En Garde! Episode One. The War of the Mantuan Succession (1627–1631)

Episode 1 – 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)

 The History bit...

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.

The Chevalier "Flasque" Bladé and his boys

The Game bit...


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.

The Spanish forces, Musketeers and the Spy, Lady de Weiner

En-Garde Campaign Game
Character List

The Chevalier "Flasque" de Bladé, and his faithful manservant Baldy.
The Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Poncé
Brother Quentin, the Confessor (admits to everything).
Geno, Compte de Campo
Isabella The Marquisa Campo, his daughter
Captain Quim, Notorious Highwayman
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

Tarquin, La Compte de Monte Pubis
Diego Vigo Alatriste, Captain in the Armies 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



Game One, the Spanish Lines

The gameboard represents the Spanish lines outside the Fortress of Casale.  The Spanish encampment is to the Northern edge of this map, the Fortress to the south.

The rampart represents the Spanish trench line, and a grave being dug here indicates that the siege has been a bloddy one so far.

Enter the Flashing Blade.







                                   

The Spanish Lines

The Blade

The Chevalier de Bladé arrives and attacks from the rear... as per usual!

A nasty little skirmish ensures.  The Spanish get the worst of it.

Milady de Wiener the SPY, is seen leaving the fortress, evading the Chevalier de Bladé and his men.

The Spanish collapse.  Perhaps because Diego Vigo Alatriste is not there.

The Chevalier and what remains of his men run for the Fortress.


En Garde vs SP2.
The swashbuckling En Garde is a smaller game than Sharp practice 2.  The "warband" lead by the Chevalier is only 11 men, and 8 of them are generic matchlockmen.  Both games give a good feel, but the 17th Century setting is too early for SP2.  To be quite honest I have always had an issue with the hand to hand combat of the toofatlardy rules, and En Garde, by necessity, has a strong focus on parry riposte etc...  Even my matchlockmen must resort to their swords, since they would take too long to reload.