
a discretionary cause to challenge, such as when a
character fails to court anothers mistress because she
is not at home. A discretionary cause to challenge
means that a character may issue a challenge if he
wishes, but is not obliged to do so and does not suffer
any penalties if he chooses not to issue a challenge. In
addition, a character has discretionary cause, if they
are 10 or more Social Levels higher than whoever has
given them cause to challenge. Exceptions include:
S Meeting a knave.
S If the character who is 10 or more Social Levels
beneath you actually succeeds in courting your
mistress. While this is unlikely, it is possible, if your
mistress is also many Social Levels beneath you!
S Meeting a member of an enemy regiment who is
the same military rank or higher than you, or holds
the rank of Major or higher.
In the examples given above, the rules for
discretionary cause to challenge do not apply and the
cause to challenge is mandatory
9.1.1 Multiple Cause
Once a duel has occurred in one month then the two
cannot duel again that month for the same reason.
Therefore, if two regimental enemies meet in week
one and fight a duel, they will not do so again that
month unless there is another reason.
Though this will not prevent a separate impromptu
duel over any other matters arising, if for example
they are regimental enemies or meet one another on
the doorstep of a mistress, and once that is resolved
the pre-arranged duel still remains to be resolved.
If a character receives cause to challenge another
character multiple times in a month, over the same
public sleight, it only counts as a single cause to
challenge. If this accrual of cause includes both
discretionary and mandatory forms, then the resulting
composite single cause to challenge will be mandatory.
Example: Aramis attempts to court Claudes mistress
every week of the same month and hence gives four
instances of cause to Claude. However, this only counts as
a single cause, as all four instances were generated for
exactly the same reason within the same month
9.1.2 Issuing Challenges
When the months issue of The Paris Tribune is
published at the end of the month, characters may
find that they have cause to challenge other characters
within the game, due to their activities during the
month which they did not witness at the time.
In this case, the character with cause must publicly
issue a challenge via La Voix de Paris to setup a
pre-arranged duel prior to the Applications Deadline
of the month after next. So, if cause to challenge is
announced in the January issue, the character with
cause must issue a challenge no later than the
Applications Deadline for March.
Failure to do so will result in either the loss of half
the characters Social Level in Status, in the case of
mandatory cause, or else the cause will be considered
spent if it were merely discretionary. If the character
is at the front during the month that the deadline
www.canterburygamers.org.uk
passes then, in the case of mandatory cause, they
receive no roll for Mentions in Dispatches instead of a
loss of Status for not issuing the required challenge.
9.1.3 Arranging Duels
The Paris Tribune
When issuing a challenge, the date set for the duel
must be within the next 4 months. Also, the date
must be fixed & finite - so the next time Raoul is in
Paris would not be allowed.
While the character who is challenged may request a
different date, the character who issued the challenge
is in no way required to accommodate such a request.
If such a request is refused then the character
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
challenged has no choice but to change his plans and
turn up for the duel or else suffer the associated
penalties for not having done so.
A character may not set a date during the Summer
season for adversaries who have already been
committed to the front for this period - such
information is already public knowledge, so there
should be no such excuses! However, if a character
subsequently joins a regiment or accepts an
appointment that requires their being at the front
during the Summer season then this does not exempt
them from meeting the date set. By doing so, they
have effectively chosen to avoid the duel and so must
suffer the consequences
Should a character not turn up for a duel due to
having been sent to the front by a third party, then
their opponent get a technical win in terms of Status.
The absent duelist suffers no penalty just as when a
duelist is below 60 Endurance.
Should the third party actually be one of the two
duelists, sending the other on campaign, then the
character doing the sending should suffer the social
consequences of avoiding the duel, as they effectively
chose to ensure the duel did not take place.
The overriding principle here is that once the terms
have been set then the character who has been
challenged can only turn up or not. If they cannot
turn up because of the actions of a third party or
injury then their adversary gets a technical win but
they suffer no penalty. If however, they choose not to
be there (even if this a knock on effect of joining a
regiment or volunteering to go the front) then they
will suffer the social consequences of not attending.
Once the date of a duel has been set then that is
paramount. While characters may choose not to
attend, if they do so at their own volition then they
are liable for the consequences!
Clearly this still leaves scope for a player to arrange
to be sent to the front by a third party, but such
accommodations are a commonplace part of the
game. Regardless, the GM shall be the ultimate
arbiter of all such matters, without exception. The
consequences of not attending a pre-arranged duel are
covered in Status within Duelling Etiquette. It should
also be noted that being in Pecuniary Disgrace at the
front, or imprisoned in the Bastille, does not shield a
character from any of the penalties for not issuing
challenges or attending duels.
S Page 31
 9.2 Duelling Overview
A duel is divided into an unspecified number of
The Paris Tribune rounds, ending once one of the duelists is either dead
or has surrendered; or, in the case of a duel to first
blood, one duelist has successfully inflicted damage to
the other. If one player is using Dirty Fighting, it is
possible that both players wound each other in the
same round of a duel to first blood. In such cases,
the victory is awarded to whoever actually won the
opposed Swordsmanship roll. In each round the
RULES V7.1 S January 1628
following sequence is played through:
S Each duelist uses one knack from their chosen
duelling style, either basic or advanced.
S The knacks are compared and any relevant
modifiers are applied to the duelists respective
Swordsmanship skill.
S Each duelist rolls 1d20 to resolve the
aforementioned actions.
S Damage (if any) is allocated to each duelist.
9.3 Basic Duelling
Mechanic
Each round both opponents roll 1d20 and compare it
to their Swordsmanship, after the application of any
and all modifiers (hereafter referred to as a characters
Current Swordsmanship). A roll equal to or under
their Current Swordsmanship indicates some measure
of success. However, as the roll is opposed, whoever
rolls the highest and is still not in excess of their
Current Swordsmanship wins the contest of steel and
does damage to their opponent.
If the loser of this contest also succeeded in rolling
less than their Current Swordsmanship, known as a
partial success, they are considered to have parried the
blow which will reduce the damage they then take (see
Damage). If both opponents roll the same number on
the d20 and both succeed, by virtue of rolling under
their Current Swordsmanship, or both critical then
effectively nothing happens; no damage is done to
either side as both opponents dance around each
other in a dazzling display of swordplay.
If however, only one of the opponents criticals, then
they are treated as having rolled a 20 for the purposes
of who beat whom in the opposed d20 roll. So both
opponents could roll 12 but, if one of them has a
Current Swordsmanship of 17 and the other 12, the
latter would be treated as having rolled 20 and so
would beat his opponent. Note that the use of the
Dirty Fighting style changes exactly when damage is
inflicted and upon whom.
9.3.1 Critical Success
Rolling exactly the same as ones Current
Swordsmanship on 1d20 indicates a critical success,
which has two effects: in terms of the opposed roll
they are considered to have rolled a 20 and hence
cant have been beaten and so cant take any damage
(unless the opponent is using the Dirty Fighting style)
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that round; and, the damage done to their opponent
is increased (see Damage).
9.3.2 Fumble
A roll of 20 when a characters Current
Swordsmanship is less than 20 indicates a fumble. A
fumble results in the character leaving themselves
effectively open to their opponents incoming blow
and the damage multiplier done to them is increased
by 1. It also leaves them temporarily unarmed the
following round, thus presenting their opponent with
a choice. They may either press their advantage
(gaining an additional +3/-3 reflexive modifier for the
next round only) or, they can do the gentlemanly
thing and pause to allow their opponent to rearm
himself. While the latter course of action gains
additional Status, it is not considered required
behaviour of a duelist or dishonourable not to pause.
In any case, the default is for a character not to offer
any such quarter.
9.3.3 Reflexive Modifiers
All modifiers are applied to a characters
Swordsmanship, not to the number rolled on the d20.
In addition to straightforward modifiers that add or
subtract from a characters Swordsmanship, there are
also reflexive modifiers that are applied to the
Swordsmanship of both the character and his
opponent. Such reflexive modifiers are denoted by
two modifiers separated by a / with the first modifier
applied to the character and the second after the /
applied to his opponent. If both characters have
reflexive modifiers then both are applied.
9.3.4 Current Swordsmanship
in Excess of 20
If a characters Current Swordsmanship is in excess of
20, the result of any d20 roll made against it is
increased by the amount that it is in excess of 20. If a
characters Current Swordsmanship was 25, that
would mean he could never roll less than 6. It also
increases the chance of a critical success by the
amount in excess of 20 and you cant fumble. A
characters Current Swordsmanship of 25 would mean
a roll of 20, 19, 18, 17, 16 or 15 results in a critical
success and as such is treated as a roll of 20. The
maximum possible roll is still only 20 and not higher.
9.4 Damage
A successful attack does damage as a multiple of the
attackers Strength, the multiplier being determined
by weapon type. Weapon types have damage
multipliers as set out in the Damage Table below:
Damage Table
Weapon Damage Multiplier
Sabre 3.0
Rapier 2.0
Dagger 1.5
Improvised Weapon 1.0
Critical successes also result in the multiplier being
increased by 1 (so a critical success with a rapier will
do 3 times the attackers Strength in damage, not 2).
Conversely, a successful parry reduces the damage
multiplier by 1 (so a successful parry of a rapier strike
will only do 1 times the attackers Strength in damage,
or twice if the strike itself were a critical success).
9.5 Duelling Styles &
Knacks
There are four different styles available, each of which
once learnt gives the character a basic knack. In
addition there are two advanced knacks that may be
learnt having first learnt any of the five duelling styles.
Beyond that, each duelling style has another two
advanced knacks that may only be learnt once the
relevant duelling style has been learnt. Styles may not
be mixed in a duel by a duelist.
In a duel, each use of an advanced knack must be
followed by the styles basic knack. Equally, when an
advanced knack is used this cannot be used in
conjunction with a styles basic knack, so when a Tag
[Unrestricted by Style (Any)] is used it is done so
without the addition of the +1/-1 reflexive modifier
from the En Garde [Fencing (Rapier)] basic knack.
A character untrained in the relevant style may not
use any of its associated knacks, basic or advanced.
Below are a list of duelling styles and knacks. Style
names are written with the required weapon type
given in parenthesis - they cannot be used with
another weapon type unless stated. Below each
duelling style are given associated basic knacks with
the required duelling style in square brackets and the
required weapon type in parenthesis. Advanced knacks
are similarly listed, except that they are italicised.
9.5.1 Fencing (Rapier)
En Garde [Fencing (Rapier)]
+1/-1 reflexive modifier to Swordsmanship.
Riposte [Fencing (Rapier)]
Having successfully parried an attack, a character may
make a second attack in the same round at +5 to
Swordsmanship doing rapier damage. Such a secondary
attack will be unopposed and so cannot be parried unless
the opponent is using the Double Parry (Main Gauche)
advanced knack in the same round.
Feint [Fencing (Rapier)]
+5 to Swordsmanship for the attack, but no parry is
possible by either the attacker or opponent that round.
This does not negate the special effect of Brawling.
9.5.2 Hussar (Sabre)
Slash & Cut [Hussar (Sabre)]
-1 modifier to Swordsmanship, but more damage is
done by a sabre than a rapier (see Damage).
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Flashing Steel [Hussar (Sabre)]
+3/-3 modifier to Swordsmanship but does no damage
unless a critical success is achieved in which case normal,
not critical, sabre damage is done.
The Paris Tribune
Coup de Grace [Hussar (Sabre)]
A two handed strike with a damage multiplier of 4
instead of the ususual 3, at +5 to Swordsmanship, but no
parry is possible in the following round if beaten in the
opposed Swordsmanship roll.
9.5.3 Main Gauche (Rapier & Dagger)
Twin Blades [Main Gauche (Rapier & Dagger)]
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
The modifier to the users Swordsmanship is
dependent upon Panache: +1(Panache <9),
+2 (Panache 9-12) or +3 (Panache >12). The modifier
to the opponents Swordsmanship is fixed at -1. This
knack only does rapier damage.
Double Parry [Main Gauche (Rapier & Dagger)]
+5 to Swordsmanship and allows any secondary attack
by an opponent to be parried (at no modifier). No
damage is done by either blade unless a critical success is
achieved which results in normal (not critical) damage.
A successful parry reduces the damage multiplier by 1.5
as opposed to the usual 1.
Double Attack [Main Gauche (Rapier & Dagger)]
Allows a second attack in the same round with the
dagger at -5 to Swordsmanship doing dagger damage.
Such a secondary attack will be unopposed and so cannot
be parried unless the opponent is using either the Double
Attack or else the Double Parry advanced knacks (Main
Gauche) in the same round.
9.5.4 Dirty Fighting (Any)
Brawling [Dirty Fighting (Any)]
All successful rolls do improvised weapon damage. In
addition, normal damage according to weapon type is
also done if the opposed roll is won.
Pommel Strike [Dirty Fighting (Any)]
A successful pommel strike does normal damage,
according to weapon type, but the following round the
opponent cannot parry and is at -1 Swordsmanship.
However, a critical success does not increase damage but
instead increases the opponents modifier for the following
round to -3.
Below the Belt [Dirty Fighting (Any)]
A low blow designed to stun and disorientate the
opponent. If successful it does improvised weapon damage
but the following round the opponent is at a -5/+5
reflexive modifier to their Swordsmanship.
It should be noted that the Dirty Fighting style is
assumed to use only the rapier, dagger, and
improvised weapon types. A sabre can be used, but is
then treated as an improvised weapon to determine
modifiers and damage. In addition, regardless of a
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 characters actual Swordsmanship, a character using Inherited Duelling Style
this style has their Swordsmanship capped at 18 Table
before any modifiers are applied to determine their
Social Origin Duelling Style (Weapon)
Current Swordsmanship value.
The Paris Tribune 9.5.5 Unrestricted by Style (Any)
Son (any*) of an
aristocrat
Characters choice of any style except
Dirty Fighting (Any)

There are two advanced knacks that are available to all Son (any*) of a Characters choice of Hussar (Sabre) or
gentleman Fencing (Rapier)
five duelling styles and are considered part of them:
Tag [Unrestricted by Style (Any)] Son (any*) of a
No character choice: Fencing (Rapier)
merchant
An attack designed to humiliate and distract ones
Son (1st or 2nd) of a Characters choice of Dirty Fighting (Any) or
opponent by nicking exposed flesh with a tag, a la the
peasant Fencing (Rapier)
Mark of Zorro, or cutting various fastenings such that
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
items of an opponents clothing come loose or even fall off. Son (3rd or bastard) of
No character choice: Dirty Fighting (Any)
a peasant
This knack may be performed with a rapier at +1, 0
with a dagger and at -1 with a sabre, to Swordsmanship. *A bastard son may always choose Dirty Fighting (Any) instead.
It may not be performed with an improvised weapon. If
successful, no damage is done, but the opponent is at a - 9.5.7 Regimental Duelling Styles
3/+3 reflexive modifier to his Swordsmanship next round All regiments, apart from the Frontiers, have a specific
(increased to -5/+5 if a critical success). In addition extra duelling style associated with them which they require
Status awards and penalties may arise from the successful all its members to have before being admitted, as
use of Tag (see Status). listed in the Regimental Duelling Style Table. They also
Whatever the Cost [Unrestricted by Style (Any)] provide their members with Swordsmanship practice
and training in the advanced knacks of their style free
When damage is inflicted on an opponent, the attacker of charge at their barracks. (see Practice & Training).
elects to take that amount of damage himself and double
the amount of damage done to the opponent. Regimental Duelling Style
Table
9.5.6 Inherited Duelling Styles Regular Regiments Duelling Style (Weapon)

Each character starts the game with one specific KM and CG Main Gauche (Rapier & Dagger)
duelling style, inherited from their starting social
origin, as listed in the Inherited Duelling Style Table. All Cavalry Regiments Hussar (Sabre)

This reinforces the idea of different regiments 69A and GR Dirty Fighting (Any)
attracting different social classes: to rise above your
station requires work learning a new duelling style. All other Regiments Fencing (Rapier)

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9.5.8 Duelling Examples
What follows is a sequence of example duels between Aramis and Porthos. Any italicised modifiers within the
Current Swordsmanship column are reflexive modifiers derived from the knack used by the opponent.

The Paris Tribune

Aramis Porthos
Swordsmanship: 12 Endurance: 168
First Swordsmanship: 12 Endurance: 150
Panache: 11 Strength: 15
Example Panache: 14 Strength: 9
Weapon & Style: Rapier & Fencing Duel Weapon & Style: Rapier & Fencing
Resulting Current Current Resulting
Knack Used d20 Roll Outcome Round Outcome d20 Roll Knack Used
Endurance Swordsmanship Swordsmanship Endurance
150 En Garde 12 (12 +1 -1) 14 Miss 1 Hit 5 12 (12 +1 -1) En Garde 150
Porthos hits and does 18 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 9).
150 En Garde 12 (12 +1 -1) 11 Hit 2 Miss 15 12 (12 +1 -1) En Garde 120
Aramis hits and does 30 damage to Porthos (2 x Strength of 15).

RULES V7.2 S April 1629

150 En Garde 12 (12 +1 -1) 1 Hit 3 Miss 13 12 (12 +1 -1) En Garde 90
Aramis hits and does 30 damage to Porthos (2 x Strength of 15).
132 En Garde 12 (12 +1 -1) 7 Parry 4 Critical 12 12 (12 +1 -1) En Garde 90
Both characters succeed in their Current Swordsmanship rolls but Porthos rolls higher as a Critical is treated as a roll of 20. So Aramis only parries
while Pothos hits and does 18 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 9) as the successful parry reduces the damage multiplier by 1 while the successful
critical increases it by 1, so the damage multiplier remains at 2 rather than decreasing to 1 or increasing to 3.
132 En Garde 12 (12 +1 -1) 4 Hit 5 Miss 16 12 (12 +1 -1) En Garde 60
Aramis hits and does 30 damage to Porthos (2 x Strength of 15).
114 En Garde 12 (12 +1 -1) 15 Miss 6 Hit 6 12 (12 +1 -1) En Garde 60
Porthos hits and does 18 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 9).
96 En Garde 12 (12 +1 -1) 19 Miss 7 Hit 10 12 (12 +1 -1) En Garde 60
Porthos hits and does 18 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 9).
78 En Garde 12 (12 +1 -1) 14 Miss 8 Hit 11 12 (12 +1 -1) En Garde 60
Porthos hits and does 18 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 9).
78 En Garde 12 (12 +1 -1) 7 None 9 None 7 12 (12 +1 -1) En Garde 60
Both characters roll exactly the same so nothing actually happens.
78 En Garde 12 (12 +1 -1) 12 Critical 10 Parry 5 12 (12 +1 -1) En Garde 30

Both characters succeed in their Current Swordsmanship rolls but Aramis rolls higher as a Critical is treated as a roll of 20. So Porthos only parries
while Aramis hits and does 30 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 15) as the successful parry reduces the damage multiplier by 1 while the successful
critical increases it by 1, so the damage multiplier remains at 2 rather than decreasing to 1 or increasing to 3. As he has now been reduced to
less than 60 Endurance, Porthos surrenders and Aramis has won the duel.

Clearly, in their first duel, the superior Strength and Endurance of Aramis eventually won out over that of
Porthos, given that they both had an identical level of Swordsmanship.
By the time of their second duel, nothing has changed apart from Porthos has learnt the advanced Fencing
knack of Feint giving him a +5 to his Swordsmanship when he uses it. However, as it is an advanced knack,
Porthos is forced to alternate it with the basic Fencing knack of En Garde. So, when writing his duelling orders,
Porthos must specify which knack he opens with and then how he will continue. In this case it is simply: Feint
- En Garde (repeat sequence).

Aramis Porthos
Swordsmanship: 12 Endurance: 168
Second Swordsmanship: 12 Endurance: 150
Panache: 11 Strength: 15
Example Panache: 14 Strength: 9
Weapon & Style: Rapier & Fencing Duel Weapon & Style: Rapier & Fencing (including Feint)
Resulting Current Current Resulting
Knack Used d20 Roll Outcome Round Outcome d20 Roll Knack Used
Endurance Swordsmanship Swordsmanship Endurance
168 En Garde 13 (12 +1) 9 Hit 1 Parry 4 16 (12 +5 -1) Feint 120
Aramis hits and does 30 damage to Porthos (2 x Strength of 15). Despite rolling enough to Parry this round, Porthos is using Feint so he cannot.
168 En Garde 12 (12 +1 -1) 8 Hit 2 Miss 13 12 (12 +1 -1) En Garde 90
Aramis hits and does 30 damage to Porthos (2 x Strength of 15).
150 En Garde 13 (12 +1) 3 Parry 3 Hit 6 16 (12 +5 -1) Feint 90
Porthos hits and does 18 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 9). Despite rolling enough to Parry this round, Aramis cannot as Porthos is using Feint.
132 En Garde 12 (12 +1 -1) 15 Miss 4 Hit 4 12 (12 +1 -1) En Garde 90
Porthos hits and does 18 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 9).
114 En Garde 13 (12 +1) 9 Parry 5 Hit 13 16 (12 +5 -1) Feint 90
Porthos hits and does 18 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 9). Despite rolling enough to Parry this round, Aramis cannot as Porthos is using Feint.
87 En Garde 12 (12 +1 -1) 13 Miss 6 Critical 12 12 (12 +1 -1) En Garde 90
Porthos hits and does 27 damage to Aramis (3 x Strength of 9) as the successful critical increases the damage multiplier from 2 to 3.
51 En Garde 13 (12 +1) 20 Fumble 7 Critical 16 16 (12 +5 -1) Feint 90
Porthos hits and does 36 damage to Aramis (4 x Strength of 9). The successful critical increases the damage multiplier from 2 to 3 and the fact that
Aramis fumbled increases it again from 3 to 4. As he has now been reduced to less than 60 Endurance, Aramis surrenders and Porthos has won the duel.
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 Clearly, the use of an advanced knack such as Feint gives Pothos an appreciable advantage, Not only does it
provide him with a +5 bonus to his Swordsmanship, but it also prevents his opponent from parrying in any
round that he uses it. The down side is that Porthos cannot parry either when using it.

Aramis Porthos
Third
The Paris Tribune Swordsmanship: 15
Panache: 11
Endurance: 168
Strength: 15
Example
Swordsmanship: 18
Panache: 14
Endurance: 150
Strength: 9
Weapon & Style: Rapier & Fencing Duel Weapon & Style: Rapier & Fencing (including Feint)
Resulting Current Current Resulting
Knack Used d20 Roll Outcome Round Outcome d20 Roll Knack Used
Endurance Swordsmanship Swordsmanship Endurance
150 En Garde 16 (15 +1) 8 Parry 1 Hit 7 (9) 22 (18 +5 -1) Feint 150
Porthos hits and does 18 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 9). Despite rolling enough to Parry this round, Aramis cannot as Porthos is using Feint.
141 En Garde 15 (15 +1 -1) 4 Parry 2 Hit 15 18 (18 +1 -1) En Garde 150
Porthos hits and does 9 damage to Aramis (1 x Strength of 9) as the successful parry by Aramis reduces the damage multiplier by 1.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
123 En Garde 16 (15 +1) 6 Parry 3 Hit 15 (17) 22 (18 +5 -1) Feint 150
Porthos hits and does 18 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 9). Despite rolling enough to Parry this round, Aramis cannot as Porthos is using Feint.
114 En Garde 15 (15 +1 -1) 14 Parry 4 Hit 16 18 (18 +1 -1) En Garde 150
Porthos hits and does 9 damage to Aramis (1 x Strength of 9) as the successful parry by Aramis reduces the damage multiplier by 1.
87 En Garde 16 (15 +1) 10 Parry 5 Critical 19 (20) 22 (18 +5 -1) Feint 150
Porthos hits and does 27 damage to Aramis (3 x Strength of 9). Despite rolling enough to Parry this round, Aramis cannot as Porthos is using Feint.
69 En Garde 15 (15 +1 -1) 16 Miss 6 Hit 5 18 (18 +1 -1) En Garde 150
Porthos hits and does 18 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 9).
42 En Garde 16 (15 +1) 4 Parry 7 Critical 18 (20) 22 (18 +5 -1) Feint 150
Porthos hits and does 27 damage to Aramis (3 x Strength of 9) as the successful critical increases the damage multiplier from 2 to 3 (the criticals occur
because of Porthos having a Current Swordsmanship in excess of 20). Despite rolling enough to Parry this round, Aramis cannot as Porthos
is using Feint. As he has now been reduced to less than 60 Endurance, Aramis surrenders and Porthos has won the duel.

In their third duel, both Aramis and Porthos have increased their Swordsmanship. For Porthos, when he uses
the Feint advanced knack, he now has a Current Swordsmanship in excess of 20. This results in his d20 roll
being increased by 2, as this is the amount he is in excess of 20 by. This is noted in the d20 Roll column of the
table by a number in parenthesis, such as 7 (9) meaning that although he rolled 7 this is treated as a 9.
Clearly, the fact that Porthos has a Current Swordsmanship in excess of 20 when using Feint totally swings the
outcome of the duel in his favour. Indeed, Aramis fails to hit and damage him at all.

