Escapade is played on a oblong hexagonal grid board using 13 pieces for each player, one of which is marked as a General. The other pieces are Guards. The General and six Guards for each player start on the board, with the other six Guards as off-board reserves. On a turn a player may place a Guard from their reserve on any empty space, or they may move a piece on the board any number of empty spaces in a straight line. A Guard is captured if an enemy piece is moved so that is directly between two enemy pieces. A General is captured if enemy pieces occupy all its adjacent spaces. The object of the game is to move one's General to the goal area on the opposite edge of the board. One can also win by capturing the opposing General or lose if all the spaces in your target goal area become occupied.