Somali Pirates

[Juce734]

How would you make Somali Pirates? I want some NPC Somali Pirates but am not completely sure how exactly to make them. Any ideas? Typical stats/skills? I assume they would be fairly easy to defeat for any super but for a normal person kinda difficult.

[LeeNapier]

I'd actually stat them as normal people with little to no combat skills. Just like real life.

[Juce734]

I'd actually stat them as normal people with little to no combat skills. Just like real life.

I thought I read somewhere that a couple in each group have some militia background while others are fisherman by trade.

[LeeNapier]

I'd actually stat them as normal people with little to no combat skills. Just like real life.

I thought I read somewhere that a couple in each group have some militia background while others are fisherman by trade.

Do not confuse "militia background" with "military training". these pirates are not soldiers. They are poor, desperate people with guns.

[Juce734]

I'd actually stat them as normal people with little to no combat skills. Just like real life.

I thought I read somewhere that a couple in each group have some militia background while others are fisherman by trade.

Do not confuse "militia background" with "military training". these pirates are not soldiers. They are poor, desperate people with guns.

Ok cool. I will create them as normal people stat wise with pilot boat (basic) as their major skill.

What alignments would they typically have? Anarchist?

[LeeNapier]

I'd actually stat them as normal people with little to no combat skills. Just like real life.

I thought I read somewhere that a couple in each group have some militia background while others are fisherman by trade.

Do not confuse "militia background" with "military training". these pirates are not soldiers. They are poor, desperate people with guns.

Ok cool. I will create them as normal people stat wise with pilot boat (basic) as their major skill.

What alignments would they typically have? Anarchist?

Anarchist, Miscreant, or Aberrant most likely. Of those, most of them would be aberrant (as opposed to anarchist, as they do respect their hierarchy) but leaders would be aberrant or miscreant.

I'd also give them a WP skill - probably rifle.

More important is how you play them - they're not formally trained, but they do plan ahead - which is how they can take larger boats with bigger crews. They use subterfuge as well as force. They're also not too picky about what (or whom) they take - as long as they can see value in it.

On the other hand, they are poor, and often hugnry, so they will lose the morale to fight quicker than hardened troops.

[Spectre]

If you have access to the HU GMG, try pages 22-23. It lists a quick roll-up for thugs, low level enforcers, and various ruffian types. They would fit the bill of what you are after.

[NMI]

you could check this out -- Quick Roll Villains

[Juce734]

you could check this out -- Quick Roll Villains

That table is great. Just didn't feel I knew what skills and such they should have. I guess I can just make them random thugs with rifles, pistols, and knives. With a couple guys who can pilot boats.

[Sir_Spirit]

A lot of them have some skill with whatever weapon they are dealing with.
If you want a less realistic version, there is Adventures On the High Seas. IT has pirate sailor OCC's.
Personally I''d just give them some water navigation skills and a little bit of fighting ability.

Keep in mind, a lot of oil tankers are very large ships with very little crew. This mean they can get on board unnoticed and seize the bridge or whatever by surprise.

For liability reasons most ships have little weapons.

Also the US navy has a policy of fighting pirates off whenever they are encountered(in theory, any ship flying a recognized nations flag can ask for the US Navies aid against pirates...).

[tamorrison]

I just posted something on Somali militiamen: see viewtopic.php?t=121116. The BBC has an excellent series of articles regarding what type of Somali becomes a pirate and how pirate teams are chosen and financed: see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12548045, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12412565, and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8080098.stm.