En Garde! (2005)

About this game

This is a game where 2-6 people are dueling it out in fencing matches. You have poise points which keep track of how "good looking" a character is. When you lose all of your poise points, and are a staggering mess, you can be stuck with a sword for the final blow and be killed. You can regain poise by doing things to help make you look better, such as wiping your brow, or tucking in your shirt. You can play cards to enhance your attacks or to defend against an opponents attack. Such as parrying or "strong arming" your way through an opponents defense. There are also weapons and items which can be played to affect the game in different ways. Similar to a re-themed version of the company's Kung Fu Fighting.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 6.
• Rules load. At 1.3/5 this is a light game — explain it in a few minutes, good for a table that has not played much.
• Age. The publisher suggests 10 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.