Aramis Porthos
Swordsmanship: 16 Endurance: 168
FourtH Swordsmanship: 18 Endurance: 150
Panache: 11 Strength: 15
Example Panache: 14 Strength: 9
Weapon & Style: Sabre & Hussar Duel Weapon & Style: Rapier/Dagger & Main Gauche
Resulting Current Current Resulting
Knack Used d20 Roll Outcome Round Outcome d20 Roll Knack Used
Endurance Swordsmanship Swordsmanship Endurance
168 Slash & Cut 14 (16 -1 -1) 12 Hit 1 Parry 8 (9) 21 (18 +3) Twin Blades 120
Aramis hits and does 30 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 15) as the successful parry by Porthos reduces the damage multiplier by 1.
159 Slash & Cut 14 (16 -1 -1) 7 Parry 2 Hit 11 (12) 21 (18 +3) Twin Blades 120
Porthos hits and does 9 damage to Aramis (1 x Strength of 9) as the successful parry by Aramis reduces the damage multiplier by 1.
150 Slash & Cut 14 (16 -1 -1) 11 Parry 3 Hit 17 (18) 21 (18 +3) Twin Blades 120
Porthos hits and does 9 damage to Aramis (1 x Strength of 9) as the successful parry by Aramis reduces the damage multiplier by 1.
132 Slash & Cut 14 (16 -1 -1) 17 Miss 4 Hit 6 (7) 21 (18 +3) Twin Blades 120
Porthos hits and does 18 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 9).
114 Slash & Cut 14 (16 -1 -1) 16 Miss 5 Hit 1 (2) 21 (18 +3) Twin Blades 120
Porthos hits and does 18 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 9).
105 Slash & Cut 14 (16 -1 -1) 7 Parry 6 Hit 7 (8) 21 (18 +3) Twin Blades 120
Porthos hits and does 9 damage to Aramis (1 x Strength of 9) as the successful parry by Aramis reduces the damage multiplier by 1.
96 Slash & Cut 14 (16 -1 -1) 11 Parry 7 Hit 14 (15) 21 (18 +3) Twin Blades 120
Porthos hits and does 9 damage to Aramis (1 x Strength of 9) as the successful parry by Aramis reduces the damage multiplier by 1.
96 Slash & Cut 14 (16 -1 -1) 8 Hit 8 Parry 6 (7) 21 (18 +3) Twin Blades 90
Aramis hits and does 30 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 15) as the successful parry by Porthos reduces the damage multiplier by 1
78 Slash & Cut 14 (16 -1 -1) 15 Miss 9 Hit 14 (15) 21 (18 +3) Twin Blades 90
Porthos hits and does 18 damage to Aramis (2 x Strength of 9).
51 Slash & Cut 14 (16 -1 -1) 16 Miss 10 Critical 19 (20) 21 (18 +3) Twin Blades 90
Porthos hits and does 27 damage to Aramis (3 x Strength of 9) as the successful critical increases the damage multiplier from 2 to 3.
As he has now been reduced to less than 60 Endurance, Aramis surrenders and Porthos has won the duel.

In their fourth duel, Aramis has increased his Swordsmanship and both have learnt new styles. Aramis is now
using a sabre with the Hussar style and Porthos is using a rapier and dagger with the Main Gauche style. This
means Aramis does more damage and Porthos has a Current Swordsmanship in excess of 20 due to his Panache.
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While Porthos is still dominant due to a Current Swordsmanship in excess of 20, the duel is much closer this
time as Aramis is doing more damage when he does hit. Indeed if in round 9 Aramis had rolled a 14 rather
than a 15, then he would have criticalled and done 45 damage (3 x Strength of 15) to Porthos. This would have
caused Porthos to surrender and leave Aramis as the victor.
S
9.6 Duelling Etiquette
A duel is not purely a matter of two opponents
fighting until there is a victor. Their conduct during
the course of the duel is as important as the actual
outcome of the duel, for determining the social
ramifications for the involved parties. All duels are
constrained within a strictly defined social framework
of etiquette, that determines what will be applauded
or decried by ones social peers. While adherence to
duelling etiquette is not mandatory, it is presumed
and non-compliance has social consequences.
9.6.1 Terms
The offended party, the one with cause to challenge,
has the right to name the terms of a duel in the event
of a pre-arranged duel. Such terms normally cover
time, location and victory - the latter normally being
one of three options: to first blood, to surrender, or to
the death; though to surrender is the norm. Duels to
the death can only ever be fought in a pre-arranged
fashion: the injured party states the terms as being to
the death and the other party has no choice but to
accept them or refuse the duel and face the
subsequent Status penalties for refusing a challenge
with cause. Terms may also specify pistols as the
weapon to be used rather than blades, though a duels
terms may not specify the type of blade used.
In the event of an impromptu duel then there are no
such specific terms and both duelists will be assumed
to fight using their regimental style and weapon until
one opponent surrenders, is unable to continue or is
dead. This may be altered by a character having
written conditional orders for blade type, duelling
style, acceptance or surrender.
9.6.2 The Etiquette of Seconds
While it is normal practice to have one or more
seconds attend a duel to hold your coat and ensure
fair play by both combatants, it is not mandatory. In
the case of an impromptu duel, such as meeting a
regimental enemy during the course of the month, it
is assumed that there are no seconds in attendance
unless regimental colleagues or other friends also
happen to be present in the locale. If they are present,
then they are presumed to act as seconds unless
conditional orders are written to specify otherwise;
though members of the General Staff are exempt from
such obligations to their former regiments. Equally,
anyone may write conditional orders to act as a
second to anyone they choose, other than a knave or
regimental enemy, in any such impromptu situation.
9.6.3 The Four Cornerstones
Regardless of whether any seconds are present or not
at a duel, there are four basic rules concerning the
etiquette of duelling. These Four Cornerstones have
social consequences for anyone that breaks them, but
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The Paris Tribune
apply specifically to seconds. Not only are they
forbidden from intervening in an ongoing duel unless
the duels rules are broken, they are presumed to
intervene if they are and failure to do so will result in
social penalties. It should also be noted that while
seconds are presumed to leap to their own mans aid
and defence, they would suffer social penalties for
doing so if it is the man they are seconding, who has
broken one or more of the Four Cornerstones:
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
S A duelist may not refuse surrender when offered by
an opponent, unless the terms of the duel were
previously stated as being to the death.
S A duelist may not draw a firearm during the course
of a duel with blades.
S A duelist may not refuse to concede once beaten in
a duel of which the terms are to first blood.
S No one may intervene in a duel without just cause,
such as one of the Four Cornerstones already
having been broken.
9.6.4 Status
Status is awarded or lost if a character, either as a
duelist or second, does any of the following in a duel:
S If he fights a member of his own Regiment,
regardless of the outcome, he loses 5 Status.
S If he fights a member of a neutral Regiment or a
civilian and wins, he gains 2 Status.
S If he fights a member of an enemy Regiment and
wins, he gains 5 Status.
S If he fights a member of an enemy Regiment and
loses, he loses 2 Status.
S If he uses the Dirty Fighting duelling style against
any opponent other than a Regimental enemy and
wins, he loses 1 Status.
S If he kills his opponent, he gains 2 Status.
S If he successfully uses the Tag (Unrestricted by
Style) advanced knack three or more times, or
achieves a critical success with it at least once
against any opponent and wins, he gains
1 Status.
S If he suffers the humiliation of an opponent
achieving a critical success with the Tag
(Unrestricted by Style) advanced knack at least once
against him, regardless of who eventually wins, he
loses 1 Status.
S If he pauses to allow a disarmed opponent to
recover his weapon, he gains 1 Status.
S If he breaks one of the Four Cornerstones, he loses
2 Status.
S If he fails to intervene as a second when one of the
Four Cornerstones is broken, he loses 2 Status.
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 S If he fails to intervene as a second on the behalf of
his man, when an opposing second intervenes, he
loses Status equal to half his Social Level.
The Paris Tribune S If he fails to attend a pre-arranged duel whilst in
Paris, regardless of whether he issued or received the
challenge, he loses Status equal to half his Social
Level for each duel that has been avoided, unless
prevented by arrest, injury (having less than 60
Endurance) or being sent to the front. If he is not
present because he is at the front of his own
volition, then he receives no roll for Mentions in
Dispatches that month, regardless of how many
duels have been avoided.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
S If he refuses a challenge that has cause, he is
penalised just as if he failed to turn up for a
pre-arranged duel, as outlined above.
S If he challenges with insufficient cause, he loses
2 Status.
S If his challenge is refused explicitly or simply by his
opponent failing to turn up for a pre-arranged duel,
unless it is made with insufficient cause, he gains
2 Status.
S If he fights a duel while at less than 60 Endurance,
he gains 3 Status.
S If he accepts a challenge to duel with pistols, he
gains 1 Status.
All of the above are cumulative, though each one may
not be applied more than once per duel.
9.6.5 Other Social
Consequences
When an impromptu duel occurs during a social
engagement, then there are potentially other
consequences for those involved:
S Duelling ones host is always considered bad form.
As such the duelist, regardless of the outcome of the
duel, must leave and gains no Status from attending
the event (apart from Status gained from duelling).
However, a host is always at liberty to write a
conditional order stating that he will not expel an
individual for duelling him. Equally, he may further
complicate such conditional orders as he sees fit
S The loser of a duel, for whatever cause other than
facing a knave (so a Regimental Enemy or a rival
suitor, for example), is forced to either leave the
social engagement or at the very least skulk away in
a corner and avoid whoever has defeated him. As a
result, they will gain only half the number of Status
from attending the event. If however they duelled
as a pre-weekly action, then that is not the case as
the matter of honour has already been resolved and
tempers have had a chance to cool
S If knave gains admittance to a social engagement,
then once they have fought the numerous duels
that will then doubtless ensue, they must leave the
event and get no Status for attending other than
any resulting from the duels they have fought
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9.6.6 Intervention
When seconds or other third parties intervene in
duels the situation inevitably gets messy. Unless the
characters concerned give conditional orders to the
contrary, the GM will make the following
assumptions in such a situation:
S All combatants will surrender at 60 Endurance.
S No one will draw or use a firearm.
S All combatants will pair off with a randomly
determined opponent.
S If one side outnumbers the other, which
combatants face more than one opponent will be
randomly determined.
S If a combatant faces more than one opponent, he
will be assumed to divide his Swordsmanship
equally between them (see Multiple Opponents).
9.6.7 Multiple Opponents
When a character faces more than one opponent, he
may elect to either choose one opponent to engage in
an opposed d20 roll and hence his other opponents
will attack unopposed meaning that he cannot parry
their attacks, or he may choose to split his
Swordsmanship between his opponents as he sees fit.
So a character with a Swordsmanship of 16 facing two
opponents can split his 16 points of Swordsmanship
into two separate d20 rolls, be that one at 10 and the
other at 6, both at 8 or however he wishes.
When a character splits his Swordsmanship between
multiple opponents, whichever knack he is using that
round is applied to all of his split attacks - a character
cannot split his Swordsmanship and then apply
different knacks to each split attack. It should be
noted that modifiers, whether from the use of knacks
or any other source, are not split but applied in full to
each split attack that round. A character may only
split his Swordsmanship in a round as many times as
he has opponents and must aim each split attack
against a different opponent. Also, if facing a single
opponent he may not split his Swordsmanship and
hence gain multiple attacks on the same opponent.
9.7 Writing Duelling
Orders
Characters may write duelling routines, whether as
one offs for a specific duel or as conditional, standing
orders. However, there is no need to do so unless a
character meets either of the following criteria:
S If he is trained in more than one duelling style; in
which case he must state which style he will use in a
duel, remembering that you can only use one style
in a duel and cannot change style during the course
of a duel.
S If he fights using a duelling style in which he has
any advanced knacks. In that case, he should state
which knacks he will use in what order -
remembering that an advanced knack must be
 followed by the styles basic knack. A styles basic
knack may be immediately repeated with no
restriction in a duelling routine, however.
Characters may also write conditional orders into
their duelling routines, though these will have to be
interpreted by the game master. For example, if a
duelist with the Riposte (Fencing) advanced knack
were facing an opponent with the Double Parry
(Main Gauche) advance knack then it would be to his
advantage to time his knack so that it did not fall in
the same round as the opponents Double Parry (Main
Gauche). Conversely, the opponent would be best
served for the two advanced knacks to actually
coincide in the same round.
As such, either duelist could write conditional orders
to try to achieve these conflicting aims. Though each
would start from an essentially blind position as to
their opponents opening knack, they could thereafter
elect to add in additional uses of their basic knack to
attempt to achieve the required timing based upon
their opponents opening gambit. Ultimately though,
this is all subject to the GMs interpretation of how
their orders are written.
In the event that a player character does not write a
duelling routine when they do indeed fall under either
of the criteria given above, then the character will be
assumed to be using his regimental duelling style and
only employing its basic knack.
Duelling routines must also be stated specifically.
Orders such as, Use Twin Blades plus any advanced
knacks as appropriate are not acceptable. It is the
players responsibility to write such orders, so please
dont expect the GM to compromise his impartiality
and make such decisions on your part. As such, all
such orders are ignored, with the default outlined in
the preceding paragraph substituted instead
9.7.1 Acceptance & Surrender
Players may also write conditional orders to cover
acceptance and/or surrender. Orders with regard to
Endurance must be stated in finite terms. So while an
order to surrender at less than 75 points of Endurance
is perfectly acceptable, an order to do so at half
Endurance is not and will ignored. If no orders are
given, the following will be applied by the GM:
S A duel with cause will only be declined if the
character is at less than 60 Endurance.
S A character will offer his surrender when reduced to
less than 60 Endurance.
What exactly happens when one duelist can decline a
duel due to injury? In addition to the decliner doing
so at no penalty, the other duelist is considered to
have won the duel via a technicality and so gains any
Status award as if he had actually fought the duel and
won. Regardless, the issue is considered to be resolved
and so there is no need for any postponement of the
duel to a later date. In the event of a non mutually
fatal duel, one or both players may be wounded.
Recovering from injury and the effects of injury are
covered under Recovering Endurance.
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9.8 Duelling
Advancement
The Paris Tribune
A duelist may improve himself in a number of ways
during the course of the game. Swordsmanship may
be increased by time spent at practice and through the
experience of fighting actual duels. Similarly, time
may be devoted to training in a particular duelling
style to learn its knacks.
9.8.1 Practice
Swordsmanship is the trait rolled against in all bladed
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
combats and remains the same regardless of what
weapon type or duelling style is employed. Apart from
modifiers derived from basic and advanced duelling
style knacks or using a weapon for which they are
untrained in a relevant style, a characters
Swordsmanship remains unchanged regardless of the
duelling style used. Swordsmanship can, however, be
increased by practice - though you may not increase
Swordsmanship beyond 26 and to increase it above
18, you must attend a Duelling Academy. This may
be achieved either at a characters regimental barracks
or at one of the three bladed Duelling Academies
(Fencing, Hussar, and Main Gauche). Note that you
do not have to join an academy as you would join a
club: they are just a facility to allow you to increase
your expertise.
It requires four (not necessarily consecutive) weeks to
increase Swordsmanship by 1, up to a maximum value
of 18. Such activity at a characters regimental
barracks is free or, if conducted at a Duelling
Academy, costs the level to which you aspire in
Crowns per week. Advancing a characters
Swordsmanship above 18 can only be achieved by
attending a Duelling Academy and still requires four
(not necessarily consecutive) weeks of practice to
increase Swordsmanship by 1, at a cost of double the
level to which you aspire in Crowns per week.
9.8.2 Training
Learning a duelling style takes 4 weeks of training
(not necessarily consecutive) at one of the four
Duelling Academies, to master the basics of that style
and gain the styles basic knack. Learning an advanced
knack (available at both regimental barracks and the
relevant Duelling Academy) also takes 4 weeks of
training and cannot be undertaken without first being
trained in the relevant duelling style and its basic
knack, with the exception of the Tag and Whatever
the Cost advanced knacks. These are both available to
anyone who is already trained in one of the five
duelling styles. Training at a Duelling Academy costs
25 Crowns per week. Regimental barracks only train
their own regimental duelling style, though at no cost.
With the sole exception of Dirty Fighting, which is
taught to any by both the 69th Arquebusiers and
Gascons, regimental barracks will only train
regimental members.
S Page 39
 9.8.3 Experience
Swordsmanship can also be improved as a result of
beating an opponent in an actual duel, as opposed to
The Paris Tribune merely practicing. Such an improvement in
Swordsmanship is limited as follows:
S Counts as one week of practice for beating an
opponent whose Swordsmanship is at least 1 better
than yours.
S Counts as two weeks of practice for beating an
opponent whose Swordsmanship is at least 3 better
than yours.
The above improvements are subject to the following
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
caveats:
S The duel must be at least to 60 Endurance, so
beating an opponent in a duel that is only to first
blood gains you nothing.
S There is a monthly cap on such Swordsmanship
advancement of 2 (having earned the equivalent of
8 weeks of practice), regardless of how many duels
are fought and won, though this is still in addition
to anything gained from weeks spent in practice.
S The GM retains the right to act against any
characters that attempt to abuse these rules in any
way, such as conspiring to constantly give one
another cause solely in order to duel and hence
improve their Swordsmanship.
9.8.4 Notes on Dirty Fighting
It should be noted that as a direct result of its
perceived uncouth nature, there is no Duelling
Academy for the Dirty Fighting style. It may only be
trained in or practiced at the barracks of the 69th
Arquebusiers or Gascon Regiments, or whilst a guest
within the Bastille. These regiments are the only ones
that will admit civilians or members of other
regiments for training and practice, though not
members of enemy regiments. They will charge your
Social Level on top of the cost normally charged by
Duelling Academies for training or practice. Every
week spent training in or practicing this style requires
a roll on 2d6 equal to or less than your Constitution;
otherwise you lose 10 points in Endurance, due to
bruises inflicted.
9.8.5 Duelling Academies
The four individual Duelling Academies (Fencing,
Hussar, Main Gauche and Pistol) are all separate and
individual locations within the game.
In order to attend a specific Duelling Academy, a
character must already have learnt the relevant style
before they may practise Swordsmanship there. If they
have not, then they may only attend in order to learn
the relevant style itself.
If a character is not explicit in their orders as to which
Duelling Academy they are attending, then they will
always be assumed to attend the specific Duelling
Academy that teaches their regimental style. If they
are a civilian, then they will be assumed to attend the
one that teaches their inherited style.
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9.9 Pistol Duels
It is possible for characters to enter into a pistol duel.
The two characters will fire once at each other and, as
long as the terms of the duel are met, will not reload.
Pistol duels only ever occur when pre-arranged -
impromptu duels are always fought with blades as a
gentleman does not walk around the streets of Paris
carrying a firearm!
9.9.1 Terms of a Pistol Duel
There are a number of terms that can be set by the
party that has cause when issuing the challenge. These
include the following:
S To first blood: each duelist fires once, reloading
and repeating this as required, until one of them is
wounded. However, both duelists must fire the
same number of shots. Even though a duelist might
shoot first and wound his opponent he still has to
receive his opponents remaining shot, despite
already having won the duel! Given the nature of
pistol wounds this could still result in a fatality so
to first blood is not as safe with pistols!
S To surrender: each duelist fires once, reloading and
repeating this as required, until one of them
surrenders. Either party can surrender at any point
after the first exchange of shots, regardless of
whether they have been wounded or not.
S To the death: each duelist fires once, reloading and
repeating this as required, until one of them is
dead.
S To a single exchange of shots: each duelist fires
once, but does not reload and fire again. Such a
duel can finish without a clear victor. Regardless of
such an outcome, the duels end sees the matter of
honour settled in full.
9.9.2 Basic Pistol Duelling
Mechanic
Pistol duelling is a much simpler affair than fighting
with blades (see the Pistol Duelling Actions Table).
When a character decides to fire, 1d20 is rolled
against his Marksmanship, modified by aims (there is
no limit to how many aims may be made). Note that
the roll, unlike in bladed duels, is not an opposed
one. If the roll is equal to or less than his skill the shot
will hit his opponent, otherwise he will miss. A
natural roll of 1 is always a miss. Conditional orders
for aims are not allowed when writing pistol duelling
orders. A finite number of aims must be explicitly
stated, meaning that a player cannot order keep
aiming until my opponent fires and then return fire.
Should a player do so, then they will not be
considered to aim at all!
Pistol Duelling Actions Table
Action Description
Aim +1 to Marksmanship
Fire You shoot at your opponent
Delope You fire into the ground
The damage caused to your opponent will depend on
where he is hit. A duelist may Call his Shot and suffer
the Skill Modifier listed on the Pistol Shot Location
Table, otherwise the location will be determined by a
the duel continues unless his opponent surrenders or
the Terms of the duel have already been met.
In addition to the Status normally applied to the
fighting of bladed duels (see Status), the following

The Paris Tribune

d20 roll on the same table. Any Additional Effects
Status is applied as a result of either party deloping
listed happen immediately and so could mean that the
and they are cumulative:
character will then be unable to return fire.
S If a character delopes first in a given exchange of
Note that after all modifiers have been added to
shots, he gains 3 Status.
Marksmanship, whether for Aims or Called Shots, it
cannot exceed 18. This means that a roll of 19 or 20 S If a character delopes first in a given exchange of
is always a miss. shots, when he initially issued the challenge, he
loses 3 Status.
Pistol Shot Location Table
S If a character delopes after his opponent delopes in

RULES V7.2 S April 1629

Location (1d20) Damage Additional Effects Skill Modifier
a given exchange of shots, he gains 1 Status.
Instant Return to Character
Head (20) -10 S If a character delopes after his opponent has fired in
Death Generation
a given exchange of shots, intending to hit, he gains
Must take to their bed 2 Status.
Vital Organs (19) 2d6x25 -8
for 1d3+1 weeks

Must take to their bed

9.9.4 Improving
Torso (16-18) 100 -4
for 1d3 weeks
Marksmanship
Marksmanship may only ever be increased by time
Drops any weapon in
that hand and cant use spent at practice and never through participation in
Arm (10-15*) 50 -6
a weapon in that hand pistol duels.
for 1d3 weeks**
While Marksmanship can be increased by practice, it
Cant walk or ride a can never increase beyond 18. To practice
Leg (4-9*) 70 -6
horse for 1d3+1 weeks Marksmanship you must attend the Pistol Duelling
Academy, which you do not have to join as you would
Cant sit down or ride a join a club: it is just a facility to allow you to increase
Buttocks (1-3) 25 horse for 1d3+1 weeks, -4 your expertise. It requires four (not necessarily
+1SPA for the shooter
consecutive) weeks to increase Marksmanship by 1,
up to a maximum value of 18. Such activity costs
* An odd number indicates the victims left limb and an
double the level to which you aspire in Crowns
even number the right.
per week.
** All characters in the game are right handed and may
only hold a weapon (specifically a dagger) in their left
hand when using the Main Gauche style. 9.10 Ambushes
A character may ambush another character, although
9.9.3 Deloping & Status this is frowned upon and may well result in an arrest
This is either a very brave or foolhardy action to and trial. A hidden assailant may jump his victim and
undertake, especially if a character does so prior to his cause the victim to be surprised, thus putting him at a
opponent firing. If a character delopes before his disadvantage before being able to retaliate. Assuming
opponent fires he still has to stand there and receive the assailant succeeds in ambushing his victim, he
his opponents shot. While characters may write may then order one of three courses of action:
conditional orders to also delope in the event of their
opponent doing so, they are not obliged to do so. S Charge his surprised victim with a drawn blade.

