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Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Smugglers' Docks 4: A Marine Squad and a Pirate Gang for Black Scorpion's Cutlass Rules

Cutlass is the second set of rules I plan to try in the Smugglers' Docks scenario.

For it I intend to assemble a Pirates Gang and Royal Marines squad (off the Royal Navy list, but doing all officers and marines, no sailors). At least initially, the Marines will be represented by an old squad of Foundry Prussian Frei Korps.

Building a campaign starter force for one player in Cutlass is very similar to doing so for Empire of the Dead. You'll have a list of leaders and troops to buy and equipment to arm them with. The budget is $500 but they explain the "dollar" unit is a convenience and can be what you want it to be, pieces of eight or whatever.
The prices for people are all higher than in Empire of the Dead, but the equipment is similar so the force size will work out a bit bigger.

The Marines being more uniform, let's consider them first.
Captain $86 Level 7
Officer - $58 Level 5
5 Marines @$44 Level 3 $220
1 Able Seaman $36 Level 1
Will detail the stats and skills later.

$400 for personnel leaves $100 for gear.

Brace of 2 Duelling Pistols and a Longsword for the Captain $16 + $5 = $21
Brace of 2 Ship's Pistols and a Longsword for the Officer $12 + $5 = $17
Musket, Bayonet $7 + 5 = $12  x 5 = $60
Cudgel for Able Seaman - free

$98, banking $2


Pirates
Pirate Captain  $86 Level 7
Officer - $58 Level 5
3 Pirates @$44 Level 3 $132
3 Rogues @$36 Level 1 $108

$384 for the crew, leaves $116 for gear.

Brace of 2 Duelling Pistols, a Cutlass, and a Dagger for the Captain $16 + $4 + $4 = $24
Brace of 2 Duelling Pistols, a Cutlass, and a Dagger for the Officer  $16 + $4 + $4 = $24
Musket, Cutlass $7 + 4 = $11
Brace of Ship's Pistols and Cutlass $12 + 4 = $16
Ship's Pistol and Cutlass $6 + $4 = 10
Cutlass + Dagger  $8
Axe +  Dagger $8
Two Cutlasses $8
----
That's $109 so  $7 left, buy the Captain an Amulet for $5 and bank $2


All the lists in Cutlass have the same level/costing distribution, differing in details of the stats, skills, and special rules for each faction, but they have a formula to buy figures by each statistic and skill, so you could be more freeform.

There are a lot fewer equipment options in Cutlass than in Empire of the Dead, and the list tends to provide slightly larger groups, though you could stock up on up to four level 5s, the 7 leader, and fewer 1s and 3s to end with six or seven guys. In either game, paint twenty figures and you can play two sides with a few options.

Now its time to start taking some pictures...





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