A player may choose to play a female PC if they wish to follow in the footsteps of Milady rather than D'Artagnan.
24.1 Character Creation
A female PC rolls on the initial birth tables as per a male PC though they are, of course, a daughter rather than a son. Sibling Rank still applies, though if a First child it is presumed there are no sons in the family. If titled the female equivalent title is gained.
Noble rank is the only rank Female PCs can attain (unlike soldiers or churchmen) so if they have a title they gain (2 x Noble Rank) SPs each month.
Female PCs need 3 x the next SL in SPs to go up an SL the same as male PCs. The rationale for female PCs being independent of family or their husband's control is that they have been recently widowed before play.
Female PCs do not have STR, CON, End or EXP, nor do they have MA. Instead they have two new stats, the first being Etiquette Ability (EA - thrown on 1D6) and the second being Guile (thrown on 3D6). EA is used in 'Court Battles' (see below). Guile is used to determine how successful the Female PC is in attracting suitors.
All female PCs are considered Beautiful, but none begin with the wealthy or influential attributes. When a Female PC increases her guile by 5 or more points, however, she can trade in 5 points of Guile to become Influential.
At any time after their creation female PCs can add up two unmarried NPC Secretaries of State to the game. These will have a title of Baron or above. Their SL must be at least the minimum for the noble rank and cannot be more than 6 SLs over this. This means that the Female PC can create a potential lover with a status anywhere between a Baron of SL 11 to a Duc of SL 21.
24.2 Support
Female PCs gain the same initial funds and allowance as a male PC, their late husbands being assumed to be of the same SL as they are. They also receive ownership of a Dower House from the estate of their late husbands according to their station:
Dower Houses may be sold as normal, but mistresses must always have an owned or rented house of some kind. Those who lose their house, can't afford to rent one, or are of SL 1 or 2 must work in bawdyhouses (see below) until the cost of a house is raised. Female PCs of SL 2 or less can seek a place at the Hostel of St Mary Magdalene (See Below) as an alternative to working as a servant or in the Rue Bourdel.
FPCs have to pay 2 x their SL in support, plus the upkeep of any houses, carriages and horses. They can conspicuously consume as per male PCs and can buy houses and estates as normal. They can also join salons according to their SL, though if they have a beau at the beginning of any month, he will pay the membership fee for her that month. They cannot join the military, nor hold any military appointments. They are also unable to hold government appointments, but can be appointed as ferrets. They can gamble and gain the same benefits as male PCs. They can also host and attend parties and balls, and can toady and be toadied to in the same way as male PCs.
Female PCs gain influence as per Influence Table C: Influence of Paramours and from any appointment they hold, the influence regenerating every season in each case. If they have successfully enticed an NPC (and not yet ditched him) then they may also use any influence their consort might possess (according to his SL and appointments) once per year.
Any male character who attends something when partnererd by a female PC (a salon, party, Court event etc.) counts as having his companionship requirement fulfilled for the month - even if they are not officially courting. There is no limit or penalty regarding any SL differences in these circumstances and a small gift to the Female PC is usual. In this fashion the FPC can attend various events with various different companions in the same month.
24.3 Improving Abilities
In addition to being able to improve Etiquette Ability 'in action' in Court Battles (see below) it is also possible to improve it by study at the Duchesse de Bidet's Ladies Academy. This works exactly the same way as the Military Academy, with the same study time and costs. The initial Principal has an EA of 6 and the Principal is a female only appointment appointed by the Queen. There is a requirement to be SL 10 or higher, the roll is 6, it gives 14 SPs, 5 influence and 10cr pay. It will comes up for review every October.
Guile can be increased by spending a week practicing/researching the foibles of possible future targets - in addition to increases thanks to successfully enticing suitors as below. It takes 4 weeks of practice per point of increase with a cost per week of the current Guile level in livres. Working in the Rue Bourdel for a week also raises Guile by 0.25.
24.4 Enticing Admirers
Female PCs can attempt to entice an NPC suitor (no more than 6 SLs higher than themselves) to their residence with a view to instigating an ongoing liason. NPCs will not visit ladies in residences more than two ranks lower than that suitable to their own station. So, to entice a lover of SL 7 a mistress would need to own or rent a Small House or better, but to entice one of SL 10 would require a House or better.
The player must choose a potential beau from the named NPCs in the Paris Almanac (privates aren't named, but an SL no more than 6 higher than the minimum for the rank regiment must be chosen) and name him as a target in orders. Alternatively, a more general target may be ordered, eg "attempt to entice a servant at the Louvre of SL 4".
