Sharp Practice: Wargame Rules for Large Skirmishes in the Era of Black Powder, 1700 to 1865

About this board game

Sharp Practice: Wargame Rules for Large Skirmishes in the Era of Black Powder, 1700 to 1865 is a tabletop skirmish ruleset for 2–6 players, with games lasting around 120 minutes. Released in 2008, it is designed for battles featuring approximately 30 to 120 figures per side.

Players take the roles of heroic leaders of the black powder age, directing their men in actions inspired by figures such as Hornblower, Flashman, Sharpe, and Bolitho. The rules place particular emphasis on the Napoleonic Wars, while also supporting a wide range of conflicts between 1750 and 1860.

In Sharp Practice, enlisted soldiers operate in groups of up to a dozen figures. Leaders bring their own character to the action, helping put the focus on commanders as well as the troops they direct. Groups can also be combined into larger formations, and the rules include guidance for using small-unit Napoleonic drill during games.

• Large-scale skirmishes for 30–120 figures per side
• Rules centered on the Napoleonic Wars and adaptable to conflicts from 1750 to 1860
• Groups of up to twelve enlisted figures, with key leaders shaping the action
• Formation rules and guidance for small-unit Napoleonic drill
• Compatible with 15mm to 40mm figures and any basing system

The rules are suitable for a broad selection of historical settings within the black powder era. Their flexible figure-size and basing support lets players use the miniatures and setup they already prefer, while the combination of troop groups, formations, and influential leaders creates a framework for dramatic large skirmishes.

Whether used for Napoleonic battles or other conflicts covered by the period, Sharp Practice provides a way to place commanders and their men at the center of the action.