Orcs in the Webbe

"The officers on the deck of the Frigate Neptunne saw the Elf Cuirassiers at the same time that the Frigate’s 1st Lieutenant saw them, the difference was that the Lieutenant was on the beach only a few hundred yards from the shining swords and the Neptunne lay further out in the bay. Rallying the tired Orcs of his landing party the Lieutenant roared:

‘Draw your cutlasses and charge your pistols, hold fast!’

By this point the Cuirassiers had increased their speed to a gallop and were beginning to lean forward with their heavy straight swords. The Able Sea Orcs would be cut down in seconds once the armoured Elves reached them, there was nowhere to hide on the sandy beach and the few shots that their pistols and muskets could deliver would not stop the cavalry.

The Lieutenant drew his hanger and glanced quickly at the distant Neptunne before choosing his footing and preparing to meet the charge, his Orcs in their shorts and tunics around him weapons levelled at the enemy.

They should never have made landfall, not here, not in daylight, but the water casks were empty and the sands deserted, even the Neptunne could not save them now.

Out in the bay the Captain of the Neptunne snapped his looking glass shut with a bang and spoke calmly to his first officer.

‘Curse those Ferach scoundrels, well they ‘shant have a cut at my crew this day.’ He ordered that the ‘long nines’ be run out on the port side of the ship and then corrected himself, the gap between the two groups was such that it did not allow for a full broadside, he might hit his own crew on the shore.

‘Run out only number four, if you please, lively now; there is time for one ball only!’ On the gun deck the blocks and tackles screamed as the other gun crews pulled their cannon back inboard. Number four cannon and her gunners cursed and spat as the order was relayed in the semi darkness that they only were to fire. The lives of fifteen of their mates and officers depended on their skill, now in this moment. The long nine was run out, charged, and a single iron shot rammed down its muzzle. Now the gun sat on its low carriage and the master gunner sighted along its menacing length. Longer than the best possible rifle shot, the distance was slight for a cannon of this size but the targets were fast and a miss would be disaster.

‘Now lads lets give em pointy ears somefink to cuddles on dur lovely Orses. FIRE!!’

With a roar the cannon bucked and reared backwards, the smoke billowing out over the water. The gun crew peered out the hatch but the ball was gone and the smoke would clear slowly, the fight would be over one way or another by the time that they would see the effects of their shot. The sun crashed and split from the breastplates and blades of the Cuirassiers, the sand thrown in gouts behind thundering hoofs and a scream on Elf lips as the charge neared the group of Orcs. A thin volley puffed from the pistols of the sailors and went unnoticed as the horses, lathered and wide-eyed came on. Swords reached forward, the Orcs winced and prepared to be cut down, then...

With a ripping explosion of air the iron cannonball struck at the midst of the mounted Elves, they never even heard its lethal approach over the blue water. At an angle the ball obliterated the rear half of the second from front horse and then blasted the rider of the first to bloody chunks. Pieces of Elf and horse cartwheeled into the air in every direction, thumping into the riders and the legs of their mounts behind the mess of the leading Cuirassiers.

The charge floundered and folded in on itself many of the horses crippled in falling and many impaled on their own swords. Only those last in line survived and they spurred from the carnage running from the death and could kill so massively.

The Captain looked at the startled landing party and then turned to the deck saying, ‘Give number four crew an issue of Juniyper and a shilling each from the purser, then bring in those casks and those Orcs from that forsaken beach and let’s be underway.’ ‘The war ‘shant win itself.’ The deck rumbled to the Huzzahs of the crew."

Trafalgore Statistics

Flintloque

These statistics and rules are designed for use with Flintloque Reloaded. The Race Types of Orc Youth and Orc Boy are optional at the discretion of the players.

The weapons on the next table are those used by the miniatures in TRA001-4. A belaying pin counts as a sword for Melee modifiers and gun crew equipment counts as small or large improvised weapons.

The weapons used by the sailors and marines of the Royul Navye are very rare outside of the issues made to ship crews. As a result the ‘Race’ cost of the weapon covers not only the racial type of the character, such as an Orc, but also the fact that the character must be a member of the Royul Navye. If they are not then they pay the ‘Non’ cost of the fyrelocke regardless.