If a character delopes before his opponent fires then
he is effectively surrendering and therefore technically
loses the duel. Depending upon the Terms, such a
surrender may or may not have to be accepted by his
opponent though.
If a character delopes in response to his opponent
having already deloped in that exchange of shots, he is
considered to be accepting his opponents surrender
and wins the duel.
The character who initially issued the challenge to
duel with pistols may not delope before his opponent
fires, as this would make a mockery of the
proceedings. He may, however, write conditional
orders to receive his opponents shot and then delope.
In that case, it is not considered as a surrender and
www.canterburygamers.org.uk
S Fire a single pistol shot and then either fire a
second shot from another pistol, charge with a
blade or flee before the victim can act.
S Fire two pistol shots and then attempt to flee.
To carry out an ambush, the assailant must be in the
same location as the victim in any week of that
month. An ambush attempt takes an entire weeks
action, regardless of whether the ambush takes place
or not. There are nine nominal locations that can be
ordered for an ambush (see Location).
To be able to surprise a victim, the assailant must
succeed in an unopposed d20 roll against his
Tactics. This will then result in one of the following
possible outcomes:
S Page 41
 9.10.1 Critical Success
As per a Success (given below) but, in addition, the
assailant has no chance of being arrested or identified.
The Paris Tribune
9.10.2 Success
A bladed attack goes as a normal duel, including a
roll for being arrested except that the assailant gains a
+5/-5 reflexive modifier for the first round only.
Attacking with a pistol gives you 5 actions in which to
aim. A pistol assailant may then choose to fire a
second shot from another pistol with no aims, charge
with a drawn blade or flee before the victim can act.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
9.10.3 Failure
Ambush fails to happen, the assailant is not caught
but his presence and identity may be noticed and
reported in the The Paris Tribune. The chances of this
happening are identical to that of arrest for Duellingm
using all of the negative modifiers entailed by the fact
that an ambush was attempted
9.10.4 Fumble
The assailant is arrested by the City Watch for
attempted murder before the ambush can happen.
An ambush that goes to blades is always considered to
be to the death, unless one of the parties succeeds in
fleeing. In addition to certain circumstances already
noted, there is a chance of the assailant being
identified and arrested by the City Watch after the
ambush has taken place. See Crime & Punishment for
more details, though it should be noted that this
does not otherwise change the outcome of
the ambush. It is just a question of the
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possible consequences for the assailant who may be
put on trial for either murder or attempted murder.
9.10.5 Fleeing
Should the assailant wish to flee this is automatically
accomplished if he initially elected to fire a single
pistol shot and then flee. Outside of that particular
circumstance, either the assailant or his intended
victim may flee but this is somewhat more dangerous.
If the assailant elected to take a second pistol shot
then chooses to flee, he suffers an unopposed bladed
attack from the victim. Once combat with blades is
joined, whoever decides to flee will suffer two
unopposed attacks from their adversary
whilst doing so.
9.10.6 Status
Regardless of the outcome of an Ambush, the assailant
can never gain any status from it. This reflects the fact
that an Ambush is a cowardly, dishonourable,
murderous and hence criminal action! While it makes
use of the Duelling mechanics, any combat resulting
from an Ambush cannot ever be considered a Duel in
any formal or honourable sense as it breaks all of the
associated etiquette!
However, in the event of the victim surviving an
Ambush or actually defeating any assailants, status
will be awarded. The GM will judge each situation on
its individual merits, making whatever awards he
deems appropriate. This could also include status
penalties being imposed upon any failed assailants.
10 Regiments
10.1 Structure top-down in order of prestige. A character must also
post a public in character application prior to the

The Paris Tribune

The regimental structure enforces a rigid division into monthly Applications Deadline, via La Voix de Paris.
battalions/squadrons* each of which is made up of
You must of course gain the approval of the Colonel
two companies/troops* (*infantry/cavalry).
of the Regiment; if this is a player character then you
Regimental Structure Table will have to ask the player to allow you entry to his
Colonel Regiment. If the Regiment is commanded by an
Regimental Commander NPC then you must roll equal or higher than the
number shown on the Regimental Application Table.
Regimental Major Major 2 Major 3
1st Battalion/Squadron 2nd Battalion/Squadron 3rd Battalion/Squadron When influence is used, it adds or subtracts from the

RULES V7.2 S April 1629

Commander Commander Commander
Captains A & B Captains C & D Captains E & F
Company/Troop A & B Company/Troop C & D Company/Troop E & F
Commanders Commanders Commanders
10.1.1 Chain of Command
There are two cases: firstly who commands what unit
whilst at the front and secondly everything else whilst
in Paris (in particular admitting people to the
Regiment, excusing people from regimental duties and
volunteering units). The second case is easier: it is the
highest ranking officer in that unit (left most in the
Regiment (as per the Regimental Structure Table above)
takes priority for equal ranks).
It is possible to have command of two units
simultaneously (for example if you are a Captain and
there is no Major immediately above you then you
command both the Battalion/Squadron and your
Company/Troop). At the front, the same precedence
occurs, except that you are only allowed to be
attached to one unit: if you are an an aide to someone
who is at the front you will join him, if you have two
commands, you will take the higher of the two and
the next officer in line will act up below you to take
charge of your second command.
10.2 Joining &
number rolled and an A in the table is treated as a 1.
Applications to the Frontiers cannot be influenced. In
either case you must first conform to the minimum
Social Level of the regiment you wish to join and
already be trained in the regiments duelling style
(see the Regimental Duelling Style & Brigades tables).
Example: DArtagnan, who is Social Level 6, wishes to
join the Kings Musketeers so he must roll 5 or more on
1d6 to be admitted. He rolls a 4 which is a failure, but
he also uses a level 3 favour to influence the Colonel so
+1 is added to his roll to become 5 and so he succeeds
Example: Thierry, who is Social Level 8, wishes to join
the 27th Musketeers so he must roll 1 or more on 1d6 to
be admitted. He rolls a 2 which is a success, but a rival
uses two level 3 favours to influence the Colonel against
Thierry so -2 is added to his roll to become 0 and so he
fails, despite starting with an automatic acceptance
When you join, you may attempt to buy any rank up
to and including Major. You cannot purchase the rank
of Colonel unless you started the month as a Major in
the relevant regiment. Applying to join a regiment
happens prior to the purchase of any rank. So you
must join a regiment first without being able to write
conditional orders to only join at a specific rank.
So while a character might only wish to join as a
Captain, he joins the regiment before he knows for
certain what rank he will then hold once admitted.

Advancement You cant buy past a rank unless there is a vacancy at

Application to a Regiment is a pre-monthly activity,
however you may apply to any number of regiments
in one order. You may make one attempt to join each
Regiment per month and must attempt to join them
that rank, so if you want to be a Major and there are
already 6 Captains, you cant. The cost of each rank is
listed on the Regiments Table. You must purchase each
rank, so a Private wishing to become a Major would
have to pay the purchase price for Major, Captain and

Regimental Application Table

Social Level
Regiment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14+
Cardinals Guard - - - - - 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 A
Kings Musketeers - - - - - 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 A
Royal Horse Guard - - - - 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 A A
Queens Own Horse - - - 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 A A A
Crown Princes Cuirassiers - - 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 A A A A
Picardy Musketeers - 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 A A A A A
Princess Louisas Light Dragoons 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 A A A A A A A
27th Musketeers 4 4 3 3 2 2 A A A A A A A A
69th Arquebusiers 4 3 3 2 2 A A A A A A A A A
Gascon Regiment 4 3 3 2 2 A A A A A A A A A
Frontier Regiments A A A A A A A A A A A A A A

Cavalry regiments are shown in italics and A indicates automatic acceptance when the CO is an NPC S Page 43
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 Subaltern. Assuming there were sufficient vacancies, a
character could do so at the same time in a single
month. Only the ranks of Private and Subaltern have
an unlimited number of vacancies in a given
The Paris Tribune Regiment. To either purchase or be promoted to any
other rank within a Regiment requires there to be a
vacancy first.
10.2.1 Ranks
Privates must spend two weeks of each month on
duty with their Regiment: cleaning stables, mounting
guard, polishing equipment and so on. Subalterns
must spend one week of every month on duty
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
supervising the Privates. A Subaltern is the lowest level
of officer available in the French army and as such is
expected to conduct himself in the same manner as
higher level officers and is required to own a horse.
While on duty, Privates and Subalterns may undertake
no other action, with the exception of training in an
advanced knack of the Regimental Duelling Style or
practising Swordsmanship at no cost, or training at
the Royal Military Academy. However, attending the
RMA is not paid for by the Regiment and cannot be
undertaken by Privates. Performing barrack duties
may not be combined with toadying.
Officers above the rank of Subaltern need not spend
any time on duty at all. Privates and Subalterns may
be excused from duty by the permission of their
Battalion, Squadron or Regimental Commanders, or
the person who appointed them as either an Aide to
the General Staff or a Trooper of an Escort. An NPC
in such a position will excuse a character from one
week of duty on a roll of 5 or greater on one die. This
may be modified by influence.

Regiments Table
Regiment Private Subaltern Captain Major Regimental Major Colonel Requirements & Rewards
6 7 8 9 9 11 Minimum Social Level
- 130 140 250 - 320 Purchase Price in Crowns
Cardinals Guard
10 14 16 20 24 28 Monthly Pay in Crowns
5 6 7 8 9 10 Monthly Status
6 7 8 9 9 11 Minimum Social Level
- 130 140 250 - 320 Purchase Price in Crowns
Kings Musketeers
10 14 16 20 24 28 Monthly Pay in Crowns
5 6 7 8 9 10 Monthly Status
5 6 7 8 8 10 Minimum Social Level
- 120 130 235 - 305 Purchase Price in Crowns
Royal Horse Guard
10 14 16 20 24 28 Monthly Pay in Crowns
4 5 6 7 8 9 Monthly Status
4 5 6 7 7 9 Minimum Social Level
- 110 120 230 - 290 Purchase Price in Crowns
Queens Own Horse
8 10 14 18 22 26 Monthly Pay in Crowns
3 4 5 6 7 8 Monthly Status
3 4 5 6 6 8 Minimum Social Level
- 100 110 205 - 275 Purchase Price in Crowns
Crown Princes Cuirassiers
8 10 14 18 22 26 Monthly Pay in Crowns
3 4 5 6 7 8 Monthly Status
2 3 4 5 5 7 Minimum Social Level
- 90 100 190 - 260 Purchase Price in Crowns
Picardy Musketeers
6 8 12 16 20 24 Monthly Pay in Crowns
2 3 4 5 6 7 Monthly Status
2 3 4 5 5 7 Minimum Social Level
- 90 100 190 - 260 Purchase Price in Crowns
Princess Louisas Light Dragoons
6 8 12 16 20 24 Monthly Pay in Crowns
2 3 4 5 6 7 Monthly Status
- 2 3 4 4 6 Minimum Social Level
- 70 80 160 - 230 Purchase Price in Crowns
27th Musketeers
4 6 10 14 18 22 Monthly Pay in Crowns
0 1 2 3 4 5 Monthly Status
- - 2 3 3 5 Minimum Social Level
- 60 70 145 - 215 Purchase Price in Crowns
69th Arquebusiers
2 4 8 12 16 20 Monthly Pay in Crowns
0 0 1 2 3 4 Monthly Status
- - 2 3 3 5 Minimum Social Level
- 60 70 145 - 215 Purchase Price in Crowns
Gascon Regiment
2 4 8 12 16 20 Monthly Pay in Crowns
0 0 1 2 3 4 Monthly Status

Cavalry regiments are shown in italics

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Regimental Major is not a separate rank per se.
Instead, it denotes the senior Major within the
Regiment. As such, whoever is the senior Major uses
the rank of Regimental Major and gains the monthly
pay and Status set out in the Regiments Table as a
Regimental Major (all the usual requirements of being
a Major must still be met). While the Regimental
Major is the senior Major, this does not prevent a
junior Major leapfrogging the Regimental Major, if
the rank of Colonel is vacant.
In the event of more than one officer of the same
attempting to purchase a higher rank at the same
time, relative seniority comes into play and the rank is
awarded to the senior officer concerned. The same
holds true for merit promotion in the field, with it
awarded to the senior officer concerned while the
others who are passed over in this matter receive a
Mention in Dispatches instead (see Promotion).
10.2.2 Calling for an NPC to
Resign
An individual character may call for a specific NPC
officer to resign his commission within a regiment as
a pre-monthly action once per month. This succeeds
on a 1d6 roll of 7, meaning that influence is required.
The level of favour required to influence the NPC
will be according to the rank, appointment or title
held by the NPC, see the Influence Required Table to
determine what level of favour is required (the highest
thereof ). A natural roll of 1 is always unsuccessful
when calling for an NPC to resign.
An NPC who holds an appointment at the beginning
of a month will not accept any such calls to resign his
commission, so a character would have to succeed in a
previous month in getting the NPC to resign his
appointment first. In addition to being part of a
characters pre-monthly orders, the call for an NPC to
resign must also be made publicly in an in character
post via La Voix de Paris prior to the Applications
Deadline for that month, so that other player
characters have a chance to apply influence.
If a call for an NPC to resign is successful, he
will resign at the end of the month in which the
pre-monthly order is made. In which case, the rank
within the regiment will then be advertised as vacant
in that months issue of The Paris Tribune. That then
allows characters to apply for the vacant rank (this
does not require any public announcement unlike
applying for an appointment) and be appointed the
following month.
10.2.3 NPCs Filling
Regimental Vacancies
In the pre-monthly phase of the first month of every
season, after all player character actions with regard to
joining or purchasing a rank in a regiment have been
resolved, 1d6 is rolled for any regiment that still has
any vacancies. The number rolled is the number of
vacant positions that will then be filled, from Captain
upwards, by NPCs. In the case of the rank of Colonel
being vacant, it cannot be filled by an NPC unless
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there is already an NPC Major in the regiment. A
player character Regimental Commander may choose,
as a standing conditional pre-monthly order, to keep
one Majority or Captaincy open within the regiment
The Paris Tribune
and so prevent it being filled by an NPC.
10.2.4 Transferring Regiments
It is not possible for a character to simply transfer
from one regiment to another. If a character wishes to
move to another regiment then they are required to
first resign from their current regiment and then apply
to join a different regiment and subsequently purchase
whatever ranks they require, just as a civilian would.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
This means that, should they fail to gain admittance
to another regiment, they are no longer a member of
their former regiment and are simply a civilian. This is
also true in the case of regimental old boys in the
General Staff, wishing to serve within a regiment once
more. The only exception is for members of the
Frontiers, who only lose their rank in the Frontiers
when they are accepted into a regular regiment or if
they spend too long in Paris.
10.2.5 Colonels
Upon becoming a Colonel, a character is at the
summit of the regimental command structure. Unlike
other regimental ranks, the rank of Colonel may not
simply be purchased; the Adjutant General must
sanction such a purchase. This requires a roll on 1d6,
equal to or greater than the Status of the Brigade that
the regiment is in, as listed in the first column of the
Brigades Table.
As this roll is subject to the use of influence, it also
requires that a character wanting to purchase the rank
of Colonel post a public in character application
prior to the monthly Applications Deadline, via La
Voix de Paris. Promotion to Colonel in the field
requires no such sanction by the Adjutant General
and, hence, no such application or roll by a character.
All Colonels receive influence from their rank,
renewable every season, just like that gained from
holding an appointment. The level of favour gained is
equal to 3 plus the Status of the Brigade that the
regiment is in, as listed in the first column of the
Brigades Table. So the Colonels of the Cardinals
Guards and Kings Musketeers each gain a Level 9
favour (3 +6), the Colonels of the Picardy and 27th
Musketeers a Level 6 favour (3 +3), and all Colonels
of Frontier Regiments a Level 4 favour (3 +1).
10.3 Horses
There are three different types of horse available for
purchase. The standard horse costs 100 Crowns and
costs 5 Crowns each month to feed. Characters may
wish to purchase a better bred horse in which case
they can spend 150 Crowns for a horse that runs
faster and lasts longer. Such a horse will aid a riders
performance in any horse race and add 1 to his death
roll whilst at the front. However the better horse
needs to have better feed, thus the cost to support this
horse is 10 Crowns a month.
S Page 45
 Alternatively characters may not be able to afford
much when it comes to horses and a nag can be
purchased for 75 Crowns, this only requires 3 Crowns
a month for food. A nag will prove a hindrance to a
The Paris Tribune
rider in any horse race and -1 to the death roll.
Horses Table
Type of Purchase Monthly Death Resale value
horse cost support cost modifier at trade-in
Nag 75 Crowns 3 Crowns -1 25 Crowns
Standard 100 Crowns 5 Crowns 0 50 Crowns
Bred 150 Crowns 10 Crowns +1 100 Crowns
It should be noted that in order to gain the +1 bonus
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
to death rolls whilst at the front, Majors and above
must have 3 bred horses. Equally, it only takes 1 nag
to gain the -1 penalty to death rolls regardless of
whatever other horses they might own. Due to the
logistical issues of finding enough feed for an armys
horses, a character can never go to the front with
more horses than those required of his rank and
regiment (3 for all Majors and above; 1 for all
Subalterns and Captains; and 1 for all Privates in
cavalry regiments). While it is possible to purchase
horses when not in Paris, they cannot be transferred
to the front during a season, only at a seasons end or
beginning. So, should a character lose a horse whilst
at the front or get promoted to a rank that requires
more horses during a season, he is stuck with what he
originally took with him, though the army will loan
such a character enough standard horses to maintain
his requirement whilst at the front. As such, there are
no real benefits of any sort for having more horses
than the number required.
The Resale value listed in the Horses Table is the
amount that player characters will receive when
trading-in existing horses when purchasing new ones.
Beyond that, if a player character wishes to divest
himself of horses that are surplus to requirements, he
may elect to dispose of them as a pre-monthly action
in order to save himself their upkeep cost. All
members of a cavalry regiment and junior officers
(Subaltern and Captain) of all other regiments must
own at least one horse. All senior officers (Major and
above) must own at least three horses.
10.4 The General Staff
Promotions above the rank of Colonel are by merit
only and may not be purchased. Upon becoming a
Brevet Brigadier General, a former Colonel no longer
remains in command of his Regiment and must
relinquish control as he joins the General Staff,
leaving the position of Colonel in his former
Regiment vacant.
Members of the General Staff are no longer members
of their Regiment. They do not retain their regimental
enemies, nor do they retain free access to training at
their former barracks. Members of the general staff do
not involve themselves in duelling over matters of
regimental enmity and are not subject to its rules.
Generals do however, on occasion, retain a personal
dislike for their former regimental enemies. However,
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such dislikes remain solely the province of role-play
and the pursuance of personal vendettas and are not
forced upon characters by the rules.
Promotion to and within the General Staff is always
first to Brevet rank and then a second promotion is
needed to achieve a full rank. However in order to
receive the promotion to the full rank the character
needs to hold a Military Appointment for that rank,
i.e. a Brevet Lieutenant General would need to hold a
military appointment for a Lieutenant General in
order to receive the promotion to full Lieutenant
General. Holders of Brevet ranks above Brigadier
General effectively hold two ranks at the same time,
so a Brevet General is also a full Lieutenant General.
This allows them to apply for military appointments
open to either rank, so a Brevet General could apply
to be a Division or an Army Commander.
Brevet ranks only last for one year, after which time
they are lost and the character reverts to his former
rank. So after a year of being a Brevet Lieutenant
General, a character would revert to being a full, not
brevet, Brigadier General.
However, in the case of a Brevet Brigadier General, if
they have failed to confirm their rank as a full, not
brevet, Brigadier General within a year then they will
lose their position within the military. In such a
situation, their only options are to immediately
volunteer to join the Frontiers as a Colonel, become a
civilian or else seek to join any regiment at any rank,
but no higher than Major, as if they were a newcomer
to Paris.
The General Staff Table lists the Minimum Social
Level needed to hold a given General Staff rank, plus
the pay and Status awarded each month:
General Staff Table
General Staff Minimum Monthly Pay Monthly
Rank Social Level in Crowns Status
Brigadier General 6 30 Crowns 8
Lieutenant General 8 35 Crowns 9
General 10 40 Crowns 10
10.5 The Frontiers
There are always a minimum of 12 Frontier
Regiments within the game, 2 per province. As such
they constitute a minimum of 6 Frontier Brigades,
though at any one time throughout the year there are
normally only 4 in active deployment guarding the
nations frontiers (subject to GMs fiat). Anyone may
volunteer to join a Frontier Regiment as a Private at
any time and all ranks within the Frontiers are gained
solely by promotion in the field - they cannot be
purchased. Moreover, once back in Paris, a character
who holds a rank in the Frontiers will lose it if they
do not rejoin the Frontiers at the front within 3
months. Meaning that they can never spend more
than 2 consecutive months in Paris without losing
their rank within the Frontiers. Should a character
lose his rank within the Frontiers, he can always rejoin
as a Private and begin again from the bottom.
Members of the Frontiers receive no pay or Status
and, while in Paris, are not subject to the usual
requirements of holding a specific rank, such as
performing barrack room duty or having a certain
number of horses unless they are a member of the
General Staff. Frontiers regiments do not require their
members to be trained in a specific duelling style and,
as they have no permanent barracks within Paris, do
not offer training or practice facilities to their
members. Frontier regiments are always considered to
be infantry units with regard to any other game rules.
Members of the Frontiers who are promoted in the
field gain a one off level 3 favour for each such
promotion. It should be noted that this is not the case
if they are actually a member of a regular regiment
who merely is seconded for a time to serve with the
Frontiers. These one off level 3 favours do not
refresh once used and any unused ones are lost when
the character joins a regular regiment, or else loses
their rank in the Frontiers due to staying too long in
Paris. In addition, any and all such favours are lost if
the character is caught poltrooning. Only members of
a regular regiment may be promoted above the rank
of Colonel and into the General Staff. Colonels who
solely command Frontier regiments can never be
promoted into the General Staff.
10.6 Brigades
All regular Regiments are a component of a specific
Brigade. Such units are a permanent configuration of
Regiments. They do not alter as does the composition
of Divisions and Armies. While there are multiple
Frontier Brigades, made up of Frontier Regiments,
they are neither named or fixed in nature though their
Brigade Commanders are if player characters.
Brigades Table
Status for Brigade* Brigade and Component Regiments (abbreviation)
+6 Brigade of Guards
Cardinals Guard (CG)
Kings Musketeers (KM)
+5 1st Brigade of Horse
Royal Horse Guard (RHG)
Queens Own Horse (QOH)
+4 2nd Brigade of Horse
Crown Princes Cuirassiers (CPC)
Princess Louisas Light Dragoons (PLLD)
+3 1st Brigade of Foot
Picardy Musketeers (PM)
27th Musketeers (27M)
+2 2nd Brigade of Foot
69th Arquebusiers (69A)
Gascon Regiment (GR)
+1 Frontier Brigades
Frontier Regiments (Frts)
*Additional Status awarded to the Brigade Commander.
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The Brigades Table shows all the Brigades and their
component Regiments, their regimental enemies,
which barracks they are stationed in and their duelling
style. The table additionally lists the Status received by
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Brigade Commanders and Brigade Majors in addition
to the normal monthly Status for their position. It
should be noted that Frontier units do not have
Brigade Majors or Regimental Adjutants.
10.6.1 Enemy Regiments
Apart from the Frontiers, every regiment in the game
has an enemy regiment. As such, their members will
normally duel one another on sight and these
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
regimental enmities often shape and colour the
various competing cliques of characters within the
game. An obvious example being the hatred held in
common between the Kings Musketeers and the
Cardinals Guard, though many others exist
10.6.2 Barracks
The Cardinals Guard & Kings Musketeers each have
their own individual barracks in the centre of Paris.
The other regular regiments share four barracks
between them, each situated on the edges of the city
(the Frontiers have no barracks in Paris). Regiments
which share a Barracks can be assumed to be on good
terms with one another and act as seconds in duels.
Characters of friendly regiments, practising
swordsmanship or their regimental style at the same
barracks, may toady with one another whilst doing so.
If practising whilst performing barrack room duties,
Subalterns and Privates are prevented from toadying
in any case. Members of the General Staff may not
attend Regimental Barracks, apart from when training
in Dirty Fighting.
Enemies Regimental Weapon, Duelling Style & Barracks
KM Rapier & Dagger, Main Gauche, Cardinals Barracks
CG Rapier & Dagger, Main Gauche, Kings Barracks
QOH Sabre, Hussar, North Barracks
RHG Sabre, Hussar, South Barracks
PLLD Sabre, Hussar, South Barracks
CPC Sabre, Hussar, North Barracks
27M Rapier, Fencing, East Barracks
PM Rapier, Fencing, West Barracks
GR Rapier, Dirty Fighting, West Barracks
69A Rapier, Dirty Fighting, East Barracks
none Any, None, None
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 11 The Front
The Paris Tribune 11.1 At the Front &
the Summer Campaign
Being at the front is possible in all months
throughout the year. However, being at the front is
not the same as being on campaign. The latter only
happens during the Summer season, otherwise known
as the Campaign season. While the frontiers of La
Belle France require defending all year round from
numerous enemies, it is only during the Summer
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
season that the weather is good enough and supplies
available to allow large scale troop movements.
In rare and extreme circumstances, formal campaigns
can also take place outside of the Summer season such
as if France were invaded for example. That remote
possibility aside, there remains a clear distinction
between being at the front and on campaign.
While Regiments and Brigades are permanent
formations that exist all year round, Armies and
Divisions are only formed and act in the field during
the Campaign season. Outside of the Summer season
they only exist on paper.
11.2 Volunteering or
being sent to the Front
Appointments or ranks that give the power to send
units to the front can only do so outside of the
Campaign season. During the Campaign season it is
solely down to the Minister of State, albeit tweaked by
the Minister of Wars power of Substitution. Units not
sent to the front for the Campaign season cannot
otherwise be sent or volunteer, though individuals can
always volunteer by temporarily joining the Frontiers
on secondment from their own Regiment.
11.2.1 Commanding Others
The following can send or excuse units to or from the
front outside of the Summer Campaign season:
S Inspector Generals may send or excuse Brigades and
Regiments, though only either Infantry or Cavalry
depending on which position they hold.
S Brigade Commanders may send or excuse their
Brigade and constituent Regiments thereof, though
they must always accompany whatever they send.
S Colonels may send or excuse their Regiment and
constituent Battalions/Squadrons thereof. They do
not need to accompany individual units, but must
accompany them if the entire Regiment is sent.
S Majors may send their own Battalion/Squadron and
must accompany it if they do.
The smallest unit that may be sent or excused is a
Battalion/Squadron. In order to send or excuse a
Company, the whole of its Battalion/Squadron must
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be so ordered. Also, a subordinate officer cannot
excuse units sent by a superior. So a Colonel cant
excuse part of his regiment if it is sent to the front by
the Brigade Commander.
Alternatively anyone, whether a member of a regiment
or not, may always volunteer to serve with the
Frontiers (see The Frontiers).
11.2.2 Returning to Paris
Once at the front, all units stay there until the end of
the season. Characters with such units cannot return
to Paris until the end of a season. Characters who are
promoted out of an appointment which meant they
were at the front, return to their regiment. If their
regiment is not at the front, then they return to Paris.
This includes the case of a Colonel who is promoted
to Brevet Brigadier General and hence is no longer in
a regiment; he also would return to Paris.
However, this does not prevent such a character from
returning to the front the following month, by
volunteering to command a Frontier regiment, or by
being appointed to a field command of a unit at the
front. The only other exception to this is when
characters are part of a force that successfully
suppresses a riot (see Military Governors).
11.2.3 Avoiding the Front
Volunteering aside, the rules for being sent to or
excused from going to the front are different between
the Summer Campaign season and the other nine
months of the year. During the Summer Campaign
season, characters whose regiments are committed
only avoid going to the front with them if they hold
an appointment that either prevents them going (such
as the King or Cardinals Escorts), or puts them under
the command of someone who is not going (such
being an aide to a member of the General Staff or a
Cabinet Minister who is not going on Campaign). In
both of these cases, while the character concerned
does not go, his regular unit does and someone will
act up to temporarily fill his slot in the regiment.
Outside of the Summer Campaign season, in addition
to appointments as described immediately above,
other characters may also be excused but only by
virtue of their unit being excused. So if a Colonel
decides to take his regiment to the front he could
excuse some of the constituent Battalions/Squadrons
from going, which would therefore excuse the Major,
the two Captains and the Subalterns and Privates in
those specific Battalions/Squadrons.
Example: If the Regimental Major of the CG were to be
excused, so would his unit. In this case the 1st Battalion
of the CG, which would also excuse the Captains of A &
B companies, and any Subalterns and Privates in those
specific Companies. If the Colonel of the CG were to be
excused, then all of the CG would have to be excused
In summary, a character will be at the front if one, or
more, of the following is true:
S You are in a unit which is at the front.
of any units at the front throughout the year. If he
does not allocate a specific deployment to a unit
outside of the campaign season, they are assumed to
be assigned to Field Operations.

