Flintlock!: Global Warfare in 20 Minutes
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The FroGames card
You draw three tiles from the bag. You place one. The European front advances towards you, India wavers, the Atlantic is contested. You choose what to sacrifice.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
The first global conflict of the 18th century, resolved in half an hour
Flintlock! takes Paolo Mori's system (Blitzkrieg!) and transports it to the 18th century, between the Seven Years' War and the French and Indian War. Roger Tankersley and David Thompson are co-designers, with Russ Gray providing the art. It is the first global-scale conflict, fought across multiple continents with fragile alliances and limited resources.
You draw units from your personal bag, place them on the theatres of war, and accumulate victory points by controlling campaigns. Flintlock refines the Blitzkrieg formula and adds new mechanics: crucial alliances to strengthen troops, bonuses from conquered forts, and expandable strategic support. You can play the Seven Years' War (Europe, India, Atlantic) or the French and Indian War in North America — or combine both boards for a 2v2 team battle.
What they say abroad
"Flintlock refines the Blitzkrieg formula while also adding some new twists."
Flintlock refines the Blitzkrieg formula and adds new mechanics.
— Floodgate Games
This is a newly announced game and still in development. This sheet is based on preliminary information from the publisher and public demos at Gen Con 2025. We will return with a full reading as soon as we have more data from the field.
— FroGames
Flintlock!: Global Warfare in 20 Minutes
The game supports official solo mode (min_players = 1). We do not yet have details on the automa system or dedicated scenarios — it probably follows the 20 Minutes series line with an automated opponent. Provisional rating: a good alternative for testing strategies, but the core remains direct dueling.
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · first reading: based on rules and official presentation, updated with first gamesWhat you deploy
The four pillars of your arsenal
Personal bag
You blindly draw your units. Armies, fleets, generals. Build your pool by conquering bonus spaces and alliances. Each tile drawn is an irreversible choice.
Theatres of war
Europe, India, Atlantic, North America. Each theatre has campaigns to control and a dominance track. Choose where to focus and where to concede ground.
Crucial alliances
Forge pacts to strengthen troops on the field. Alliances give you immediate tactical advantages, but cost resources and diplomatic effort.
Forts and bonuses
Conquer forts to unlock abilities and strategic support. Each controlled fort gives you access to more tactical tiles or special powers during the turn.
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How to play
The flow of each turn
Three quick actions. Repeat until someone wins or can no longer play.
Draw tiles from your bag until you have three in your hand (or two, if you've used special powers). Keep the tiles hidden behind your screen.
Choose a tile from your hand and place it on an empty space of an open campaign, in the theater of your choice. Respect the constraints: armies on land, fleets at sea, air force everywhere (if present in the game).
Move the theater dominion marker towards you, based on the strength of the unit placed. If you complete a campaign, you earn victory points. Activate any bonuses from the space or captured fort.
Your opponent plays. Repeat. If you reach 25 victory points (or the scenario value), you win. If you cannot place tiles when required, you lose due to resource depletion.
⏱️Your first gameThe story, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Setup and first move
Choose your faction. Draw three tiles from the bag, place one on an open theater. Your opponent does the same. The board is empty, but you already have to decide: which front will you sacrifice to win another?
Theaters ignite
Each placement shifts the dominion markers. India leans towards you, but Europe moves away. You draw a general: do you use him immediately or wait for the right moment? The bag hides surprises and disappointments.
Alliances and forts
You conquer a key fort: unlock new tactical tiles. Forge an alliance to strengthen North America. Every bonus is an advantage, but it costs time and positions. Your opponent advances elsewhere.
The turning point
A campaign falls. You accumulate victory points, but Atlantic dominance is compromised. You draw fleets: do you play them all to recover or save them for later? The emptied bag is your clock.
End of conflict
Someone reaches the required victory points or runs out of legal moves. The theaters show who dominated where. In 20-40 minutes you've fought a global war, and you already want to play again.
🐸Good to know beforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
Good to know beforehand
Three honest things
Flintlock! was presented at Gen Con 2025 as a demo version. The final edition will be released in 2026. Mechanics and balancing may change compared to public previews. Buy it if you like early adopter risk.
You don't choose what to play: you draw and adapt. If you expect a perfect information wargame, this is not it. The bag introduces tactical variability — some love it, others prefer total control.
Solo play is supported, but we don't yet know how the automa works. The 2v2 mode by combining boards is an interesting promise, but it needs to be tested in the field. The core of the game remains the 1v1 duel inherited from Blitzkrieg.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
Two ways to win, two ways to lose. The first one to reach wins, the first one to get stuck loses.
Victory
- Reach the victory score required by the scenario (typically 25 points) by controlling campaigns and theaters
- Your opponent runs out of playable tiles and cannot complete a legal placement on their turn
- In 2v2 team mode, the pair that first reaches the combined score wins the game
Defeat
- You cannot place a tile when required because you have run out of playable units or the bag is empty
- Your opponent reaches the victory score before you by dominating key theaters
- You use too many Blitzkrieg powers (double turn) and reduce your pool below the critical threshold: you find yourself without legal moves
Flintlock! promises to bring the tactical lightness of Blitzkrieg to the 18th century. Wargame that doesn't scare, depth that doesn't bore. If it works like its predecessor, it will be an instant classic. We await the first final copies to confirm it.
💬Frequently Asked QuestionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently Asked Questions
Flintlock! FAQ: Global Warfare in 20 Minutes
Is it suitable for those who have never played wargames?
Yes, just like Blitzkrieg!. The system is designed to be a wargame for non-wargamers: quick rules, short games, no complex tables. If you like area control and hand management, this is your ideal first wargame.
Can I only play one scenario or do I have to use both boards?
You can play two separate scenarios (Seven Years' War or French and Indian War) or combine them for 2v2 mode. Each scenario has its own campaigns and victory conditions. The box gives you total flexibility.
What mechanics does Flintlock! use?
Area Majority / Influence (theater control), Deck/Bag/Pool Building (build the bag in the game), Hand Management (manage drawn tiles), Worker Placement with differentiated workers (armies, fleets, generals have different constraints), Tug of War (theater dominance on track).
How long does a game really last?
The box promises 20-40 minutes. If it works like Blitzkrieg!, the first games will be longer (30-40 min), then you'll drop below 25 minutes once you've internalized the choices. Traditional wargames of the period last hours: this is a flash.
Is it available in Italian?
No. The edition for sale is in English. The text on the cards is minimal (numerical values and symbols), so the language barrier is low. You need to read the rulebook in English once, then the game is almost language-independent.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
Flintlock!: Global Warfare in 20 Minutes is a tactical wargame for 1-4 players, ages 14+, lasting 20-40 minutes. Designed by Paolo Mori (Blitzkrieg!), Roger Tankersley and David Thompson, published by Floodgate Games in 2026. Bag building system with area control, hand management and worker placement. Recreates the Seven Years' War and the French and Indian War on a double board, playable separately or in 2v2 team mode. Accessible wargame, quick rules, tactical depth. Available on FroGames.it.
Flintlock!: Global Warfare in 20 Minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
The photos on the website often come from BoardGameGeek and are intended to give you an idea of the game. They may vary slightly from the version you receive. The content declared by the publisher is always binding.
📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
We always strive to provide the correct content, but minor variations are possible due to reprints or updates. The information comes directly from the publishers. If you have any questions, please contact us!
⏳How do pre-orders work?
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