Background Information

The game begins in spring of 1793. Already this year, the King of France has been found guilty of treason and executed, and in February England and France went to war. In France, the Committee of Public Safety was established in April, with George-Jacques Danton the de facto ruler of the country. England is mobilizing for the war, and a wave of patriotism has gripped the country, distracting many people from internal problems.

For the upper classes, life hasn't changed much. In terms of the game, it's not important to know the intricate details of naval battles or the land wars, who was guillatined when and by which version of the Republic.

In order to play the game, just bring your enthusiasm for the time and the source materials, and you'll do fine. These links can also help!

Learn period slang words from the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.

Find out what the beau monde is wearing -- and how to address the people you meet. Also, take a look at these beautiful images of period costume!

While there's a lot about the novels of Patrick O'Brian online, there isn't as much about Horatio Hornblower. The A&E adaptation site is quite nice, however.

Blakeney Manor has all of the Scarlet Pimpernel novels online. The site is a little difficult to navigate, but worth taking the time to figure out.

Jane Austen: the friendliest place on the net to discuss the novels of Jane Austen. Also pemberley.com is a useful resource and a very nice site, but they're a touch on the Miss Bingley side of civility.

Broadside is a good resource for learning about the Royal Navy. Also, the Historical Maritime Society has a good site with pictures. And don't forget to visit the Nelson Society.

Take a look at the GURPS Hornblower project under development, too!