The Paris Tribune

S You are aide to someone who is at the front or an
adjutant of a unit at the front.
S You have volunteered to serve with the Frontiers.
S You are in pecuniary disgrace (see Insolvency).
11.3 The Summer
Campaign
11.3.3 Force Organisation
A player character Minister of War must also decide
on the Force Organisation of all the Brigades
committed by the Minister of State, dividing them
into divisions that then make up armies. There are
always two armies, each of which consists of two
divisions and a division must always consist of at least
two brigades.

RULES V7.2 S April 1629

Each summer campaign season, the regular army will When deciding on the Force Organisation the
always send two armies to the front on campaign. Minister of War has at his disposal both the Minister
These armies will face an enemy already determined of States Force Commitment of the regular Brigades
in March of that year (see Determing the Enemy for the and the Frontier Brigades committed by the GM. The
Summer Campaign). Force Organisation must include all committed
brigades, both regular and frontier. If there is no
player character Minister of War, the GM will decide
11.3.1 Force Commitment the Force Organisation as he sees fit.
The GM rolls 1d6 and consults the Force
Commitment Table, which indicates which Brigades Once the Minister of War decides upon the Force
are sent on campaign. If a player character is Minister Organisation in Aprils pre-monthly phase, he cannot
of State, he may instead decide how many and which change the total number of brigades. The Minister of
Brigades are sent, though he must send at least 2 and War can, however, swap around the brigades within
can choose to send all 5 Brigades. Once the Force divisions and the divisions within armies as a pre-
Commitment is set for the next Summer Season, in monthly action, on a month by month basis.
Marchs pre-monthly phase, it cannot be changed. Example:
Force Commitment Table S 1st Army
1d6 roll: 1 2 3 4 5 6
S 1st Division
Guards Brigade: No No Yes Yes No Yes (Guards Brigade & Gascony Frontier Brigade)
1st Horse Brigade: No Yes No No Yes Yes
S 2nd Division
2nd Horse Brigade: No No Yes Yes Yes Yes (2nd Horse Brigade & Normandy Frontier Brigade)
1st Foot Brigade: Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
S 2nd Army
2nd Foot Brigade: Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
S 3rd Division
(1st & 2nd Foot Brigades)
11.3.2 Force Deployment
The GM rolls 1d6 and consults the Force Deployment S 4th Division
Table, which indicates each Brigades deployment (1st Horse Brigade & Burgundy Frontier Brigade)
(Assault, Defence, Field Operations or Siege). If a
player character is Minister of War, he may instead 11.3.4 Substitution
choose the deployment of each individual Brigade A player character may petition the Minister of War
committed by the Minister of State. to have a Regiment which is not going on campaign
Force Deployment Table during the regular Summer campaign season
substituted for one which is. The substituted
1d6 roll: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Regiment must be of the same type, infantry or
Guards Brigade: S A D F F F cavalry, as the unit it is substituted for. Substitution
can be done as a pre-monthly action in April and only
1st Horse Brigade: S F F F F F
one regiment may be substituted in total, per year.
2nd Horse Brigade: S D F F F F
Example: If the Second Brigade of Foot is to go on
1st Foot Brigade: S A A D F F campaign, but the Brigade of Guards is not, the
2nd Foot Brigade: S S A D F F
Cardinals Guard could replace the 69th Arquebusiers.
If several players submit conflicting petitions and
Unlike Force Commitment, Force Deployment, receive modified die rolls of 7 or higher, the petition
whilst initially determined in April, can be changed is granted to the player with the highest die roll. If
by a player character Minister of War whenever he several players have equally high die rolls, the Minister
wishes as a pre-monthly action, on a month by month of War will grant the petition of the player with the
basis. It should be noted that a player character highest Social Level. If several players have equally
Minister of War may also determine the deployment high Social Levels, either one must withdraw his
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 petition or a duel is required. The petition is granted
to the winner of the duel. An NPC Minister of War
will grant a players petition on a roll of 7 on 1d6.
This roll may be altered by influence.
The Paris Tribune If a player is Minister of War, he may substitute one
Regiment as he sees fit. Units substituted, either by a
player or non-player Minister of War, serve in the
Brigade of and are deployed just as the Regiment they
have replaced, rather than their own.
11.3.5 Frontiers
In addition to the Minister of States Force
Commitment, the GM will also commit at least 4
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
Frontier Brigades. The exact number of Frontier
Brigades committed beyond 4 is, however, entirely up
to the GMs discretion.
11.4 Determining the
Results of Battle
Campaign battle result determination begins at the
highest level and proceeds to the lowest. First the
Battle Result of the Army is determined, then the
Division, Brigade, Regiment and finally the
Battalion/Squadron. Battle results are determined by
rolling 1d20 against the Tactics of the relevant officer
and consulting the Battle Result Table to determine the
active characters Battle Result, in all cases opposed
against the result of the commanding officer of the
enemy force.
Various modifiers will be applied to the Tactics of
those involved, determined by factors such as whether
a force is outnumbered, of poorer quality and the
results of previous months. This list of modifiers is
not exhaustive and all such modifiers are applied
purely at the discretion of the GM. During the
summer campaign season only the Army
Commanders roll on the Battle Result Table. All other
officers commanding Battalions, Squadrons or larger
also roll 1d20 against their Tactics and any modifiers,
opposed against the same result of the enemy
commander their own Army Commander faced, and
then consult the Battle Result Modifier Table instead.
Outside of the Summer Campaign season only
Brigade Commanders rolls on the Battle Result Table.
The modifier is then applied to their commanders
Battle Result, and the result is their personal Battle
Result. Only officers in command of a Battalion or
Squadron, or higher, may influence the battle result,
meaning that Captains, Subalterns and Privates simply
receive the unaltered Battle Result of their Regiment.
Outside of the summer campaign season, when there
are usually no French Armies or Divisions at the
front, each Brigade Commander rolls on the Battle
Result Table and the result is then modified by the
Tactics rolls of the relevant enemy commander as
previously described. Thereafter, the result then
cascades down through the command structure, just
as in the summer.
Example: Summer Season Battle Result Determination
Enemy Army Commander (Tactics: 15)
Rolls 13 (a partial success versus the PC Army
Commander's roll of 14).
2nd Army Commander (Tactics: 15)
Rolls 14 (a success versus the enemy Army Commander's
roll of 13).
So the Enemy Army's Battle Result is 3
& the 2nd Army Commander's Battle Result is 2.
3rd Division Commander (Tactics: 10)
Rolls 9 (a partial success versus the enemy Army
Commander's roll of 14), this produces a Battle Result
modifier of 0, so the 3rd Divisions Battle Result is 2.
1st Foot Brigade Commander (Tactics: 13)
Rolls 15 (a failure versus the enemy Army Commander's
roll of 14), this produces a Battle Result modifier of 0, so
the 1st Foot Brigades Battle Result is 2.
27th Musketeers Colonel (Tactics: 12)
Rolls 20 (a fumble versus the enemy Army Commander's
roll of 14), this produces a Battle Result modifier of +1,
so the 27th Musketeer Regiments Battle Result is 3.

Battle Result Table

ENEMY COMMANDER

Critical Success Success Partial Success Failure Fumble

Critical Success Battle Result 2 Battle Result 2 Battle Result 1 Battle Result 1
COMMANDER

Success Battle Result 3 Battle Result 2 Battle Result 2 Battle Result 2

FRENCH

Partial Success Battle Result 4 Battle Result 3

Failure Battle Result 5 Battle Result 4 Battle Result 4 Battle Result 3

Fumble Battle Result 6 Battle Result 5 Battle Result 5 Battle Result 5

Battle Result Modifier Table

ENEMY COMMANDER

Critical Success Success Partial Success Failure Fumble

Critical Success 0 to Battle Result -1 to Battle Result -2 to Battle Result -2 to Battle Result
FRENCH OFFICER

Success 0 to Battle Result -1 to Battle Result -1 to Battle Result -1 to Battle Result

Partial Success 0 to Battle Result 0 to Battle Result

Failure +1 to Battle Result 0 to Battle Result 0 to Battle Result 0 to Battle Result

Fumble +2 to Battle Result +1 to Battle Result +1 to Battle Result +1 to Battle Result

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Major, 27th Musketeers 2nd Battalion (Tactics: 9) All players use the modifiers of their rank.
Rolls 14 (a failure versus the enemy Army Commander's Battalion/Squadron Commanders use their battle
roll of 14), this produces a Battle Result modifier of 0, so results only to modify their results on the Personal
his personal Battle Result is 3. Outcome Table. Players who are not Commanders of a

The Paris Tribune

Battalion or Squadron ignore that battle result and use
All Captains, Subalterns and Privates of the 27th
that of the Regiment instead.
Musketeers get the Regiments Battle Result of 3.

11.5.2 Reckless Bravery &

11.5 Interpreting the
Results of Battle
The Battle Result of an individual unit indicates its
overall fortunes within the battle, whether an Army,
Poltroonery
It is possible for the character to modify his death roll
further than is done by rank and regiment. This is
indicated on the order sheet as the characters (positive
or negative) death roll modifier.

RULES V7.2 S April 1629

Division, Brigade or Regiment. A Battle Result of 1 is
the best and 6 the worst of all possible results. Once the modifier is applied to the death roll it is also
applied to the other three rolls. A character may
decide to be recklessly brave, thus improving his
11.5.1 Personal Outcome chance of dying but also raising his chance of being
Once the Battle Result for the unit has been mentioned, promoted and gaining loot.
determined, the Personal Outcome Table is consulted.
The relevant numbers are noted and the Personal There are cases where a character has an impossible
Outcome Modifier Table is consulted, and the death roll, but he cannot reduce his death roll to a
modifiers applied to the Target Numbers specified in point where it is still impossible for him to die. In
the Personal Outcome Table which is rolled against 2d6 order to reap the benefits of reckless bravery he must
for each of Death, MiD, Promotion and Loot. reduce his death roll to at least 12. Any order to
reduce a death roll to 13 or higher will be treated as
Personal Outcome Table an order to reduce it to 12.
Deployment BR Death MiD Promotion Loot (Crowns)
Personal Outcome Modifier
1 10 11 9 9 (3d6x100)
Table
2 8 9 7 8 (4d6x100)
Rank, Command or Regiment Death MiD Promotion Loot
3 11 12 10 11 (2d6x100)
Siege General +5 0 0 -6
4 11 12 10 12 (1d6x100)
Lieutenant General +4 0 0 -5
5 9 10 8 -
Brigadier General +3 0 -1 -4
6 7 8 8 -
Colonel +2 0 0 -2
1 9 9 8 4 (4d6x100)
Regimental Major and Major +2 0 0 -2
2 8 7 7 5 (6d6x100)
Captain and Subaltern +1 -1 0 -1
3 7 6 6 6 (4d6x100)
Assault Army Command +4 0 0 -3
4 9 11 8 -
Division Command +2 0 0 -2
5 8 9 7 -
Brigade Command +1 0 0 -1
6 6 8 5 -
Cardinals Guard +2 0 0 -1
1 9 9 8 7 (2d6x100)
Kings Musketeers +2 -1 0 -1
2 8 10 7 9 (2d6x50)
Royal Horse Guard +2 -1 0 -1
3 10 12 9 12 (1d6x50)
Defence
4 10 12 9 12 (1d6x50) Queens Own Horse +2 0 0 0

5 6 7 5 - Crown Princes Cuirassiers +1 -1 -1 0

6 7 11 6 - Picardy Musketeers 0 0 0 0

1 10 9 9 8 (2d6x50) Princess Louisas Light Dragoons 0 0 0 0

2 10 10 9 9 (2d6x100) 27th Musketeers 0 0 0 0

3 9 12 8 10 (2d6x50) 69th Arquebusiers -1 0 +1 -2

Field
Operations 4 8 12 7 11 (1d6x50) Gascon Regiment -1 0 +1 -2

5 7 10 6 12 (1d6x50) Frontier Regiments -1 0 +1 -1

6 6 7 5 -
All characters serving with their Regiment use the
battle result and table modifiers of the Regiment;
players serving with higher commands use the result,
deployment (always field operations) and modifiers of
that command (i.e. a Division Commander and his
Aide would all use the battle result of the Division
and the table modifiers of a Division Commander).
www.canterburygamers.org.uk
BR: Battle Result; MiD: Mention in Dispatches
Conversely, a character may decide to decrease the
chance of him dying, but this also decreases the
chances of the other rolls by the same amount that
the death roll is modified. This is called poltroonery;
when a character participates in such an act there is a
chance that he will be noticed and several unpleasant
things can happen (see the Poltroonery Table).
S Page 51
 Poltroonery Table
1d6 Roll Outcome
1-2 Poltroonery not noticed
The Paris Tribune 3-5
Poltroonery noticed: lose Status until
mentioned in dispatches
Poltroonery noticed: dismissed from his
6
Regiment and/or the General Staff
If the cowardice is noticed, the offender loses Status
equal to twice the number he modified the death roll
by until he is mentioned in dispatches and, if noticed
poltrooning, no rolls are made for MiDs, Promotion
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
or Loot! If the offender is dismissed from his
Regiment and/or the General Staff he will have to
serve with the Frontiers as a Private until he is
mentioned in dispatches, as no regiment will admit a
coward into its ranks, and he cannot return to Paris
until the end of the current season.
Such a loss of rank will also result in the loss of any
appointments that are dependant upon it and still
incurs the monthly status loss indicated by a roll of
3-5 on the Poltroonery Table.However, once serving
as a Private in the Frontiers, such a character is still
eligible for promotions in the field. If a player wishes
to modify their characters death roll, whilst on
campaign, it should be ordered like this:
Bravery: 11+ to 11. Poltroonery: 9- to 9.
Which would mean: if my death roll is higher than 11,
reduce it to 11. If my death roll is lower than 9, increase
it to 9. The rolls for MiDs, Promotion and Loot will all
decrease or increase by the same factor.
Players are warned that an order such as, set my
Death roll to 10, will be interpreted as meaning
exactly that: so it could just as easily involve
poltroonery as reckless bravery!
11.5.3 Other Personal
Outcome Modifiers
If required to have one or more horses, the quality of
a characters horses modify his death roll. If all of your
horse requirement are bred horses you gain +1 to your
death roll, whilst the presence of even a single nag
results in a -1 modifier to your death roll.
In addition, outside of the campaign season during
the summer, there are seasonal modifiers to a
characters death roll: -1 in the Spring and Autumn
Seasons, increasing to -3 in the Winter Season.
Example: Personal Outcome
Henri is a Subaltern in the CPC, in the Campaign
Season, which is on Field Operations with a battle result
of 4. He consults the Personal Outcome Table and also
the Personal Outcome Modifier Tables and then
calculates his rolls as follows, given that he has a
standard horse and hence gets no modifier from that:
Modifiers Death Mentioned Promotion
Field Ops BR4 8 12 7 11 (1d6x50)
Subaltern +1 -1 0 -1
CPC +1 -1 -1
Total 10 10 6 10 (1d6x50)
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Assume that he is particularly brave and has ordered
bravery to 9. His rolls will then all be reduced by 1 to
9/9/5/9 (1d6x50). He gets each outcome if he rolls that
number or above on 2d6, so if he rolls 5/5/11/10, hell
survive, not be mentioned, get a promotion (assuming
theres a gap at captain above him) and gets 1d6x50
Crowns in loot.
11.5.4 Death
If you roll higher than this target number you die,
without any chance of being saved or any other kind
of last minute reprieve. If you roll exactly your death
target number then you are wounded instead, though
such a wound may still kill you outright! If wounded
you take 10 x (1d6+5) Endurance in damage.
In addition, if you have one, your horse will die in the
event of you rolling either exactly equal to or one less
than your death target number. Whilst at the front, it
is always assumed that you are riding your best quality
horse and that if you have 3 horses due to being a
Major or above you will take your 3 best quality
horses with you to the front, unless otherwise
specifically ordered. Due to the logistical issues of
finding enough feed for an armys horses, a character
can never go to the front with more horses than those
required of his rank and regiment (3 for all Majors
and above; 1 for all Subalterns and Captains; and 1
for all Privates in the Cavalry).
In the event that a character either loses a horse or
gets promoted to a rank that requires more horses, the
army will lend him enough standard horses to make
up any shortfall until the end of the season. At the
beginning of the next season, the character must then
purchase new horses and/or move horses from his
personal stable back in Paris if still at the front.
11.5.5 Mention in Dispatches
Each Mention in Dispatches (MiD) that a player
receives earns him Status. When a MiD is awarded,
1d6 determines the amount of Status it provides each
month for three months, after that it counts as an Old
MiD worth 1 Status a month, for the rest of that
characters life. A character may never earn more than
12 Status per month from Old MiDs, regardless of
how many he has. The three months you have them
for (at the higher rate) start from the first month you
spend back in Paris. If you go back to the front
during this time they will continue to run out.
11.5.6 Promotion
If you are in a regiment, you can only be promoted if
there is an appropriate vacancy immediately above
you. If there are no vacancies available, or you do not
have a sufficient Social Level for your new rank, then
you will receive a MiD instead of a promotion. On
promotion from the rank of Colonel you receive the
rank of Brevet Brigadier General. A second promotion
is required to have the rank confirmed permanently.
Loot
Note you will need to hold a military appointment as
a Brigadier General in order to receive promotion
0
from Brevet to Full Brigadier General and so on.
So a Brevet Lieutenant General must hold a military
appointment as a Lieutenant General and a Brevet
General must hold a military appointment as a 11.6 Tactics
General, in order to receive promotion from their
breveted rank to holding it permanently in full. Advancement

The Paris Tribune

To increase your Tactics you must attend the Royal
If you hold a rank of General then there are no more
Military Academy and be an officer in His Majestys
promotions that you can take, thus you will not
Army. To increase your Tactics score by 1 requires 4
receive a promotion roll, but will roll twice for
weeks of study, these weeks do not have to be
mentions. Characters may always refuse promotions,
consecutive. Your Tactics score may not increase
thereby gaining a MiD instead, though they must
beyond 18. When you order study at the Academy,
explicitly state this in their orders. Earning two MiDs
you will be placed within a particular class depending
in a single month is one way to earn a chance of a
upon your rank. Each class is considered as a separate
noble title (see Earning Title Attempts). Promotions
location for the purposes of Toadying and determining
cannot be refused retrospectively.
if duels due to regimental enmity should occur.

RULES V7.2 S April 1629

11.5.7 NPC Outcomes The cost of study depends on which class you are
attending, although Subalterns get to study for free,
The personal outcomes for NPCs, including Notable
and the time spent at the academy counts towards
Members of Society, are resolved differently from
your one week of duties. If your Tactics is greater than
player characters. They receive command modifiers (if
the class for your rank, then you must wait until you
appropriate) and the seasonal modifiers, but none of
receive a promotion before being able to study at the
the modifiers from horses. Neither do they earn title
Academy and it is closed throughout the Summer
attempts or apply Reckless Bravery or Poltroonery.
Campaign Season.
In addition a non-subscriber receives any negative
regimental death modifier and the full regimental
RMA Table
Class Minimum Rank Weekly Cost Maximum Tactics
promotion modifier. They do not receive any rank
Small Unit Subaltern Free 12
modifiers and only roll for Death and Promotions,
but neither MiDs or Loot. Company or
Captain 5 Crowns 14
Troop
By contrast, an NMS additionally receives the full set Battalion or
Major 10 Crowns 16
of modifiers from both their regiment (unless in a Squadron

command position) and rank. They roll for Death, Regiment Colonel 20 Crowns 17
MiDs and Promotions, but not Loot. Field Command
Brigadier
50 Crowns 18
General

S Page 53
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 12 Crime & Punishment
The Paris Tribune 12.1 Powers of Arrest
There are four appointments that can make arrests.
S Paris City Military Governor
S Commissioner of State
S Commissioner of War
S Inquisitor General
Each has their own area of authority. The Paris
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
Military Governor is responsible for maintaining law
and order within Paris and Ile de France. The
Commissioner of State is responsible for uncovering
acts of sedition and treason. The Commissioner of
War is responsible for uncovering acts of
incompetence and corruption amongst the General
Staff. Whereas the Inquisitor General seeks out those
guilty of heresy and witchcraft.
12.1.1 Trumped Up Charges
Only the Inquisitor General, in addition to the
Commissioners of State and War, may trump up
charges. When this is done the person must be
arrested and held for trial. The Commissioner of State
may make five such arrests a year, the Inquisitor
General four and the Commissioner of War three.
The Commissioner of State must trump up charges
against at least one player character, bring them to
trial and secure a conviction within their first two
seasons of the appointment or by the end of his term
of office, whichever is the sooner. Failure to do so,
results in dismissal and the character may never be
reappointed to the position again.
12.1.2 Arrests without Charge
Making an arrest without pressing charges is a lesser
form of trumping up charges, as such it is only
available to the Commissioner of State. When such an
arrest is made then the arrested person is held for the
week and then released. The Commissioner of State
may make 3 such arrests a year.
12.1.3 Being Reported
Should a character be reported for a crime such as
Harassment, Bribery, Embezzlement, Dereliction of
Duty or Gross Incompetence, they are reported to a
specific office. In the event that the office in question
is vacant and is the Paris City Military Governor or
the Commissioners of State, in the month that they
are reported the matter does not necessarily end there.
The report of their crime will remain sealed within
the relevant offices, awaiting the appointment of a
new Governor or Commissioner. If the vacant
position is filled within three months after the offence
was reported, the new appointee is passed the relevant
information (the GM will inform them with their
game return for the month in which they were
appointed). When the crime is reported to a Governor
or Commissioner, he must then decide to pursue the
Page 54 S matter, or not, in his next months orders. Crimes
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reported to the Commissioner of War are handled
differently as they are are reported on every season
and acted upon, or not, immediately
12.1.4 Making an Arrest
Arrests take place in one of two ways: automatically or
as a result of a manhunt. Automatic arrests are solely
the province of the Commissioner of War and his
List of Shame (see Commissioner of War) or else a
characters misfortune as a result of drunkenness. All
other manner of arrests require a manhunt as a weekly
action. In either case, the character with jurisdiction
may choose to ignore the matter and dispense with a
trial, though in some cases this might risk the enmity
of a powerful Grandee.
While the Inquisitor General and the Commissioners
of War and State may make an arrest regardless of the
presence of any real evidence, the Paris City Military
Governor may only make an arrest when notified by
the GM. This is normally the result of a failed roll,
such as for Bribery or sometimes Drunkenness, which
means the perpetrator is reported.
When a character is reported, the GM will then
inform the character with the appropriate jurisdiction
as an arrestor and then they can choose whether to
then make an arrest or not (see the Jurisdiction Table).
The Paris City Military Governor may not personally
arrest anyone for duelling, such arrests are only made
by the City Watch (see the Crime of Duelling)
To make an arrest as part of a manhunt, the arrestor
must be in the same location as the accused in any
week of that month. There are nine locations that can
be ordered for an arrest attempt (see Location).
If the person in question is actually committing a
crime that week he is additionally arrested and found
out for that crime as well! Characters may plan
alternatives in conjunction with an arrest attempt in
case the attempt fails (except an arrest attempt at
home or at barracks, unless the arrestor is actually a
member of said regimental barracks), providing that
he has another legitimate reason to be at the location
of the arrest, but a successful arrest negates all other
actions planned for that week.
Example: The Commissioner of State could order to
attend a party at Bothwells in week 2, to carouse, toady,
and arrest Jean if at Bothwells. If Jean attends the party
at Bothwells, the Commissioner will arrest him but will
not participate in the party (no carousing, toadying, or
Status for attending), but the arrest is made. If, however,
Jean does not attend the party at Bothwells, the
Commissioner will participate (assuming that he has an
invite), carouse, toady, and receive Status for attending,
but make no arrest.
If the arrest attempt fails, as in the example above,
then it becomes public knowledge. The arrestor must
then either continue to seek an arrest the following
month, or let the matter go. However, a failed arrest
attempt does not use up an arrestors limited number
of arrests that are available to him.
Jurisdiction Table
Crime Level Arrestor Judge*