Black Powder Weapons Cost

Orc Bessie Musket

While the Bessie is the darling of the Army of Albion it is also the standard musket for Shyppes of the Lyne crews and marines. This is a function that it is well able to carry out, the short range deck to deck actions and beach scuffles that many Albion landing parties find themselves in suit ‘Bessie’. The musket is not as accurate as its Ferach counterparts but then its stopping power is much better. Its 0.76-inch bore lead shotte comes 14 balls to the pound.

Orc Boarding Pistol

Deeming the normal pistol open to the Army and the Navy as too light for the murderous boarding actions the Admirorcy had this Flintloque commissioned. Issued to officers and to the landing parties of more wealthy captains this pistol is a handy ally and will often scare off smaller foes. Its 0.58 inch bore lead shotte comes 25 balls to the pound.

Ogre ‘Shyppe Pistol'

It is a truly awe inspiring sight to see an enemy boarding party make the leap from their pitching, spray soaked deck to the deck of a Royul Navye Shyppe to be met by an Able Sea Ogre with this pistol. Often likened to the Finklestein Kannonderbuss this massive handgun is capable of firing a Roundshotte or Shreddle canister. The enemy boarding party will be blasted to fragments by a swivel gun load of Shreddle or their leader will disappear in a red mist when struck by a single massive piece of lead.

The ‘Shyppe’ Pistol takes two turns to load, four if prone and the player must declare which type of ammunition he is loading when reloading starts. Roundshotte will hit only the target it is aimed at and if firing Shreddle then roll separately for each miniature within 2cm of either side of the declared targets base for additional hits. Only an Ogre, Trolka or Moskova Grenadier may use this gun. Bog Orcs may attempt to fire this weapon but they will suffer a –20% modifier to fire and 1 D6 minus DF of Wounds per shot taken.

The ‘Shyppe’ Pistol has a four inch bore and can fire either a single 4 pounder cannonball or a Shreddle canister containing roughly 30 pistol balls.

Royul Navye ‘’Long Nine’ Cannon
The normal and dependable medium cannon in the ships of Albion used extensively at sea and on its naval gun carriage on land by landing parties and Orc Marines. Capable of firing solid shot or Shreddle (Grapeshotte) or Barrshotte.

Barrshotte is a naval ammunition and can act on land as a halfway load between iron ball and canister, capable of destroying fortifications and cutting down many targets. As a result it suffers from being a halfway house in terms of range and power. It can use the building effect rules for Roundshotte but it also affects all targets within 1cm either side of designated target as Grapeshotte does. As well as targeting buildings it can be fired as normal Grapeshotte under the Flintloque Reloaded rules. Only Naval cannons and crews may have Barrshotte as an ammunition type.

'Long Nine' Medium Cannon

Grenade Launching Carbine

An unusual design, originally dreamt up by Orc Gunsmiths for use in naval combat but now used by a number of races, the weapon is a standard carbine, but with a shorter barrel which is fitted with a muzzle ring to support a grenade cap. The carbine is fitted with quadrant sights on the reverse and fired by placing the butt on the ground before discharging the piece. The 2lb grenade is then lobbed over obstacles such as high walls or out of trenches with ease. It takes just one Turn to reload, but cannot be fired as a normal carbine. If the target is missed, then you should find out where the grenade actually comes down by using the unsuccessful grenade throw rules. If a misfire occurs, treat any misfire as though the grenade has exploded at the character's feet.

Volley Gun

Although not technically a blunderbuss, this powerful Orc weapon has a similar (albeit more powerful) effect on its target. Designed initially for use in the Navy for punching holes in the decks of enemy ships, the design was somewhat flawed in that the recoil tended to throw the firer out of the crows nest or smash collar bones and ribs. Comprising of seven barrels joined together, all of which are discharged at once. The volley gun takes three Turns to reload, five if prone, and can only be fired by Bog-Orcs or Ogres. Any attempt to fire it by another race will result in D6 minus Racial Defence Factor in wounds. Any character within 2cm of the target character might also be hit by the spread of shot and they should additionally be rolled for, though with a -10% modifier applying to the basic hit chance as standard.

