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Miniatures Adventure => Pikes, Muskets and Flouncy Shirts => Topic started by: Sinewgrab on November 16, 2008, 02:56:31 AM

Title: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: Sinewgrab on November 16, 2008, 02:56:31 AM
Alright mates, here's the scoop.

I am in the middle of building an Empire army for Warhammer Fantasy Battle that has a pirate theme - I am using a mix of Foundry, Black Cat Bases, Reaper, Black Scorpion, and GW Free Company (as well as anything else I can get my hands on) to build it. The problem I am running into is trying to build some of the units - does anyone on here have a suggestion for how I can represent a mounted unit such as pistoliers or outriders while maintaining a pirate theme? They would not have horses - too much trouble on board ship, and doing something like 'shark-riders' is just stretching it too far in my opinion. Any ideas? I am fresh out here.
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: P_Clapham on November 16, 2008, 08:05:14 AM
As far as no Horses go..... some ships did have stables for transporting Horses or Cattle.

If you are intent on a more Pirate or Nautical aproach.... how about one man boats around the size of a GW Calvary base?  Barrel riders could be another variant, particularly if you wanted to add some Halfling cut-throats.
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: white knight on November 16, 2008, 09:05:26 AM
Freebooter has a very good pirate in a one man flying sloop. A bit expensive to build a unit with, but you could take the idea and scratchbuild your own? Freebooter sells bits too, so you could just order the ship hull for instance and add your own crew.
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: white knight on November 16, 2008, 09:11:53 AM
This is it:

(http://www.freebooterminiatures.de/shop/shop_files/img_3/PIR001_1.jpg)
(http://www.freebooterminiatures.de/shop/shop_files/img_3/PIR001_2.jpg)
(http://www.freebooterminiatures.de/shop/shop_files/img_3/PIR001_5.jpg)

http://www.freebooterminiatures.com/ (http://www.freebooterminiatures.com/)
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: itchy on November 16, 2008, 09:38:22 AM
giant turtles (captain Jack sparrow style) get cheap ones from early learning centres.
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: Le matou rouge on November 16, 2008, 09:52:08 AM
or giant crab riders as W.B.Kurgan, here, did :

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j15/WarbossKurgan/Crab%20Riders/WIP%20Crab%20Riders/HPIM4100.jpg)

(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j15/WarbossKurgan/Crab%20Riders/HPIM4482.jpg)

meow,
Matt
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: Gluteus Maximus on November 16, 2008, 10:21:38 AM
Why not have them do what the Vikings did and steal any horses they need as soon as they land. In this way the Vikings gave themselves a useful mounted infantry/scouting force without the logistical problems of transporting and caring for their mounts.

Otherwise, you could use small steam-powered wheeled amphibious rowing boats, using looted Empire or Dwarf steam-tech. They should be pretty easy conversions and might contain a helmsman and a fighter, much like a chariot. They would probably come under the Warhammer chariot rules, though this is a guess, as I am not a WFB player  :)
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: meninobesta on November 16, 2008, 11:25:49 AM
you can always use dragoons:
(http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/SYWBRIT/3/2b.jpg)

or even Denis Moore:
(http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/SYW/14/2b.jpg)

 :D
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: Gluteus Maximus on November 16, 2008, 12:12:47 PM
or even Denis Moore:
 :D

.... extraor.....dinary  lol
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: Lowtardog on November 16, 2008, 12:59:31 PM
giant turtles (captain Jack sparrow style) get cheap ones from early learning centres.

Yep turtle riders sounds an excelelnt idea, have the figures standing on them holding a bridle :D
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: white knight on November 16, 2008, 01:03:48 PM
Visually a good idea, but practically... well walking would be faster than riding a turtle... lol

Like the crab idea though.
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: itchy on November 16, 2008, 04:16:04 PM
crabs would be faster ...but move sideways  ,great for flanking moves i suppose  lol
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: Sinewgrab on November 16, 2008, 04:51:45 PM
Freebooter has a very good pirate in a one man flying sloop. A bit expensive to build a unit with, but you could take the idea and scratchbuild your own? Freebooter sells bits too, so you could just order the ship hull for instance and add your own crew.

