PIRATES AND THE PYRAMID OF PERIL

 This is our annual public participation game and uses our standard skirmish set of rules from our other games.  And do not miss our Lost Baloonatics game.  We'll probably re-run this popular game one year (with improvements).

Game set up

·         Players draw cards to see which party of pirates they will lead.

·         Place each party at its starting point. 

Turn sequence for each party:

·         Draw an adventure card

·         Move

·         Shoot

·         Fight hand to hand

·         Any morale tests

·         Any compulsory moves

·         Umpire controlled events 

Pirate actions

Move, shoot, fight, search, scout, dig, lift, carry, etc

Special Rules:

 

For Pirates

v  Carrying chest - It takes one pirate men to man handle an empty chest, 2 can carry it at -1” penalty, 4 can carry it without penalty.  

v  Wet weapons.  Any loaded firearms that are soaked need to be drawn.  This is done on a d10 roll of 6+.  They can be loaded and fired the next turn.  Grenades and fuses are carried in oilcloth and leather carriers.  They do not usually get wet.

v  Dodging in melee means no fight but +3.  If winner then moves away the difference in inches.  Beaten by 1 or 2 = stand off.  3+ = captured.

 For Umpires

v  If in doubt, roll a few fate dice, consult a few tables, maybe discuss it with a colleague, mutter, smile benignly and make an off the cuff decision.

v  Treasure:  There are 4 treasure chests in the Pyramid/Temple.  However much of the loose stuff has been dispersed and so can be found almost anywhere - hut, under any stone or wherever your warped imagination can put it.  Feel free to dice as often as you like.  Likely places – huts, statues, by a dead tree, bottom of wells, rock pile , top of inaccessible crags etc.  Roll some d6 per location depending on effort, role-play and likelihood.

v  Any water is only waist deep at most until you decide otherwise. 

v  Currency: Doubloons

 The Characters

 

Your character is Hard Harry Chambers. It is FRIDAY 13 AUGUST 1686

 

You are a swashbuckler (Me +1 Str +1 in melee with sword) and a bit of a dandy at heart.  You like to wear the very latest fashions.  You were once a gentleman’s valet.  From this you affect the character of a minor nobleman.  You took to piracy after your vessel was captured off Africa.  Your master was killed in the fighting and you thought that piracy offered more hope of advancement than swimming with sharks.  You are a splendid swordsman and constantly seek to acquire fashionable swords, clothing and accessories.  You may try ambush the others to increase your loot.

 

Your objective is to find ivory, find treasure and then return to the ship.  You will probably take a few slaves as well.  They might be useful for ransom especially the pretty ones, after all! 

 

Pirate leader          Surv 3+; W -4, Cr -5, D -6; Mo 6”, BCC 4”, Sw 2”, Me +2, Shoot +2

Pirate Bosun         Surv 4+; W -3, Cr -4, D -5; Mo 6”, BCC 4”, Sw 2”, Me +1, Shoot +1

Pirate                      Surv 5+; W -2, Cr -3, D -4; Mo 6”, BCC 4”, Sw 2”, Me 0,   Shoot 0

 

Dagger: Me -2, Str -2

Whip: Me -1, Str -4 (trap 5+)

Sword: Me 0, Str 0

Cutlass: Me 0, Str -1

Axe: Me -1, Str 1, Breach 0

2Handed Axe: Me -2, Str 4, Breach 2

Boarding Pike: Me -1, Str 1, IRB +2, breach -1

Halberd: Me -1, Str 3, breach 1

 

Pistol: 3” 6+, 6” 7+, 9” 8+, 12” 9+, Str -1

Musket: 6” 6+, 12” 7+, 18” 8+, 24” 9+, Str 0

Grenade gun: 4” 6+, 8” 7+, 12” 8+, 16” 9+, Bst 3”, Str -4

Blunderbus: 3” d6, 6” d6-1, 9” d6-2, 12” d6-4, Str -3

Volley Gun: 3” d6+1, 6” d6, 9” d6-1, 12” d6-3, Str -2

Hand grenade: 6” 5+, 9” 7+, 12” 9+. Bst 3”, Str -4

 


 

Your Character is Lady Marmalade.  It is FRIDAY 13 AUGUST 1686

 

You are a skilled sword fighter (Me +1 Str +1 in melee with sword).  You are an escaped slave from a sugar plantation in the Caribbean.  The owner and the overseer abused you for two years.  You killed them both, slowly, in your escape.  You are cunning, wily and strong.  You hate the plantation owners and colonists with a passion and men in general.  You are fond of torturing wealthy male prisoners.  You still bear the scars of your beatings and you wear a leather patch set with gems over your left eye.  This is just for effect. 