Bribery (1-3)** Minor Military Governor Minister of Justice

The Paris Tribune

Duelling Minor Military Governor No trial

Harassment**** Minor Military Governor Minister of Justice

Theft Minor Military Governor Minister of Justice

Arson Mid Military Governor Minister of Justice

Attempted Murder Mid Military Governor Minister of Justice

Bribery (4-6)** Mid Commissioner of State Minister of Justice

Bribery (4-6)** Mid Commissioner of War Minister of War

RULES V7.2 S April 1629

Dereliction of Duty*** Mid Commissioner of War Minister of War

Embezzlement (<10,000 Crowns) Mid Commissioner of State Minister of Justice

Embezzlement (<10,000 Crowns) Mid Commissioner of War Minister of War

Harassment**** Mid Commissioner of State Minister of Justice

Harassment**** Mid Commissioner of War Minister of War

Sedition*** Mid Commissioner of State Minister of State

Heresy*** Mid Inquisitor General Cardinal

Bribery (7+)** Serious Commissioner of State Minister of Justice

Bribery (7+)** Serious Commissioner of War Minister of War

Gross Incompetence*** Serious Commissioner of War Minister of War

Murder Serious Military Governor Minister of Justice

Embezzlement (10,000+ Crowns) Serious Commissioner of State Minister of Justice

Embezzlement (10,000+ Crowns) Serious Commissioner of War Minister of War

Treason*** Serious Commissioner of State Minister of State

Witchcraft*** Serious Inquisitor General Cardinal

* In a case against the Minister of State or War that he would otherwise judge, then the King acts as Judge. In cases
against the Minister of Justice that he would otherwise judge, then the Minister of State acts as Judge.
** The number in parenthesis refers to the minimum level of favour required to influence whoever was the object of
the attempted bribe. So bribing a Captain, Major, Regimental Major, Colonel or Chevalier would be a minor level
crime as they all require level 3 favours or less to influence. Bribing a Brigadier General, Lieutenant General,
General, Baron, Vicomte, Comte or Commissioner would be a mid level crime as they all require level 4, 5 or 6
favours. Bribing a Cabinet Minister, Duc or a Grandee would be a serious level crime, requiring level 7 favours or
higher to influence.
*** These charges can be trumped up.
**** The victims importance determines the seriousness.
S
Characters may only be arrested under a single charge. In any week that the non-subscribers quarry is open
If multiple charges are brought against them, in a to arrest (see Location), they are arrested on a roll of 1
single arrest, all but the most serious of them is or 2 on 1d6. Once a non-subscriber has decided to
disregarded. So if a character is arrested for Treason arrest an individual, they will continue to try, until
and Sedition, they will only be tried for Treason. successful, for three months.
A character cannot, under any circumstances, resist It should be noted that, in the case of trumped up
arrest. All they can do is avoid it by virtue of not charges, a non-subscriber is only limited by the actual
being in the same location in the same week as the number of successful arrests that they are allowed to
person attempting to arrest them. Any character who make. So despite only being allowed four arrests in a
is arrested loses whatever actions they were intending year, the Inquisitor General may seek to arrest an
to carry out in the week in which they are arrested. unlimited number of individuals, but once he has
arrested his alloted quota any oustanding attempts to
Regardless of why a non-subscriber, with the relevant
make an arrest cease immediately.
powers of arrest, might choose to seek to arrest a
player character this is treated just as when a player
chartacter seeks to arrest another, with one difference.
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 12.2 Trials S Mid Level Civil Crimes are convicted on 8+
S Mid Level Political, Martial and Religious Crimes
Whether on trumped up charges or charged with a
are convicted on 7+
The Paris Tribune valid crime, when a person is arrested and held for
trial, the trial will take place in the first week of the S All Serious Level Crimes are convicted on a 9+
following month. There is no plea bargaining
The roll for conviction uses the following modifiers:
available within the game and the judge in a trial may
only convict or acquit on the charge that the S If the Social Level of the defendant is 7 or less,
defendant is arrested for. So a character arrested for 1 is added to the result.
Treason cannot be acquitted for that but convicted of
S If the Social Level of the defendant is 14 or more,
Sedition instead. A prosecutor may not drop the
1 is subtracted from the result.
charges having arrested a character, though he can
decline to call witnesses in his favour or even use S If the defendant is titled, 1 is subtracted from
influence to sway an NPC judge to acquit. the result.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629

Attending a trial constitutes an entire weeks action S Influence of the appropriate level changes the result
and may not be combined with any other actions, by 1 in the appropriate direction.
including the fighting of impromptu duels, though
S Prosecution witnesses add 1 to the result
pre-arranged duels may still be fought in the same
(they must be the same Social Level or higher, a
week prior to attending the trial unless the defendant
subordinate, a superior, or of the same regiment).
is involved. Any number of trials may be held and
Maximum of 2.
attended in the same week as one weekly action.
S Defence witnesses subtract 1 from the result
The following individuals must attend a trial even if
(they must be the same Social Level or higher, a
at the front, in which case they spend the entire
subordinate, a superior, or of the same regiment).
month in Paris and return to the front the following
Maximum of 2.
month (unless the trial occurs at the end of a season):
S If the defendant is actually guilty as charged,
S The accused.
this adds 1 to the result.
S The arrestor, who acts as the prosecutor in the case.
S In cases of Dereliction of Duty, if the defendant
S The judge. achieved as many or more Battle results of 1 or 2
than 5 or 6 during the season in question, this
S All witnesses for both the prosecution and defence.
subtracts 1 from the result.
Otherwise uninvolved characters may also attend trials
S In cases of Gross Incompetence, if the defendant
in the public gallery, without any effect on the
achieved as many or more Battle results of 1 than 6
outcome of trials, and does not excuse them from
during the season in question, this subtracts 1 from
having to be at the front.
the result.
Civil crimes are those prosecuted by the Paris Military
S A non-catholic defendant, in cases of Heresy or
Governor. Martial crimes are those prosecuted by the
Witchcraft, adds 1 to the result. However, it should
Commissioner of War. Political crimes are those
be noted that, all characters are presumed to be
prosecuted by the Commissioner of State. Religious
devout Catholics. Unless a character publicly states
crimes are those prosecuted by the Inquisitor General.
their religious convictions to the contrary, or else a
successful Clandestine Action is made against them
12.2.1 Interrogation and they happen to have secretly informed the GM
An arrestor can call for interrogators (torturers) to use that they are playing a non Catholic, then this
extreme techniques whilst questioning a prisoner held modifier cannot be applied against them.
for trial. This adds 1 to the result for conviction but
S Interrogation of the defendant adds 1 to the result.
also requires a weeks action by the arrestor to oversee
such proceedings. Overseeing the interrogation of a
prisoner cannot be combined with any other actions. 12.2.3 Mistrials
There are only two ways in which either a prosecutor
However such extreme techniques are not without risk
or a judge can avoid attending a trial. These are if
for all characters concerned. A roll of 2d6 is made and
they NMR or else are forced to their bed by injury.
on a result of 12 the prisoner being interrogated dies.
If this occurs then the conviction roll is still made Should a prosecutor or judge NMR in a month in
posthumously. If the defendant is found guilty then which they have a player character defendant to try,
the arrestor loses 5 Status. If the verdict is not guilty they will lose whichever office that puts them in their
then the arrestor is dismissed from his appointment position as either prosecutor or judge.
and loses 1 Social Level.
If the judge is absent from a trial, then no verdict is
delivered and the defendant is acquitted and walks
12.2.2 Conviction free. If the prosecutor is absent from a trial, then the
A player character Judge decides guilt entirely at his judge will still consider his verdict.
own whim, while an NPC Judge rolls 2d6:
An NPC judge in such a situation will however make
S All Minor Level Crimes are convicted on 7+ his decision as if there were an additional 2 witnesses
Page 56 S
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for the defence, above and beyond the usual
maximum number allowed of such witnesses.
The prosecutor and judge cannot be the same person.
12.2.4 Retrials
A retrial is treated just like a normal trial, apart from
certain details
1) A request for a retrial can only be made by the
prosecution.
2) A request for a retrial can only be made in the
same month as the original trial.
3) A request for a retrial requires there to be some
form of evidence of serious wrong doing on the part
of the trial judge, of which the GM will be the sole
arbiter of the quality of the evidence and whether the
wrong doing is serious enough.
12.3 Crimes
Both the King and Cardinal have immunity for all
crimes including witchcraft. They cannot be arrested
or held for trial, for any reason.
12.3.1 Duelling
Duelling is technically illegal in Paris and falls under
the jurisdiction of the Paris City Military Governor.
A player character City Military Governor may choose
to determine how lax or vigorous the City Watch is in
pursuing and arresting offenders.
Whenever a duel takes place, there is a chance that
the duelists will be apprehended by a detachment of
the City Watch and arrested for this civil crime. This
happens on a roll of 11 on 2d6, subject to the
cumulative modifiers in the Duelling Arrest Table.
Duelling Arrest Table
Modifier Circumstances
+2 A fatality occurs
+2 Pistols are used
+1 The duel takes place on a ladys doorstep
+1 The duelist opponent is titled
The duelist ambushed his opponent
+1
(and none of the following negative modifiers are applied)
-1
The duel is pre-arranged and/or discrete
(at a personal residence for example)
-1 The duel is with a regimental enemy
-1 The duel is with a knave
-1 The duelist is titled
Each month, the Paris Military Governor may decide
to do one of three things:
S Do nothing, leaving the base chances of arrest as
given in the Duelling Arrest Table.
S Urge a higher level of vigilance upon the City
Watch, resulting in an additional +1 modifier to the
chance of a duelist being arrested that month.
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S Order a crack down for a single specified week
within the month, resulting in an additional +4
modifier to the chance of a duelist being arrested
that week.
The Paris Tribune
The arrest roll is made separately for each duelist, and
it is quite possible for one duelist to be arrested, while
his opponent walks free. Being arrested for duelling
does not result in a trial but an on the spot penalty is
handed out instead, unless a fatality has occurred. If a
duelist is arrested, having killed his opponent, then he
will stand trial for murder.
If a character is arrested for duelling he loses a weeks
action and 1 Status, due to the ignominy of being
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
incarcerated with common criminals. If the duel
took place pre-weekly then he loses that weeks action,
otherwise he loses the following weeks action. In
addition, a fine of 50 Crowns x Social Level is
imposed upon the character.
12.3.2 Bribery
Anybody rolling a 1 when attempting to bribe an
official is reported to either the Paris Military
Governor or one of the Commissioners of State or
War, depending on the nature and seriousness of the
crime, who can then arrest and prosecute.
12.3.3 Embezzlement
The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Army
Quartermaster Generals can embezzle monies, but risk
being reported to the Commissioners of State and
War, respectively, who can then arrest and prosecute.
12.3.4 Harassment
Being caught carrying out a Clandestine Action.
12.3.5 Theft
Removal of property without permission.
12.3.6 Murder & Attempted
Murder
Premeditated killing of someone or attempting to do
so. See the crime of Duelling, for the chance of arrest
and the Ambush section.
12.3.7 Arson
The malicious burning down of property.
12.3.8 Sedition*
Writing or speaking statements against the King.
12.3.9 Treason*
Actions designed to bring harm to or kill the King.
12.3.10 Heresy*
Acting against the tenets and doctrine of the Catholic
Church.
S Page 57
 12.3.11 Witchcraft*
Consorting with the devil. Making pacts with the
devil to gain dark sorcerous powers.
The Paris Tribune 12.3.12 Dereliction of Duty*
Acting contrary, as a member of the General Staff, to
the tenets, established standards and/or doctrine of
the Ministery of War.
12.3.13 Gross Incompetence*
Actions by design, omission and/or accident, as a
member of the General Staff, which could or do,
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
significantly, impair the ability of France to wage war.
*These crimes are the only possible basis for trumped up
charges, of which the accused is actually innocent
12.4 Punishment
Upon conviction, then the relevant punishment listed
in the sections below is immediately applied at the
end of the trial. An Additional Sentence can also be
added by the judge dependent on the Social Level of
the convicted felon, NPC judges will do this on a 7
on 1d6. Additional points to note include:
S The inability to pay fines results in the defendant
being sent to the front until paid. (Fines are paid
after Gaol sentence if applicable)
S If loss of Social Level results in a character no
longer meeting the minimum requirement for a
title then the character is demoted to the next
available title that he still has the required
minimum Social Level to hold.
S If loss of Social Level results in a character no
longer meeting the minimum requirement for an
appointment then the character loses it.
S In all cases of sedition, treason, heresy and
witchcraft where the convicted defendants
punishment includes confiscation of property or
wealth (but not fines), half of said confiscation goes
to the arresting officer.
S In all cases of sedition, treason, heresy and
witchcraft where the defendant is a Cabinet
Minister that is convicted of the crime, then the
arresting officer takes control of the ministerial
position in addition to his own (receiving all pay
and privileges thereof ), until it comes around for
for re-appointment.
S Conviction of a crime that carries a death sentence,
or one that carries knavery as a subsequent result
upon release, results in a character losing his
mistress upon conviction.
S Death sentences are carried out in the first week of
the month following the trial. See Death Sentences
for more details
12.4.1 Civil Crimes
Anyone convicted of a Civil crime is knaved: 1d2
months for minor, 1d3 months for mid and serious.
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This starts after any gaol sentence where applicable.
Minor Crimes are convicted on 7+ and result in a fine
equal to 25 x Social Level x 1d6 Crowns.
Possible additional sentences are:
S Social Level 7 or less: 1 month in gaol.
S Social Level 8 to 13: 1d3 months in gaol.
S Social Level 14 or more: 3 months in gaol.
Mid Level Crimes are convicted on 8+ and result in a
fine equal to 25 x Social Level x 2d6 Crowns.
Possible additional sentences are:
S Social Level 7 or less: 1d3 month in gaol.
S Social Level 8 to 13: 3 months in gaol.
S Social Level 14 or more: 3 months in gaol and
-1 Social Level.
Serious Level Crimes are convicted on a 9+ and result
in death. Such sentences are never commuted.
12.4.2 Political Crimes
Anyone convicted of a Political crime is knaved for
1d3 months. Knavery starts after any gaol sentence
where applicable. In cases of Embezzlement, all of the
proceeds from the embezzlement must be repaid
before fines and punishment are applied.
Mid Level Crimes are convicted on 7+ and result in 3
months in gaol.
Possible additional sentences are:
S Social Level 7 or less: Fine of 25 x Social Level x
1d6 Crowns.
S Social Level 8 to 13: Confiscation of half of all
property and wealth by the Crown.
S Social Level 14 or more: Stripped of all titles and
estates and confiscation of half all property and
wealth by the Crown.
Serious Level Crimes are convicted on 9+ and result
in death, along with the entire confiscation of all
property and wealth by the Crown. Death Sentences
for political crimes are never commuted.
12.4.3 Martial Crimes
Anyone convicted of a Martial crime is knaved for
1d3 months. Knavery starts after any gaol sentence
where applicable. In cases of Embezzlement, all of the
proceeds from the embezzlement must be repaid
before fines and punishment are applied.
Mid Level Crimes are convicted on 7+ and result in
demotion by a full rank and 1 month in gaol. If the
convict is a civilian or a Private then they suffer 3
months in gaol instead.
Possible additional sentences are:
S Social Level 7 or less: Fine of 25 x Social Level x
1d6 Crowns.
S Social Level 8 to 13: Confiscation of half of all
property and wealth by the Crown.
S Social Level 14 or more: Stripped of all titles and
estates and confiscation of half of all property and
wealth by the Crown.
Serious Level Crimes are convicted on 9+ and result
in death, along with the entire confiscation of all
property and wealth by the Crown.
12.4.4 Religious Crimes
Anyone convicted of a Religious crime is knaved for
1d3 months. Knavery starts after any gaol sentence
where applicable.
Mid Level Crimes are convicted on 7+ and result in
enforced penitence for 3 months, the first month of
which is spent in gaol. The second and third months
require the character to attend church for two weeks
each month, which may not be combined with any
other action. In addition the character must pay a
religious fine of 15 x Social Level x 1d6 Crowns.
Possible additional sentences are:
S Social Level 7 or less: Religious fine of 25 x Social
Level x 1d6 Crowns.
S Social Level 8 to 13: Confiscation of half of all
property and wealth by the Church.
S Social Level 14 or more: Stripped of all titles and
estates and confiscation of half all property and
wealth by the Church.
Serious Crimes are convicted on 9+ and result in
death, along with the entire confiscation of all
property and wealth by the Church. Death Sentences
for religious crimes are never commuted.
12.4.5 Knavery
Whilst not a punishment handed out by a court of
law, Knavery is a state of social disapproval by ones
peers and often follows in addition to any official
sanction imposed by a judge. It can also befall a
character who is guilty of a variety of socially
inappropriate acts, such as drunkenness. Unless
specifically stated elsewhere, Knavery lasts for 1d3
months. A knave suffers the following:
S You may not apply for, or be appointed to, any
appointments. This includes re-applying for your
own job if it is due for re-appointment.*
S You may not purchase any rank or apply to join any
regiment except the Frontiers. You do not lose any
existing rank and are still eligible to be promoted
on merit at the front.*
S You will give automatic mandatory cause to any
player character whom you meet, this results in an
immediate impromptu duel.
S The use of influence is no longer guaranteed and
each time it is applied 1d6 is rolled. On a 1 or 2
then the influence is used but has no effect.*
S While a knave does not lose membership of his
club, meaning that he still receives the monthly
Status from being a member, he may not attend any
club, whether his own or not, or join a new one.
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S You may not host any kind of party, ball or other
social event. No right thinking Parisian socialite,
mindful of their own standing within polite society,
would ever countenance attending an event hosted
The Paris Tribune
by a knave.*
S Unless you are serving with the Frontiers, time at
the front does not count towards serving your
period of knavery. However you do still get
MiDs, promotions and loot.*
S If you have a mistress, you lose her.
S No mistress will receive any attempts by the
character to court her.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
S The only recourse for female companionship is the
Bawdyhouse.
* The Gascon Regiment & 69th Arquebusiers are exempt.
12.4.6 Death Sentences
Where conviction results in the death penalty, while
all other associated punishments are enacted upon
conviction such as confiscation of all property and
wealth, the actual execution of the death sentence
takes place in the first week of the following month.
So a character convicted at the end of his trial in the
first week of January, will be publicly executed in the
first week of February.
All public executions are a public, social spectacle. As
such, taking mistresses along, carousing and toadying
are allowed at executions. Carousing remains assumed,
though a character may still order not to do so, just as
when visiting a club. All characters and their
mistresses who do attend will be charged their social
level in Crowns for attending, regardless of whether
they carouse or not. This represents the consumption
of alcohol, other refreshments, purchasing rotten
vegetables and eggs to hurl at the condemned, along
with the customary purchase of all manner of
fraudulent keepsake from various dubious street
traders to commemorate the occasion.
All of the normal rules for cause to challenge and
duelling remain in force, though any such encounters
will be less than discrete and so will be treated just as
cases that occur on a mistresss doorstep. Beyond that,
such events should provide a rich opportunity for
roleplay by all those in attendance - gloating enemies,
distraught mistresses, grieving friends, along with final
defiant words from the condemned, etc
12.5 The Bastille
All prisoners awaiting trial are held at the Bastille
regardless of what type of crime they are accused of.
Prisoners sentenced to a gaol sentence are also held at
the Bastille. Half of all monies paid whilst in the
Bastille go to the Paris Military Governor, with a
quarter going to his Aide and the remainder being
used to provide whatever services or luxuries are
actually being paid for by a prisoner.
Support must still be paid whilst in gaol. In addition
to the usual costs associated with support, each week
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 spent in the Bastille costs the character 10 Crowns.
The payment of this additional fee must still be made
in addition to the cost of a private cell, should one be
paid for. If all such costs cannot be paid then the
The Paris Tribune character undergoes the usual Insolvency procedure.
Such payments and other Bastille Actions are not
required or allowed during the week of a characters
arrest or trial.
12.5.1 Bastille Actions
There are a number of actions that can only be made
whilst in the Bastille, or else have special rules
pertaining to their use therein:
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
Pre-monthly Actions
S Pay for parole: Spend 1 week out of gaol as a
knave, no more than once per month. This costs 25
x Social Level in Crowns and requires a public post
in La Voix de Paris. In addition, while payment is
only required if parole is granted, payment does not
guarantee that it will be granted. It is up to the
Paris City Military Governor, if a player character
then he may just choose as he desires. An NPC will
grant parole on a 6 on 1d6 and this roll may be
influenced. Parole cannot be requested until the
month in which a character is on trial and
potentially serving a gaol sentence - in which case
they could make a conditional request.
Free Weekly Actions
S Pay for a private cell: Costs 2 x Social Level in
Crowns and is the only way healing occurs whilst
within the Bastille. A private cell also gives a -2
modifier to rolls on the Bastille Encounter Table
should an event occur, decreasing the chances of
bad events and increasing the chance of good ones.
Paying for a private cell is charged weekly and
should be ordered weekly, though it can be done
conditionally. It does not include the additional 10
Crowns a week fee normally charged for being
incarcerated within the Bastille.
Weekly Actions
S Hire a Doctor: A doctor may be hired , provided
that a private cell has also been paid for. In that
case, the character recovers 2xConstitution in
Endurance for a cost of 200 Crowns per week,
with no chance of discretion.
S Pay for a Jenny: Counts as female companionship
(roll for clap as per bawdyhouse), costs 20 Crowns.
S Train in Dirty Fighting: This includes its
advanced knacks and may be done at no financial
cost, however the nature of the training will
result in 20 Endurance damage per week.
S Oversee an Interrogation: An arrestor may
oversee the Interrogation of a prisoner
awaiting trial.
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12.5.2 Early Release
A player character Paris City Military Governor may
elect to free a prisoner before his gaol sentence is up.
The prisoner counts as knaved for the duration of
sentence (this is above and beyond any other knavery
as part of a sentence). An NPC Paris City Military
Governor will do this on a 7 on 1d6 (influence must
be applied) at a cost of 100 x Social Level x number
of months sentence shortened in Crowns. Regardless
at least one month of any gaol sentence must be
actually be served in gaol.
12.5.3 Bastille Encounters
Encounters are rolled for every week spent in the
Bastille, not including the week in which a character
is either arrested or on trial. Encounters happen on a
roll of 6 on 1d6, with their nature determined by a
roll of 2d6 compared to the Bastille Encounter Table.
Bastille Encounter Table
2d6 Roll Encounter
Pardoned and released, with no term of knavery having to
2
be served. If awaiting trial, treat as no event
3-5 No event
6-7 Bad food (-30 Endurance)
Add one month to sentence or, if awaiting trial, treat as bad
8
food
9-11 Fight (-75 Endurance)
12 Riot (Dead)
12.5.4 Escape
The number of those who have ever been publicly
acknowledged as successfully escaping from the
Bastille, can be numbered on the fingers of one hand.
Prisoners wishing to escape should speak to the GM
well in advance of any escape attempt. Failure to do
so will always result in failure, along with the probable
death of the character concerned. Indeed, for the GM
to even consider such an attempt, the character will
have had to laid his plans well in advance of actually
being convicted. Players should indeed consider who
might choose to arrest them and then plan for such
circumstance and the
various possible
outcomes.
13 Influence
Influence is a way to gain money, power and position. Influence may be used to seek or block appointments,
It is, without a doubt, the most valuable commodity aid the prosecution or the defence in all trials and for

The Paris Tribune

in the game. Influence is measured in favours. There
are nine levels of favours, rated, in ascending order of
effectiveness, from 1 to 9. Favours are used to modify
the die rolls that represent the decisions of non-player
characters. (Player characters make their own
decisions and influence has no effect on them; favours
to player characters take other forms.) Once used to
influence a decision, a favour is expended.
many other purposes outlined in specific rules. Events
not specifically listed as influence applying to them
(for example, promotion) may not be affected by its
use. If no specific roll on a 1d6 roll is specified within
the rules, the roll defaults to 6 on 1d6.
13.1 Sources of
Influence

RULES V7.2 S April 1629

The Influence Required Table lists the level of favour
needed to obtain a die roll modification of one on the
decisions of a non-player character of a specified rank, Influence may be received by virtue of a number of
appointment or title. A favour of the correct level factors such as a characters Social Level, his mistress
modifies the die roll by 1. A favour of a higher level and from certain appointments (see the Personal
than that listed will have a greater effect: one Influence Table, the Mistress Influence Table, the
additional die roll modification for each level the Military Appointments Table and Political Appointments
favour is above the minimum necessary. Table). Mistresses provide their lovers one favour a
year, of the level listed according to their Social Level
Influence Required Table on the Mistress Influence Table. Influential mistresses
Position Influence Required provide such favours once a season. Favours from a
King Level 9 favour characters Social Level and appointments are received
Queen, Crown Prince or Cardinal Level 8 favour once each season.
Cabinet Minister or Duc Level 7 favour
Personal Influence Table
Commissioner, General or Comte Level 6 favour
Characters Social level Level of Favour
Lieutenant General or Vicomte Level 5 favour
Brigadier General or Baron Level 4 favour 8 or 9 1

Colonel or Chevalier Level 3 favour 10 or 11 2

Regimental Major Level 2 favour 12 or 13 3
Major or Captain Level 1 favour
14 or 15 4

A level 9 favour will obtain a die roll modification of 16 or 17 5

4 on the decisions of a General. In addition, two 18 or 19 6

favours may be combined to produce one favour of 20 or 21 7
the next highest level (two level 4 favours make a level
22 or 23 8
5 and so on). More than one favour may be brought
to bear to influence a given decision. The die roll 24+ 9

modification may be either additive or subtractive,

depending on the players wishes, and more than one Mistress Influence Table
player may influence the same decision. In the event Mistresss Social level Level of Favour
of an NPC holding a combination of rank, 8 1
appointment and title of differing levels, then the 9 2
highest one that they hold determines the level of
10 3
favour that is required.
11 or 12 4
Example: If Athos, a Lieutenant General, seeks to 13 5
become Inspector General of Cavalry, he must go
14 or 15 6
to the Minister of War who appoints that position
16 7
(it is assumed that no player holds the post). To influence
a Cabinet Minister, a level 7 favour is the minimum 17 8

needed. The number Athos must roll on one die, 18+ 9

unmodified, is 6. Athos has no level 7 favour to use,
but his friend Porthos has a level 8 favour and uses it to
influence the minister on Athoss behalf, giving him two
favourable die roll modifiers and making the necessary
die roll 4 instead of 6. Unfortunately, Cyrano, an
enemy of Athos, wishing to prevent him from advancing,
uses a level 9 favour to give an unfavourable die roll
modification of 3. The final die roll necessary to
obtain the appointment now becomes 6 - 2 + 3 = 7;
poor Athos cannot get the appointment as it is impossible
to roll a 7 on 1d6.
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In addition, one off favours that do not expire until
used, but never refresh, can also be gained by player
characters. These normally come from Grandees,
directly or indirectly, during the course of the game
and can be the result of fortuitous drunkenness,
interacting favourably with Grandees or pursuing
meta-plots within the game of the GMs devising.
Regardless of where it comes from, influence may
only ever be spent during the pre-monthly phase of a
game turn. As such, you can only use influence that
S Page 61
 you started a month with. Influence is both spent and attempts to bribe a single target for multiple
received during the pre-monthly phase prior to any outcomes, or multiple targets for a single outcome,
appointments being awarded to, or resigned by, then multiple rolls will be made for the success of the
characters. So if in a month you gain a mistress or an bribes in question.
The Paris Tribune appointment that supplies influence, you cant use it
until the pre-monthly phase of the following month.
Bribery Influence Table
Level of Favour Required Cost in Crowns
This also means that a character may use an
1 25
appointments influence and then resign it, in the
same month. Equally, if a character were to resign one 2 50

appointment and then gain another in the same 3 100

month, he could only use the influence that month of 4 200
the original appointment. This is because influence is
5 400
used prior to receiving new appointments.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
6 800

