Reinforcements Have Arrived: Soldier King Lands from Noble Knight Games!

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There is nothing quite like the feeling of an international parcel hitting the doorstep, especially when it contains a classic piece of campaign gaming history you’ve been eagerly anticipating! My boxed copy of GDW’s 1982 classic, Soldier King , officially arrived today—safely shipped over from Noble Knight Games. The components are in fantastic condition. Leafing through those vintage 1982 rulebook pages and unrolling the map sheets in person immediately brings back that great, nostalgic operational gaming aesthetic. The Inspiration Behind the Campaign I have to give a massive tip of the hat to Neil Patterson over at the Aufklarungsabteilung blog. It was reading through Neil’s fantastic posts and seeing how he integrated Soldier King into his own campaign gaming that originally hooked me on the concept. The clean map layout, simple area movement, and multi-faction dynamic make it an ideal engine for driving grand-scale strategic campaigns on the tabletop w...
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Black Powder Rules

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Black Powder Rules: Tracing the evolution of the core ruleset and its essential Seven Years War supplement for my project.

Welcome, fellow commander, to a retrospective on the ruleset that governs my vast 6mm Seven Years War project: Warlord Games' Black Powder. I will review the journey from the original 1st Edition through the polished 2nd Edition, before concluding with the indispensable supplement that brings the tricorne era to life for my games.

Black Powder First Edition Cover

I. Black Powder: First Edition (BP1) – The Toolkit

Released in 2009

The First Edition of Black Powder was deliberately conceived as a "toolkit" for Horse and Musket gaming (roughly 1700–1900). It was characterised by the philosophy, "Your Game, Your Rules," encouraging players to adapt its simple mechanics for their chosen period.

Core Mechanics & Scale

The game excelled at modelling large, multi-brigade battles quickly, with key mechanics including:

  • Command Rolls: Orders are not guaranteed; rolling 2D6 against a Commander's Staff Rating determines success, lending a necessary sense of friction and unpredictability.
  • Unit States: Units take marker-based casualties until they become Shaken or Disordered.

While BP1 provided the high-spectacle framework excellent for long battle lines, its generic nature meant I had to rely heavily on house rules to make the Seven Years War feel distinct.

Black Powder Second Edition Cover

II. Black Powder: Second Edition (BP2) – Clarity and Polish

Released in 2018

The Second Edition was a refinement of the original system, focusing on organisation and clarity rather than a radical overhaul. It retained the fun, cinematic, and command-centric spirit of BP1.

Key Improvements

  • Better Organisation: The rulebook is significantly better written, with clearer definitions and a superior layout, addressing a major complaint about BP1.
  • Command Reroll: The addition of a General/ADC ability to grant a single command reroll per turn adds weight and flexibility to senior leadership.
  • Clarified Casualty Rules: Rules for shooting and morale saves were adjusted, providing more consistent outcomes (e.g. changes to the effect of Enfilade).

The BP2 framework gives me the solid, organised foundation I need for a consistent, large-scale project.

Last Argument of Kings Supplement Cover

III. The Supplement Review: Last Argument of Kings (LAOK)

The essential guide to the tricorne era

While the core rulebooks provide the engine, the Last Argument of Kings (LAOK) supplement provides the vital oil and fuel needed to run a dedicated Seven Years War campaign. LAOK is, quite simply, indispensable.

The Verdict: Why LAOK is Essential

LAOK addresses Black Powder's main weakness—genericism—by transforming the framework into a defined 18th-century system. It provides the period flavour and distinct national rules needed to bring the linear battlefields of Frederick the Great to life.

  • National Characteristics: The most critical inclusion. It adds special rules that differentiate the major powers, ensuring a Prussian line feels distinct from an Austrian line (e.g. specific rules for Prussian discipline, Austrian artillery, and light infantry Grenzer performance).
  • SYW Formations & Tactics: It introduces specific formations like the Attack Column and details the tactical nuances of the era.
  • Army Lists & Scenarios: The book provides period-accurate army lists and numerous scenario ideas for the SYW, guiding my Order of Battle construction.

For my project, I rely heavily on LAOK to ensure my games are not just "Horse and Musket," but specifically Seven Years War in feel and execution.

What do you think?

Have you played Black Powder 1st or 2nd Edition? Let me know your favourite house rules in the comments below! Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Related project hubs for this period:
[The Silesian Wars 1740–1763 Project Hub]  |  [The Seven Years War 1756–1763 Project Hub]  |  [The French and Indian War 1754–1763 Project Hub]

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