"National Traits for Pirates, Buccaneers, Corsairs, etc.?" Topic

To go along with the simple FUBAR Pirate, Swashbuckler, Three Musketeers RPG rules I was suggesting, I thought it might be good to have some national traits, just for fun.

Granted, it's not PC, but is fantasy/historical RPG (don't you just love acronyms?), so feel free to chime in below, to give your opinions/thoughts, as long as it isn't a lengthy diatribe on the folly of trying to group unique persons by vast generalizations on their character.

I'm interested in the following nationalities, primarily for the Carribean setting: Danes, Dutch, English, French, Irish, Portugese, Scots, Spanish, and Swedes. Feel free to throw in a generic one for Pirates as well, if you wish, and to differentiate between them and Buccaneers, Corsairs, Privateers, and the Spanish Guarda Costa, if you wish.

Some general thoughts (feel free to differentiate between land-based traits, and those for their navies/sailors, when at sea in vessels):

Danes – not really sure (need help here)

Dutch – very good at navigation, sailing, and trading; disciplined soldiers and sailers

English – dogged determination, good sailers, and very skilled in naval gunnery (see French, too, in some cases); like to drink, and to fight the Spanish and French (amongst others)

French – arrogant, overconfident, and not as determined as the English (in some cases – more likely to strike their vessels, when hard pressed); have fast vessels, and sail them well; skilled in naval gunnery; like to fight the English

Irish – excellent at drinking, and like to fight; dogged determination

Portugese – perhaps like the Spanish (some lumped them together back in the day)

Scots – like to fight, like to drink; dogged determination

Spanish – brave/rash, hot-tempered, but flighty (quick to surrender/flee, if things go badly – more likely to suffer adverse morale results from setbacks); not as skilled in naval gunnery as the Dutch, English, or French; build very large, strong vessels, which are hard to defeat; good navigators; like to fight the English, and/or anyone else venturing into the Spanish lake that is the Caribbean

Swedes – not really sure here either

Buccaneers – hate the Spanish, who've attacked them, and tried to wipe them out; good with firearms, and at hunting, tracking, and living off the land

Corsairs – good at sailing, and causing havoc on the high seas

Pirates – anything for the money; enjoy fighting, drinking, gambling, wenching, and causing mayhem on the high seas

Spanish Guarda Costa – determined to rid the Spanish Main (Carribean Sea, and adjacent seas) of all foreign vessels, and to protect the Spanish empire from all nations; brave/rash, ruthless and determined – those foes that aren't killed in combat outright are usually thrown in a dungeon to rot, or are impressed to serve in menial labor on one of the king's vessels

Privateers – rather like pirates, but a bit more disciplined, and loyal to their nation and king (most of the time); of course, they have been known to turn to piracy if pickings are scarce, or large sums of money are to be made; sometimes employed as pirate hunters as well, to which they are well suited, since they many of the tricks of the trade

Thoughts?

Check out 7th Sea at alderac.com for some ideas on this. They sort of cherry-picked through history which gets a bit muddled when you mix them all together, but individually, they're quite good.

Interesting.

I don't know what difference you make between "corsairs" and "privateers"? And they have a nationality too. For example, the French "corsaires" (=privateers) probably shared the same characteristics as French Navy, but were less disciplined and more greedy. Most Hispaniola buccaneers were French too.

You forgot Courland in the list… ;-)

What? Does none excels at wenching?!?!?!? Nor conniving?!?! And what about a thoughful harangue ?!?!?!

I've heard of French corsairs too, so not sure what the difference is.

Looking up the definition, in theory, they should only be in the Med, and Muslim. However, I also ran across an article regarding Basque corsairs (who would presumably be lumped in with the Spanish/Portugese in the day).

Of course, perhaps the French for wenching, but I imagine many other nationalities might try to rival their exploits. Blackbeard, who was reportedly English, is claimed to have had many wives, and I suspect even more mistresses/dalliances.

Scots like big swords – works for the Blackbeard's last battle scenario.

Perhaps a higher prevalence of pistols and pikes for the Spanish?

There is no difference between "Corsaire" and "privateer". Corsaire is the French name and "privateer" the English name.
Corsaires do when " la course" (the race war). They attack any enemy ships, on behalf of the King of France that gives them a letter of marque, authorizing practiced race

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privateer

link

In french
link

Thanks for the clarification.

So, presumably that means that the French Buccaneers were more like pirates of the day, e.g. independent contractors that tired of being hunted and oppressed by the Spanish.

Here's some different special characters from Evil Stevie's Pirate Game (Yes, the Steve Jackson of SJG fame):

sj.sjgames.com/PirateGame2.html

Navigator: Can read maps, record the positions of islands, and so on. Does not get lost. Captains have this ability automatically.

French Swashbuckler: +2 with cutlass, and -2 to any sword attack against him.

Polish Gunner: +1 to hit for the cannon which he serves.

German Mercenary: +2 with two-handed axes and halberds, and -2 to any sword or axe attack against him.

Dutch Helmsman: +2" to ship movement any turn he is at the helm (that is, handling the ship rather than fighting or doing anything else). This is not an initiative bonus, though.

American Rifleman: +2 with a musket (because if he has it, it's a rifle).

Scottish Engineer: Automatically succeeds, by himself, in any damage control effort (that is, he is the equivalent of a 6-man damage control party).

British Deserter: This pirate fled the rigid discipline of the Royal Navy. He is familiar with all the British ships that are normally found in these waters, and knows his way around the Navy bases. The referee will use him as a conduit for information at appropriate times.

Spanish Deserter: This pirate escaped from the Spanish treasure fleet. He knows about the treasure ships and their captains; the referee will use him as a conduit for information at appropriate times.

Indian Archer: +1 with bow and arrow (nobody else except Islanders can use bow and arrow).

Islander: This native decided to join the pirates and see the world. +1 with spear, and can use bow and arrow (treat as a musket).

Yes,The "Boucaniers" (buccaneers)"Flibustiers","frιres de la cote" are pirates, they work for their own account. They attack everyone vessels of their country, including

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buccaneer

New at this pirate malarky.

Lots of sailors were laid off after the signing the Utrecht treaty and it took about 2 years for piracy to escalate. So a lot of sailors were good quality seamen with military training.

Caribes were good for sourcing food.

Spanish and French treated the natives badly so they were willing to help the English.

The English seemed more organized and banded together more.

Maybe the Spanish and French thought they were more noble than the others, snobery.

Pirate community was united in their singular requirement for democracy in an autocratic world dominated by monarchy. Probably excepting Corsairs who took their sailing orders from authority, but who no doubt had some fun until a big frigate hove into view. Piratical crews rallied around the principle that as nationless free agents they could elect and depose their captains and choose their course and come and go as they pleased. No wonder they were hunted to death. Old pirate culture was way too radical for a monarch to permit, not even considering the economic damage attributed to piracy. A pirate wannabe was probably impressed with the concept of open possibilities in a world that offered limited futures. If offered to me in the times, I would give it some serious thought.

Not so much a singular requirement, matey…. more like guidelines…