Pirate Battle Game

Pressman's
Weapons & Warriors
Pirate Battle Game
A Resource for Colonial Gaming

Pressman Toy Corp.'s Weapons & Warriors sets are playset games featuring figures, shooting weapons and reactive targets (buildings that are primed with rubber bands to explode or alter when hit). The original games were medieval in theme, with catapults, early cannon, and ballistae firing at castles and knights, rather similar to Lakeshore's classic Crossbows and Catapults game from the '80s. The Pirate Battle Game has an 18th-century pirate theme, but contains a treasure trove of useful items for colonial-era gaming.

The Fortified Tower
This tower is described in the Miscellaneous Buildings page of the Structure Section. It is also the centerpiece for the battle of Point Wytouki. It has a floor that is pushed down under rubber band tension, and pops up when the door is hit to throw the pirate figures off the roof. The door also pops upward to expose flames, if you put the flame applique on the lower part. It is usable as-is, except for painting. The set contains one tower.

Tower painted by David.
The figures are Ral Partha small 25s.

The Skiff
The set contains two skiffs which might be useful. It looks very nice, but its figure-carrying capacity is limited. The molded ring for holding the pirate figure needs to be removed or planked over.

The Pirate Ship (Brig)
There are two brigs per set. They are fairly easy to convert to armed dhows. There is a molded ring on the poopdeck and tabs for holding the oversize cannons on the main deck; these must be removed. A prow extension, new masts with lateen sails, and a few details must be added. See the Dhow page for conversion details and the Point Wytouki battle page to see the model in use. Overall length is 8" (200cm) without the bowsprit.

The Strongpoints
A number of wooden stockade strongpoints come with the set. A single one is shown at left and three are combined at right.

The figures are Ral Partha small 25s.

The Palms
The set contains six pairs of smallish but attractive palm trees. They are sturdy, and come apart easily for storage or transport. They twist into overly-colorful slotted cardboard bases in the game, so new bases must be fabricated.

Trees painted by David.
The figures are Ral Partha small 25s.

The Pirate Figures
There are 20 pirate figures in the set. 18 of these are crewmen who could simply be painted as is, to make passable native figures. They have a scimitar/cutlass in one hand and an easily removable flintlock pistol in the other. The left arm is positioned well for adding a shield.Their head-kerchiefs would look better with a few windings of twine or epoxy putty to make a turban, or perhaps a fez could be added to make them zouave-style guards for the local nabob. Unfortunately, they are all in the same pose.The two captain figures are not so easy - typical Blackbeard types in an animated - nay, frenzied - pose. One might get a native leader figure and flagbearer out of them by reworking the headwear, filing away the boot-tops, and filling in the notch in the back of the coat. The figures appear to be about 28-30 mm, and fit reasonably will with Foundry figures (see picture).

Update: You can see the figures in action in The Raid on the Sher-Li Temple, with conversion details here.

Other Items
The set contains six slightly large, but usable treasure chests. There are also 12 cannon on naval carriages which are too big for use with 25mm figures, but would do well with 54s. There are also some very large cannon and mortars which fire the round plastic marbles in the game. These are fairly useless for gaming.

Availability of the Pirate Battle Game
The Pirate Battle Game was at large toy stores in 1998 and 1999 at around $20, and was a bargain then. In 1999, it was remaindered out in some places at $10, which made it a spectacular deal. It is currently out of production,. Watch for them or their pieces at garage sales soon. And there is always E-bay and the rec.games.marketplace newsgroup.

The same or a very similar product was apparently also marketed under the name Siege, though I'm not sure where or when.

Parts may still be available from the company. The game included an Accessory Order Form. Some of the individual items are on the form, for very reasonable prices, for as long as supplies last. The fort (tower), brig, skiff, treasure chests and figures are on the form, but not the 54mm cannons, strongpoints or (worse luck!) palm trees. (The cannon and mortar on the form are the large useless, firing ones.) Some or all of these may still be available; to try an order, you can download the order form, print it at 72% size and send it in with a check. The address is on the form.

As of June 2003 Matt Dinkel reports that Pressman has run out of the pirate figures, but still has the tower.

Jim Pitts reports that as of March 26, 2000, Pressman Toy Co. also had the following items, in addition to those on the form, available by direct mailorder. Use the address on the order form:

Complete Game - W & W Pirate Battle - $42.00 postpaid (ouch!)

Accessories (add $3.95 per order for postage & handling)
....Target Cannons (12) $2.25
....Palm Trees (6) $1.25 (No longer available as of March 2001)
....Palisades (4) $1.50

Late Notes:
Martin Buck reports finding some sets in a British department store just before Christmas 2000, priced at £10, (about $15 US), so there may still be a few around to be had.

Adam Hayes adds: "It is available in Britain in two forms - the original at around £10.00 (but you have to search) or more widely available (Toys'R'Us for example) repackaged as 'Blackbeard's Treasure' game at £20.00 ($30.00 in colonial money) AND you get only one of the ships in this set."

As of April 2001, Donald Hosford reports buying a set at his local department store for US$6.99, and urges everyone to keep combing the toy aisles. There are still a few out there.

In June 2001, Graydon Gorby reports sighting the set at Meier's Dept. Store in Cincinnati for US$7.00

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