Spanish opponents for English Seadogs?

[traveller]

I consider starting painting my Foundry Seadogs (some of the best sculpts ever IMHO) but I do not have any worthy Spanish opponents for the late 16th century. Any recommendations out there?

[Lowtardog]

To be honest you can use the Foudnry chaps for either side, you may want to have the better dressed as hidalgos etc. You could also mix in some of the Old Glory Wars of Religion miniatures. Sailors wise I would look at generic types from Eureka/Fighting 15s who produce them for Spanish/Portuguese

[traveller]

Thanks for your advice!

I was just considering that when I found some possible relief in the following ranges:

Brother Vinni
Gamezone
GW (Pirazzo)
TAG (TYW Germans)
Arsenal miniatures ( if ever released...)
Helldorado Westerners

[Lowtardog]

Thanks for your advice!

I was just considering that when I found some possible relief in the following ranges:

Brother Vinni
Gamezone
Helldorado
GW (Pirazzo)
TAG (TYW Germans)
Arsenal miniatures ( if ever released...)

Yes definately all of those would be very nice, Gamezone especially

[richarDISNEY]

Actually, I have been using Brother Vinni (well, the 3 that they have...) and Gamezones. 
Both mix well together.  They have the 'cinematic' Spanish feel to them.

[traveller]

Actually, I have been using Brother Vinni (well, the 3 that they have...) and Gamezones. 
Both mix well together.  They have the 'cinematic' Spanish feel to them.

Thanks for that comment, I was just wondering how they go together. I just found that Helldorado has some Spanish looking miniatures as well that will be entered on the shopping list.

[traveller]

Just wanted to share a scale photo of my "Spanish treasure" so far. From left to right:
Helldorado Spadassin-Brother Vinni-Gamezone-GW Pirazzo-Foundry seadog-TAG Conquistador-TAG TYW German



They seem to go well together all of them 

[warrenpeace]

I would use the Foundry El Dorado collection against the Sea Dogs, even though the El Dorado collection is more early 16th Century. I'd get a set of the Foundry medieval monks too, along with some Foundry swashbuckling maroons and Foundry Mexican peasants. Because the Spanish formed militia defense companies based on race, these other figures would be useful. And of course you want a monastery for the Sea Dogs to plunder.

[traveller]

Warrenbruhn,

thanks for the info. Those ethnic militias can be useful in a game. Would you have any source for any historical setting?

[warrenpeace]

My primary source for the info about ethnic/racial militia companies is just reading about Morgan's raid on Panama City. There was a company of whites, a company of mulatos, a company of mestizos, a company of indios, and a company of blacks. That is much later than the period of the English Sea Dogs, but I suspect that the Spanish might have been using the system earlier.

From what I've read about the Sea Dog raids ashore, the Spanish were using a lot of local Indian (Native American) allies for defense, probably barely clothed, and probably using mostly bows and arrows. These Indian allies were in the process of being converted to Christianity, so there should be some monks and missionaries about (as in the movie The Mission). These Indian allies greatly outnumbered the European Spanish and mestizos in the late 16th Century. But some of these Indians allied with the English Sea Dogs instead. A great scenario would be an overland march with a train of donkeys carrying looted treasure through Indian areas, with some allied to the English and some to the Spanish. During the late 16th Century there were probably fewer Africans in the Spanish settlements than there were in the 17th Century, but there should be some.

For suitable Native Americans, I would suggest Tupi from Brigade Games and Copplestone, the Cannibals from the Old Glory pirate line, and various packs of Incas and Aztecs from Foundry, mostly novice warrior types rather than the fancy warriors.

[Lowtardog]

For piratey milita and the like, mameluko, maroons etc you can also add in the Eureka Portuguese which fit in very well with the Seadogs being very thread bare etc.

on natives most certainly the Tupi, though beware the Copplestone ones are very tall but very nice. The Botocudo can also be used and each can represent to some degree the Taino or Caribs. Eureka have nice Tupi which are smaller.

Brigade games have Javro indians with blow pipse which can be another source of natives. or you could go for Central Indian tribes however they tend to be over armed etc and very particular to mainland America.

[Ninja]

Have you looked into the 1650 models from terico creativo? I have there whole line because I love the spanish feel to them. The models are pretty awesome!

[traveller]

Thanks all for your advice. You opened up some new gaming avenues there. Ninja, I have been drooling over those Tercio miniatures but they look a bit brittle, being resin?

[Ninja]

I bought the whole line and only the swords on the last few were bent. I just bent them back. None of them have broken so far but the customer service is great if you have any problems or questions let them know and they takr care of it I am sure.