13.2 Refreshing 7

8
1,600

3,200

Influence 9 6,400

Influence is refreshed on a regular basis, however the If a bribe is used by the accused or his witnesses to
regularity of the refresh depends on the source of the influence the outcome of a trial and it is reported,
favour as per the Refreshing Influence Table: then he is automatically found guilty if the trial is for
Refreshing Influence Table a minor crime, is found guilty of a minor crime if he
was acquitted of a major crime, and found guilty of a
Source of Influence Refreshes at the Beginning of:
mid-level crime if he was acquitted of a serious crime.
Personal Social Level Each Season
If a bribe is used by the prosecution or his witnesses
Appointment Each Season to influence the outcome of a trial and it is reported,
Mistress (normal) Each Year then the accused is automatically found innocent.
Mistress (Influential) Each Season In all such cases, the briber will automatically be
Never, however it may be saved prosecuted for bribery (see Crime & Punishment).
NPC (gained from a roll)
until the character wishes to use it.
If a bribe is used by a person who is not the
If influence is not used, then it is not refreshed. So a prosecutor, judge, accused or a witness within the trial
character may not stockpile influence. to influence the outcome of the trial either way and it
is reported, then there is no direct effect on the
outcome of the trial.
13.3 Bribery
Influence can be bought in the form of a bribe; the
cost for each level of favour is shown in the Bribery
Influence Table. When a bribe is made a d6 is rolled,
with a 3 or more indicating the bribe mimics the
purchased level of favour, a 2 meaning the money is
pocketed but no influence is gained and a 1 indicating
that the attempted bribe has been reported.
In the latter case, the money is still spent with no
effect but, dependant on whose jurisdiction the crime
falls under, either the Commissioner of State, War or
Paris City Military Governor may bring charges. An
NPC will do so on a 4 or more on 1d6 and this roll
may not be influenced by favours or bribes. Successful
bribes may be combined with influence to modify the
same outcome.
Bribes must be made in multiples of the level of
favour required by the target of the bribe. So if youre
trying to influence the Cardinal, level 8 favours are
required. If you spend enough to get a level 9, you
still get 2 level 8s. There is only one roll for the
success of a bribe providing that it is aimed against a
single target, for only one outcome, by one character.
So, if multiple characters attempt to bribe a single
target for one outcome, each character will roll for the
success of their own bribe. Similarly, if one character
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14 Appointments
Appointments are either military or political in
nature. Both types of appointments are worth extra
Status and can also give a character some influence
that he may not normally have. Most posts, but not
all, are appointed annually in a given month
according to the Appointments Calendar.
A character may normally only hold one military and
one political appointment at the same time, apart
from the case of the Commissioner of State,
convicting a Cabinet Minister. So while a character
could be Inspector General and Minister of State, he
could not be Inspector General and Army
Commander at the same time. Similarly, he could not
be Minister of State and War at the same time,
though he could, additionally hold one of these
portfolios by virtue of having successfully prosecuted
their incumbents as Commissioner of State.
If a post becomes vacant unexpectedly (either by
death, resignation or the incumbent moving to a
different post) then it will remain vacant until the
following month when it can be applied for. If the
appointor is an NPC then it is likely that if no one
applies for the post, an NPC will be assigned to it.
If the vacant post is appointed by a player character
then no roll is used, the player character merely
chooses who he wishes to appoint, though all
requirements for the post must still otherwise be met.
Also, a player character who appoints need not do so
immediately and so the position can remain vacant
for up to three months before he is forced to either
appoint a player character or else have an NPC
automatically assigned to the post.
If you want an appointment, then you must apply for
it. To do so requires two specific things from a
character, first they must post a public in character
application via La Voix de Paris, prior to the monthly
Applications Deadline, and include a pre-monthly
order to apply in the month that the post is
appointed. If the post is appointed by the person
holding another post (for example a Brigade Major
being appointed by a Brigadier) and this post is
vacant, then no appointment will be made: the
application does not count as a failed application.
If two characters apply for the same appointment at
the same time, the character with the highest
modified die roll gains the position (assuming he
would have been successful). If both modified die rolls
are equal, and successful, roll again. All modifiers
from the previous die roll apply. The player with the
highest roll wins.
The Military & Political Appointments Tables list the
appointments available, along with other information
necessary to play. The column headed Rank gives
the military rank or title necessary to hold the
position. With the sole exception of Aides, to gain
an appointment on the Military Appointments Table,
a character must hold exactly that rank; on the
Political Appointments Table that rank or higher.
Min SL gives the minimum Social Level for that
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position. Requirement lists any other requirements
of the post. These consist either of a specified
The Paris Tribune
Regiment to which the applicant must belong, or of a
modifier to the die roll needed for appointment,
based on Tactics as per the Tactics Modifier Table.
Tactics Modifier Table
Tactics Modifier to the Die Roll to be Appointed
8-9 -1
10-15 0
16-17 +1
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
18 +2
Appointment lists the appointment being sought.
Number Allowed lists the number of players able to
hold that position simultaneously (in some cases this
is infinite). Appointed by lists the official who
appoints the position, and who must be influenced if
the player wants to improve his chances. Status lists
the Status received monthly by the office-holder.
Inf. gives the level of the favour the player receives
each season (note that some positions receive two
favours). Die Roll Needed gives the number or
greater that must be rolled on 1d6 if appointed by an
NPC. The number rolled may be modified by
influence or Tactics if applicable. In addition, a player
may add one to his die roll for every 3 Social Levels
he is above the minimum required for that post; and a
player who already holds a position and seeks re-
appointment to it may add one to his roll for being
the incumbent. Monthly Pay gives the pay in
Crowns that the character receives monthly (in
addition to any pay he receives for his rank).
If you are successfully appointed to a post, you may
not apply for the same post again during the original
tenure of the post (you cant resign and then re-apply).
If you apply for a post unsuccessfully then
applications for the same post will be ignored by the
same NPC for three months (or twelve for political
appointments). A player character in a position to
appoint need not follow this particular stricture.
If you fail to satisfy the minimum requirements for
the appointment (drop below the minimum Social
Level, leave the regiment in the case of regimental
adjutants, let your rank drop to below the minimum)
then you will lose it, and the post will be re-
advertised.
With absolutely no exception, all player characters
must serve a minimum of three months in an
appointment before they can resign of their own
volition. As such, they may not apply for an
alternative appointment or purchase a rank that
would force them to resign their existing appointment
during this time period. Though, they may still accept
a merit promotion whilst at the front and hence allow
themselves to be forced to resign their existing
appointment in that circumstance.
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 14.1 Applying for
The Paris Tribune Multiple Appointments
A character may apply for more than one
appointment of the same type (military or political) in
the same month. To do so, you must apply in order of
the most prestigious first. If the appointments are of
the same prestige then you can write conditional
orders to cover which appointment youd rather get.
The prestige of a given appointment is determined in
the following order:
S In order of the rank required to hold the
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
appointment.
S In order of the Status that the appointment
generates, note that additional status generated
from variations of an appointment such as Brigade
Commander do not figure in this calculation - just
the base status that it generates.
Beyond that, appointments are considered to be of
equal prestige.
Example: This is the prestige ordering of the following:
S Army Commander
[General, 14 status]
S Inspector General (Cavalry)
[Lieutenant General, 18 status]
S Inspector General (Infantry)
[Lieutenant General, 16 status]
S Paris City Military Governor
[Lieutenant General, 14 status]
[Lieutenant General, 14 status]
(these two are equivalent in prestige)
S Division Commander
[Lieutenant General, 10 status]
S Provincial Military Governor
[Lieutenant General, 6 status]
S Army Quartermaster General
[Brigadier General, 8 status]
Instructor RMA
[Brigadier General, 8 status]
(these two are equivalent in prestige)
S Brigade Commander
[Brigadier General, 6 status]
14.2 Calling for an
NPC to Resign
An individual character may call for an NPC holder
of an appointment to resign as a pre-monthly action
once per month. The NPC will then resign his
current appointment on a 1d6 roll equal to the
number required to gain said appointment (either a 6
or a 7). This roll may be influenced and, if the roll is
a 7 influence will be required for there to be any
chance of it happening. The level of favour required
to influence the NPC will be according to the rank or
title held by the NPC, normally the minimum
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required for the NPC to hold the appointment,
though in the case of Political Appointments they may
hold a higher rank or title if they are an NMS which
may require a higher level of favour to influence.
Each issue of The Paris Tribune contains a Notable
Members of Society table listing such details. See the
Influence Required Table to determine what level of
favour is required. When calling for an NPC to
resign, a natural roll of 1 is always unsuccessful
regardless of any influence or other modifiers applied.
In addition to being part of a characters pre-monthly
orders, the call for an NPC to resign must also be
made publicly in an in character post via La Voix de
Paris prior to the Applications Deadline for that
month. This allows others the a chance to apply
influence to the roll if they wish.
If a call for an NPC to resign is successful, he will
resign at the end of the month in which the pre-
monthly order is made. The appointment will then be
advertised as vacant in that months issue of The Paris
Tribune. This allows applications for the vacant
appointment in between turns, before it is appointed
the following month.
14.3 The Timing of
Appointments
Appointments normally last for a year or until they
are next scheduled for re-appointment according to
the Appointments Calendar, unless otherwise specified.
Applicants must apply by entering it as a pre-monthly
order in their orders for the month it is appointed.
They must also make an in character post via La Voix
de Paris prior to the Applications Deadline for that
month, so that others have a chance to apply
influence to the roll if they wish.
Example: Athos wishes to apply to become Minister
of State (appointed in January). He must both include
his application as a pre-monthly order for January and
post an in character application via La Voix de Paris
prior to the Applications Deadline for January.
Some appointments, such as Aides to the General
Staff and Escort Troopers, do not appear in the
Appointments Calendar. This means that they can be
applied for in any month of the year and are in effect
permanent appointments until they are dismissed or
resign. In the case of an Aide, the character to whom
they wish to be Aide cant already have an Aide.
Appointments that fall vacant within four months of
their scheduled re-appointment, as determined by the
Appointments Calendar, are not re-appointed in the
interim. Instead, the post remains vacant or else is
temporarily held by a Notable Member of Society or
Grandee, at the discretion of the GM. In a case where
the appointee of the position is a player character, the
discretion rests with them, whether to leave it vacant
or else make a temporary NPC appointment
The timing of appointments can be complicated by
their largely hierarchical nature. More senior positions
appoint junior ones, so a vacancy high up in the
Appointments Calendar
Spring Season
March April May
Brigade COs by Inspector Generals None None

The Paris Tribune

Division COs by Army COs
Quartermaster Generals by Army COs
Summer Campaign Enemy chosen from
His Eminences shortlist & the Minister of
State determines Force Committment
Minister of War determines Force
Organisation, Deployment & Substitution for
the Summer Campaign

Summer Season (The Campaign Season)

June July August
None None None
Autumn Season

RULES V7.2 S April 1629

September October November
Commissariat Majors by the Adjutant General Military Governors by the King Escort Ensigns by Escort Captains
Escort Captains by the King and Cardinal Regimental Adjutants by Colonels
Crown Princes Equerry by the Crown Prince
Winter Season
December January February

RMA Instructors by the Paris City Military
Governor
Summer Campaign Enemy shortlist drawn
up by His Eminence the Cardinal
Minister of State by the King
Minister of War by the King
Chancellor of the Exchequer by the Minister of State
Minister of Justice by the Minister of State
Commissioner without Portfolio by the Minister of State*
Commissioner of State by the Minister of State
Commissioner of War by the Minister of War
Inspector Generals by the Minister of War
Army COs by the Minister of War

hierarchy can effectively stall all of the subsequent
subordinate appointment below it.
For example, consider if the Minister of War fails to
be appointed as scheduled in January. Until he is,
then the appointment of of Inspector Generals is
delayed, which in turn delays the appointment of
Brigade Commanders and consequently Brigade
Majors. In such cases, it remains entirely within the
discretion of the GM as to what to do with player
character incumbents.
Depending on the situation, an incumbent might
remain in their position until such time as everything
is in place for a permanent re-appoinment.
Alternatively, they could be removed from the
position and it fall vacant
14.3.1 Determining the Enemy
for the Summer Campaign
In December of each year, His Eminence the Cardinal
publicly presents a shortlist of potential enemies to
His Majestys court. The contents of this shortlist
cannot be influenced by players characters and only
ever contains three enemies. However, player
characters may influence which one is chosen as the
enemy to be fought in the Summer season.
These enemies include Spain, Spanish Client States
(such as the Spanish Netherlands or Franche-Comt),
the Dutch United Provinces, England and the
German States. A domestic enemy might present the
possibility of Civil War or Rebellion within France,
while far flung Colonial conflicts are also possible.
The choice of enemy also has an effect on the
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outcomes of investments over the Summer season, as
detailed in the Enemy Investment Modifier Table.
The choice of a single enemy from the Cardinals
shortlist is made in March, though that does not
preclude the GM from further complicating the
situation later on. The following modifiers, in
whichever direction they are used, are applied to each
of the three potential enemies:
S 1 per level 7 favour or bribe used
S 7 - the enemys position on the shortlist
S 3 for the Minister of Wars personal choice
S 4 for the Minister of States personal choice
Then a d6 is rolled for each enemy on the shortlist.
The one with the highest result, after modifiers have
been applied, is chosen as the enemy for the summer.
In the event of a tie, the d6 will be re-rolled until the
matter is decided.
14.4 Public Reprimand
A player character with an appointment responsible
for appointing another, his subordinate, also has the
ability to reprimand those that report to him. In order
to do this he must publicly announce the reprimand
in La Voix de Paris prior to the monthly Applications
Deadline, and give a pre-monthly reprimand order.
Then, until he revokes the reprimand, any influence
gained by the reprimanded character from the
appointment, fails to work on a roll of 1 or 2 on a d6.
An NPC character can be influenced to reprimand a
subordinate on a roll of 7 on 1d6.
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 14.5 Military
The Paris Tribune Appointments
14.5.1 Army Commander
This is a Field Command, only actively commanding
men during the Summer season. The Army
Commander does not have the power to send units
on campaign, but commands an army comprised of
regular brigades committed by the Minister of State
and frontier brigades committed by the GM. Two
Army Commanders are appointed and the Minister of
War determines which brigades make up which
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
divisions within each army.
The Army Commander appoints the Quartermaster
for his army, along with its Division Commanders.
14.5.2 Army Quartermaster
General
Two Quartermasters are appointed, one for each army.
An Army Quartermaster General may embezzle once
per Campaign season, involving the relevant army.
This is normally only once per year, during the
Summer season, but there are other potential and
exceptional cases where a formal campaign could take
place outside of the Summer season
(see At the Front & the Summer Campaign).
The Quartermaster General chooses the amount he
wishes to embezzle on the Army Embezzlement Table.
If he rolls the number in the Caught column or
higher on 2d6, evidence of his crime is passed on to
the Commissioner of War who may then choose to
make an arrest.
Army Embezzlement Table
Amount Caught Army Modifier
1,000 Crowns 10 0 were a member, but now an old boy.
2,000 Crowns 8 +1
5,000 Crowns 6 +1
10,000 Crowns 4 +2
22,000 Crowns 3 +3
Assuming the Commissioner of War does arrest a
corrupt Army Quartermaster General (an NPC
Commissioner will always do so), he is then put on
trial for embezzlement. Once arrested, regardless of
the outcome of the trial for embezzlement, the Army
Quartermaster General is dismissed from the
appointment. The Army Modifier is added to the
Battle Result of the army embezzled from, for the
month in which the money is embezzled, due to
shoddy equipment and supplies.
14.5.3 Division Commander
This is a Field Command, only actively commanding
men during the Summer season. The Division
Commander does not have the power to send units
on campaign, but commands a division within an
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army comprised of regular brigades committed by the
Minister of State and frontier brigades committed by
the GM. Four Division Commanders are appointed,
two per army, and the Minister of War determines
which brigades make up which divisions within each
army. The 1st and 2nd Divisions comprise the 1st
Army, with the 3rd and 4th Divisions comprising the
2nd Army.
14.5.4 Brigade Commander
This is a Field Command but, unlike Army and
Division Commands, exists in the field all year round
and not just during the Summer season. The Brigade
Commander commands a specific brigade, whether a
regular or a frontier Brigade. During the Summer
season the brigade that he commands may or may not
be a constituent part of a division as committed by
the Minister of State or GM. The Minister of War
determines which brigades of those committed make
up what divisions within each army. A total of eleven
Brigade Commanders are appointed, regardless of
how many Frontier Brigades are committed by the
GM for the Summer campaign.
Outside of the Summer season a Brigade Commander
may take the whole Brigade on campaign with him,
or send any constituent Regiment thereof, though
he must always accompany any units he sends to
the front. In addition to the Status listed
in the Military Appointments Table, each Brigade
Commander receives an additional modifier
according to the prestige of the brigade he commands
(see the Brigades Table).
To be appointed, a character must have served as a
Major or higher in a Regiment of the appropriate
force (cavalry or infantry). When applying to be
appointed as a Brigade Commander, the
following modifiers apply:
S +1 if applying to command a Brigade of which you
S +1 if applying to command a Frontier Brigade.
When applying to be a Brigade Commander,
applicants should note that they may apply in a single
pre-monthly action to as many of the individual
brigades of the correct type (cavalry or infantry), as
they qualify for. Multiple applications, just as when
applying to join a Regiment, must be made in order
of prestige top-down.
14.5.5 Commissariat Major
An administrative position, similar to Quartermaster
General, securing provisions and supplies for the six
permanent barracks within Paris that house France's
ten regular regiments. This appointment, of which
there are three, is appointed by the Adjutant General.
Holders of the appointment are in no way shielded
from accompanying their Regiment to the front, as
and when it is sent or volunteered.
Each Commissariat Major awards lucrative contracts
to local merchants, providing the scope to commit
embezzlement once per season apart from during the
Summer Season. He chooses the amount he wishes to
Military Appointments Table
Die Roll Monthly
Rank Min SL Requirement Appointment Number Allowed Appointed By Status Inf.
Needed Pay

The Paris Tribune

Kings Captain of the
7 Trooper of the Kings Escort Unlimited 4 1 6 -
Musketeers Kings Escort
Private
Cardinals Trooper of the Cardinals Captain of the
6 Unlimited 4 1 6 -
Guard Escort Cardinals Escort

Kings Captain of the

8 Ensign of the Kings Escort 1 6 2 6 -
Musketeers Kings Escort
Subaltern
Cardinals Ensign of the Cardinals Captain of the
7 1 6 2 6 -
Guard Escort Cardinals Escort

RULES V7.2 S April 1629

Subaltern, 1 per PC member PC member of the See the Aide
Aide to the General Staff or
Captain or 4 of the General Staff General Staff or a Appointment - -
Cabinet Minister
any Major or Cabinet Cabinet Minister Table

Tactics & in Colonel of

3 Regimental Adjutant 1 per Regiment 3 1 6 -
the Regiment Regiment

Kings
9 Captain of the Kings Escort 1 King 9 9 6 -
Musketeers
Captain
Cardinals Captain of the Cardinals
8 1 Cardinal 9 8 6 -
Guard Escort

9 The Crown Princes Equerry 1 Crown Prince 9 8 7 -

Any Major 3 Commissariat Major 3 Adjutant General 4 2 6 -

6 Brigade Commander 1 per Brigade Inspector General 6 3 6 -

Paris City Military

Brigadier 10 Tactics Instructor at the RMA 3 8 4 6 -
Governor
General
Army Quartermaster
6 2 Army Commander 8 4 7 5 Crowns
General

8 Tactics Division Commander 4 Army Commander 10 4 6 -

Provincial Military
8 5 King 6 3 6 10 Crowns
Governor
Lieutenant
Paris City Military
General 10 1 King 14 6 6 10 Crowns
Governor

10 Inspector General (Infantry) 1 Minister of War 16 6 6 25 Crowns

12 Inspector General (Cavalry) 1 Minister of War 18 6 6 25 Crowns

General 9 Army Commander 2 Minister of War 14 5 7 50 Crowns

embezzle on the Commissariat Embezzlement Table. If

he rolls the number in the Caught column or higher
14.5.6 Adjutant General
on 2d6, evidence of his crime is passed on to the The administrative officer of the General Staff, he is
Commissioner of War who may then choose to make only ever an NPC or Grandee. No player character
an arrest. may ever hold this appointment. His sanction is
required whenever a character seeks to purchase the
Commissariat Embezzlement rank of Colonel. The Adjutant General always
Table requires Level 5 favours to influence, though if a
Grandee holds the post they might not be sufficient.
Amount Caught

