Mordheim Pirates

 Avast! A motley crew of pirates for Mordheim. Pics, WIPs and lore below the jump...

Pirates were one of the warband rosters released in Mordheim's official fanzine Town Cryer. I'd gotten into Mordheim when it first launched, and had the copy of Town Cryer with the Pirate rules in it. The ever useful Broheim website has a PDF of their rules available for reference, credited to a Cap’n Tim Huckelbery. In my opinion, two things really distinguish the Pirates from the standard Mercenary list: their very complicated rule for poaching characters from other warbands (I don't see why normal warbands wouldn't be able to do this?), and more importantly their ability to take a Swivel Gun (an artillery piece). The rules also have an admirable approach to portraying the character of the band - in addition to piratey special skills and equipment, normal swords are named "cutlasses" instead, for example. It's really a fun roster.

First in my pirate crew is the Captain, Noreen. She's built from one of the Corvus Cabal, who has an excellent pose, with baggy trousers, bare feet, and piratey hooks sewn to her clothing. The perfect base model for a pirate adventurer. I increased the steepness of the pose even more by tilting the masonry that she's stood on.

First step was to give her a piratey hat, from an Empire model. Then replacing her feathered/fur mantle with a ragged cloak from a Nighthaunt model. I'm tending towards ragged clothes and corroded weapons for every Mordheim model - they're a lowly bunch.

Noreen's right arm is replaced with a cutlass arm from the new Barrow Guard, with the skeletal hand fleshed out with greenstuff. This also fit her pose perfectly! So many elements happened to come together so perfectly, this model almost built itself. When painting, I went with classic striped trousers for the whole gang. I painted the feathers in Noreen's cloak to look like exotic plumage. At first I worried this was too colourful for Mordheim, but seeing her in situ I think it looks great.

Next is Bernard, another straightforward archetypal piratey character, who also uses part of a Corvus Cabal model. His torso is mostly sculpted from greenstuff around a bare-chested Flagellant upper body. His head is from one of the new Marauder/Darkoath kits, which are a great source of characterful faces. Like Noreen he has a Deathrattle cutlass.

I cut out a skull and crossbones purity seal from one of the Space Marine stealth kits (might have been Eliminators), to replace the Corvus icon on his belt buckle. Finally, some significant parts from the Mega Gargant kit - an oar and a big cask of something slung over his shoulder. And a little treasure chest from a Bretonnian kit.

Bernard is such a solid looking character, and takes after the Captain in his clothing. I reckon he's the ship's first mate. I'd count his oar as a double-handed weapon, or possibly a boat hook from the Pirates equipment list.

 

Malcolm is based on the skinny little zombie from the Exiled Dead kit. I've used this kit for several conversions, and it's notable for being scaled a little differently - the zombies buck the general Warhammer trend by being dainty and well proportioned (smaller heads and hands for example).

I balanced Malcolm's small stature with an Empire handgun, which looks massive in his hands. I also sculpted some boots, since I'd previously poached this model's feet for another conversion. His head is a Cawdor one with spectacles and a terrible haircut. In a pirate movie, I reckon this guy would be played by Mackenzie Crook.

FInally, the model I simply had to build, the iconic Swivel Gun. The gunner "Soot" is based on another zombie sculpt, with a gloomy-looking Empire head with a Bretonnian hat (his original hat is the one Noreen is wearing - talk about pirating).

His gloved hands and gun are straight from the Freeguild Fusiliers set, which is a great source for Medieval style handgonnes. The stand is a bit I had left from the Hurricanum set, with a prop from the Fusiliers. I considered sourcing the tripod from the Wildercorps arbalesters for a lighter setup, but decided to run with the bit that I already had.

After building him, I think he could use an ammo bag or barrel or something extra on his base. For now, let's say he's keeping all the bits and bobs in his pockets.

Here's the whole crew at a WIP stage. You can see the differently coloured plastic from some Warhammer Underworlds bits - a good source of sculpted bases.

 Much more Mordheim on the way! Check out my Instagram for a couple of things on my desk.