18XX Richelieu is about musketeer agents that to protect their country and secretly dethrone an immortal tyrant

In here I've disclaimed my current game design process. I'll use that as a frame work to keep things organized here

SPARK

I pointed out in 18XX Ragnarok that I'm pretty much looking for adventure tropes and toying in how to bring them to 19th century. Looking at my mental database, I recalled Three Musketeers and that swashbuckling genre. That said, there was no cover that were close to that setting. Somehow the one above appealed to me.

How could I relate a severed head to musketeers? Maybe it's head of a guillotined king? But why so ominous?  Why it feels like a villain? Maybe it has a personal guard? What kind of perks the musketeers have access? Maybe perfumes and fencing schools? Maybe special swords and cloaks?

RESEARCH

At first I thought I had very few french references to begin with, besides some books (big Victor Hugo fan here).  Actually I had some cartoons and comics too. 

Also since I was reviving musketeers, I needed more references in fencing systems. I recalled there was something in 7th Sea and it gave me the overall feeling of what I wanted.

WATERING

Since all players are musketeers anyway, I focused on customizing characters through possessions, fencing schools and relationships. The first highlighting features a musketeer has for me are the rapier and the 'cloak'. I ended up cooking in my head that France was a hub of knowledge from everywhere. Be it runes or steampunk, you can find it here.

At fencing schools I put a homage to many fictional characters, from Les Miserable to Beauty and the Beast. The idea of school training you so a situation is easier made sense, so your training actively helps in those cases.

I was growing tired of making lists that somewhat felt redundant so I exchanged it for a more abstract way of handling basic items, inspired by Blades in the Dark. But, like I said, that was regarding basic items. That wouldn't be true for the special gear for this game.

I knew it would be perfumes, the movie Perfume itself is enough reference but there are many referencing to France as  highly regarded in the perfume segment. I had the crazy vision of making perfumes to musketeers what potions and elixirs do to the Witchers in the series/books.

Originally it would be 3 layers combining for a unique felt but it felt too troublesome so I reduced it to 2. Much better. This also actually is making me want to make at least 1 more game regarding the people that acquired those ingredients across the world.

Maybe because most of my references are book related, I could not see details sections (and part of the GM tables) not being mostly about the connections people have.

The NPCs list started as a list of names by a friend, which I tweaked and extrapolated to have more details.

The Royal Bouquet is a mix of the most selling types of flowers in France with the characters le petit prince meets at his planet hopping. Flower was just for the title, powers an traits were totally inspired in the book.

CUTTING

Unexpected but happy effect wat] that the relationships made the game feels bigger than a one shot. Perfumes were fun to meddle with and everyone was worried if it was gonna rain hahhaha.

Combining with other 18XX games

This one has the most approachable jhooks that any other title in the series. You have ingredients, relationships, missions, rebellion... take your pick,

• Muramasa a players twist/relationship is entangled with a cursed blade as well
• Outlaw an outlaw is actually a far away heir to a influent family in the court
• Locker an escapee is actually hurting the king someway (depleting a resource, destroying its naval forces...) when is enough? 
• Night a ritual is underway to control when and where there is sunlight, a royal deal to harbor a Night Lord.
• Victorian it seems there's a new gear or tech that can hurt the king, he wants you to destroy but maybe you can steal it
• Dreams the King sleeps very sparsely and now is dreaming. He seem invulnerable there but maybe there are hints of a weakness
• Ragnarok the king is actually an elder god son. it is awaiting for a cosmic alignment to summon it's father
• Solomon one of the Royal Bouquet is a runaway demon... it became more human since?
• Rail Way king wants to take over the conspiracy and twist its purpose to his own benefit