Slaughterloo

The miniatures of Trafalgore can easily be used in Slaughterloo, below are the statistics for Orc Shyppe Crew and Navy Artillery. While the might of Albion and the Royul Navye at sea are common knowledge from the Elves of Armorica and the corpse shyppes of the Undead to the galleys of the Othari, what is not so well known is the Navye’s involvement on land. In costal regions and those places where specialist gunnery and transport are required the marines and sailors along with the gunners of the Royul Navye will take part in pitched battles. While not as regimented as their Line Infantry compatriots the crew of a Shyppe of the Lyne are able to fight well and their gunners are among the best on Valon.

Irregular Infantry

This is a new troop type that represents troops who have a lot in the way of martial skills but are not trained in the rigid style of Line and Column manoeuvre. At all times the unit must be as regularly spaced out as possible, meaning the unit must always be as wide as it is long (i.e. it must assume a ‘block’ formation). They cannot arrange in any formation, except Square, and count as Column for shooting purposes. The size of Irregular Units range from 6 to 36 figures but outside the Otharmann Al-Hazrad about 20-28 is normal. The Crews of all nations count as Irregular infantry as do the Marines of the lesser-trained races.

Orc Shyppe Crew

Status & Armament

The Orc Shyppe Crew are classed as Irregular Infantry and are armed with Orc Bessies.

Uniform

The uniform such as it is of Shyppe Crew is varied and depends on the Captain of the vessel from which they hail. Better uniformed crew will have black and white checked or white and blue striped shirts along with white shorts and red or yellow jackets many have no shoes but if they do then they and their equipment is black. Poorer or greedy Captains will send their Orcs into battle near naked dressed only in sail cloth rags.

Orc Nayve Artillery

The guns of the Navye on land are not as manoeuvrable as those of the Foot Artillery but their crews are better trained. These guns are classed as Light, Medium and Heavy and naval crews can also use Howitzers. The assembly of Batteries, limber and unlimber and so on are identical to those for Foot Artillery in the Slaughterloo Rules.

Status & Armament

The Orc Naval Artillery is classed is classed as Artillery.

Uniform

The Orc Naval Artillery have little in the way of a uniform, but they often work naked to the waist in white shorts and have blue or red shirts. Their equipment is black and most straps are also black.

Orc Marines

Every Shyppe in the Royul Navye has a detachment of Orc Marines onboard, to serve the vessel in combat and to prevent mutiny. Small Brigs and the like have a handful of Marines under a Sergeant, while massive three deckers have near two hundred under a Captain of Marines. These specialist soldiers are the ‘Thin Red Line’ aboard all Albion boats of any size. On land Marines form line and square like other regiments and whilst not as used to acting in set piece battles their experience in the vicious boarding actions at sea make them formidable in Melee.

Status & Armament

The Orc Albion Marines are classed as Marines (Regular or Line infantry) and are armed with Orc Bessies.

Uniform

An Orc Marine makes a dashing sight, not unlike Line Infantry at first glance. They wear scarlet coats with white tunics and white breeches along with black boots and a black or blue hat. Officers often wear a blue Bicorne and privates a glossy black top hat. All their lacing and buttons are gold by Royal Decree. Some older officers wear a white or red sash and some officers and others dress in grey water proofed coats.

Uniforms of The Royul Nayve

Royul Navye Officers and Mid-Shyppe Orcs
Orc Flesh: Sandy Brown
Tunic: Dark Blue
Breeches & Neckerchief: White
Bicorne: Black with Gold lace
Cuffs & Turnbacks: Red or Light Blue
Shoes & Belt: Gloss Black
Trim, Buttons & Epaulettes: Gold
Pistol furnishings & scabbard: Brass
The Shyype's Crew
Orc Flesh: Sandy Brown
Ogre Flesh: Pale
Hair: Black, Brown, Red, Yellow
Tunic (Various): Yellow, Red or Blue
Shirts (Various): White, White & Black checks, White & Blue stripes
Breeches: White, Grey
Hats or Bosons Hat: Yellow (Straw) or Black
Cuffs & Turnbacks: Blue, Red, Black
Buttons: Brown
Pistol, Musket furnishings & scabbards: Brass

The Albion Orc Marines
Orc Flesh: Sandy Brown
Frock Coat: Scarlet
Tunic: White
Breeches: White
Top Hat: Black with White Cockade
Cuffs & Turnbacks: White
Shoes, Neckerchief & Belt: Gloss Black
Trim, Buttons & Epaulettes: Gold
Musket fittings & bayonet scabbard: Brass

Webmaster's Note

Originally published by Alternative Armies in 2004.