"Blood and Plunder minis?" Topic

While I am set and pretty happy with my Blue Moon 18mm lads, I do sometimes peruse lists of larger figures. I was looking at the Blood and Plunder lists, since it seems to be all the rage, when something odd struck me. Why are the minis done for the 1680s and 90s, rather than for the Golden Age of Piracy in the early 18th century? Seems an odd choice to me.

The Raise the Black release is coming before the end of year. That'll take it into the 18th Century.

Ah, thanks. I may have to seriously consider this when it happens.

"The Golden Age of Piracy is a common designation for the period between the 1650s and the 1730s."

Blackbeard was active 1716–1718.

The less than amazing pirate/privateer William Kidd was active 1689-ish to 1701.

At least he had a song to memorialize him…

But in any event, the "Golden Age" does indeed range from the mid-1600's to somewheres in the 1730's.

One of my more favourite characters is Captain Jack Ward, who lived in the mid 1500's to the 1620's or so.

Anyway, lots of fun in that period. But I'm going to refrain from sinking money into that period.

Eric

Firelock Games minis match the period of the earlier period for 1680s and 90s in which their core book and their expansion book covers. Really, the only thing missing is specialized characters for the 1700s…which is coming soon and the tricorn type hats. That would be the "Raise the Black" expansion. To be honest I have a ton of Old Glory 25s Pirate range and Wargame Foundry figures too and use them in all my "Pirate" games.

Hope that helps.

P.

The Blood an Plunder minis are nice but very expensive and a little larger than 28mm heroics. The leaders are nice, but to bulk up your bands, the Old Glory line is great and looks very nice when painted. As to the period, the second half of the 17th century was the heyday of the buccaneers. Morgan, L'Ollonais, Roc Braziliano and others fielded small armies of marauders and looted many small and large cities in the islands of the Caribbean and the Spanish Main including Panama, Maracaibo, Portobello, etc. In this sense they were much more successful than the petty pirate of the "Golden Age." These later pirates generally preyed on defenseless merchant ships carrying ordinary cargo such as rum, clothing, sugar, etc. The buccaneers had the real loot.

I'm using a mix of Old Glory pirates and ECW for my figures. A cheeper way out <lol>

I've found a smattering of Eureka Conquistadores and Pirates can liven up unit variety and offer some specialty character figures, but the size disparity forces them to be used as a fractional minority.

Old Glory English Civil War figures mixed with Old Glory Pirates without tricorn and Eureka Portuguese sailors mix perfectly and are perfect for a Buccaneer landing force.

Where can I find good European crew I.e British, French, Spanish Dutch,but not of the privateer variety? I'm looking for government crews..I thought soldiers from the war of Spanish succession might work.. ideas?