Once a target is desigated, 3D6 are rolled. 1 is added to the roll for every SL the NPC is above the mistress' SL. If the mistress' SL is higher than the NPC's, then the difference is subracted from the roll. If the mistress owns a horse she subtracts 1 (seen riding in the Bois de Boulogne) and if she owns a carriage appropriate to her SL (seen driven around town) she subtracts a further 2 (cumulative). If the target NPC is a member of the clergy, their clerical rank is added to the dice roll.
If the amended total is lower than the Female PC's current Guile score, then the NPC has been enticed successfully. If the result is more than or equal to her Guile scrore, then she has spent a fruitless week - but at least it didn't cost her anything.
Female PCs can also be courted by male PCs and become their official paramours. Both parties must put this on their orders. Initial liaisons take place at the female PC’s residence as usual and cannot be combined with a visit to a salon. Either party can end the relationship at any point.
Female PCs can entice married NPCs in the usual way. If successful, the NPC's wife loses the penalty for courting a married mistress. There is no chance for the Female NPC to marry her new beaux unless his wife falls madly in love with a new lover of her own and / or the Cardinal grants an annullment.
24.5 Benefits of having a Beau
If an NPC is successfully enticed, then the mistress is given a gift of 3 x her SL x d6 and gains +1 to her guile score (a maximum of 1 guile rise per month through this method). She will then receive 3 x her SL in livres and have her salon fees paid by her beau thereafter, for as long as the liason lasts. She will also have access to whatever personal and appointment influence her beau may have - though this may only be used once every twelve months. In order to gain these cash advantages and the SP advantages below, however, the mistress must be seen with her beaux at least one week in the month (unless the beaux is on campaign).
Mistresses having a beau get the following SPs every month
It is considered unseemly for a lady to have a lover too far beneath her. Ladies whose beaux are more than 6 social levels lower lose 1 status point per month for each SL more than 5 that she is above her beau. The status point for having a beau and the bonus if he is noble is still earned.
NPC suitors are taken to be totally besotted by their mistresses' wiles and act according to their wishes regards attending Social/Court events, seeking appointments or volunteering.
Once per month the beau will, if asked, invite his mistress to his salon so that she and up to one guest can carouse and toady to him at his expense (along the same lines as the Crown Prince inviting his aide to the Fleur). If a visit to his salon is not requested, then the beau will, if asked, host a party at his residence for his mistress and any guests (not more than 6 SLs lower than his) and their consorts his lady wishes to invite. All guests may toady to him and carouse at his expense.
NPC suitors will pay the costs of carousing and Court visits in circumstances where male PCs would have to pay for their mistresses.
If the current NPC beau of a Female PC is responsible for deciding an influenceable event (appointment, trial outcome, excommunication and so on) then his mistress can influence the outcome by applying +/-1 to the die roll. This is over and above any normal influence (standard favours) applied to the decision. This also applies if the Female PC holds one of the 'Official Mistress' appointmenst (of the King, Crown Prince or Cardinal).
Other PCs may still apply influence on a Female PC's beau as usual, in order to persuade him to resign from a regiment or appointment etc. If the Female PC wishes to oppose this she must use her own available influence to do so, but gets the +/-1 modifier in addition.
24.6 Marriage and Female PCs
Female PCs can attempt to persuade their suitors to propose once they have courted for 6 months. She attempts to entice her suitor in the usual way, except that while no horses or carriage ownership is added to her guile score, previous trips to families each add 1 to it. If successful in prompting a proposal the female PC recieves a gift of 15 x her SL. If unsuccessful there is a 1 in 6 chance her suitor will end the relationship. If this happens she may immediately attempt to entice him once more in the following week and, if successful, attempt to illicit a proposal again in the following month without having to repeat the 6 month wait.
Female PCs can marry Male PCs by way of matching orders (ie the male PC orders a proposal and the female PC order acceptance).
A week or so before the wedding female PCs are expected to hold a hen party though this is not mandatory. An NPC groom will hold a stag party as usual (paid for by himself). Alternatively a female PC can ask a male PC to be his best man and the PC can host the stag party in his stead. The PC can accept toadies from who he wishes, everyone else can toady to the groom.
Female PCs gain an SL upon marriage in the usual way. They also gain the same title as their husband, unless he has a lower title. They do not gain an estate from this, however, merely the use of (but not revenue from) their husband’s estate.