I had actually been considering that model for my General on a Pegasus for some time, but I can't find a good place to get Freebooter in the US. The post is murder from Europe right now. You know that - I bought enough barbarians from you!  ;)
Instead, I am going to put the new Reaper Pirate King on some sort of contrivance, probably a small boat being pulled ashore by a group of buccaneers, as the Arch Lector, and a guy carrying a treasure chest as my army standard bearer.
If I could find a supplier of boats that size, I would be all over them. I've started looking at toy stores, because I am finding a dearth of small boats for two models out there.
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: white knight on November 16, 2008, 05:09:53 PM
Well, for boths that size, you'd probably be best off looking on ebay for some kinder egg toys that look the appropriate size. Does seem a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack mind...  lol
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: itchy on November 16, 2008, 06:05:45 PM
dont know if anyone stocks the Ainsty old crow trader range over there but they do small 28mm rafts and boats for for £4-£5 each and they are nice p&p from uk might not be too bad?
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: Overlord on November 16, 2008, 06:28:56 PM
dont know if anyone stocks the Ainsty old crow trader range over there but they do small 28mm rafts and boats for for £4-£5 each and they are nice p&p from uk might not be too bad?
Now produced by Old Crow: http://www.oldcrowmodels.co.uk/aitrader.htm
Above £10 postage is just 10% GLOBAL :o  Payments via Paypal.
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: Lowtardog on November 16, 2008, 06:44:19 PM
This company sell crabs

http://www.tapirback.com/tapirgal/gifts/friends/aquatic/crab-plastic-yellow-red-f1125.htm
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: fastolfrus on November 17, 2008, 10:30:06 PM
How about surfboards/windsurfers on water, or land yachts on the beach ?
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: Sinewgrab on November 18, 2008, 05:30:28 AM
How about surfboards/windsurfers on water, or land yachts on the beach ?

Define land yachts?
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: Heldrak on November 18, 2008, 08:04:35 AM
How about surfboards/windsurfers on water, or land yachts on the beach ?

Define land yachts?

A rowboat equipped with wagon wheels and a sail...?
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: Sinewgrab on November 18, 2008, 08:34:38 PM
Huh. That might be interesting.
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: answer_is_42 on December 02, 2008, 10:04:21 PM
Nifty idea. However, wouldn't the 'dogs of war' army list be more suited to a Pirate army (lots of skirmishers etc)?
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: Sinewgrab on December 03, 2008, 08:27:49 PM
Nifty idea. However, wouldn't the 'dogs of war' army list be more suited to a Pirate army (lots of skirmishers etc)?

Frankly, no. Successful pirates in the age of piracy depended on overwhelming firepower and and mobile infantry. Henry Morgan took Panama with solid troops, using pistols, muskets, some spear blocks, and a large number of swordsmen. The pike was a little used weapon in the Caribbean - 18' poles are not made for shipboard - and once you remove the pike from the DoW army, and then remove the heavy cavalry, you may as well just shake your opponents hand at the start of the game and tell him 'good win for you', because you are so crippled for choices.
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: answer_is_42 on December 03, 2008, 08:49:25 PM
Nifty idea. However, wouldn't the 'dogs of war' army list be more suited to a Pirate army (lots of skirmishers etc)?

Frankly, no. Successful pirates in the age of piracy depended on overwhelming firepower and and mobile infantry. Henry Morgan took Panama with solid troops, using pistols, muskets, some spear blocks, and a large number of swordsmen. The pike was a little used weapon in the Caribbean - 18' poles are not made for shipboard - and once you remove the pike from the DoW army, and then remove the heavy cavalry, you may as well just shake your opponents hand at the start of the game and tell him 'good win for you', because you are so crippled for choices.

Fair enough.
Will you be building a board to go with this army (a coastline with anchored Pirate ship perhaps)?
Title: Re: Pirate Empire Army (warning - GW involved)
Post by: Sinewgrab on December 04, 2008, 06:53:36 AM

Fair enough.
Will you be building a board to go with this army (a coastline with anchored Pirate ship perhaps)?

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=7962.0

Still working on it, but I am close to done with the ship.