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LACE & STEEL is highwaymen waiting by a mist-shrouded road, or the ferocious clash of cutlasses on the quarter deck. It is gallant young men scaling palace walls to visit their sweethearts. It is duelists meeting in the grey light of dawn, and plotters gathering in torch-lit cellars. LACE & STEEL is court intrigues and dazzling balls, secret messages and lovers met by moonlight. Just take your favorite romantic images, and live them through the game.
LACE & STEEL is set in a world that is reminiscent of our own seventeenth century Europe - specifically 1640s, which was the time of the English civil war and the thirty years war. The fantasy lands of Mittelmarch have been chosen as the game's setting in preference to a historical setting to encourage a feeling of fun and fantasy. Games set in historical environments usually seem too restrictive, and this has been the great failing of most games which use the "swashbuckling" genre.
Several important decisions about the game's equipment lists and background have been made deliberately. Flintlock weapons have been edited out, since match-locks and wheel-locks capture more of the feel of the period. You will also find no rules for "rapier and dagger" fencing, since the use of the main gauche went out of fashion the instant rapiers became light enough to both parry and riposte.
The gamesystems have also been designed as they are for good reason. The card based combat systems are entertaining, but have a heavy reliance upon luck. This means that newcomers to the game are not completely disadvantaged when playing against more experienced hands. The combat system has enough fun and action in it to appeal to folk who swear that they hate role playing games (try showing it to some non gamers and see if they will agree to play with you now!)
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