If the female PC gains a title from the marriage which gives her a rise in Social Level, then this SL rise occurs _before_ she gets a further rise of 1 SL from the marriage itself. The Female PC gains none of the SPs from this title that would usually be gained from a title bestowed by the King. If a female PC possesses a higher title than her husband, he does not gain this from her!
The dowry given by her father (if any) is based on the initial SL of the female PC, NOT her current SL as it is based on her father’s resources. The total dowry, however, must be a minimum of 25 x SL of wife, however, with any shortfall being found by the Female PC herself.
NPC husbands will purchase the largest house possible for their SL and pay for its upkeep, though their wives receive the appropriate SPs for the house for as long as the marriage lasts. Wives are assumed to move into the marital home of their husbands and may give up their own residences if they wish. Husbands will continue to provide their wives with 3 times the wife's SL in livres each month and she continues to gain SPs for having a (noble) consort and any difference in SLs. No penalties are received if the wife's SL comes to exceed her husband's by over 6 SLs.
Married Female PCs also get to control their husband in carrying out the benefits of any appointments (including appointing others) and husbands will be happy for their wives to put any monies they may embezzle into a 'safe place' (ie cash is counted as belonging to the Female PC). Essentially the husband becomes an extension of the female PC for the most part. Other characters can still request that her husband retires from an appointment etc. but, as with married NPC Mistresses, the husband will not perform the desired action unless his wife agrees.
Should an NPC husband die, the wife will inherit the marital home in Paris as a dower house. If there are no male heirs (see below) she will also inherit his titled estate (if any) provided she doesn't have a titled estate in her own name which is the same size or bigger. (If she does then her husband's titled estate will revert to the Crown). She will also retain her dead husband's title if she doesn't have a better one of her own. If her husband's titled estate goes to a male heir, the widow loses the same number of SPs as are usually given with the title that month.
The rest of the husband's fortune at the time of death will be calculated as per Birth Table C: Father's Position, the figure in the inheritance column rolled being taken as the cash he had left in the bank. 1D6 will be thrown to determine the total number of claimants for this cash, on a 1 the widow receives it all, on a 6 she receives only one sixth. On any result greater than 1 a die must be rolled for each excess figure and the relative determined as pre the table below:
(If a father or mother has already been determined previously then add 1 to the die roll).
If there are one of more male relatives determined, then the titled estate is bestowed in the following order:
Son => Father => Brother => Wife (in trust for daughter or sister after wife's death).
Details of a potential husband's family will be revealed the month after he is enticed – or beforehand if a week's Guile Training is devoted to the task.
Mistresses can seek a marriage annulment as per the marriage rules.
24.7 The Bawdyhouse and the Hostel
Unmarried Female PCs who are short of cash may elect to work in bawdyhouses. Each week this nets them 10 x SL (to a maximum of SL4) x D6 livres, but they lose 2 SP per month and if they are found out they are automatically ditched by their NPC consorts (if any). For each week spent working at the bawdyhouses if any male PC visits the bawdyhouses that week a die is rolled. On a roll of 1 the doxy is found out and receives a negative MiD of -1 thereafter. (These negative MiDs are cumulative). On the plus side, each week spent working at a Bawdyhouse counts as a week of Guile training.
Mistresses who fail to repay debts to the Shylocks are compelled to work in bawdy houses until their debts are paid off, as are those who lose their house. Female PCs must make enough cash to rent or buy a suitable house before being able to entice any further suitors.
Female characters of low starting SL (1 or 2) who wish to stay out of the bawdyhouses may elect, instead, to apply for a place at Duc de Bidet's Hostel of Mary Magdalene. On application 1D6 is rolled to determine how many of the hostel's place are taken up. If a six is rolled then there are no spaces that month - but there will definitely be a space available for that character the month afterwards (no further roll required).
Those staying at the hostel have their support costs (but not conspicuous consumption) covered for the duration of their stay, but must spend one week each month learning how to perform basic domestic tasks (effectively the same as Subalterns' regimental duties). The rest of the month can be spent as the player wishes - even by sneaking off to the bawdyhouses to earn some extra cash. If their clandestine activities are found out, however, they are ejected from the hostel and will never be readmitted.
Inmates of the hostel can invite gentlemen to call upon them in the usual way, which may result in securing a suitor. Such visits are strictly supervised!
Those staying at the hostel may leave at any time, and must leave after six months or the month after which they secure SL4 (whichever is sooner).
