Loosely based on the Siege of Casale and the War of the Mantuan Sucession "the Flashing Blade" is quite an odd TV show for a childrens Tv Saturday morning serial. For one thing there is a lot of focus on the Papal Envoy, who will become Cardinal Mazaran, and the peace talks. Our hero, the Bladé, runs around the countryside bumping into the locals, one step ahead of the Spanish.
The participants are all camp, some to a huge degree, and the "love story" is also, I`m sorry to say, high camp. From a lot of sword fighting in the first few shows we gradually fall into a series of long winded and very dull Ambassadorial negotiations. Very strange... still it had a great theme tune!
There is also the fact that in the later episodes the Blade himself hides from the Spanish by joining a travelling theatre group, and dons stripy tights to play Scaramouche. The writers had no shame! A masterful disguise though since he neglects to wear the mask! It doesn't get much more camp than stripy tights on a man with that seventies hairdo, especially if he calls himself the Flashing Bladé.
If you intended to re-watch the Flashing Blade and I`ve spoiled the plot for you I can only point out, in my defence, that it makes no sense anyway, and I`ve saved you a fiver for the DVD.
There is also the fact that in the later episodes the Blade himself hides from the Spanish by joining a travelling theatre group, and dons stripy tights to play Scaramouche. The writers had no shame! A masterful disguise though since he neglects to wear the mask! It doesn't get much more camp than stripy tights on a man with that seventies hairdo, especially if he calls himself the Flashing Bladé.
If you intended to re-watch the Flashing Blade and I`ve spoiled the plot for you I can only point out, in my defence, that it makes no sense anyway, and I`ve saved you a fiver for the DVD.
My map resembles a Pacman grid, with towns and encounter points the Bladé must pass through. Two groups of Spanish pursue him around the map, but he can get into trouble simply meeting civilians on the road- witness his swordfight after he called Cyrano de Depardieu "big nose."
The basic premise of the Bladé's mission is to get to the peace talks and bring back assistance to General Déspair and the beleaguered French garrison of Casale.
I'm currently in the process of upscaling my 15mm collection which I will still use for the Pikeman's Lament Rules, to 40mm figures for use with En Garde! itself.
Character List
The Chevalier "Flasque" de Bladé, and his faithful manservant Lurkio.
The Papal Nuncio, Cardinal Poncé
Brother Quentin, the Confessor (admits to everything).
Geno, Compte de Campo
Isabella The Marquisa Campo, his daughter
Captain Quim, Spanish Captain with goatee beard
The Scarecrow, aka Friar Syn, notorious overacting Rabble Rouser
Father Baskerville, The Crime Fighting Monk.
General Ignorancé of Turin
General Déspair of Mantua
Das Gross Baron de Weiner
Milady de Weiner, Spy
Tarquin, La Compte de Monte Pubis
Captain Diego Vigo Alatriste, in the Army of His Most Catholic Majesty of Spain.
Rupprecht di Orso, Captain of the Duke of Savoy's Guards
Colonel of the 1st Turin Musketeers
Alberto Bertorelli, Captain of the Papal Nuncio 's Swiss Guard Pikemen
On meeting a civilian the Blade rolls 2d6, with scores towards 12 being favourable, and scores towards 2 probably resulting in a fight.
The death in 1627 of Duke Vincenzo II of Mantua without immediate heirs plunged the Gonzaga duchies of Mantua and Monferrato into crisis. Vincenzo's closest relative was Charles, duke of Nevers, from a branch of the Gonzaga who had established themselves at the French court. Despite his earlier involvement in revolt against the crown, contemporaries assumed that Nevers's succession would increase French influence in northern Italy. However Nevers's title was challenged by Charles Emmanuel I, duke of Savoy, whose family had long sought the second Gonzaga duchy of Monferrato.
In Mantua itself, Nevers was opposed by another Gonzaga cadet, Ferrante, duke of Guastalla. Charles Emmanuel appealed to Spain and agreed to a partition treaty with the Spanish governor of Milan for the occupation of Monferrato, which would place the key fortress of Casale in Spanish hands. In Vienna, Guastalla raised doubts about the legitimacy of Nevers's inheritance, and in March 1628 the Gonzaga territories, as imperial fiefs, were sequestrated pending the emperor's adjudication.
Although committed to suppressing Protestant revolt at home, France provided military support for Nevers. Thus we see the "Musketeers" appearance in the later episodes of the Flashing Blade.
Episode 1
The Gaming bit...
The Chevalier "Flasque" Bladé has been sent by the French to determine exacty what is going on around the besieged Fortress of Casale.
The action begins as the Blade and his faithful manservant Lurkio confront the Noncio at a meeting between him and his favourite Nun behind the Luxembourg.
The Noncio's cassock is safe but will the Blade end up in the Bastille, again?
– The Chevalier "Flasque" Bladé" arrives at the beleaguered fortress of Casale while the Spaniards are doing all in their power to destroy it before a truce can be called.
(Flasque - French for flabby)
(Flasque - French for flabby)
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The Chevalier "Flasque" Bladé and his gang |
The Chevalier "Flasque" Bladé has been sent by the French to determine exacty what is going on around the besieged Fortress of Casale.
If General Déspair can hold the fortress Spanish troops cannot invade further into the Montferrat part of the Mantuan holdings.
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| The Spanish forces, Musketeers and the Spy, Lady de Weiner 15mm Blue Moon Miniatures |
Cardinal Thickié, Papal Noncio, has pinched the King's Family Jewels. The King doesn't want a fuss but the services of the infamous "Flashing" Blade have been engaged to recover his Royal honour.
The Cardinal has surrounded himself with the feared Papal Red Guards, and hired Pongé, Compte du Rochefort, to ensure his safety.
No Nuns were harmed (or depicted) in the course of this game, but several Guards were run through the body.
Flash... just a man...
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| The Guards |
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| Flash and Lurkio |
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| As ever Lurkio gets stuck in first, driving a guard back wounded |
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| Flash picks out a guard and knocks him back too |
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| Rochefort and a guard attack the Blade from both sides. Not a sporting fellow. Honours are even. |
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| Lurkio puts his man down |
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| The Flashing Blade wounds a guard and Rochefort recoils. He's had better days |
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| Lurkio's next target isnt so unlucky. A wound each, and both go down. |
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| Flash drops another guard |
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| With tw guards wounded the Hero goes for Rochefort again. He drives the big guy back wounded. |
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| Feeling cocky Flash has a go at the two guards. He kills one, but the other sticks him. |
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| Discretion! The Blade flees the fight. |
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| Carnage as usual. |
Find out next time etc... etc...
En-Garde! Campaign Game
Episode 1, the Spanish Lines: The War of the Mantuan Succession (1627–1631)
Episode 2 The Bladé Annoys the Spanish
Episode 3, the Flabby Blade and the Papal Nuncio.
Episode 4, Rescuing the Compte di Campo and his family Jewels
Episode 5, The Fight in the Wine Cellar
Episode 6, The Encounter with Big Nose.
Episode 7, The Bladé and the Camp Ambassador
Episode 8, Vigo's return.
Episode 9, The Bladé flashes in the woods!
Episode 10, The Bladé Laments his Pikemen
Episode 11,The Flashing Blade's duel with El Serpiente Rosa.
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