A pirates life for me! Nickstar by Northstar!

Now who here does not like pirates? Well get off me ship then! *SPLASH*

A nice line of miniatures, too bad the conversion rate sucks ass as 130 pounds rolls over $230ish in US bucks. For some this is nothing, but to me it is a budget blown and with my birthday this month I have to shop carefully. I love the bonus figs and most of the pirate gangs. Yea, maybe a bit too campy and more like Pirates of the Caribbean at Disney (excluding the nude Anne figure)......I am waiting to see what the Nickstarter offers in other alternate choices. I do plan to buy the book and perhaps one or two of the pirate packs. I can't afford all of them and to be honest I have a good range of pirates already. 

Check out the line!

http://www.northstarfigures.com/list.php?man=173&page=1

I do love the fact Osprey is doing this book, with good things going about for IHMN and Ronin this has got me fired up to finally see a quality set of pirate rules roll out! 

Oh Osprey how I love thee!

Like a cannon shot this came to my attention!

Osprey Publishing: On the Seven Seas, Piracy Rules

Northstar Miniatures: On the Seven Seas is a set of wargaming rules covering the high adventure and low morals of the world of the pirate. Due for Release Summer 2014.

The rules cover licensed privateers such as da Gama and Drake, ruthless pirates of the Spanish Main, Blackbeard, the Barbary corsairs, the wako of the Far East, not to mention the anti-pirate squadrons, Spanish garrisons and native warriors from around the world that found themselves at odds with generations of sea-borne reavers. The focus of the game is on boarding actions and the exploits of pirate crews on land, and the rules offer a quick-to-learn, basic game based around individual characters and small units of rank-and-file. Most games will run to some 30 figures a side, although larger games are possible, and tribal forces especially will consist of more models. 

Gameplay centers around two driving motivations that epitomize the pirate life - Fear and Greed. Cunning captains will have to balance these two elements, instilling fear in their opponents with bloodthirsty reputations, while keeping their own crews in line with the promise of loot and wealth. Captains and crew are not just distinguished by these two ratings, however - skills, characteristics and disadvantages can dramatically alter a character's abilities, and allow for the development of characters over time. The rules also contain maneuver and gunnery rules for ship-on-ship combat. This is not a game of mass naval actions, but of small, personal duels between determined captains. Caravels, sloops, schooners, native canoes, junks and square-rigged ships up to frigate size can be deployed in the pursuit of a prize... or a pirate vessel. 

Varied scenarios and a detailed campaign system allow players to develop the stories of their crews, with scenarios determined either randomly, by player choice, or by the progression along a sample campaign path. Elements of a more fantastical nature, such as ghost ships, sea creatures and the strange powers of native mystics, may also be included to present pirate crews with very different challenges. The crews themselves may be drawn from a number of different options, each with their own advantages and disadvantages, and a points system is provided to produce balanced forces. Crew options include: Conquistadors, Spanish and Portuguese garrisons and treasure escorts, Naval pirate hunters, natives from the Americas, Africa, Indonesia and the South Seas, and pirates from around the world - Europe, North and West Africa, China, Japan and Indonesia.

>>>End

I have been wanting to see a good set of pirate rules I really like. GW Historical had a good simple rule book for Legends of the High Seas, but alas they got rid of the game and no longer support it. I do own the book and loved the materials within. I've looked at various other systems but nothing has sparked my interest until now....this excitement is based simply on the success of In Her Majesty's Name and Ronin that this tells me that if they drop low cost, decent quality rules I will be a happy camper! I can't wait! Time to paint up my booty of pirates and get ready!

100th POST! Contest Teaser, Pirates and Super Heroes!

Well, this is 100 with I hope many more to follow!

I have my Old West 100th Celebration Contest in the wings, just waiting on one last prize to ship and depending on the situation, I may go ahead and if I get this last prize it will be a bonus drawing. I always try to give those that are donating time to follow up on things, I understand life gets in the way this can include another job, their hobby job, family or other obligations....

So, instead I will toss out a few things that has been passing along on the table so you can see I have not been slacking!

First off a teaser of a few new figures I picked up from Crossover.

I did a head swap on the Super Soldier with a head from the Sidekick figure making something of an ode to the Comedian from the Watchmen with the domino mask and pistols with full body armor.

The second was a quick and easy one using the "bug eyed" mask to make the fellow look like a Hyrdra goon. I have to get a few more but I wanted to see how these looked in the flesh and wow are they great!

For the shooter I went with one of the heads that came with the figure giving a Deadshot look. I just finished the third episode of the Arrow and with Deadshot making a cameo ust sold me on making another tribute bad guy. What can I say? I have been a huge fan since Suicide Squad.

The Kid got a simple full mask, making him very generic but gives me some options as well when I paint him as well as pair him up to a partner.

Shiver me timbers! Pirates! Well,  I did some trading getting rid of some Warhammer goodness and managed to pick up a great deal of pirates to round out my pirate collection..plus I got about 11-12 cannons as well to help deck out my ships with tons of guns!

First off an Old Glor 4 gun ship!

The new pirates...I got two duplicates but I think I may end up doing some hand swaps to add some variety to them. If anything, I can paint them different.

Chinese Pirates that should blend well with my Old West Tong (and the other way around as well) leaving me now wanting a Chinese ship now!



My ship(s) have come in!

Well, I FINALLY got my package with  my pirate toys I won from Ebay. The seller shipped them on the 31st and just got them today! I swear I got things from England faster! Damm USPS, not sure what the deal is out in Cali, slackers....damm thing sat there in the tracking for days! It finally showed after I emailed the USPS with an inquiry. Here our Post Office is great in the south, not sure what those idiots on the west coast are doing.

Well on with the show! This stuff is some type of Pirates vs Undead set with two ships, some figures and assorted other goodness. Some of it had some damage and missing parts. Most of which is ok and fixable.

This was a Quay area for ships to dock, for the most part this is a workable bit of scenery that can be used for something.

Another shot to show scale.

The flag, a little paint and such this could be a cool thing.

Rigging, missing one brown. Thinking I may can cast the black or just ignore it and redo the masts which is be likely.

The cannons, shame there was only 3 but they are pretty good to scale. I thought I may could try to cast them.

Masts and flags...not impressive so they may go the the junk pile. One is broken also.

Crow's  nest, if you don't put the flag in the peg hole a model fits in there nicely. I am thinking I will cut the peg hole out.

Sails, they are ok, I may gow ith cloth.

Rowboats...WAY too small!

Stuff, the crates, bags and barrels could be used the chests are a bit large.

The tree is TALL as hell, the toppers are nice and could be used to make several smaller trees.

My Foundry pirate against the toy ones...gah!

Watch tower, a bit tall, may use it in Warhammer Fantasy or 40k.

Scale isn't bad in the tower.

The tower....

Side with the anchor, a bit big...

Shot of the deck, the stairs are to scale, a spot for a door to the below decks. The wheel is a decent size are are the sides, maybe a tad too low.

A problem area I will have to deal with. There is some smooth spots on both ships and some stuff like windows and such that was not done well.

The back, which is done nice. The pegs was to have a rowboat for. I plan to dremmel these off and putty with some decorations.

Both ships side by side.

Model by the gun.

Model aft.

The red ship. Measures about 10.5 inches from the front to the back rail (measured where models fit). Total length is like 13.5 out to the end of the prow.

Overall, I am pleased with what I got. There is some stuff missing like the cannon and a set of ropes and some damage in two spots....the ships have great potential to be made into some nice ships.