 

Your objective is to find ivory, find treasure and water and then return to the ship.  You will probably take a few slaves as well.  They are not from your tribe, after all!  Other male pirate parties are fair game.  You may try ambush the others to increase your loot.

 

Pirate leader          Surv 3+; W -4, Cr -5, D -6; Mo 6”, BCC 4”, Sw 2”, Me +2, Shoot +2

Pirate Bosun         Surv 4+; W -3, Cr -4, D -5; Mo 6”, BCC 4”, Sw 2”, Me +1, Shoot +1

Pirate                      Surv 5+; W -2, Cr -3, D -4; Mo 6”, BCC 4”, Sw 2”, Me 0,   Shoot 0

 

Dagger: Me -2, Str -2

Whip: Me -1, Str -4 (trap 5+)

Sword: Me 0, Str 0

Cutlass: Me 0, Str -1

Axe: Me -1, Str 1, Breach 0

2Handed Axe: Me -2, Str 4, Breach 2

Boarding Pike: Me -1, Str 1, IRB +2, breach -1

Halberd: Me -1, Str 3, breach 1

 

Pistol: 3” 6+, 6” 7+, 9” 8+, 12” 9+, Str -1

Musket: 6” 6+, 12” 7+, 18” 8+, 24” 9+, Str 0

Grenade gun: 4” 6+, 8” 7+, 12” 8+, 16” 9+, Bst 3”, Str -4

Blunderbus: 3” d6, 6” d6-1, 9” d6-2, 12” d6-4, Str -3

Volley Gun: 3” d6+1, 6” d6, 9” d6-1, 12” d6-3, Str -2

Hand grenade: 6” 5+, 9” 7+, 12” 9+. Bst 3”, Str -4

 


 

Your character is Lucky Louis Lebrun. It is FRIDAY 13 AUGUST 1686

 

You a Lucky Devil and so you get a free re-roll of one die roll per turn.  A roll of 1 you tempted fate and lose this for the rest of the game.

 

You are a French landowner turned pirate after your brother’s gambling debts were called in.  You are trying to amass enough of a fortune to recover the family name and lands.  You are an excellent shot.  You hate the Dutch with a passion.

 

Your objective is to find ivory, find treasure and then return to the ship.  You will probably take a few slaves as well.  They would help run the family farm, after all!

 

Pirate leader          Surv 3+; W -4, Cr -5, D -6; Mo 6”, BCC 4”, Sw 2”, Me +2, Shoot +2

Pirate Bosun         Surv 4+; W -3, Cr -4, D -5; Mo 6”, BCC 4”, Sw 2”, Me +1, Shoot +1

Pirate                      Surv 5+; W -2, Cr -3, D -4; Mo 6”, BCC 4”, Sw 2”, Me 0,   Shoot 0

 

Dagger: Me -2, Str -2

Whip: Me -1, Str -4 (trap 5+)

Sword: Me 0, Str 0

Cutlass: Me 0, Str -1

Axe: Me -1, Str 1, Breach 0

2Handed Axe: Me -2, Str 4, Breach 2

Boarding Pike: Me -1, Str 1, IRB +2, breach -1

Halberd: Me -1, Str 3, breach 1

 

Pistol: 3” 6+, 6” 7+, 9” 8+, 12” 9+, Str -1

Musket: 6” 6+, 12” 7+, 18” 8+, 24” 9+, Str 0

Grenade gun: 4” 6+, 8” 7+, 12” 8+, 16” 9+, Bst 3”, Str -4

Blunderbus: 3” d6, 6” d6-1, 9” d6-2, 12” d6-4, Str -3

Volley Gun: 3” d6+1, 6” d6, 9” d6-1, 12” d6-3, Str -2

Hand grenade: 6” 5+, 9” 7+, 12” 9+. Bst 3”, Str -4

 


 

Your character is Quartermaster McKenzie. It is FRIDAY 13 AUGUST 1686

 

You are immensely strong though others seem quicker on the uptake.  You are the strongest and bravest pirate and so you count as 2 men for lifting and get +1 strike in melee to add to any weapon bonus.  You are fond of strong drink, strong language and strong wenches, you live for battle and excitement.  You are always to be found in the thick of things, roaring and hacking your way through the enemy. 

