"Rules for Pirates" Topic

I know pirates don't need no stinking ruls but gamers do.

Our group in El Paso Tx is looking to start a pirate game and we need rules. So what is out there and a little about them please

Lord Ghee

I like Blood and Swash/Thunder and Plunder. You have the rules focused on two scales of gaming. Lots of fun and flavor!

link

"Them as Dies is the Lucky Ones" is Redoubt's set. Straightforward game mechanics, nice period flavour, but a very brief set… concentrating on man-to-man combat. There are fairly rudimentary rules for ship-to-ship combat.

Also worth a look is FGU's "Privateers and Gentlemen"… set a little later than most other Pirate games, during the Napoleonic wars. (although there's no reason you couldn't set your campaign earlier if you wanted.) The system consists of an excellent set of naval miniatures rules, and an RPG system for individual characters and mano y mano combat. P&G is available on download from FGU's site.

I'll plug my own "Pirates!" third edition. Here's a description:

link

You can purchase it here:

link

Here's a list I compiled years ago. Hasn't been updated since 2004 though, so the links may not be correct anymore. There may be more rules sets available since.

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PIRATES RULES

(Some readily available; some hard to get; some OOP.)

"Privateer" by Steve Winter (2003)
Skirmishing during Piracy's Golden Age. Designed for 25/30mm figs, one fig equals a single warrior though small scale battles can be fought, scenarios, quick play sheets. Available from onmilitarymatters.com

"Once Upon a Time in the West Indies" by Pete Berry/Partisan Press (1991)
Pirate skirmish rules add-on to "Once Upon a Time in the West Country." Both rules sets required because "West Indies" – mostly ship rules and scenarios – uses the land combat rules in "West Country."
Available through Caliver Books (UK): caliverbooks.com and onmilitarymatters.com (US)

"Treasure Island" by Over the Wire
A set of rules with 25/28mm figures for playing out pirate action and the search for treasure. Contents include rules, 10 character figures, 10 pirates, 2 treasure chests, 1 skeleton bits and a palm tree.
link

"Fifteen Men" by Eureka Miniatures
Designed for Hollywood style action and quick exciting games of piracy on the High Seas, these skirmish rules require only fifteen pirates per side.
eurekamin.com.au/index.shtml

"Pirates!" by Flagship Games
Fun system for 28mm; company sells ships, use whatever figs you want; fantasy crews (elves, dwarfs, undead, etc.); rules and ships can be purchased separately.
flagshipgames.com

"Pieces of Eight" -- 1st ed. by Peter Pig (1994) peterpig.demon.co.uk
Rules for 15mm; very basic system; covers both ship combat and HtH

"Pieces of Eight" -- 2nd ed. by Peter Pig (2000) peterpig.demon.co.uk
Rules for 15mm land; 1/450th naval.
Available in the U.S. through Brookhurst Hobbies: brookhursthobbies.com

"Hoist the Jolly Roger" by Ross Rigby and Neil Morris
For 25/28mm; thorough but not too complex; has random event cards; covers both ship combat and HtH (for ship and land); looks to be very fun and accessible. Only available directly from the authors (in
England; very hard to get mailed to U.S.) Check out the Manchester Area Wargaming Society (MAWS) web page for pics and info at link

"Treasure of Sandheap" by T. Sheil and A. Sheil
A beginner's game for fast play with toy soldiers.
link

"Corsari, Pirati & Bucanieri" by Riccardo Affinati
In Italian; free on website:
link

"Blood & Swash / Thunder & Plunder" by Buck Surdu (Jodie-Press)
link

"Shiver Me Timbers" (OOP) by Village Green

"Davey Jones Locker" (OOP) by Daniel Fox (Sutton Hoo Games)

"Them As Dies Is the Lucky Ones" by Johnson/Ratcliffe (thru Redoubt)
(Cannot find any reference to rules at Redoubt site)
redoubt.force9.co.uk

