Pirates!

[Spedius]

Ahoy, mateys,

"Come, let us make a hell of our own and try how long we can bear it." Blackbeard aka Edward Teach of Bristol (c1680-1718)

Has anyone seen, heard of or played the computer game from Eidos called "Cutthroats"? It came out in 1999, or so I believe?

This is from the back of the box.

"Flint, Shot and Two Smoking Cannons...Wealth is the name of the game and if you haven't got it...steal it.
Raid, pillage and plunder your way to infamy on the bounty-laden seas of the 17th century Caribbean. Strike terror into the hearts of your victims, capture ships and ravage towns.
Work your way up from a small trading vessel to a galleon bristling with cannons, but remember to keep your crew plied with rum and treasure or face a mutiny.
Will you survive to retire a Pirate King or end your days by dancing death's jig on Gallow's Rock?"

These are some of the game's features.

"Sophisticated real-time strategy requiring all the cunning and aggression you can muster."
"Experience the freedom of over 6 million square miles of the Caribbean."
"Explore and loot over 70 different ports."
"A thousand different ships sailing around a million miles of coast."
"Over 300 settlement Governors with different personalities and political motives."
"Realistic sea and land battles featuring complex amphibious assaults and fortress bombardment."

"You was a flyer, Morgan
You was the lad to crowd
When you was in your flagship
But now you're in your shroud
Anon"

Avast you lubbers.
I be, Jim lad.

[Spedius]

Ahoy, shipmates!

Do any of you recall a board-game from Waddington's called "Buccaneer" :?:

I believe the game first came out during the 1930s, my edition was bought in 1976 for GBP 6.99.

Some historical data can be found here ttp://vzone.virgin.net/vintage.games/shop/buccaneer.htm

This is from the box lid of my copy.

"Yo Ho Ho and a Barrel of Rum! Sail the High Seas in Search of Treasure with the Strongest Crew you can Muster. But beware! Other Buccaneers are spoiling for a fight - ready to seize your loot. This Swashbuckling Game of Piracy calls for Daring, Cunning and Ruthless Determination."

The game consists of the following pieces:-

1 Set of Rules (I have an additional copy of the 1958 set)
4 Piece 'jig-saw' board
4 Pirate Ships (each with a separate mast and sail)
4 'Treasure Chests'
5 'Gold bars'
5 'Rubies'
5 'Barrels of rum'
5 'Pearls'
5 'Diamonds'
1 Pack of 28 Chance cards
1 Pack of Crew cards (50% black, 50% red)

The game's objectives.

"To Sail Forth in Search of Treasure. Each Treasure carries a certain Number of Points, and the Winner of the Game is the first Player to Collect Treasure to a Total Value of 20 Points or More. But there is much more to it then simply sailing between Home Ports and Treasure Island. It is often safer to Capture Treasure from Rival Ships or to Sail into Rival or Unoccupied Ports and Trade Treasure or Crew Cards there. It is Essential to Maintain a Good,Strong Crew,and plan moves like a true Buccaneer."

This next piece is from the back of the box:-

"Avast ye landlubbers! Amass a hoard of treasure by fair means or foul - trading and chance are the fair means, attacking and raiding are the foul.
Set sail for Treasure Island with the best crew you can muster. You'll need cunning and ruthless determination! Perils abound! Your galleon is blown to Mud Bay - marauding pirates attack - Yellow Fever strikes.
But all is not lost. Long John Silver joins your crew and desparate measures are avoided. Gold, rubies, pearls, diamonds, and barrels of rum are the rewards. Sail home rich in plunder!
The swashbuckling game of piracy on the high seas is for 2-4 'Buccaneers' of 8 years and upwards."

I be setting my sail for "Treasure Island".

Jim lad

[Graham Sumner]

Spedius wrote:

Do any of you recall a board-game from Waddington's called "Buccaneer"

Indeed I do, I loved that game and I thoroughly enjoyed Cut Throat Island too, thought I was the only one! It certainly did not earn the title of the biggest flop of all time, it just came out a few years too early. Unfortunately if it had come out later it would have course been seen as a copy of POTC, so really it could not win.

Graham.

P.S At a recent Toy Fair in Chester I saw another board game I played as a kid called 'Battle of the Little Big Horn'. I never knew anyone else who had it, so would be interested to know if anyone on this forum ever heard of it.

[Spedius]

Ahoy Graham me lad,

Thank'e kindly for your words.

This next is something me shipmates and I might 'ave sung.

"Yo Ho Ho (and a Bottle of Rum)
Lyrics and Music by Allison and Waller
based on Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson

Fifteen men on a dead man's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.

Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.

The mate was fixed by the bosun's pike
The bosun brained with a marlinspike
And cookey's throat was marked belike
It had been gripped by fingers ten;
And there they lay, all good dead men
Like break o'day in a boozing ken
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.

Fifteen men of the whole ship's list
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

Dead and be damned and the rest gone whist!
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

The skipper lay with his nob in gore
Where the scullion's axe his cheek had shore
And the scullion he was stabbed times four
And there they lay, and the soggy skies
Dripped down in up-staring eyes
In murk sunset and foul sunrise
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.

Fifteen men of 'em stiff and stark
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

Ten of the crew had the murder mark!
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

'Twas a cutlass swipe or an ounce of lead
Or a yawing hole in a battered head
And the scuppers' glut with a rotting red
And there they lay, aye, damn my eyes
Looking up at paradise
All souls bound just contrawise
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.

Fifteen men of 'em good and true
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

Ev'ry man jack could ha' sailed with Old Pew,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

There was chest on chest of Spanish gold
With a ton of plate in the middle hold
And the cabins riot of stuff untold,
And they lay there that took the plum
With sightless glare and their lips struck dumb
While we shared all by the rule of thumb,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

More was seen through a sternlight screen...
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.

Chartings undoubt where a woman had been
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.

'Twas a flimsy shift on a bunker cot
With a dirk slit sheer through the bosom spot
And the lace stiff dry in a purplish blot
Oh was she wench or some shudderin' maid
That dared the knife and took the blade
By God! she had stuff for a plucky jade
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.

Fifteen men on a dead man's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.

Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.

We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-you-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to hell,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!"

I ran this blighter down 'ere http://www.privateerdragons.org/caseys_shiphold1a.html

I be off, to seek more plunder.

Jim lad.

[Graham Sumner]

Andy Booker wrote:

I saw an interesting film lately that was the original "Arrgggh" pirate film.
"Blackbeard the Pirate"(1952)

'Captain Blood' (1935) starring Errol Flynn beats that by a good few years and even that was a remake! Tyrone Power also swashed is buckle in 'The Black Swan (1942) and who can forget Burt (all flashing teeth) in 'The Crimson Pirate'(1952)! Geena Davis was also not the first lady Pirate either. Jean Peters starred in 'Anne of the Indies' back in(1951) while Binnie Barnes appeared as a female Privateer in 'The Black Swan'.

My favorite all-time pirate movie is "Yellowbeard".

An almost forgotton classic why even the Royal Marines looked pretty darned accurate for that period!


Graham.