August 30th, 2010
Review - Freebooter's Fate: Crew Expansion Models
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Today I'm here to take a look at another assortment of models for Freebooter's Fate from Freebooter Miniatures. This will be a review of a small variety of models which I think are ideal for expanding an existing crew, or including in a brand new one, since most are newer models that have been released after the game launched.

Curly Ann

If you're looking for a Specialist model to add to your existing Pirate Crew, then Curly Ann just might be that unique model you've been looking for. She's a 5-piece model, including the scenic base-plate and base. Her rifle complete with part of her left arm, and her right hand already on it requires gluing in place, and her pistol with bayonet-like weapon mounted underneath requires gluing holstered to her hip.

  This is a rather tall model too, as she's probably one of the tallest models in the entire range. Assembly was a cakewalk, and clean up didn't take long either. The sculpt is really impressive too. This dark skinned beauty is posed reaching behind her back in attempt to pull out her Musket to ready it for combat.

As much as I like most of the Freebooter's Fate models, there's one trend that I'm really starting to get tired of seeing, and that's peg legs. She has a peg leg as well, and while her's is really nice and rather ornate where it meets at the knee, I think she could have done without it.

Peg leg issue aside, she's pretty hot for a one-legger. Thankfully her card clearly states that the peg leg doesn't effect her movement. She will cost you 70 gold doubloons to hire her on in the Specialist slot for a Pirate Crew. With 12 boxes of Vitality/health, her pistol counting as a Sabre, and her Musket is considered a Double-handed, Heavy Weapon, she certainly brings some hurt to to the table. She's roughly $15 USD, and worth every penny.

The Marines

The Imperial Armada has two types of Deck-hand models so far, the Arqubusiers and now the Imperial Marines. This set of Marines is two models, and each model is 4-pieces, including the scenic base-plate and base. Each of the two models require gluing the boarding-ax-wielding arm to the body, and the model to the scenic base-plate, but that's about it. Assembly is as simple as can be, and there was a couple of average mold lines to attend to, but that's it.

These are both rather skinny-looking little men. The one has a goatee, and is wearing a hat, and he looks rather surprised. I like the facial detail on that one. The other guy is shinny bald, with a rather trimmed and proper beard and mustache, holding a large jug, which is no doubt filled with rum. He's brandishing a boarding-ax too.

These guys are 45 gold doubloons each to hire them on into your Imperial Armada crew in the Deck-hands slots. They're rather average stat-wise, which is expected for Deck-hands, but they both have a boarding-ax and knife as weapons, and they also both have the Steadfast rule, allowing them to retake morale tests too. At roughly $18 USD for the set, these are nice Deck-hand models for any Imperial Armada crew. 
Brahyn

Here's another one of the most gorgeous female models available in the entire Freebooter's Fate line. Brahyn is a Mercenary model. She takes up a Specialist slot in either a Pirate or Imperial Armada crew only, because her card states that she cannot work for the Brotherhood or Goblin Pirates.

She's a 4-piece model, including the scenic base-plate and base. Minor mold lines were present, and assembly only required gluing her sword with arms already attached to the torso into place, and then bonding the model to the base-plate and base.

I really think this is my favorite female Freebooter's Fate model. I'm not really one to get all excited about female models either. I do however like that isn't a female model designed to simply show off boobs, or a nice butt for the sake of attracting males, it's simply a classy rendition of a beautiful female character.

She brings with her 12 boxes of Vitality/health, quite strong STR stats, her sword is Double-handed with knock over and penetration power 5, and she has Flurry of Blows and Steadfast rules. It will cost you 95 doubloons and a Specialist slot to hire her on into your Imperial Armada or Pirate crew. She's roughly $14 USD, and also quite worth it if you're a Pirate or Imperial Armada player in need of another Specialist.

Momma Cebada

By the looks or her, you don't want to be poking around in Momma Cebada's Galley looking for trouble. This is a 5-piece model, including the scenic base-plate and base. Clean up was little more involved than with the other models. She had a mold tab to cut off her head, and a couple of minor mold lines. Sprue cutters would be more ideal than a hobby knife for that mold tab too, as it was rather thick. She's rather thick and round too, making her one of the largest Goblin models in the range.

Assembly wasn't too bad. She has a barrel to glue on to her back, and her right arm with cleaver needs bound to the shoulder, then the model to the scenic base-plate, and the plate to the base. She has a lot of character too, which is always a plus. The model is standing there dual wielding cleavers, with a half a fish hanging off her belt-like rope around the waist, along side various eating utensils. There's another fish tail on the scenic base-plate too. Carrying on the pegleg tradition, she too has a right peg leg.

You can hire her on into a Goblin Pirate crew taking up a Specialist slot for 50 doubloons. What she brings to the table is a medic-like ability called Dress Wounds. Therefore she can heal others in base contact, or her own wounds. If you're a Goblin Pirate player, she can be quite useful. I've seen this model selling for roughly $14, putting it right in line with most other single models in the range.
Goblin Geezer & Velero

Now this is the 2nd set of deckhand models for the Goblin Crew in Freetbooter's Fate. The first set was called Goblin Mariner & Velero. This is an all new set, with two brand new sculpts. Geezer is a 5-piece model, and Velero is made up of 4-pieces. Geezer requires gluing his head on, and also his right arm into place. Velero is even simpler, because you only have to glue the arm waving a paddle to the shoulder, and then both models to their scenic base-plates and bases.

Like most of the Goblin Pirates, these are rather tiny models too. Geezer is armed with a pistol and his cutlass ready for action. If you look closely he also has a stitched up head, which is a detail I missed when painting him. He's considered to have a shield as well, and there's one hanging on his back.

Velero looks like a little twerp throwing a fit waving a paddle in the air in defiance. His profile shows him as being armed with a paddle and a cutlass, but there's no cutlass on the scenic base-plate or on the model anywhere to be seen, which I thought was a little odd. Geezer is 50 doubloons to hire, and Velero will set you back only 30 gold doubloons to hire. Due to the small size, this little set will set you back roughly $16 for both models. If you need more Deck-hands, or some for your first set of Deck-hands for a Goblin Pirates crew you can't go wrong with these two frisky-looking characters.
Conclusion

If you're looking to expand any of your existing Crews, or even to start one, that should give you an idea about what else is out there for Freebooter's Fate. I tried to cover the most recent releases too, but the time it takes to get models in-hand from Germany direct from Freebooter Miniatures, and by the time I'm able to get the article done and ready for posting, now another 3-5 other models have now been released. So what I covered above, were mostly new releases not that long ago.

The good news is, that the Freebooter Miniatures crew never rests, because Werner and company are busy sculpting and bringing new models to market for the game on what appears to be a consistent monthly basis ever since the game was released. There's now a new Leader for the Brotherhood (Queen of Shadows), the Imperial Armada (Brother Leon) and Goblin Crews (Capt Ulgat), a new Specialist for the Brotherhood (Fith'Aarch), and a new duo of Deck-hands for the Pirate Crew (Tiradora and Matelot).

At present, there isn't that many more models left to create that are listed in the Freebooter's Fate rulebook. The end is near for this run at least, which makes this an exciting time, because this means what ever comes next can't be too far away now. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for some Undead/Skeleton crew models for an expansion, it's really the only thing they're lacking, aside from maybe Asian pirates and some sea creatures.
Freebooter Miniatures

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