"PIRATES!!! I need ships and rules??" Topic

Who makes rules for 25-28mm boat wars, any era.
Who makes boats in this scale??
Thanks

Try Flagship Games. They make some beautiful stuff, ships, rules and more. They are really nice people and send stuff out really quickly as well. I have dealt with them a number of times in the past and everytime I have received prompt curteous service.

Yarr! Avast, thar be several sets on freewargamesrules.co.uk.

Foundry makes a line of pirates, as do Eureka.

I am planning to use GASLIGHT myself.

There was an old system out called "LImeys and Slimeys" by minifig. It might foot the bill, it certainly enjoyed a heyday in it's time. Maybe it's still available somewhere?

I would recommend the Flagship Games items as well. They are extremely popular, fast playing and will allow you to use Fantasy as well as historical scenarios, ships and troops. They are also coming out with an Ancients line. No I don't work for the company.

I can email a copy of Limeys and SLimeys for free to any one who wants a set. Email me direct:
outland@erinet.com
Chris

Eureka Miniatures has a resin ship deck and fittings, beautiful miniatures and a light hearted set of man to man rules called "Fifteen Men...."

try
www.eurekamin.com.au

Gerry

You might also want to check out Reboubt, who make a line or Royal Navy as well as smugglers and pirates, Dixons who have a pirate range and Stronghold who, I think, have a range of 25mm resin ships of the 17th/18th century specificaly to go with pirates.

My favourite pirate figure so far is from Stronghold. A pirate "mooning".

Peter Pigs RFTCM 'Pieces of eight'... havent read it all, but there seems to be a mix of land and sea actions. Their rules are always interesting & novel.

Go to

TMP link

in the archives for ships. Especiall my contributions as "John the OFM" or "John Carroll". I have way too many pirate ships…

Coincidentally, I found a copy of 'Black Flags - Piracy in the carribean', a d20 supplement at the local hobby store today. Fully half the 64-page book is historical info, which is useful to the avergae gamer. Worth a browse if you can find it.

Old Glory has 25mm ships and figures. Foundry is awash in pirates. Dixon, Eureka, and Redoubt have figs. Abbott has sailors. J & T Miniatures has pirate ships, and supply OG IIRC. SSD has excellent 15mm ships...the best out IMHO, but can they be found...might need the proverbial Pirate Map. Of this group, the Old Glory are really excellent, with treasure burying parties all the way to cannibals looking to invite the Govenor's guard over for tea...with a nice Chianti, no doubt.

I'll give a some what selfless plug for Pirates! by Flagship games. [I think the interior art is rather nice.;)] The resin ships are well done and very affordable. You can get everything from a Galleon to a canoe as well as some cool looking Jules Vernish Submarines and Iron Clads. J&T/ Old Glory resin ships are top notch but more expensive. The big plus for them is that they are a true 25 mm scale if that is what you are looking for. For the money and good quality as well you cannot beat Old Glory's range of 25 mm Pirate figures. I think they may have been sculpted by Chris Huges before he left to start Sash and Sabre. 30 figs with few repeats for 27 USD is just too good to pass on. The best overall sculpted Pirate figures are Foundry. I also like Foundry's Swash Buckler lines which have more of an Elizabethian look to them but they are priced high.

If you want to add fantasy crews to your line up check out Crusaders Dwarf and Orc Pirates from their "Uncharted Lands" range. Reaper has a beautiful Undead pirate captain.

O.K. I though that was a pretty fair review.

Kim Allman

thanks guys

Might I humbly suggest that you try making your own 28mm scale pirate ships.

I now have two 28mm replica ships (admittedly only brigs but that's the typical pirate vessel for the Caribbean) made from cardboard.

1. Cut out the deck plans. Typical ratio is length3:1width.
2. Cut out matching bottom and decks for forecastle and poop. Use cotton reels or bits of bent cardboard on which to elevate the poop and forecastles. Be generous with the superglue.
3. Cover sides with rough bits of cardboard. Be liberal with the superglue here (NOT PVA).
4. Cut long thin strips of cardboard and apply to the outside as planking (again liberality with the superglue is suggested).
5. Black spray undercoat (important to be black).
6. Dry brush with dark flesh for wood effect.
7. Dowelling for masts. Ensure that they are steady.
8. Cardboard sails covered in tissue paper doused with huge amounts of linen coloured poster paint and allowed to dry overnight.
9. Affix sails and add figurehead, deck cannon, ropes, anchors etc. to taste. Do not go overboard (sic) on deck toys. They can make it difficult to move the figures around the ship.
10. Paint any tarty bits and play.

Total cost was £1.40 for the superglue and £6 for the cannons for the deck (courtesy of Italeri plastics).

The first ship took a week to do, the second two nights.
As long as you've used superglue it will be incredibly sturdy.

Foundry Pirates are good, no question. I like Eureka's better, though. They have that sinister look from the Howard Pyle illustrations. You can also buy then individually.

Ideally, of course, one should have one each of every single pirate produced by Foundry, Eureka, Old Glory, Ral Partha, Dixon, Pressman, Redoubt, RAFM, RSM, Frontier, Minifigs, plus anything that can be pressed into service from ECW, TYW, Marlburians, Jacobites, SYW/FIW, AWI, 1812, Conquistadors, Boxers, Chinese, Landsknechts, Dogs of War, Swashbucklers, ...

What John The OFM said! (posted by a rabid pirate player)BTW for those who will attend Fall In in Novenber I plan on running several Pirates! scenarios. I'll post details as I get things worked out. Yes I'm starting early.

D20 system has the Seafarer's Handbook by Legends & Lores. That seems to just deal with general sea stuff. There is (also d20) the Twin Crowns stuff, which bills itself as an "age of exploration fantasy" campaign setting.

From a million, billion years ago (OK, closer to 20 years ago) Gamelords Ltd. did a pirate thingy called "Lair of the Freebooters", which used their own system (Thieve's Guild). Looks ok, but more of a canned adventure or set of adventures than straight combat & rules there for.

Avalanche Press is supposed to release 'Sea and Foam', the naval battle sequel to 'Black Flags'. Anyone seen it?