Lámh Dubh, the Black Hand: Professor Munro and the Walking Dead

[oabee]

I was inspired some time ago to try to come up with a new Company featuring Privateer Press’s Warmachine figures the Mechanithralls. Nothing really came to me, however, until I was looking through West Wind’s Empire of the Dead miniatures and several really leaped out at me. Researching Burke and Hare, who operated in Scotland, led (somehow!) to the idea of a Gaelic attempt to “throw off the Yoke of English Domination,” and after several starts and stops, the Black Hand was born: a new enemy for England.

http://wrgmr.com/pdfs/lamhdubh.pdf







Some living in the States have commented on the expense of shipping West Wind miniatures, but I have found all but the Men of Hell Division either on eBay or through Noble Knight, who offers First Class US Mail shipping ($2.95!). By the way, the figures I got on eBay came with free shipping. So my fellow Americans, just keep your eyes open and you can find West Wind figures over here!

Design Notes: No long range punch to this crew. Lightning Jack has an Arc Rifle (the figure’s weapon is a pistol, but—hey—this guy’s an acclaimed engineer and has designed a compact one-handed rifle!) and Burke has a Mauser C96 hidden under his coat. The Sluagh are essentially Todtruppen with Power Fists; again, I have changed their talent from Numb to Touch to save 5 points. If you don’t care for that, change talents from Tough to Numb! If you take only one of the Hare’s and no Bludgers, you can field three Sluagh in a 250 point Company. The Bludgers were added to the mix as another option for the player: obviously, any player can lose one Sluagh and put in up to three Bludgers.

At first I was going to alter Burke and Hare’s figures, getting rid of the shovels and giving them weapons, but finally decided to keep the shovels and let them carry hand weapons. So the Sharpened Shovel was born as a Fighting weapon, which shares the same stats as an Axe.

Hare’s Reliquary I would use to cast Zone of Shadows to help protect the Company as it closes with the Enemy. I was torn about what Pluck score to award him, as I usually give my Mystics scores of 3. I finally settled on 4 as Munro and all the Sluagh already had 3, which I felt was enough for the Company. I gave him Fanatic, however, at least in part to rethrow a failed Pluck roll for using Zone of Shadows if it’s needed at an especially vital time.

At the last moment I included Maggie Hare, whom provides more Mystic punch to the Company. It’s up to you to use her, of course, as her inclusion loses you a Sluagh. The figure I am using for Maggie, Reaper’s Female Huckster, is one I have on hand, and I will remove the cards in her right hand and maybe give her a pistol instead. She is a good fit size-wise for the West Wind figures. I thought about using RAFM’s Kristina Erickson, who I also have, but she is too tall.

Enjoy!
Mike O'Brien

[Craig]

An absolutely marvellous company Mike - Well done indeed!! 

[oabee]

Thank you for your kind words, Craig. 

I purposely kept the Black Hand's structure very nebulous and open so that you can create your own Chapter in just about any part of the world to match your gaming preferences:



And don't forget the Fenian "invasion" of Canada, so North America is wide open for gaming development.

I certainly plan to come up with one or two more Companies for Lámh Dubh featuring Infernal Machinery (now that I've done some Unspeakable Horrors). The world is pretty much open to all malcontents and n'er-do-wells who have it in for the Empire. Just go on your favorite web translation site and come up with the local language version of Black Hand (Kālē Hātha, Swart Hand, Isandla Abamnyama, al-Kaff al-Aswad, Mano Negro, etc. etc.).

If I have made any mistakes in my Gaelic, or Gaelic pronunciation, please let me know.

By the way, a little history: when the original Burke and Hare tried to find a market for their first cadaver, the following transpired:

"According to Burke's later testimony, they asked for directions to Professor [Alexander] Monro, but a student directed them instead to Surgeon's Square where they sold the body for £7.10s (2010 values: £731, US$1,130) to an assistant of Dr. Robert Knox, an anatomist of considerable reputation owing to his knowledge and skill gained as an army surgeon at the time of Waterloo."

This Prof. Monro was the inspiration for the Black Hand's Alistair Munro.

Also, to my North American friends, West Wind Miniatures are also available at Brigade Games, who have their own fine line of Victorian miniatures, plus North Star, Artizan, and Parroom miniatures. Shipping, although not free, is reasonable. I apologize for the omission. 

Mike O

[Thorwin]

Nice and atmospheric company 

[oabee]

After doing an intensive survey of female Victorian figures for Craig's German secret service company ( http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=66302.0 ), I'm having second thoughts about my figure recommendation for Maggie Hare.

Perhaps the Black Scorpion lady from the Civilians 1 pack would be a better choice:

 Or one of these ladies from Foundry's Darkest Africa range:


Hmmm. have to rethink this.