"Buccaneer, Broadsword & Blunderbuss" by Old Glory
oldgloryminiatures.com

"Evil Stevie's Pirate Game" by Steve Jackson
Free at: io.com/~sj/PirateGame.html

"Strange Grogge" (now Strange Tydes?) by Steve Blease, et al (Wessex Games)
link

"Pirates of Sartosa" (Warhammer system) by [Author unknown]
Free at: link

"Pieces of Eight" by Andy Watkins
Free at: link

"Wooden Ships & Plastic Men" by Mathew Clayson
Free at: link

"Debauchery, Rum and Bloodletting" (Fire & Steel variant)
link

"Jolly Roger" (I have copy, but no designer listed)
Land and sea battles; with special action and event cards

"Pirate Raiders" by Brian Whitaker (Not published; I have copy)
Simple raiding party rules special action and event cards

RULES THAT CAN BE USED WITH PIRATES
(Horse & Musket era, or good rules for other eras that can be retrograded)

"Sacre Bleu!" by [Unknown]
Mass skirmish rules 1660-1830. 25mm Skirmish rules 10-100 miniatures.
Available through Caliver Books (UK): caliverbooks.com and onmilitarymatters.com (US)

"Freikorps" by Bryan Ansell of Foundry
Simple skirmish rules for period from about 1700 to 1850; land combat only; random initiative; roll for hit location on body.
Free through: icenter.net/~gisby/rules.htm

"Rencounter" by Edward Allen
Another system covering approx. 1700-1850; far more comprehensive than Freikorps
Free at: link

"Stand To!" by Steve Winter
Covers small "Colonial Era" battles; very simple, fast, fun system
Free at: link

"Limeys & Slimeys" from Outland Games
15mm Age-of-Sail naval warfare; no land combat.
Free pdf at: PDF link

"Matchlocks on the Warpath" by Jon Lundberg / Historic Enterprises (OOP)
Skirmish combat during "the settling of America"; land combat only; roll for hit location on body; rules look great -- too bad they're for land only.

"Swashbuckler" by Yaquinto Games (OOP)
Man-to-man, phased combat.

"Fire and Steel" – by Mark Evans and Dave Wilson
Skirmish wargames rules 1700-1900

There are numerous Age-of-Sail rules that could be applied or adapted for naval action.

Glorie from Rattrap Prods can be used for pirates…

A great new game is Freebooter's Fate from Freebooter Minis. No rules for ships, but it has an inovative HtH rules. I love them.

But an overall winner for pirate mins (IMO) is Pirates! from Flagship Games.

There is also The Sword in the Caribbean by Larry Brom sergeants3.com which is a variant of his The Sword and the Flame Colonial rules. We've used them a number of time. Two battle reports can be seen here.

link

link

Jim

Legends of the High Seas is good for competition games, and/or campaigns on land.

I'm not too impressed with their naval rules.

Check out Sailpower, or Prevailing Winds (available from Thoroughbred) for sea battles.

PW is designed for the War of 1812, but you can use their system, and develop your own stats for pirate era vessels, if desire. See my previous postings on Prevailing Winds in the message archives for info on how to do that.

I'm a fan of "Pirates!" (former Flagship Games, now Extra Crispy). The ship-to-ship rules are great fun, although the melee level rules are a bit simplistic. Critical hit tables are hilarious! The rules work for straight historical games, but we almost always have some skeleton pirates join the action, and there are optional rules to allow fliers, spellcasters and other fantasy elements should you choose.

Legends of the High Seas is ok at a man-to-man level (and will be familiar if your group already knows Legends of the Old West or Lord of the Rings games), but the ship-to-ship rules are a bit weak (IMHO).

I have Legends of the High Seas and some unpainted pirates I'll sell you. Brand new never used. Another one of my son's ideas!

hmgs-midsouth.org/?p=657

Pirate rules are linked near the bottom of the article

Thanks for the information.

I have order Pirates from scale creep, I am traveling so will see them in 2 weeks.

will check out more

Lord Ghee