The following are the conventions for submitting press to the Banana EnGarde mailing list.

What you write:

You can write anything you wish about your own character and minor NPCs, though it should be kept near the bounds of reason. You can include other PCs and major NPCs in your press, but you should be careful both to respect reality (e.g., a character at the front should not be described in your press as running around the streets of Paris) and to pay attention to how their character has been portrayed previously in the press, especially if you are striving for an honest attempt to describe 'actual' game events between the two of you (e.g., a duel that took place betwixt the two characters, meeting at a party, fighting together on the front, etc.). Does this mean you cannot ridicule or make fun of other characters? Of course you can. There are a number of areas where exaggeration and ridicule are an integral part of the game: as a member of the 27th, I knew that the 'men' of the 13th found by dredging the streets of Paris for drunks were often better dueling with a spoon than a rapier, and my character said as much after sending them running to the alehouse to cry in someone else's beer following said duel. However, if I write press describing hordes of Huns breaking down the gates of Paris, I have just made if very difficult for other players to continue suspending their disbelief regarding our shared world.
Since there will often be more than one player character involved in an event, it is the complementing and contrasting accounts of those involved, as well as all the other players, that determines what really transpired. For example, when Argenta surprised many by dumping Ruby and stealing Eva, Eva's former beau, CaM, offered an account in the press of what had happened, wondering how AdP could have snagged Eva when all of Paris was fighting in the riots. AdP countered in press that while he had indeed sent his carriage for Eva (a detail described in CaM's press), he had only sent a gift and note via a peasant lad during the riot itself. CaM offered an account of how Eva was stolen, AdP countered with a different one using some of what CaM had written, and through their and the rest of the players subsequent letters to press, the truth (as much of it as ever will be) was determined. It is this give and take between players, building on what others have done and written, that makes for the richest press.

What you read:

The press is meant to be enjoyed by all; if too many letters were sent directly from one player to another, we would lose out on a lot of good press. When thinking about responding to press, however, you as a player need to make a decision about whether or not your character could have learned such a thing. This is necessarily subjective, and as long as you have given it enough thought to think of a rationale, that will suffice. So, if I read a letter marked Private from ABS to AvF, it is quite unlikely that I as a character will learn a thing about it, though given AdP's social standing, I could say that I was visiting AvF when it arrived. The great thing about having to 'justify' my knowing the contents is that AvF could turn around and write to press about how shocked he is that I read a private correspondence on his desk, over his shoulder, etc.
If I read a letter or read about an event in press sans markings, then I could decide that the courier had gossiped about it or that I was nearby, that ABS was composing it aloud as I walked by the regimental buildings or he told me about the event, that I heard others talking about it, etc. Common sense should prevail - it is very unlikely that a character would know much about the letters AdM writes to his papa, but his friends and regimental comrades could make such a claim, especially if they are at the front and sharing lodgings for example. A letter to press relating what happened at a party, however, is quite obviously fair game for any player. Any letter sent to press can be used by another player, but there are degrees of likelihood that should be considered and respected. If in doubt, you can always write to the player and ask her or him!

Official Sources:

I hesitate to label any press official but there are a few conventions that should be respected. If you wish to send press anonymously, you can send it to me and I will send it to the list as anonymous press. Anonymous press has been scraped from the gutter - if your character is maligned in it, such are the malicious rumors in circulation. Of course, vital clues about events that are not just rumors also come out as anonymous press . . .
No one else should really use the "Anonymous:" convention - not all press needs to be written from your character's perspective or involve your character, and so if you wish to write about something without your PC, do so and send it from your account. This allows the other player's to know the 'source' of the account and judge its truth or falsehood accordingly.
The Greasy Pole and Turn Report are obviously to be sent out only by me, and the dispatches are pretty much in the same category. Edicts from the King and other such obviously 'official' events or actions should also be routed through me.
As for major NPCs, you should seriously consider sending the press to me if you intend to include the character as a substantial portion of the press. Just as a player has the final say in what his character did or did not do, I have the final say regarding NPCs. My intent is always to incorporate what players write, so unless it is outlandish or outlandishly out-of-character, I will respect your use of the NPC in question. In case it is unclear, you are not required to send me press involving NPCs, even major ones, but you are welcomed and encouraged to do so. If I send out your press (without the Anonymous convention), then you won't have to worry about being contradicted later on.

I think that covers the major points. To date, the press has been wonderful and I am glad to see more and more people writing. The above are guidelines to make it enjoyable for all of us. If worse comes to worst, and you write press that you realize just doesn't fit, you can always explain it away in the next letter to press. The above guidelines are intended to help minimize such occurrences and to keep the press abundant and enjoyable for everyone.

Gregory Rick
November 25, 1998