what pirate rules do you recommend?

[racm32]

So i have 2 ships and a British naval crew and a pirate crew all on the painting table. What rules set do you all recommend for land and sea pirate skirmish battles?

[Eric the Shed]

I use Muskets & Tomahawks for Land based actions...

[gamer Mac]

Legend of the high seas is fun with a good campaign system. Not really tried the ship to ship rules but the other rules are great

[Jiron]

Freebooter's Fate!

[Hu Rhu]

My own - Dead Man's Chest.

[Carpathian]

Ganesha games Flashing Steel, for 1:1 swordplay.    Would work well once the ships are grappled.

For a simplified ship maneuver system, like the old FGU roleplaying game Flashing Blades and High Seas module.   (Really old school as in early 80s, but still available in PDF)

[racm32]

Has anyone tried "On the seven seas"? Thoughts on it and how it might compare to your suggestions.
I love M&T rules for FIW & AWI but how would ship action work?
I like tge idea of 1:1 action and some character development

[fastolfrus]

My own - Dead Man's Chest.

If you recommrnd them, can I have a copy?

[racm32]

Likewise

[Hu Rhu]

@racm & @fastolfrus

No problem.  Drop me a PM with an email address and I will send you a PDF copy.

[shandy]

I can highly recommend the already mentioned Flashing Steel by Ganesha Games. It gives fast 1:1 games, has a clever activation system and allows to create unique characters. We've been playing tons of pirate games with these rules and always had great fun!
I'd love to hear more about your project, I always wanted to have ships but I don't have the space…

[racm32]

I'll look into flashing steel as well.
here are the 2 ships I am working on:

[shandy]

They are lovely! 

[Carpathian]

Great work.   Scratch built or kits?

One could also take a look at Song of Drums and Shakos, also More Drums and Shakos.   They cover the Napoleonic period; not about age of sail per se, but still the age of Nelson.  MDS has some rules for cannon which could be adapted. 

All of the Ganesha "Songs" books use the same basic mechanic.  As was noted, turns are based on activations, and action costs.   

It would be interesting to come up with an activation system for sailing a ship.   Changing speed, navigating , dropping anchor, loading, reloading and firing, and so on, so the player would have to think about how to put his crew to use.

[racm32]

Models are from old glory. 
Hoping to get a good rules set that dont require much tweaking.
Planning to use tge ship in musket & tomahawks as a stationary gun platform with guns activating on artillery cards. Landing party will start in boats next to ship.