The Matron is a female only appointment appointed by the Principal of the Ladies Academy. There is a requirement to be SL 6 or higher, the success roll is 6, it gives 4 SPs, 3 influence and 5 livres per month in pay. The Matron may also count the Large House in which the hostel is situated as her own abode for SP and entertainment purposes, though the running costs are taken care of by the bequest provided. Consequently, she has no need of her own house for the duration of her tenure.
24.8 Court Battles
Female NPCs may gain SPs and modest amounts of cash through Court battles, which can take place during Royal Balls or Balls held at PCs' Chateaux. Female PCs may only attend Court as a guest of another PC or at Special Events such as the Queen's Ladies Balls until they secure a suitable appointment or the title of Baroness (in which case they can attend as per Barons). NPC suitors with Court rights will attend at the player's choosing, in accordance with the maximum allowed attendances for them.
When attending balls a female PC may choose to engage in a social battle with the other female guests. A roll is made of the “Battle result table” with the Female PC using her EA score instead of MA. The “seige” section of the “personal outcome table” is used, the Death Roll requirement being increased by 1 for each Noble Rank (+1 for Chevaliere and +6 for Duchesse). Bravery/poltroonery can be used. If a 'battle result' of 1 is achieved, the mistress' EA is increased by 1. Comtesses and above increase their EA if their battle result is 1 or 2.
Unlike with normal battle, “death” involves a 1D6 die roll. A roll of 1 means that the mistress has so incensed a female rival that she has been poisoned, and dies, as a consequence. A roll of 2-6 simply gives a negative MiD of the number thrown (which works the same as normal MiDs, but deducts, rather than adds SPs) as a result of all the negative gossip. This is because a social faux pas has been made. No further rolls will be made if this occurs. MiDs are the equivalent of positive gossip and work as per male PCs and promotions give MiDs in the same way. Loot is by way of gifts from admirers and is 1/10th of the amount listed. Title rolls for mentions are made in the usual way, with the female equivalent titles being given along with the same SP gain and, from Baroness upwards, the same estates. All estates bestowed by the King will be in the Provinces rather than in the Isle de France (region surrounding Paris) - with the exception of any provinces bestowed on a Female PC who is a Maitresse en Titre, which will be in the Isle de France for convenience's sake.Both positive and negarive MiDs reduce to a value of 1 after three months.
24.9 Female PC Appointments
* Both min SL and SP gain are equal to the noble rank of the noblewoman applied to
+1 if EA 1, -1 if EA 6-7, -2 if EA 8+
*** If Court is held at Tuilleries May spend one week per month there
Female PCs who are SL10+ and able to visit Court may also become eligible for a Court Appointment. For ease of reference, details of these are copied below.
Any mistress at court for a week may be spotted by the Queen (Q), King (K), Crown Prince (CP), Crown Princess (HRH) or Cardinal (C) on a roll of 11+ on two dice.
Once spotted the Mistress is elibible to apply for the following Court Appointments (provided the other criteria are fullfilled) at a later date:
Appointments provide NPC mistresses SPs which, if they are married, are deducted from the total needed to gain a SL. They also provide her beau with extra influence.
In the case of female PCs the SPs are simply a direct gain and the favours are for her to use as she see fit.
The level of favours required to influence the above if they are NPCs are
If a mistress or female PC has an appointment giving access to Court, has come to the notice of the gentleman in question and fulfills the other criteria then she can apply for one of the following 'bolt on' appointments to gain a few more SPs, more influence and more cash.
Female PCs may apply to become a secretary to a noblewoman at any time. None of them are deemed to have secretarties they wish to keep unless they have already engaged a Female PC for the post.
The Matron of the Hostel may move into the Hostel, gaining SPs as though owning the Large House it operates from withouth having to pay upkeep.
Ladies in the Service of the Queen are expected to attend upon her at any balls or envoy receptions she attends. They can be excused Court duties for a month on 6+ (DMs: Noble Rank; +3 if returning home for a funeral). They will lose their appointment if they ever attend events hosted by the Crown Prince or the Cardinal.
Ladies in the Service of the Crown Princess are expected to attend upon her at any balls or envoy receptions she attends. They can be excused Court duties for a month on 6+ (DMs: Noble Rank; +3 if returning home for a funeral). They will lose their appointment if they ever attend events hosted by the Queen.
Being appointed to a Court position or as Principal of the Ladies Academy allows a title attempt.