There are several popular rule sets available for horse and musket wargaming, covering war fare from the late 17th to the early 19th century.
Bloody Big BATTLES! (BBB): Rules by Chris Pringle. Not many rule sets can handle the whole of Chancellorsville, or let you fight all three days of Gettysburg in an evening, but BBB can.
Black Powder: Black Powder is a rule set published by Warlord Games. It covers a wide range of conflicts from the early 18th to the early 19th century, including the American War of Independence, Napoleonic Wars, and American Civil War. Black Powder emphasizes brigade-level combat and includes rules for infantry, cavalry, artillery, and special units.
The Sword and the Flame by Larry Brom. Well known and much used rules for Horse and Musket Colonial warfare – besides the core rules there are many variations. This is the standard/bible for Colonial wargaming.
Volley & Bayonet: Volley & Bayonet is a rule set by Frank Chadwick. It covers warfare from the late 17th to the early 19th century and focuses on simulating battles at the divisional level. Volley & Bayonet offers a detailed system that considers the interaction between infantry, cavalry, and artillery.
General de Brigade: General de Brigade, published by Partizan Press, is a set of rules for wargaming the horse and musket era. It covers warfare from the late 17th to the early 19th century and emphasizes command and control, unit formations, and historical tactics. General de Brigade offers a comprehensive approach to simulating battles.
Age of Eagles: Age of Eagles is a set of rules by Richard Hasenauer. It covers warfare from the late 17th to the early 19th century, including the War of the Spanish Succession, Seven Years’ War, and Napoleonic Wars. Age of Eagles focuses on simulating large-scale battles and includes rules for various unit types and formations.
Shako: Shako, published by TFL (TooFatLardies), is a set of rules for Napoleonic warfare. It focuses on the tactics and command aspects of battles, including formations, orders, and morale. Shako provides a detailed system for simulating brigade-level combat.
Each rule set has its own unique mechanics, level of detail, and play style. It’s recommended to explore these rule sets further, read reviews, and choose the one that best aligns with your gaming preferences and the specific historical era you wish to simulate.
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