 

Your objective is to run find ivory, find treasure and then return to the ship.  You will probably take a few slaves as well.  Your second in command tells you that they are worth a fortune, after all!

 

Pirate leader          Surv 3+; W -4, Cr -5, D -6; Mo 6”, BCC 4”, Sw 2”, Me +2, Shoot +2

Pirate Bosun         Surv 4+; W -3, Cr -4, D -5; Mo 6”, BCC 4”, Sw 2”, Me +1, Shoot +1

Pirate                      Surv 5+; W -2, Cr -3, D -4; Mo 6”, BCC 4”, Sw 2”, Me 0,   Shoot 0

 

Dagger: Me -2, Str -2

Whip: Me -1, Str -4 (trap 5+)

Sword: Me 0, Str 0

Cutlass: Me 0, Str -1

Axe: Me -1, Str 1, Breach 0

2Handed Axe: Me -2, Str 4, Breach 2

Boarding Pike: Me -1, Str 1, IRB +2, breach -1

Halberd: Me -1, Str 3, breach 1

 

Pistol: 3” 6+, 6” 7+, 9” 8+, 12” 9+, Str -1

Musket: 6” 6+, 12” 7+, 18” 8+, 24” 9+, Str 0

Grenade gun: 4” 6+, 8” 7+, 12” 8+, 16” 9+, Bst 3”, Str -4

Blunderbus: 3” d6, 6” d6-1, 9” d6-2, 12” d6-4, Str -3

Volley Gun: 3” d6+1, 6” d6, 9” d6-1, 12” d6-3, Str -2

Hand grenade: 6” 5+, 9” 7+, 12” 9+. Bst 3”, Str -4

 


 

THE PYGMIES

Pygmy Chief W -3, Cr -4, D -5; Mo 8”, BCC 6”, Sw 3”, Me +1, Shoot +1

Pygmy  W -2, Cr -3, D -4; Mo 8”, BCC 5”, Sw 2”, Me 0, Shoot 0

Mounted Pygmy Chief -3, Cr -4, D -5; Mo 8”/16”, BCC 6”/12”, Sw 3”/4”, Mtd +2, Me +1, Shoot +1

Giant Boar: Me 0, tusks -2, charge +2

 

Spear: Me -1, Str 0, IRB +2

Club: Me 0, Str -1, Stun 5+

 

Bow:   5” 6+, 10” 7+, 15” 8+, 20” 9+, Str -4

Blowpipe: 3” 6+, 6” 7+, 9” 8+, 12” 9+, Str -5

Thrown Spear:  3” 6+, 12” 7+,  Str -3

Catapult: 12” 6+, 24” 7+, 36” 8+, 48” 9+, Bst 3”, AD-1 hits, Str -2

 

Shooting Factors

 

Rested long weapon

1

target moving over 5"

-1

First shot (muzzle loader)

1

Firing left handed

-1

large target

1

Soft cover

-1

Hard cover

-2

Bullet Proof cover

-3

 

Hand to hand Factors

 

Charging

1

higher up

1

2 to 1

2

3 to 1

4

4 to 1

6

Veteran

1

behind obstacle

1

Fatigued

-1

exhausted

-2

Wounded

-1

Crippled

-3

Officer

1

Swashbuckler

2

Raw

-2

Untrained

-1

Hero

3

Captain

2

 EXTRA CHARACTERS

v Morvalla, known as “White Ghost” by natives, is the protector of the area.  She speaks Mogambu, English, Dutch and Arabic.  She is very athletic and strong and looks it.  She has an excessive sense of honour and duty.

Morvalla: W -3, Cr -4, D -5; Mo 9”, BCC 8”, Sw 6”, Me +4, Shoot +3

Bow: 6” 6+, 12” 7+, 18” 8+, 24” 9+, Str -1

Spear:  Me 0, Str +1, First round +2

Knife: Me -2, Str 0

 

v  Ben Gunn speaks English (Mummerset), M’Gambu and some Portuguese.  He will guide pirates to some treasure.  He might not remember exactly where it is.  Remember his idea of a feast is Cheddar Cheese.  

Ben Gunn:  W -2, Cr -3, D -4; Mo 6”, BCC 4”, Sw 2”, Me 0, Shoot 0

Musket: 6” 6+, 12” 7+, 18” 8+, 24” 9+, Str 0

Cutlass: Me 0, Str -1

On to the Gallery!

Back to the games page

Back to top

Back to Home page