John Blanche’s En Garde Miniatures Launch on Kickstarter May 1st

San Diego, CA – May 1st, 2026 – From the gothic imagination of the visionary John Blanche comes En Garde, a dueling game steeped in cruelty and elegant splendor. This is not merely a game of blades, but a ritual of precision in the high art of swordplay. Set in the baroque sea-faring city of Therae, En Garde invites players into a world where every duel is a dance of death. Sword masters challenge for power against vampires, zombies, and pirate captains in this masterful 1-v-1 miniature game. Rendered in exquisite 54mm scale, each En Garde miniature is a living portrait of John Blanche’s singular vision. Long revered as the architect of grim dark, Blanche brings decades of mythic vision to a world where survival depends on your cunning and skill.

Guiding the game system is Tuomas Pirinen, celebrated designer of Mordheim, Warhammer 6th Edition, and Trench Crusade who is working on this one vs. one miniature game that reflects the speed and dexterity of fencing combat. Together, Blanche and Pirinen are forging an experience where your reputation is earned at the edge of a blade. This early Kickstarter offers duelists their first chance to enter Therae, unlocking an initial set of six 54mm models. Backers will not only claim these amazing hand sculpted miniatures but also join the inner circle of creators shaping the full release of the En Garde tabletop game when it arrives this coming winter.


What will this early Kickstarter include:


Choose any number of high-quality models to begin your collection. From an easy buy-in for a single duelist or build your cadre of fighters with the whole group.

 

• Mi’lady Carmilla – mistress of both the rapier and wheelock pistol. Camilla’s gaze can gain control over weaker minds. Some say she can dissolve into blood-red mist to avoid enemy blows.
• Rodent King Rattus Rattus – Raised by the mythical Rat King himself, Rattus is champion of the pirate havens outside Therae, his pets can change the course of a duel in one bite.
• Cap’n Rodolphus Noble – some fight for prestige, Rodolphus fights for gold. Wagering his skills with a blade for pure profit, he is the pinnacle of a pirate soul.
• The Cursed Shambler – strangely granted the right to duel in high society, these walking dead bring spectacle to the sport. Resistant to wounds, they defeat their challengers with brute force and will.
• Van Ryn – the Soul Thief, a once noble sea lord who grew rich on the bounty around Therae. However, cruel fates caught him in a gamble for his life. He now duels for survival, knowing his soul is damned.
• Ben Hook – has no honorable conduct within his dark soul. He fights to win, drawing on trickery and his curved hook for advantage. Ben will win fortunes during the dueling season, only to lose them at dice a week later.