While searching for historical RPGs, I realised I'd never seen one about the French Revolution, which is odd, because of its importance.

Then I discovered there was one, released by FGU in 1976, called Madame Guillotine. So, any of you RPG historians and collectors know about it ? Is it any good ? I've seen a blurb describing what appears to be a proto-social combat. Is that so ?

Thanks in advance.

Quote from: Bland Joe Dwarf;675456While searching for historical RPGs, I realised I'd never seen one about the French Revolution, which is odd, because of its importance.

Then I discovered there was one, released by FGU in 1976, called Madame Guillotine. So, any of you RPG historians and collectors know about it ? Is it any good ? I've seen a blurb describing what appears to be a proto-social combat. Is that so ?

Thanks in advance.

Actually reading the blurbs on RPGGeek, I think it's a CYOA rather than an RPG.

Quote from: Rincewind1;675457Actually reading the blurbs on RPGGeek, I think it's a CYOA rather than an RPG.

Really ? The online stores that sold its used copies (there are none around anymore), like Nobleknight, and Wayne's Books, list it as a RPG. I guess it's so obscure people don't seem to know even what it is.

Quote from: Bland Joe Dwarf;675460Really ? The online stores that sold its used copies (there are none around anymore), like Nobleknight, and Wayne's Books, list it as a RPG.

I can only tell you what I googled myself . Just google the name, it was part of the brand called "Real Life Gamebooks". And I think it's not that surprising - weren't Fighting Fantasy CYOA also marketed as RPGs?

Quote from: Rincewind1;675463I can only tell you what I googled myself . Just google the name, it was part of the brand called "Real Life Gamebooks". And I think it's not that surprising - weren't Fighting Fantasy CYOA also marketed as RPGs?

And now I find that Board Game Geek lists it as a board game, . LOL

It's a  board game. From the back cover of my copy:

QuoteIn 1793-1794 in France, thousands of men were bloodily executed after, at best, a summary trial in the period known to history as "The Terror". "Madame Guillotine" is a multi-player simulation of the brutal power struggle taking place in Paris at that time. This fast-action game requires skill, cunning, a knowledge of human psychology and, above all, the ability not to lose one's head!

The players (2 - 6) representing notable personalities of the time, distribute "influence points" with the aim of capturing the support of various vital sections of society. Whilst so doing they must try to maneuver their opponents into untenable positions, deal with military and social crisis, and , meanwhile, remain on good terms with the populace.

Comes with 6 sheets of cardstock counters (480 counters total) and 2 cardstock sheets which when put together form the game board.

It's been years since I played it (say, late 1970s?), but as I recall it reminded me of sort of a combination of Plot to Assassinate Hitler (without the solitaire aspect, of course, Origins of World War II, and Diplomacy.

Quote from: Rincewind1;675463I can only tell you what I googled myself . Just google the name, it was part of the brand called "Real Life Gamebooks". And I think it's not that surprising - weren't Fighting Fantasy CYOA also marketed as RPGs?

Yeah, there was a "real-life" gamebook of the same name from the 80's but the one the OP is asking about is the FGU one from the 70's (which I don't think was a rpg either).

Yeah, I played the gamebook as well. Quite a good one, if I recall correctly. Other books in the series covered the Spanish Armada, The American Revolution, The Second World War and the invasion in 1066.

The cool/special deal, compared to other CYOA books, was, that most of them had two paths, so you could play both the English and Spanish side of the Armada.

Thanks for the clarification ! Pity, though, as it shows there really is no RPG set in the French Revolution. Strangely, as there are examples set in the Napoleonic Wars (Duty & Honor, In Harm's Way) and in the Absolutism Period (Flashing Blades).

Well, what would you need for an RPG set in the French Revolution?

There are plenty of rules sets with formalisms to cover the activities of characters. "Setting" can be had from history books. From Flashing Blades to GURPS Swashbucklers (which does cover the Revolutionary period), a lot of the word count is a digest of information about the era copied from -- where? History books.

Quote from: Phillip;675537Well, what would you need for an RPG set in the French Revolution?

There are plenty of rules sets with formalisms to cover the activities of characters. "Setting" can be had from history books. From Flashing Blades to GURPS Swashbucklers (which does cover the Revolutionary period), a lot of the word count is a digest of information about the era copied from -- where? History books.

In spite of the fact that the OP turned out to be about an "other game" and not an RPG, I'll leave this thread here, on the principle that this sort of thing will be the topic of discussion.

Te Deum Pour un Massacre is not set in the French Revolution but 200 years earlier, during the French Wars of Religion (St. Bartholomew's Day, etc.)
Video review of the gorgeous two-books-in-a-slipcase edition (French).

The game uses a life path character creation, making it not that adaptable to other times.

There is a two book supplement that adapts the game to Mary Stuart's England.

There is GURPS: Scarlet Pimpernel, of course

http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/scarletpimpernel/

Quote from: Bland Joe Dwarf;675533Thanks for the clarification ! Pity, though, as it shows there really is no RPG set in the French Revolution. Strangely, as there are examples set in the Napoleonic Wars (Duty & Honor, In Harm's Way) and in the Absolutism Period (Flashing Blades).

If your not looking for a pure historical, the 7th Sea setting version of France goes through the revolution period, and I think the Pathfinder world analog of France is also in the Revolutionary period?

Quote from: Simon W;676726There is GURPS: Scarlet Pimpernel, of course

http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/scarletpimpernel/

Heh, I've got that book



They seek him here, they seek him there
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere
Is he in heaven or is he in hell?
That demned elusive Pimpernel
He meddles with the Frenchie Revolution
Popping in and out each week
Spoiling every lovely execution
La, what cheek!
They seek him here, they seek him there
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere
If you should see him, please do give a yell!
That demned elusive Pimpernel
They seek him here, they seek him there
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere
Oh, Pimpy, how the Frenchies do implore you
Simply to stay home in bed
With all your interference
It's a chore to chop a head!
They seek him here, they seek him there
The ladies seek him everywhere!
He give the Frenchies nothing but frustration
Sink me! He's a spoilsport
Each and every demned decapitation
He cuts short
They seek him here, they seek him there
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere
Is he in heaven or is he in hell?
That demned elusive Pimpernel