Conquistadors in Africa?

[Captain Blood]

I'm not sure he's still looking for answers on this seven years after asking the question... 

(He might be, of course... But it seems unlikely... )

Do, please, think carefully about whether you really need to reply to / resurrect a post from seven years ago... We don't have forum rules concerning threadomancy, and occasionally, it is warranted. But usually it's not!

[Poiter50]

Or even Indonesia. I recall an article some years back on the discovery of a Spanish fort in some remote part of Indonesia.

I know you asked for Africa but, if I may, don't forget about Asia.
Spanish fighting in the Philippines against natives, moros ect. would
be quite interesting.

[zippyfusenet]

Captain, I missed this thread in 2010 and I'm enjoying its revival. I hope you'll indulge us.

I've long been interested in the Age of Exploration and Conquest, with emphasis on the Spanish entradas to the Mississippian southeast and the Puebloan and Caddoan southwest, but with interests world-wide. One day I might build miniatures for Africa North, West and East, for South Asia and East Indies. A long time ago I mined out the O Soldado Practico site that Kingscarbine/Nuno created and linked to above. There was a load of excellent material on the Portuguese Empire, especially in the time of its expansion and greatest extent. Unfortunately, it looks like that blog is gone...Bring it back, Nuno?

Back in the '90s a talented young gamer named Trevor Brabyn created a website with some excellent scenarios for Conquistadors in Africa and the East, and some creative rule sets for Age of Discovery. Trevor has moved on, but is so generous as to keep his old website online, and it's still worth a look:

http://home.earthlink.net/~cyberkiwi/soldiers/

Robert Silverberg, the science fiction writer, wrote an historical novel Lord of Darkness, whose protagonist is an English buccaneer adrift in the 17th century Portuguese Empire, mostly in West Africa. It's a good read, full of atmosphere and background, and could spark some game scenarios:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1705137.Lord_of_Darkness

That's what I have to share.

[Leigh Metford]

The Spice Islands of the East Indies form an excellent setting for getting extra value out of conquistadors and figures intended for other conflicts. Along with Spanish and Portuguese you can include local native headhunters, Malays, and Muslim traders.

If you have the Old Glory Pirate range cannibals or South American Indians you have the headhunters (OG even makes war canoes), Moros can be used as Malays, and a variety of Indian and Arab types, from Crusades (e.g. archers), Indian Mutiny, and Darkest Africa ranges can be used to represent the traders and their mercenary troops.

[GamesPoet]

This era has always fascinated me since I was a youngster, and it is the first thread I've seen anywhere regarding it.  Not that they don't exist elsewhere, of course.

Anyway, fascinating stuff here!

By the way, I mentioned the Eureka figures, and I've begun picking up packs of them for use with these kinds of historical fights in mind.  Excellent figures, and I look forward to painting and playing with thme.

[traveller]

I'm not sure he's still looking for answers on this seven years after asking the question... 

(He might be, of course... But it seems unlikely... )

Do, please, think carefully about whether you really need to reply to / resurrect a post from seven years ago... We don't have forum rules concerning threadomancy, and occasionally, it is warranted. But usually it's not!

Spot on Captain 

but by all means please continue the discussion

[TheBlackCrane]

Also not having seen this thread before I shall throw in my tuppence worth by way of a book recommendation.

'The Last Crusaders' by Barnaby Rogerson, is brilliant for this period. It's also one of the best histories I've ever read in general. Go buy it.

Seriously, go, buy it now, you won't regret it 

[Metternich]

Glad to see this thread.  Excellent theater for use of the Eureka Portuguese Conquistadors, who go very well with Foundry's.  And Eureka's range includes Mamalucos (African slave soldiers) wearing cast-off bits of Portuguese clothing.

[GamesPoet]

Eureka has both Spanish and Portuguese Conquistadores.  Perhaps some what interchangeable?

[zippyfusenet]

The Eureka Portuguese are more raggedy than most Spanish. Not too much armor, slouch hats instead of helmets, some with bare legs and in sandals. They look like they've been sloshing through swamps for too long, feverish and dysenteric, searching for El Dorado, or at least a cornfield to loot. I like 'em.

[Lowtardog]

The foundry swashbucklers fit in well with the Eureka Portuguese too as the Portuguese are mid to late 16th century where as the conquistadors are early 1520s

[warrenpeace]

So, traveller, since this thread has been resurrected after 7 years, what have you done with your conquistador figures? Did you engage them in Africa?

I'm thinking about painting up mine and using them in Japan, China, India, and the Persian Gulf, as well as Africa.

[carlos marighela]

If you have sufficient figures you can fight the French over France Antarctique. Colourful allies and the world's most beautiful setting.

[traveller]

So, traveller, since this thread has been resurrected after 7 years, what have you done with your conquistador figures? Did you engage them in Africa?

I'm thinking about painting up mine and using them in Japan, China, India, and the Persian Gulf, as well as Africa.

Well....to be honest....the lead pile have grown but they have not yet been deployed. I have all the Foundry and Eureka stuff lined up together with some literature but my plan was to make a setup for Spanish fighting the Barbay corsairs in Algeria. However, projects like the sack of Rome 1527 and Siege of Malta 1565 came in the way together with other projects. We wargamers are so easily led astray...

[GamesPoet]

The foundry swashbucklers fit in well with the Eureka Portuguese too as the Portuguese are mid to late 16th century where as the conquistadors are early 1520s

The Eureka Portuguese are more raggedy than most Spanish. Not too much armor, slouch hats instead of helmets, some with bare legs and in sandals. They look like they've been sloshing through swamps for too long, feverish and dysenteric, searching for El Dorado, or at least a cornfield to loot. I like 'em.

Good to know!  I'll take a closer look, although believe I only have some of the Spanish.