How Would YOU Dress Up Space Pirates?

[Cacique Caribe]

Would a colorful sash suffice to give them that exotic feel, at least for the captain?

Reminds me a bit of the Red Sash Gang in Tombstone, but it might do.

Thoughts?

PS.  Didn’t/Doesn’t RAFM have some guys labeled as “space Pirates”?  If so, what specifically gave them that feel?

Dan
Loads of WIPs: https://www.flickr.com/photos/9593487@N07/albums/with/72157710630529376

[Mike]

I suspect something shiny or cunning looking would work best.

Or a floral bonnet.

[Patrice]

No idea but that would probably depend on what they see in the context of this future world.

Pirates and bandit chiefs want to impress people and that would make them copy what’s worn by important officers and officials, with a mix of exaggerations of bright and shiny things and also a less formal way of wearing them, and weapons hanging all around. So it all depends on the fashions of your future world.

(…for example I don’t understand why some medieval fantasy pirates appear to wear tricorns although nobody else ever does in the world they live in).

http://www.argad-bzh.fr/argad/en.html
https://www.anargader.net/

[Geof Downton]

Blakes 7 did this:

One who puts on his armour should not boast like one who takes it off.
Ahab, King of Israel; 1 Kings 20:11

[irishserb]

They would be dressed with consideration for the culture and setting in which they operate.  There would be a pragmatic element, relative to their role, reflected by their equipment.  The dress would yield indications of their character or stereotype.  The leader would reflect a certain style or charisma that could range to monster to elegant, the brutes would be betrayed by their various insecurities, the weasel would just look guilty, the marksman might be stealthy or very average, such that he or she can move un-noticed in the crowd.  The explosives expert, the techie, and other types allow you to be more creative in their presentation, I think.  They might wear a gang identifier.

The specifics of all of this is really dependent on the setting, tech levels, the types of jobs they do, the type of conveyance they use, etc.  Additionally, the presentation is constrained by the contemporary in that the players need to be able to recognize or understand each figure’s intended character or role.

[Mike Headden]

Depends on your setting, surely?

My own 20mm RPG, on the odd occasion we get a game in, is a blend (mish-mash?) of elements from Firefly, Killjoys, Babylon 5 and Dark Matter, among others.

In my universe pirates range from leather clad, tattooed, bling-laden gangbangers through lunatic cults seeking recruits or sacrifices for their deity to quasi-military types (mercs for hire doing a little private enterprise when times are lean) and on to aliens whose motives may be unclear but who may also fall in to one of the previous categories.

 

There are 100 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who can work from incomplete data

[Rhoderic]

As my wont is to explore all the many subgenres and “flavours” of speculative fiction, I don’t have any one exclusive answer to the question.

In a “typical”, slightly retro-leaning space opera setting wherein said pirates are to be perceived as buccaneering heroes, or at any rate nothing more evil than pesky miscreants, I’d go for all the classic “space rogue” tropes. Firefly, Han Solo, Harry Mudd (as portrayed in Star Trek Discovery), the pirate gang from Guardians of the Galaxy, the more roguish elements from The Outer Worlds. The usual. Also a bit of Captain Harlock because I have a soft spot for vintage manga and anime. There might be some sashes, kerchiefs and belted tunics, perhaps even the occasional collared cape or exotic skull cap, but I wouldn’t take the archaic look too far. Other than that, a mishmash of vests, leather jackets, bandoliers, high boots, goggles and edgy hairstyles would bring the look home.

In a similar setting, but assuming thoroughly villainous pirates, I’d probably take most of my cues from the Reavers from Firefly. and various post-apoc loonies. I’d try not to make them too feral, but they would be projecting a scary ferocious style for sure.

For a more ultra-futuristic setting that doesn’t leave much room for gribbliness or retro fashions, I like the style of the Freeborn from Beyond the Gates of Antares, especially the Domari squads (whereas the Vardanari are a bit overwrought, and the Mhagris too low tech-looking).

I also like the idea of space pirates taking on much more unique stylistic identities within the frameworks of specific sci-fi settings, typically for the purpose of having them come across as memorable, horrifying villains. In one setting, they may have appropriated scary-looking bio-tech so they have a Gigeresque air about them. In another setting, they may be decked out in overwrought-looking gothic armour and equipment. In yet another, they may have that Dark Eldar-ish malicious sleekness about their kit.

I like it when I can watch a space opera film or TV series, or read a space opera comic book, or play a space opera video game, and go “ooh, that’s a cool new interpretation of space pirates!”.

[Cacique Caribe]

Rhoderic wrote:

I like it when I can watch a space opera film or TV series, or read a space opera comic book, or play a space opera video game, and go “ooh, that’s a cool new interpretation of space pirates!”.

I wonder what a new take on the Pirates if Ersatz would look like.

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24035/24035-h/24035-h.htm

Vintage Treasures: The Pirates of Zan by Murray Leinster

Dan
Loads of WIPs: https://www.flickr.com/photos/9593487@N07/albums/with/72157710630529376

[Thuseld]

For 6mm I just gathered up spare figures from various sets and then painted them an assortment of colours.

 

Experiments here: http://inexperiencedmodelmaker.blogspot.co.uk/

Tranquil Stars updates: https://tranquilstars.wordpress.com

[Cacique Caribe]

Excellent idea.  And nice crew you’ve got there!

Dan
Loads of WIPs: https://www.flickr.com/photos/9593487@N07/albums/with/72157710630529376

[Mr. Average]

[Cacique Caribe]

I guess I need to put Ice Pirates on my must-watch list.

Dan
Loads of WIPs: https://www.flickr.com/photos/9593487@N07/albums/with/72157710630529376

[Mr. Average]

I’m not sure you need to do that. 😉

[Cacique Caribe]

Lol.  Was it that bad?  🙂

 

Dan
Loads of WIPs: https://www.flickr.com/photos/9593487@N07/albums/with/72157710630529376

[Mr. Average]

It was pretty bad.

[Author]

Posts