500 Crowns 12 14.5.7 Inspector General

Two such positions are appointed: one for the Cavalry
1,000 Crowns 10
and one for the Infantry. Each appoints the Brigade
Commanders for their particular type of force (cavalry
2,500 Crowns 8
or infantry) and may send any unit of the right type
5,000 Crowns 6 to the front outside of the Summer season.
To be appointed, a character must have served as a
9,000 Crowns 4
Major or higher in a suitable regiment. He cannot go
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 on campaign during the summer season and during
the rest of the year could only do so by taking
command of a Frontier Regiment as this is not a field
command appointment.
The Paris Tribune 14.5.8 Military Governors
There are two types of Military Governor, the Paris
City Military Governor and the Provincial Military
Governors. Military Governors may not go on
campaign at any time of the year, apart from the
specific rules given below for rioting and civil unrest.
All governors have the power to tax the masses in
their province extortionately once per season. They
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
choose the amount that they wish to extort from the
Civil Unrest Table below.
Civil Unrest Table
Amount Civil Unrest
500 Crowns 12
1,000 Crowns 11
2,000 Crowns 9
5,000 Crowns 7 or in their club for the entire month then they will be
10,000 Crowns 5 at less risk than if they are in a different location each
20,000 Crowns 4
If they roll the number in the Civil Unrest column or
higher on 2d6, then the masses in the province will
revolt. In this case the Military Governor will have to
personally lead a frontier force (a minimum of one
brigade of frontiers) against the rabble. Suppressing a
riot is conducted as Field Operations. The unit will be
either an army, division or brigade according to the
number of regiments committed and GM fiat.
Orders to extort taxation from the masses can only be
made as a pre-monthly action in the first month of a
season, the Civil Unrest roll will be made the same
month and the Military Governor informed of the
result in his game return for the month. If Civil
Unrest does arise then the Military Governor must
attempt to quash it during the second month and, if
necessary, for as many months as it takes to quash the
rioting. If the Military Governor receives a Battle
Result of 5 or 6 in either the second or third month
of the season he fails to extort any taxation.
A Battle Result of 1 or 2 is needed to put down any
revolt and, until such a result is achieved, the rioting
continues and the Military Governor must continue
to attempt to put it down. If a Military Governor
starts a season in an ongoing state of Civil Unrest, he
cannot attempt to extort further taxation that season.
A Military Governor does not get any title attempts
for battle results or being mentioned twice in
dispatches while putting down riots, but any other
characters who are part of the forces quelling the riot
get title attempts and all other personal outcomes
from battle as per normal. If a revolt is put down
before the end of a season, any characters who took
part in the suppression may come back to Paris rather
than having to stay on campaign until the end of the
season. Anyone, including the Military Governor,
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involved in quelling the riots is effectively at the Front
for the entire month so cannot do anything else.
Paris City Military Governor
The Paris City Military Governor also governs the
surrounding Province of Ile de France, of which Paris
is the capital. He is responsible for law and order in
Paris, and also appoints the Instructors of the RMA.
When facing Civil Unrest he may also assign up to
four regiments present in Paris to similar riot
suppression duties, under his command; however, the
Inspectors General may countermand such orders if
they wish. The Military Governor is additionally
responsible for the Bastille and its inmates, as well as
the arrest of duelists and other civil law-breakers.
Should a riot occur in Paris, residents who are not
involved in dealing with rioters within the city itself,
will be dealt with on a case by case basis as the GM
sees fit at the time. While I do not intend to publish
any specific rules for it, suffice it to say that they will
risk getting caught up in the chaos & carnage of a
Paris in flames! However, this will be influenced by
how much they venture outside - if they stay at home
week and hence travelling through the streets! Also,
given that martial law & a curfew will have to be
enforced to deal with rioting, the Thtre Royal will
be closed by the Military Governor while he is
quashing the riots.
In the final month of each season, the Paris City
Military Governor must provide the King with 500
Crowns to subsidise the Minister of States creation of
Ministers without Portfolio. While it is assumed that
the Paris City Military Governor will finance this out
of extorted taxation, he does not have to and may
choose to pay for it out of his own personal fortune,
assuming that he has such finances available. This
payment to the Crown cannot be avoided and could
result in the Paris City Military Governor becoming
insolvent! As a result, an NPC Paris City Military
Governor will always extort 500 Crowns per season
with the ensuing risk of Civil Unrest.
Provincial Military Governors
There are five Military Provinces outside of Paris and
Ile de France: Brittany, Burgundy, Gascony,
Languedoc and Normandy. When facing Civil Unrest
a Provincial Military Governor may ask the Inspector
Generals to lend him the use of up to four regular
regiments (each will do so on a 7 on 1d6, if an NPC,
so influence is required).
14.5.9 Instructor at the RMA
The Royal Military Academy instructs officers in the
art of warfare. Instructors must spend 1 week in each
season (except the Summer season) instructing at the
RMA. The Royal Military Academy does not operate
during the Summer Campaign Season and, as such,
this is the only time in the year that instructors may
volunteer to be at the front, though they would have
to lead a Frontier Regiment as this is not a field
command appointment.
14.5.10 Aide to the General
Staff or a Cabinet Minister
To do this, the General or Cabinet Minister
concerned must make a public in character
announcement via La Voix de Paris prior to the
monthly Applications Deadline and give a pre-monthly
dismissal order.
An aide may be exempted from campaign by the
General or Cabinet Minister they are aide to. If the
General or Cabinet Minister goes on campaign he
must take his aide with him, however. When a
character is an aide to a member of the General Staff,
who is an Army or Division Commander, and the
aids Tactics is 2 or more greater than that of his
commander, the Army or Division Commander rolls
for his Battle Result as though his Tactics were 1
greater than it actually is. The aide must resign from
his post if he does not wish to be on campaign for any
reason.
An aide may be dismissed at any time. To do this, the
General or Cabinet Minister concerned must make a
public in character announcement via La Voix de
Paris prior to the monthly Applications Deadline and
give a pre-monthly dismissal order. Only player
character members of the General Staff or Cabinet
appoint aides. NPCs do not appoint aides.
A character who effectively holds two ranks, due to
having a brevet rank, or is a Cabinet Minister in
addition to being a member of the General Staff, may
still only appoint one aide. Once appointed, an aide
receives Status and Influence according to the highest
rank or appointment held by whoever he is aide to, as
detailed in the Aide Appointment Table.
Example: A Brevet Lieutenant General may only appoint
one aide, who would hold the position of Aide to
Lieutenant General. If the Brevet Lieutenant General
were to then be appointed as Minister of War, then his
aide would instead hold the position of Aide to the
Minister of War.
Providing that a character maintains a minimum
Social Level of 4, a rank no lower than Subaltern and
no higher than Regimental Major, he can remain as
an aide to another player character. Similarly,
providing that a character retains any rank within the
General Staff or else holds an appointment as a
Cabinet Minister then he may have an aide. So,
providing both the aide and whoever he is aide to
maintain their respective minimum requirements, the
aide relationship between them remains in place,
despite potential changes in their specific ranks or
appointments held within the Cabinet.
Example: A Brevet Lieutenant General who is also the
Minister of War, would still retain his aide if he were to
lose both his brevet rank and appointment as Minister of
War. The aide however, would now hold the position of
Aide to Brigadier General.
A character who is a Commissioner cannot be an aide
to a Cabinet Minister, but may be an aide to a
member of the General Staff who is not a Cabinet
Minister. A Cabinet Minister may not be an aide to
any player character. A character may never be an aide
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and have an aide at the same time.
Aide Appointment Table
Aide Appointment Status Influence
The Paris Tribune
Aide to Brigadier General 3 1
Aide to the Minister of Justice 4 2
Aide to the Chancellor of the Exchequer 4 2
Aide to Lieutenant General 5 2
Aide to General 6 3
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
Aide to the Minister of War 6 3
Aide to the Minister of State 6 4
14.5.11 Regimental Adjutant
If the Regimental Adjutants Tactics is 2 or more
greater than that of his Colonel, the Colonel rolls for
his Battle Result as though his Tactics were 1 greater
than it actually is. All applicants must be a member of
the relevant regiment.
14.5.12 The Kings &
Cardinals Escorts
Members of the Kings and Cardinals Escorts cannot
go on campaign without the permission of whoever
appointed them, if an NPC this requires a roll of 7 on
1d6. Alternatively, in the rare event of either the King
or Cardinal going to the front in person, then they are
obliged to accompany them as his escort and this
cannot be avoided, regardless of how much influence
might be at their disposal.
However, members of both Escorts are often witness
to potentially scandalous escapades and dark secrets
behind the closed doors of the royal court. It is in
such situations that their subtlety and discretion is
truly tested, potentially resulting in their advancement
or else falling out of favour
Each month all members of both Escorts roll their
Panache on 1d20, though the Escort Captains roll as
if their Panache were 5 higher than it actually is. If
they fumble (rolling 20 when their Panache is less
than 20) they are immediately dismissed from the
Escort and may never rejoin it. Failure results in the
loss of the status they earn from holding their
appointment that month (4 status for a Trooper, 6
status for an Ensign and 9 status for a Captain). A
success gains them a +1 to any roll to court a Titled
mistress the following month. If they critical (rolling
their Panache exactly) they gain a title attempt.
Once per month, whilst performing his duties at the
royal court, an Escort Captain may toady with the
Grandee whose Escort he leads. The Escort Captain
may choose a suitable week, subject to the GMs
approval. Whenever an Escort Captain attends a ball,
the chances increase for his Grandee to attend also.
Escort Troopers are appointed all year round, rather
than in a single month annually. As such, characters
may apply to be a Trooper in any month of the year.
Unlike an Ensign, a Trooper may be dismissed at any
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 time. To do this, the Escort Captain concerned must
give a pre-monthly order to dismiss him and make a
public in character announcement via La Voix de
Paris prior to the monthly Applications Deadline.
The Paris Tribune 14.5.13 The Crown Princes
Equerry
The Equerry may carouse and toady with the Crown
Prince once a month at Fleur de Lys, taking one
character and their mistresses with him; the Crown
Prince will pick up the tab. However, it is not
unknown for the Crown Prince to engage in drunken
hijinks and horseplay on such occasions. It is in such
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
situations that the true mettle of the Equerry is truly
tested
Each time that the Equerry exercises his right to toady
with the Crown Prince he must roll his Panache on
1d20, as if his Panache were 3 higher than it actually
is. If he fumbles (rolling 20 when his Panache is less
than 20) he is immediately dismissed as Equerry and
may never be re-appointed.
Failure results in the loss of the status he earns from
holding the appointment that month (9 status). A
success gains him a +1 to any roll to court a Titled
mistress the following month. If he criticals (rolling
his Panache exactly) he gains a one off level 8 favour
(see Sources of Influence). Whenever he attends a ball
or a plays opening night backstage party, the chances
increase for the Crown Prince to attend also.
The Equerry will be exempted from going on
campaign with his regiment, though he may choose to
go anyway. However, the Crown Prince may be
influenced by others within the game to either force
or prevent the Equerry from going to the front with
his regiment.
In either case, the Crown Prince requires a roll of 7+
on 1d6 to act against the wishes of his Equerry.
Should the Crown Prince go on campaign, in
whatever capacity, then he will always take his
Equerry with him. Members of the Crown Princes
Cuirassiers receive a +1 bonus on the die roll to be
appointed to this post.
14.6 Political
Appointments
There are two types of political appointments:
Commissioners and the more senior Cabinet
Ministers. Commissioners include: the Commissioner
of State, the Commissioner of War and
Commissioners without Portfolio. The Chancellor of
the Exchequer and the Ministers of Justice, War and
State comprise the Cabinet Ministers.
Cabinet Ministers must perform one weeks duty each
month. This may only be combined with attending
the royal court. A request to be excused by the King
from a months ministerial duty requires both a Special
Pre-Monthly Order, which succeeds on a roll of 6 on
1d6, and a public in character application via La Voix
de Paris, prior to the monthly Applications Deadline.
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This roll may be influenced (requiring level 9 favours
to influence the King), but a roll of 1 is always a
refusal. Characters may not request to be excused duty
in the very same month in which they are appointed
as a Cabinet Minister.
If a Cabinet Minister is at the front without being
excused duty then he is dismissed and there will be a
permanent -1 on any attempt to apply for any
Cabinet Minister appointment in the future. As such,
Cabinet Ministers will usually only risk going to the
front for the last month of a season. Cabinet
Ministers may not hold any Military Appointment
that would require them to go to the front, known as
Field Appointments.
A definitive list of which Military Appointments are
desk jobs and so not considered to be Field
Appointments includes:
S Inspector General
S Military Governor
S Instructor RMA
S Aide to Crown Prince
S Kings & Cardinals Escorts
S Aides to General Staff
Though some of these have the choice to go to the
front, they are not required to do so. Others,
primarily aides, only have to go to the front if the
person they are aide to goes. While military governors
are Military Appointments within the game, they are
actually quasi-political in nature. They dont exist to
fight external enemies of France or otherwise organise
the French armed forces. Instead they are political
functionaries using the military to collect taxation, act
as policemen or gaolers, and so are not considered to
be Field Appointments.
That said however, a Cabinet Minister who was
constantly neglecting his duties because of having to
put down riots as a Military Governor might well lose
his position as a Cabinet Minister. I dont wish to
write specific rules for this, but rest assured that it
could happen depending upon individual
circumstances
Cabinet Ministers may perform a second week of
duties in a month by working late. This cannot be
combined with anything else and cannot be done
more than once per month. If they work late then
they make either a Tactics or Panache roll on 1d20. If
they succeed then they gain a title attempt. If they
critical then they gain two title attempts. If they fail
they get nothing. If they fumble then they are
dismissed from the appointment.
If a Cabinet Minister visits the royal court but the
King is not there, the Minister will only be considered
to have put in his required week of duty if the player
also specifically states that his character was carrying
out ministerial duties while attending court. No other
conditional orders to do something else are allowed. If
you go to court and the King is not present then the
only other thing you can do is to carry out your
ministerial duties that week. If you meet the King at a
Political Appointments Table
Minimum Rank Die Roll Monthly
Min SL Appointment Number Allowed Appointed By Status Inf.
or Title Needed Pay

The Paris Tribune

10 Commissioner of War 1 Minister of War 6 7 6 50 Crowns

Colonel or Chevalier 10 Commissioner of State 1 Minister of State 6 7 6 50 Crowns

11 Commissioner without Portfolio Unlimited (1)* Minister of State 10 7 6 50 Crowns

12 Minister of Justice 1 Minister of State 12 8 6 50 Crowns

Brigadier General
or Baron 14 Chancellor of the Exchequer 1 Minister of State 14 7&8 6 50 Crowns

Lieutenant General
15 Minister of War 1 King 18 8&9 7 100 Crowns

RULES V7.2 S April 1629

or Vicomte

General or Comte 16 Minister of State 1 King 20 9&9 7 150 Crowns

* The number in parenthesis is the default number of Commissioners without Portfolio that an NPC Minister of
State will appoint, a player character Minister of State may appoint as many as he is willing and able to fund.

party you cannot combine being at the party yourself
with carrying out your ministerial duties, though you
will of course get to toady with the King
14.6.1 Minister of State
The Minister of State appoints the Minister of Justice,
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Commissioner of State
and Commissioners without Portfolio. The Minister
also determines Force Commitment for the Summer
Campaign (see Force Commitment). Instead of a die
roll on the Force Commitment Table, the Minister of
State may decide how many and which Brigades are
sent, though he must send at least 3 and can choose
to send all 5 Brigades. Once set in March, for the next
Summer Season, it cannot be changed. A player
character Minister of State has a modifier of 4 to use
on the choice of enemy for the Summer campaign (see
Determing the Enemy for the Summer Campaign). All
candidates must state, as part of their application via
La Voix de Paris, how they will use this modifer.
The number and timing of the appointment of
Commissioners without Portfolio is entirely at the
discretion of the Minister of State, though each
Commissioner without Portfolio costs 200 Crowns
per month to upkeep. This includes a Commissioner
without Portfolios monthly wages of 50 Crowns, plus
the costs of ancillary staff, all which the Minister of
State has to fund out of his own pocket.
This cost is subsidised by a levy of 500 Crowns
required in the final month of each season from the
Paris City Military Governor. While it is assumed that
the Paris City Military Governor will finance this out
of extorted taxation he does not have to and may
choose to pay for it out of his own personal fortune,
assuming that he has such finances available. This
payment to aid the Minister of States creation of
Commissioners without Portfolio cannot be avoided
and could result in the Paris City Military Governor
becoming insolvent! In the event of the the Minister
of State not appointing any player characters as
Commissioners without Portfolio, NPCs will be
appointed at the GMs discretion. If the Minister of
State is an NPC, then it is again down to the GM to
determine how many and when they are appointed.
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The default in this case is that one Commissioner
without Portfolio will be appointed in February for a
term of 6 months, though an NPC Minister of State
can be influenced (7+ on 1d6) to create a new
Minister without Portfolio and hence accept
applications for the appointment. Similarly an NPC
Minister of State can be influenced (7+ on 1d6) to
extend an existing Commissioner without Portfolios
term of office, but not beyond 12 months.
Commissioners without Portfolio must serve for a
term of no less than 6 months and no more than 12
without having to re-apply, assuming the post is still
there. After 6 months, the Minister of State may
decide that a Commissioner without Portfolios job is
complete and effectively cancel their appointment.
Equally, a Commissioner without Portfolio cannot
resign before having served a minimum of 6 months
in the post. Commissioner s without Portfolio do not
receive any re-appointment bonus for being an
incumbent.
14.6.2 Commissioner without
Portfolio
Commissioners without Portfolio are created entirely
at the discretion of the Minister of State
(see Minister of State).
14.6.3 Minister of War
The Minister of War appoints the Commissioner of
War, Inspectors General and determines Force
Deployment (see Force Deployment). A player character
Minister of War has a modifier of 3 to use on the
choice of enemy for the Summer campaign (see
Determing the Enemy for the Summer Campaign). All
candidates must state, as part of their application via
La Voix de Paris, how they will use this modifier.
The Minister of War determines Force Organisation
of all the Brigades committed by the Minister of
State, dividing them into four Divisions that then
make up two Armies (see Force Organisation). In
addition to appointing the Army Commanders, the
Minister of War determines which Brigades make up
what Divisions within the Army they command. He
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 may also substitute one Regiment committed by the
Minister of State with another of the same type,
infantry or cavalry (see Substitution).
The Paris Tribune It should be noted that a player character Minister of
War determines the deployment of any units at the
front throughout the year, not just during the
Summer season. If he does not allocate a specific
deployment to a unit outside of the campaign season,
they are assumed to be assigned to Field Operations.
14.6.4 Minister of Justice
Presides over the trials for embezzlement cases
involving the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
14.6.5 Chancellor of the
Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is a Cabinet
Minister and may embezzle state funds once per
season. The Chancellor chooses the amount he wishes
to embezzle on the Exchequer Embezzlement Table.
If he rolls the number in the Caught column or
higher on 2d6, evidence of his crime is passed on to
the Commissioner of State who may then choose to
make an arrest. If the Commissioner of State does
arrest a corrupt Chancellor (an NPC Commissioner
will always do so) he is then put on trial for
embezzlement. If arrested for embezzlement,
regardless of the outcome of the trial, the Chancellor
of the Exchequer is dismissed from the appointment.
Exchequer Embezzlement
Table
Amount Caught
1,000 Crowns 11
2,000 Crowns 9 State will be dismissed from the appointment and
5,000 Crowns 8
10,000 Crowns 6 If he has a suspect awaiting trial, then the position
20,000 Crowns 3
14.6.6 Inquisitor General
The Inquisitor General is an Officer of the Church
and is only ever an NPC or Grandee. No player
character may ever hold this appointment, which
seeks out heretics and devil-worshippers and brings
them to trial. His powers only extend to witchcraft
and un-catholic behaviour. As such, the post is often
manipulated by those involved in various intrigues.
The Inquisitor General maybe influenced to trump up
charges against a player character. A roll of 6 on 1d6 is
required for the Inquisitor to act upon a public
denunciation for Heresy. This must be via a public in
character post in La Voix de Paris, prior to the
monthly Applications Deadline, and written as a pre-
monthly order in the denouncers orders. If the
denunciation is for the crime of Witchcraft, a 7 on
1d6 is required. The Inquisitor General may make 4
arrests in total per year (February to January of the
following year): 3 for Heresy and 1 for Witchcraft.
The successful prosecution of a Cabinet Minister, but
not a Commissioner, permits the Inquisitor to assume
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the convicted ministers portfolio. An NPC minister
accused of heresy or witchcraft will use all of his
available influence to fight the charge and will be
assumed to have a Social Level equal to the minimum
required to hold the position +1d6 if not already
present in the game as a Notable Member of Society.
All cases are taken to the Cardinal, who may be
influenced as to the outcome of the trial.
14.6.7 Commissioner of State
The Commissioner seeks out traitors to the Crown,
rather than petty law breakers such as duelists.
Treason is defined as anything which goes against the
stated or unstated wishes of the King.
The Commissioner of State must always be present
when making an arrest. He may trump up charges
against a player character. When this is done the
person is arrested and held for trial. The
Commissioner of State may make 5 such arrests a
year. Making an arrest without pressing charges is a
lesser form of trumping up charges. When such an
arrest is made then the arrested person is held for the
week and then released. The Commissioner of State
may make 3 such arrests a year.
Either within the first two seasons of the appointment
or by the end of his term of office, whichever is
soonest and regardless of how short a term that may
be prior to its re-appointment in February of each
year, he must trump up charges and secure a
conviction against at least one player character. Failure
to do so, results in dismissal and he may never be re-
appointed to it. Resigning before the term is up,
having not fulfilled this requirement, results in an
inability to be re-appointed to the position for twelve
months. If he fails to do this, the Commissioner of
may never be re-appointed to it.
cannot be resigned. If there is no player character in
the position when the trial is due then an NPC will
always be appointed to carry out the prosecution by
an NPC Minister of State. If a player character
Minister of State holds the position of Commissioner
of State open then the suspect is released without trial.
Securing the conviction, not making the arrest, fulfills
the requirement of the appointment.
The successful prosecution of a Cabinet Minister, but
not another Commissioner, permits the
Commissioner to assume the convicted ministers
portfolio. In addition, if a successful prosecution
results in the confiscation of property and wealth, the
Commissioner receives half of it. An NPC minister
accused of sedition or treason will use all of his
available influence to fight the charge and will be
assumed to have a Social Level equal to the minimum
required to hold the position +1d6 if not already
present in the game as a Notable Member of Society.
All cases are taken to the Minister of State, unless it is
the Minister of State who stands accused. If that is the
case, the King acts as judge and may be influenced as
to the outcome of the trial.
14.6.8 Commissioner of War
The Commissioner seeks out incompetence and
corruption amongst the General Staff. During every
season, the GM will compile a list of misdeeds and
inadequate performances by members of the General
Staff at the front. This includes QuarterMaster
Generals reported for Embezzlement and all Army,
Division and Brigade Commanders who get a Battle
Result of 5 or 6, unless their result is better than the
result of their immediate superior. A Battle Result of 5
would attract a charge of Dereliction of Duty, whilst a
Battle Result of 6 could increase the charge to Gross
Incompetence. This List of Shame is published in
the final month of each seasons Paris Tribune and
anyone contained within it is deemed to be under
investigation by the Commissioner of War.
The Commissioner may then choose which of the
names under investigation he wishes to bring to trial,
before the Minister of War, in the first week of the
following month. Any of the names on the List of
Shame that the Commissioner wishes to put on trial
are automatically arrested at the end of the season,
which cannot be resisted or avoided.
Occasionally, a member of the General Staff who
might have earned inclusion on the List of Shame
gets returned to Paris before the seasons end.
Normally this is by virtue of being promoted out of
their Field Command, and in such cases they are
removed from the List of Shame. However, that does
not prevent them being pursued by the Commissioner
on trumped up charges.
It is worth pointing out that at the end of each season
all troops are considered to come back to Paris, even if
they then immediately turn around and go back out
to the Front. So, the arrest cannot in any way be
avoided by a character simply saying that he remains
at the front.
In any season in which there are any names on the
List of Shame and the Commissioner of War fails to
prosecute at least one of them, the Minister of War is
informed and may summarily dismiss the
Commissioner the following month. By default, an
NPC Minister of War will dismiss the Commissioner
in this circumstance on a roll of 6+ on 1d6. Not
surprisingly, if the Commissioner qualifies to be on
the List of Shame himself, this will be overlooked,
though he still counts for the purposes of determining
if the Minister of War dismisses him. Should there be
no Commissioner in post in the first month of a
season, any names on the List of Shame are not put
on trial and immediately exonerated.
The Commissioner of War may also trump up
charges, though he must always be present when
making such an arrest. He may trump up 3 charges of
Dereliction of Duty and 1 charge of Gross
Incompetence per term of his appointment. When
this is done the person must first be arrested and then
held for trial. All cases are taken to the Minister of
War unless it is the Minister of War who stands
accused. If that is the case, the King acts as judge and
may be influenced as to the outcome of the trial.
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14.6.9 Conflicting Jurisdiction
& other Clarifications
The Commissioner of State and Inquisitor General
The Paris Tribune
may only hold one other additional Cabinet Portfolio
at a time, regardless of how many successful
prosecutions they may have brought against Cabinet
Ministers. So, while they might successfully convict
four Cabinet Ministers in the same month, they must
then choose only one of the four portfolios to assume
the Status, Influence, Pay and powers thereof. Any
others, that they do not assume, are immediately freed
up for re-appointment.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
In the event that they do not specify which Portfolio
they wish to assume, they will be awarded the most
prestigious one. This does not, however, prevent the
Commissioner of State or Inquisitor General from
convicting different Cabinet Ministers over
consecutive months and so assume their respective
Portfolios month after month.
Regardless, they each may still only hold one
additional Portfolio in any given month. Though they
may choose to retain the Portfolio they assumed in a
previous month instead of assuming the new one
from a later conviction. In any event, any Portfolio
from a conviction that is either not immediately
assumed or else lost by assuming a new one is
immediately freed up for re-appointment.
Should the Commissioner of State or Inquisitor
General successfully prosecute the other, they do not
get any Portfolios the other might currently be
holding due to previous prosecutions - these positions
are immediately freed up for re-appointment.
Appointments gained via a successful prosecution, last
until they come back around for re-appointment as
per the Appointments Calendar. In the event of the
Commissioner of State or Inquisitor General losing or
resigning their position, they immediately lose any
seized portfolios which are then immediately available
for re-appointment.
In the event of the Inquisitor General and the
Commissioners of State or War attempting to arrest
each other at the same location in the same week,
essentially nothing happens. They all turn up with
guards in tow and plenty of legal and moral
precedent, which then results in a tense stand off.
All those attempting to make an arrest then effectively
lose that weeks action as if they had made an arrest.
But, as they have all have lost face in an embarrassing
public spectacle, they each lose 7 Status. Neither of
them may write conditional orders to say if the other
turns up to arrest me I will try to arrest him to create
such a stand off, as you can only write conditional
orders concerning something that has happened
previously. Either they are attempting to make an
arrest that week or they are not!
Neither the Commissioners or Inquisitor may make
an arrest at a prearranged duel. Making an arrest is a
weekly action, while fighting a pre-arranged duel is a
pre-weekly one. However, either duelist could still be
arrested for duelling by the City Watch.
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 15 Aristocratic Titles
The Paris Tribune 15.1 Earning Title Characters may only hold one title at a time, so the
Baron de Foix if raised to the title of Vicomte he

Attempts would become the Vicomte de Foix and not the

Players earn a title attempt after performing a valuable
service to the state. These include:
S Being mentioned twice in dispatches in a single
month whilst at the Front.
S Gaining a Political Appointment, whether as an
Commissioner or a Cabinet Minister.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
S Cabinet Ministers succeeding at their Tactics or
Panache roll when working late. If they critical,
they gain two title attempts.
S Obtaining a Battle Result of 1 if commanding a
Regiment, Battalion or Squadron.
S Obtaining a Battle Result of 1 or 2 if commanding
an Army, Division or Brigade.
S Members of either the Kings or Cardinals Escort
who critical their monthly Panache rolls when
carrying out their duties.
S A playwright staging a play that is a triumph. He
also gains a title attempt for every fourth play that
is a success.
Not all title attempts will be taken into account by
the King: after all, if you are already a Comte you are
expected to be a brilliant military commander and get
mentioned all the time. If you are untitled or only a
Chevalier, all title attempts count. If you are a Baron
or Vicomte every second one counts, and if a Comte
every third. If you are already a Duc, then you cannot
gain any further aristocratic title or estates and accrue
no further title attempts.
15.2 Receiving a Title
The King confers titles upon players who meet any of
the above requirements on a roll of 6+ on 1d6. This
roll may be modified by influence. Players may add
one to their die roll for every three levels they are
above the minimum Social Level they must have for a
particular title.
Every time, after the first, that a player qualifies for a
given title, he subtracts one from the die roll needed;
this is cumulative. Untitled characters become
Chevaliers; characters who are already titled receive
the next higher title. All titles are accompanied by a
monthly pension as listed on the Titles Table.
Vicomte of Somewhere-else. By the same token,
characters only receive the benefits accorded to their
highest title. You cannot be a Vicomte and a Baron,
you would simply be a Vicomte.
Min SL: If a characters Social Level is below the level
listed, he will not be titled, his Social Level will
remain the same, and he will receive a pat on the back
instead. Pats on the back have no effect on the game.
New SL: If a characters Social Level is below that
listed, he is automatically elevated to that level.
Status: If awarded a title, this amount of Status is
received as a one-off award during the characters first
full month spent in Paris after the award. Note that
they do not have to wait for this until the annual
Ennoblement Procession in October, that event is an
additional source of Status that they will doubtless
choose to attend in order to tap
Pension: With a title comes estates, which in turn
provide a monthly income in Crowns as listed.
Max SL: This is the maximum Social Level that a
character with that title may achieve. Any Social
Levels in excess of this level that would otherwise be
gained in any given month are cancelled. To progress
beyond that Social Level a character must gain a
superior title, though they will still have their Social
Level capped according to their new title. Untitled
gentlemen are also capped in this manner, being
unable to exceed Social Level 15 without becoming a
Chevalier. Only Ducs are unrestricted in the Social
Level that they may attain.
Number: This is the maximum number of characters
who may exist in the game concurrently with that
particular title. If no vacancy exists within the
aristocracy above a characters current title they cannot
gain another title and progress until such time as a
vacancy does exist, either because an incumbent dies,
receives a higher title, or in some way falls out of royal
favour and loses their current title. The number in
parenthesis is the effective limit whenever there are
less than 30 players in the game, in that event the
lower limit is enforced for new characters gaining the
relevant title but existing holders of the title are not
forced to lose their title if the new lower limit is
already exceeded when the number of players drops
below 30.

