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.
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 characterized 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 modeling 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.
II. Black Powder: Second Edition (BP2) – Clarity and Polish
*Released in 2018*
The Second Edition was a refinement of the original system, focusing on organization and clarity rather than a radical overhaul. It retained the fun, cinematic, and command-centric spirit of BP1.
Key Improvements
- **Better Organization:** 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, organized foundation I need for a consistent, large-scale project.
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 flavor 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.
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