The Banana is a play-by-email version of En Garde! It is currently run by:

Gregory Rick Chadbourne greg@realmsofsilver.com

Greg's e-mail address should be used for all correspondence except press, which should be sent to the press mailing list:

Press mailing list banana@realmsofsilver.com;.

The game mechanics are reasonably simple: the main aspect of the game is the role-playing between characters. Anything goes provided it stays within the spirit and logic of the game. If it is going to involve other characters, it is courteous to ask them.

The game has been running for about 5 years (9 game years). It is adjudicated on a UNIX system using a program in C written by the GMs and John Sloan, with orders entered by hand.

Acknowledgments:

• Dan Corrin, who was the GM before the "break" and has also made many additions to the game and code.
• Colin Bell, who was the GM for quite some time, and made many additions to the code.
• Nigel Mission for the war rules (whenever they get implemented)
• Adrian Crook for (ideas for) several of the house rules.
• Joshua Ross, co-GM for a time.
• Rosie Jones, who founded the game and ran it for 2 1/2 game years.
• John Sloan, who was a co-GM for a time and wrote a substantial portion of the adjudication program.
• The Small Furry Creatures Press, on whose house rules these were based, and whose program was used for adjudication for some time.
• John Troyer, for providing the WWW server, and mail conversion and putting considerable effort into it.
• Numerous players past and present who have made the game what it is.
• Andy Loan for work on version 3 of the house rules.

Please note that these rules are not complete. For copyright reasons we are unable to type in and send out copies of the entire rulebook. We have changed sufficiently much of the game that the majority is playable given only these rules, but the rulebook is worth getting nevertheless. Check out the following website for availability: http://www.pevans.co.uk/EnGarde!.html

According to an e-mail received from Paul Evans, "the En Garde! rules are currently out of print. we are working on a new edition, but it will not be ready for a couple of months."

1.1 Abbreviations and Terminology

Or, what are we talking about?

1.1.1 General

1.1.2 Ranks

Apart from the first and last, the two abbreviations are for 'brevet X' and 'full X'. Note in particular the difference between BrG (full brigadier general) and BGen ( brevet (full) general).

1.1.3 Appointments

1.2 How to get started

A copy of this file (and a current turnsheet) will be sent to you if you contact Gregory by e-mail, with the subject field 'Banana: Info'.

1.2.1 Joining the game

E-mail Gregory with the subject field 'Banana: Join', enclosing your name (first name and surname), your e-mail address and a name for your character (if you have one: it is not essential immediately, but necessary before your first set of orders are submitted). If the game is currently full, you will be put on the waiting list, otherwise you'll be sent a character when the next turn is run.

1.2.2 Mailing list

You are welcome to watch the game while you are on the waiting list by joining the mailing list. Bjorn Hedin has set up the press list, banana. To subscribe, send a mail to macjordomo@humf.su.se (note the spelling!) with this in the body:

• • SUBSCRIBE banana [Your First and Last name here]

and if you want a daily digest instead, add

• • SET banana DIGEST

Don't, of course, include the [ ] in your email. The address to send emails to the lists is banana@humf.su.se.

There are two other regular sendouts of information taken from the main Banana mailing list, usually sent out a few days before orders are due:

• l'Arbre en Feu, summarizing the announcements and challenges
• the Social Diary, giving a list of parties that have been announced

These sendouts are compiled by active players who deserve our grateful thanks (Tracey Scourfield and ?, respectively).

There is currently a vacancy - a new Society Pages editor is needed. Volunteers please contact Greg.

The information for the L'Arbre is obtained by trawling through all the mail. However if you want to be sure of having your announcements included (refer to the House Rules for what needs to be announced), please send me a note at david@oysta.demon.co.uk. It is also helpful if you put an OOC (Out Of Character) summary at the bottom of your letters. I find these easy to spot and it reduces the chance that I misinterpret your intentions.