Titles table
Class Title Minimum Social Level New Social Level Status Pension Maximum Social Level Maximum Number
0 None 0 n/a 0 0 15 -
1 Chevalier 7 10 10 5 19 15 (10)
2 Baron 10 13 10 25 22 12 (5)
3 Vicomte 13 17 15 50 26 9 (4)
4 Comte 17 21 20 100 30 6 (3)
5 Duc 21 25 25 150 - 3 (2)
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15.3 Royal Displeasure 15.5 The Royal Court
At the end of every month each character of Social
Level 25 or higher has a chance of incurring Royal
Displeasure. It should be noted that this is a slight
misnomer, as the displeasure is not necessarily suffered
from the Kings hands, but potentially from any of the
Grandees of the game, including the Cardinal. A roll
of 12 on 2d6 results in Royal Displeasure. The
number rolled has 1 added to it for every Social Level
the character is above 25. So a character of Social
Level 35 or higher automatically incurs Royal
Displeasure every month.
If a character incurs Royal Displeasure, then 3d6 are
rolled and the result cross-referenced with an
unpublished Royal Displeasure Table to determine the
outcome. Low numbers generally result in less severe
outcomes than higher ones, a result of 19 or higher
results in the characters permanent removal from the
game. Each subsequent time that a character rolls on
the table, an additional 3 is added to the result rolled.
So, repeated instances of Royal Displeasure will soon
cause a character difficulties and ultimately doom him
to an exit from the game. As such, once a character
reaches Social Level 25, they should consider
themselves entering an endgame and plan accordingly.
S Total wealth comprises all current cash and
investments; no account is taken for the cost of
liquidating investments or for the fact that current
cash might include monies loaned by a shylock.
S If there are already a maximum number of
characters at an aristocratic rank then the character
will be reduced down until he hits a level where
there is space. In addition, this could cause the
character to lose Social Levels as required to comply
with his new titles maximum Social Level.
15.4 The Ennoblement
Procession
The King officially presents all titles awarded during
the preceding year at an annual ceremony in Week 4
of October. All characters who have received a title
during the preceding year are invited, along with their
ladies. This ceremony allows all those present to toady
to the King, just as when attending The Royal Court.
No duelling is permitted during the event, under any
circumstances. Any such offenders will not only be
immediately removed from the presence of the King
and so prevented from toadying to the King, but in
addition will be stripped of their newly earned title
and knaved for 6 months! In the event of an offender
having been awarded more than one title, they would
normally only lose the most prestigious one, subject
to the conditions given under Royal Displeasure
which could actually cause them to lose several titles
and Social Levels!
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The Royal Court is where the King spends much of
his time, here he will converse with gentlemen about
The Paris Tribune
anything that seems important at the time. However,
only characters with sufficient standing will be
allowed into the Kings court.
Cabinet Ministers and aristocrats with a title of
Vicomte or higher are welcome at court once a
month, any Commissioners are also welcome at court
but only once a season. These may be combined, so a
Minister of War with the title of Comte could attend
Court twice a month, once for his aristocratic title
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
and once for being a Cabinet Minister. Similarly, if
the same Comte were the Commissioner of War,
rather than the Minister of War, he could attend
Court only once a month apart from one month a
season in which he could attend twice. Not attending
for a period of time does not allow a character to store
up the right of admission, so a character who can
attend only once a month could not attend Court for
three weeks in the same month after having not
attended for two months. Other characters may only
attend Court by special permission.
Attending the Royal Court allows a character the
chance to toady to the King. While at court it is
inappropriate to duel anyone, no matter the cause, see
The Ennoblement Procession for details on what
happens to those foolish enough to transgress in this
matter. Just as when visiting a club, characters are
assumed to carouse whilst at Court unless they
specifically state otherwise. A drunk will immediately
be ejected and barred from Court for 1d6 months.
While other appointments, such as being a member of
either the Kings or Cardinals Escort, might require
their presence at Court, they do not toady with the
King unless it specifically says so under the details of
their appointment.
While a character may have his mistress accompany
him when attending court, he does so at a risk. On a
roll of 12 on 2d6, with +1 to the roll if she is
Beautiful, the characters mistress catches the Kings
roving eye who then steals away her affections for
himself. When this happens, the character loses the
mistress and obviously cannot challenge the King,
though he does not lose any Status for not challenging
His Majesty! The mistress concerned is then
unavailable to all characters until the King tires of her,
after 1d6 months. At that point she becomes available
once more. Characters with Titled Mistresses also get
additional opportunities to attend court.
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 16 The Grandees
The Grandees are important and powerful non-player
The Paris Tribune characters within the game who, aside from the use of
influence upon them by player characters, are under
the exclusive control of the GM. In addition to those
listed below in the French Grandees section, other
important European personages of the age may or
may not appear within the game as the GM sees fit.
Such additional Grandees might include the King of
Spain, King Charles of England, the current Pope,
Urban VIII, or any of their powerful courtiers.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
It started badly with the fourteen-year-old couple
forced to consummate the marriage, to forestall any
possibility of future annulment, a humiliation that
resulted in Louis refusing to touch his wife for the
next few years. As a Spaniard, surrounded by her
entourage of high-born Spanish ladies-in-waiting,
Anne is out of the mainstream of French culture. She
has continued to live according to Spanish etiquette
and failed to improve her stilted French.
A series of miscarriages has disenchanted the King and
served to chill their relations further. On 14 March

16.1 Current Grandees 1622, while playing with her ladies, Anne fell on a
staircase and suffered her second miscarriage, for
These Grandees represent members of the French which Louis blamed her and refused to forgive her
Royal family, in-laws and other powerful voices within friends for having encouraged the Queen in such
or without the French kingdom. negligent foolery. Of late, the Queens position has
Grandee Table been further undermined by the rise of Cardinal
Richelieu, who perhaps views the Queens Habsburg
Grandee (UID) Social Level Influence Required
lineage with suspicion
King Louis XIII (!HMK) 35 Level 9 favour
16.1.4 Crown Prince Gaston
Cardinal Richelieu (!HEC) 34 Level 8 favour
Born: 1608
Queen Anne (!HMQ) 33 Level 8 favour Louis XIIIs younger brother Gaston, Duc dOrlans,
is the heir presumptive. Unlike his timid elder
Crown Prince Gaston (!CPG) 32 Level 8 favour
brother, Gaston lives the bawdy life of bon vivant and
Charles King of England (!CKE) 30 Level 7 favour raconteur of all the various delights of the flesh.
Moreover, he wants to be king and some fear that he
Princess Louisa (!PL) 28 Level 7 favour might someday plot against Louis XIII in order to
assume the throne.
16.1.1 King Louis XIII
Born: 1601
16.1.5 Charles King of
Crowned King: 1610 England
A timid and private young king who surrounds Born: 1600
himself with favourites and lavish entertainments. He Married: 1625
is easily swayed by his advisors, though in recent years The husband of Princess Louisa, sister of King Luis
primacy in this area has largely fallen to the silver XIII of France. Many of Charless subjects feel that he
tongued Cardinal Richelieu has brought the Church of England too close to
Roman Catholicism.
16.1.2 Cardinal Richelieu
Born: 1585 16.1.6 Princess Louisa
Appointed Cardinal: 1622 Born: 1609
Cardinal Richelieu is often known by the title of the Married: 1625
Kings Chief Minister. He has sought to consolidate Louisas Roman Catholic faith has made her an
royal power and crush domestic factions. By unpopular choice of wife for the English King
restraining the power of the nobility, he is slowly Charles, whom she married by proxy on May 11,
transforming France into a strong, centralised state. 1625, shortly after his accession to the throne. They
His chief foreign policy objective is to check the were married in person at St. Augustines Church,
power of the Austro-Spanish Habsburg dynasty. Canterbury, Kent, in June of 1626.
Despite being a Roman Catholic Cardinal, he has
never hesitated to make alliances with Protestant
rulers in attempting to achieve this goal. 16.2 Notable Members
16.1.3 Queen Anne of Society
Notable Members of Society (NMS) are important
Born: 1601
non-player characters within the game. While they
Married: 1615
could be considered to be minor Grandees, they are
A Spanish Habsburg, Annes marriage is widely not Grandees and differ from them in a number of
rumoured not to be a happy one, filled with mistrust. ways. One key difference is that Notable Members of
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Society hold positions within the game that could
otherwise be occupied by player characters.
So when a senior appointment, such as Minister of
State for example, does not get taken by a player
character the appointment will be given by the GM to
an NMS. Similarly, player characters may find
themselves competing with an NMS when applying
for a senior post, as the GM sees fit
16.2.1 Publicly Known
Information
When the GM introduces a Notable Member of
Society into the game, certain information about
them will be made publicly available to the player
characters. This includes
Name: The name of the Notable Member of Society.
Social Level: His current Social Level.
Title and/or Rank: Aristocratic titles and/or military
ranks currently held.
Position: Military and/or Political appointments
currently held.
Description: A short description of the Notable
Member of Society, with possible hints as to his
characteristics.
While an NMS is roughly subject to the same rules of
the game as player characters, the GM will run them
as he sees fit and alter details such as their Social Level
in accordance with this.
16.2.2 Characteristics
Each Notable Member of Society has characteristics,
though they are not public knowledge. Such
characteristics may be learnt by the use of Clandestine
Action or, alternatively, deduced by a player
characters interaction with them.
Mindedness: This is an indication of how the use of
favours will affect the NMS.
S Single Minded (S)
S Unbiased (U)
S Open Minded (O)
Single Minded would mean influence would be
required to be one level higher than his position
would normally warrant. Unbiased would mean
influence would work normally. Open Minded means
that the influence required would be one level lower
than his position would normally warrant.
Wealth: This is an indication of how the use of
bribery will affect the NMS.
S Rich (R)
S Adequate (A)
S Poor (P)
Rich would mean bribes would be required to be one
level higher than his position would normally warrant.
Adequate would mean bribes would work normally.
Poor means that the bribe required would be one level
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lower than his position would normally warrant.
Honour: This is an indication of how the NMS will
act when deciding whether to report or prosecute
crimes, such as bribery, embezzlement, etc.
The Paris Tribune
S Lawful (L)
S Neutral (N)
S Corrupt (C)
Lawful would increase the chance of him reporting or
prosecuting a crime. Neutral would mean he acts
normally. Corrupt would decrease the chance of him
reporting or prosecuting a crime.
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
Dark Secret (D): A Dark Secret would indicate that
there is something in the NMSs life, either past or
present, that if discovered could be used by a player
character as leverage against the NMS.
16.3 NPCs & the Rules
of the Game
Apart from where they are otherwise, specifically
mentioned within the rules, all non-player characters
are not otherwise subject to the rules of the game as
player characters are. This includes Grandees and
Notable Members of Society
16.3.1 NPCs & Actions
Unlike player characters, NPCs may be in more than
one place and carry out multiple actions within the
same week. This allows them to be guests at more
than one ball in the same week or and explains why
there is no supply & demand element to the
mechanic that determines their attendance. In the
case of the King, he can be conduct matters of state at
the Royal Court, sit as a judge in a trial at the Palais
de Justice and also attend a ball - all in the same week.
At the whim of the GM, normally determined by
ongoing metaplots within the game, certain NPCs
may host a variety of social events on occasion. Such
NPCs with normally be Grandees or Notable
Members of Society, though not necessarily. While
such NPCs are not bound by the usual rules for
hosting them, any characters attending as guests are.
Characters attending as guests normally only do so if
explicitly invited, though on occasions such
invitations may be sought. When this is the case, the
GM will publish ad hoc rules governing how. Such
rules are only valid for that particular event and in no
way form any precedent for future events
16.3.2 Grandees at the Front
Whilst there are specific rules covering NPCs at the
front (see NPC Outcomes), they do not completely
cover the case of a Grandee at the front. Whenever a
Grandee is at the front, all members of their escort or
any equerry or aide must accompany them.
Grandees at the front, along with any escort, equerry
or aide, attach themselves to a Field Command in a
consultative or observer role. Normally this will be
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 one or other of the two Army Commands. As such,
they will all be considered to be deployed on Field
Operations and will receive the personal modifiers for
serving with whichever Field Command rather than
The Paris Tribune their own regiment.
On occasions, Grandees actually hold a bona fide
Field Command within the military, though never less
than a Brigade Command. Such Grandees are not
required to meet any of the usual requirements for
holding such commands, be that rank or former
membership of a specific regiment.
Grandees may hold such commands according to the
Appointments Calendar, just as player characters do,
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
17 Clandestine Action
Clandestine Action is a weekly order that allows a
player character to act with stealth and guile. While it
can be used to investigate other player characters or
an NMS, it can equally be used to obfuscate or
otherwise hide a characters actions.
Regardless of its use, the Clandestine Action order
must specify a target. This target could be an
individual being investigated, or else be an individual
that the character is attempting to mislead or
otherwise act against. Ultimately, what is possible with
this order will come down to a conversation between
the GM and the player(s) concerned
The mechanic is purposefully designed to be flexible,
expansive and open ended, catering to all kinds of
activities that would otherwise fall outside of the
envelope provided by the games rules. As such, all
players are advised to consult with the GM before
submitting Clandestine Action orders. Otherwise
players could easily waste their orders by trying to do
too much in one action, not being incisive enough in
their focus or, else, by attempting something that is
unacceptable to the GM.
17.1 Carrying out a
Clandestine Action
The GM makes an opposed roll between the active
character and his target, to determine the success of
the Clandestine Action. The roll is made using the
characters Panache, with the target at -3. If the GM
considers it appropriate, either side may use their
Tactics instead at an additional -3 penalty, meaning a
target of a Clandestine Action would do so at -6. In
the event of the target not being a specific character,
or being covered elsewhere in the rules, the GM will
arbitrarily determine a suitable Panache to roll against
that of the player character.
The outcome of this opposed roll, subject to the
actions overall outcome, determines if the target of
the Clandestine Action becomes aware of the active
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but are totally unrestricted by it. Equally, it is not
uncommon for them to merely be appointed at the
whim of the King (for which read that of the GM or
the requirements of a metaplot), or else to fill an
unfilled vacancy.
Whilst the existing mechanics for being at the front
are still used, any outcome that might befall player
character escort members, equerries or aides are
written up from the perspective of them carrying out
their role for their master. Depending upon who their
master might be, this might vary from nefarious
political endeavours to save their life from would be
assassins, foreign or domestic
characters actions and/or identity. Those being acted
against gain a +1 to Panache (or Tactics), instead of
the customary -3 whilst unaware, if they are already
aware of the action that month. This would be as a
result of an action against them earlier in the month
and is only against this action that the bonus applies.
Any given clandestine action requires a certain
number of successes to be achieved for the action to
be successful. For the purposes of tracking the
number of successes achieved the following
equivalency is used: A critical success equates to three
successes and a partial success to half a success.
Example: Henri (Panache of 13) seeks to do something
unspeakable to Louis (Panache of 8 and Tactics of 14).
Exactly what the action is, apart from the fact that it is
deemed difficult & complex enough by the GM as to
require 6 success, is irrelevant to this discussion
Week 1: Louis is currently unaware, as Henri has not
already acted. Henri rolls 13 vs his Panache of 13, while
Louis rolls 8 versus his Tactics of 8 (14-3-3) which is still
better than his Panache of 5 (8 -3). Both men achieve a
critical success, which mean there is no result, so they
both roll again without having got any bonus from their
respective critical successes, as they effectively cancelled
one another out. This time, Henri rolls 14 and Louis 10,
meaning that both men fail. Effectively nothing happens
and Louis is still unaware of Henris attempted action
against him.
Week 2: Louis is still currently unaware and the two
mens chances of success remain unchanged. Henri rolls
13 vs his Panache of 13, while Louis rolls 12 versus his
Tactics of 8 (14-3-3) which is still better than his
Panache of 5 (8-3). So, Henri has achieved a Critical
Success whilst Louis has failed. Henri has now acquired
3 of the 6 successes he requires for his scheme to come to a
successful fruition. In addition, Louis remains unaware
but will now be at an additional -3 penalty as Henri has
gained an insight to how he thinks.
Week 3: Louis is not only still currently unaware, but is
at an additional -3 penalty. Henri rolls 2 vs his Panache
Clandestine Action Overall Result Table
TARGET

Critical Success Success Partial Success Failure Fumble

The Paris Tribune

No Result T: Partial Success T: Failure T: Fumble
Critical Success
Roll again A: Critical Success A: Critical Success A: Critical Success

No Result T: Partail Success T: Failure T: Fumble

ACTIVE CHARACTER

Success
Roll again A: Success A: Success A: Success

T: Critical Success T: Success

Partial Success
A: Partial Success A: Partial Success

T: Critical Success T: Success T: Failure T: Fumble

Failure
A: Failure A: Failure A: Failure A: Failure

T: Critical Success T: Success T: Failure T: Fumble

RULES V7.2 S April 1629

Fumble
A: Fumble A: Fumble A: Fumble A: Fumble

Clandestine Action Individual Outcome Table

Result Active Target

They get an insight into their prey. -3 to the target characters They know who is acting against them and have sufficient
Critical Success Panache (or Tactics) with regard to this particular action for 3 evidence to report them! +3 to the targets Panache (or Tactics)
months. versus this characters actions for 3 months.

Success Action succeeds Aware

Partial Success Action partially succeeds Suspicious

No Result No result, roll again No result, roll again

Failure Action fails Ignorant

Public Exposure: -1 Social Level plus other potential Slip of the Tongue: +3 to the Panache (or Tactics) of the
Fumble consequences depending on the action. The action ends here and character acting against them for all future Clandestine Actions
cannot be restarted by this character for 3 months. made against this particular individual for 3 months.

of 13, while Louis rolls 4 versus his Tactics of 5 (14-3-3-
3) which is still better than his Panache of 2 (8-3-3). So
Louis has achieved a Success and Henri only a Partial
Success. This means that Louis is now aware, but Henri
has gained an additional 0.5 of a success for his long
term goal.
Week 4: Despite the fact that Louis is now aware and
replaces one of his -3 penalties with a +1 bonus, it does
not remove the other -3 due to Henris Critical Success in
Week 2. Henri rolls 10 vs his Panache of 13, while Louis
rolls 6 versus his Tactics of 9 (14-3-3+1) which is still
better than his Panache of 6 (8-3+1). So Henri has
achieved a Success and Louis only a Partial Success. This
means that Louis is still aware and suspicious that the
action against him is still continuing, but Henri has
gained an additional success for his long term goal, with
4.5 of the 6 successes he requires for his scheme to come to
a successful fruition.
Clearly, much remains to play for in the following
month. All modifiers would be reset for both sides, apart
from the -3 to Louis due to Henris critical that lasts for
3 months. So if Henri were to continue his Clandestine
Action in Week 1 of the following month, he would do so
with a Panache of 13 versus Louiss Tactics of 8 (14-3-3),
as he would considered to be unaware again. However,
because he would have been informed that person or
persons unknown acted against him in the previous
month, he could choose to employ Clandestine Action,
Plotting and/or Scheming to attempt to protect himself
when writing his orders for that month
17.1.1 Plotting & Scheming
Plotting is a pre-monthly action, it allows both parties
on either side of a Clandestine Action to use money
www.canterburygamers.org.uk
to affect its outcome as follows:
S An active character can, as a pre-monthly action,
spend 500 Crowns to gain a +1 to his Panache or -1
to the target characters Panache that month, up to
a maximum of 2,500 Crowns in each direction.
S Anyone fearful of being acted against can, as a
pre-monthly action, spend 500 Crowns to put the
Panache of all those acting against him at a -1 or
gain +1 to their own Panache that month, up to a
maximum of 2,500 Crowns in each direction
Scheming is a variant of the Clandestine Action
weekly action and is used to prepare for a subsequent
Clandestine Action that same month or the next,
only. It requires no roll and automatically results
in a +1 to Panache for any Clandestine Action against
one target for one purpose. As a result, the maximum
bonus to a characters Panache that can be achieved
through Scheming is +7.
17.2 Spheres of Action
There are four general spheres that can be the focus
for a player characters Clandestine Action. Though
this is not a definitive list
17.2.1 Player Characters
A characters abilities, romance or finances can be
targeted, though the GM may entertain other areas as
well. If a player knows who is acting against them
then they have discretional cause to challenge. If they
learn the identity of whoever is acting against them
they may also choose to report this harassment to the
relevant official.
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 When investigating a player characters abilities, only
one specific ability may be targetted at a time. A
single success will simply ascertain an approximate
value, such as poor, average or high. A critical success
The Paris Tribune
or multiple successful Clandestine Actions will be
required to determine an actual numerical value.
17.2.2 Notable Members of
Society
An NMSs mindedness, wealth, personality and dark
secret can be investigated. However, it should be
noted that they dont all have a dark secret. As such, it
would take at least two successful Clandestine Actions
RULES V7.2 S April 1629
to discover what their dark secret is - the first one to
determine if they have one and the second to find out
what it is! If an NMS knows who is acting against
them, then they will report them for Harassment.
When rolling on the Targets Clandestine Action Results
Table, for an NMS, their Panache is considered to be
10 plus the difference in Social Level between the
NMS and the character acting against them.
Example: Aramis, who is Social Level 17, chooses to
investigate an NMS who is Social Level 25. In this case,
the NMS is considered to have a Panache of 18
(10+(25-17)) when the GM rolls his Panache in
opposition to Aramis. If the NMS in question was only
Social Level 14, then his Panache would be considered to
be 7 (10+(14-17)).
17.2.3 Investments
As covered in Investments, Clandestine Action can
prove helpful when making investments.
17.2.4 Military Enemies
Using Clandestine Action to investigate an enemy,
including the Tactics of its commanders, but not to
gain any mechanical advantage against them, is
allowable in any month whilst in Paris. This is carried
out as per the usual Clandestine Action rules for
investigating a player characters abilities. In addition,
in the case of a more distant or exotic enemy, their
relative troop type, quality and numbers may be
ascertained. This may give some hint to what
conditional modifiers migth be applied in the field to
French Army Commanders.
If the enemy commanders names are already known
then this amounts to reading up reports of past
engagements, troop movements. In addition, such
activity might even stretch to seducing foreign
courtesans in the hope of picking up worthwhile
intelligence via pillow talk.
Otherwise, preliminary Clandestine Actions will first
be required to discover their names. Unlike most
other Clandestine Actions, a fumble does not
necessarily result in public censure and the loss of a
Social Level. Instead it may result in the receipt of
misinformation or other unfortunate consequences, of
which the character may be unaware for some time!
Much intelligence must already have been learned
before a characters may gain a potential modifier to
their Tactics in the opposed roll when facing an
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enemy commander at the front. Specifically, the
following criteria must be met:
S The specific name and tactics of the enemy
commander must already be known.
S Having already met the first criteria above, the
character must make a successful Clandestine
Action to gain +1 to their Tactics against this one
specific enemy commander. +3 is gained in the
event of a critical success. All such Clandestine
Actions can only be carried out during the Spring
Season and their effects only last for the Summer
Season of the same year.
17.3 Being Reported
If the target of your Clandestine Action learns your
identity they may report you. If they hold any
political appointment or are aide to a cabinet minister,
you will be reported to the Commissioner of State
who may then chose to prosecute you for Harassment
as a mid-level political crime. Similarly, if they are the
Colonel of a Regiment or a member of the General
Staff, you will be reported to the Commissioner of
War who may then chose to prosecute you for
Harassment as a mid-level martial crime. If neither
circumstance is the case, then you are reported to the
Paris Military Governor who may then chose to
prosecute you for Harassment as a minor civil crime.
17.4 Perseverance
Unless the Panache roll is criticalled or what is being
attempted is relatively simple, Clandestine Action will
normally have to be used numerous times to reach a
satisfactory conclusion - it is not a quick fix and
requires much diligence, intelligence and dedication
to be worthwhile.
A subsequent Clandestine Action, concerning an
event that was previously achieved with a successful
Clandestine Action potentially starts with a veritable
mountain to climb! The subsequent opposing action
will have to exceed the successes achieved by the
original action in order to peel back the web of lies
and deceit originally spun. Once achieved, then the
hunt is really on for the truth! So if the object of the
action was itself the result of multiple weeks of
Clandestine Action by its perpetrator, then however
many successes and criticals were originally achieved
by the perpetrator must be exceeded by the
subsequent action against it.
Though this does not necessarily have to be done by
the same character, providing that they are engaged in
a collaborative enquiry, which must be expressly
ordered by all of those involved. As such, three
successes will be considered to be equal to one critical
success in this regard.
Players should always be prepared to persevere.
Despite making a successful Panache roll, not finding
something useful out might just be that the required
number of successes have not yet been achieved to
unravel it!