Empires of Black Powder

Empires of Black Powder is a Napoleonic RTS with card-based army building and direct combat on horseback. Assemble your regiments in camp, command infantry, cavalry and artillery in real-time battles, and take control of your commander to fight alongside them. The troops you bring home form the army you take into the next battle.

BUILD YOUR ARMY

Open packs to recruit troops and find equipment for your regiments. Sell unwanted cards, use spare copies to promote your favorites, and decide where to spend your gold.

Another pack could give you the cavalry your army needs, but replacing losses in your veteran infantry might matter more before the next engagement.

COMMAND INFANTRY, CAVALRY AND ARTILLERY

Deploy infantry in line for firepower, use columns to move quickly, and form squares against cavalry. A square can stop a charge, but leaves your men vulnerable to cannon fire.

Protect your artillery, send cavalry around exposed flanks, and watch your troops’ morale before committing them to another fight. Coordinate your regiments so each can cover the others’ weaknesses.

FIGHT FROM HORSEBACK

Take direct control of your mounted commander in first or third person. Fight with saber and pistol, block incoming strikes, and rally nearby troops.

Issue orders from horseback as the battle develops, directing regiments into position while you support them in person.

PREPARE YOUR POSITION

Send Pioneers to gather timber and build fieldworks, gun positions and powder magazines. Choose where to establish your defenses and how much to commit before advancing.

Magazines replenish your army’s powder supply, but your regiments still carry a limited supply of shot. Decide when to keep firing, when to hold, and when to close with the enemy.

KEEP YOUR VETERAN GUARD ALIVE

Casualties carry between battles. Review your regiments’ service records, replenish their ranks, and improve the equipment of the units you want to take further.

Gold spent replacing losses is gold you cannot spend on new packs. Protect your veterans and bring them into the next battle. Three defeats end an expedition, so recovering from a costly victory is part of the campaign.

TAKE ON HARDER CAMPAIGNS

Complete the campaign to unlock the next difficulty and choose cards to carry forward.

Progress from Rookie through Veteran and Marshal to The Emperor Himself, facing stronger armies and more demanding enemy tactics with less powder to spare.