"Labeling units" Topic

I see a lot of fantastic work (and try to look at all of them for idea and such) but I never see labels. My units are on plain wood bases and have labels on, some accual, some initals of title. ie 4/8 SLdw for 4 btn 8Sil Ldw IR or SD for Smolesk Dragoons. Anyone else do this?

I put the labels on the bottom of the bases – I used to attach them behind, but thought it kind of spoiled the view

I just started (29 1/2 years too late) to date finish date on bottom, do you need to see unit number during play? A few artillery stands I have sand glued on I printed labels w/ smallest type I can.

I also label the bases. My system has been evolving. I try to add a flag or crest plus usual unit/hierarchy information. I also try to add as much detail as I can find out, e.g. Legion of Honour if known for Colonel and Captains of squadrons, if wounded or killed in action etc. The Waterloo Roll has loads of info on many officers present at this battle.

Always on the bottom of the base. Units carrying signs look awful to me.

Tom

I put mine behind on a 45 degree piece of balsa. Like Flight Sgt, I try to dress it up a bit.

picture

I label underneath the command stand.

three other points, 1 every unit even 1 fig stands of mine are labeled, 2 I like units to mostly stay together in battle, seperation happens though, 3 I as well as many of you have lots of units, in battle do they intermigle or get mixed up?

Facings and flags. If you can't tell the difference it doesn't matter.

I label all my stands. Over the years in a mix of on the bottom of the stand, angled over the back of the stand so only the "owning" player can see them, and flush on the base if depth allows it. I prefer the angled label if possible, but depending on the game system it isn't always practical.

I like to paint up historic formations for my armies so it only makes sense to ID the various elements. Especially if you don't use generic ratings.

All units labeled underneath..don't want the little chaps carrying around a plaque..I tend to find you can remember the unit id after a few turns anyway

Don't like visible labels on figures. Flag, uniform and facings must be enough

Tut – you can't tell your units from the facings and flags? Play with larger figures :-)

I write the unit name on the underside fwiw

My labels are in 6 font print on very small rectangles of whilte paper, glued to the back of the command stand. Very small and not conspicuous. Each unit also has the name printed on the bottom of the base. I also don't care for large, glaring labels, but as some units are close to identical, I made the small concession. You've got to bend over to read them.

I'm another guy that doesn't like the look of visible tags on units. When tags are needed I make them as unobtrusive as possible. I also use magnetic tags when I can to make them removable.

I have begun building 15mm SYW battalions for KK. Instead of my usual metal bases, I am mounting them on Litko 3mm plywood bases. I can't remember which regiment is which, so I printed the battalion # and regiment name in #6 size type and glue it to the rear edge of the base. I really like the look. I will also play around with the same basing for my next ACW regiments. Granted, this is unit name only, not the complete game label, but the rest of the info can go on the bottom of the command base.

My plan is to take a colour pic of the unit/command element and make up a page of them with space to add unit name and any unit stats, and print out a colour copy to keep as a reminder during play.

If the units are different like one group has a fatigue cap, another an overcoat, another backpacks, no need to label. If they look the same, I paint the back edge of the base a solid color and vary the colors of the units so you can tell who is together. Hate obvious labels.

I have also taken to labelling all the units, notably for my 6mm Austrians – spent too much time post-game sorting out which stands go into which 15-stand brigade

A friend on mine in our group is a graphics designer so for our games he designed these labels to enable players to identify quickly their units. link

They are separate from the bases and must be moved around with the unit but we found this a better idea than to label the actual base itself or each figure base of every unit.

My Naps have labels under bases.
Printed in appropriate colours (British in red ink, French mid blue, Russians green etc) they have the following information:

Corps commander, division, brigade commander, unit.

yeah that is a good idea also.

I did that for my ACW figures. Makes sorting them out at the end of a game, or figuring who is in command of whom during the game a LOT easier.

I used clear acrylic sheet to put counter holders on the back of command stands. ( two L shaped pieces glued together)
Provides the possibility to have a different designation, or no none, every battle.

Also handy for spicing up those boring looking boardgames by having figures carry the counters around.

Not really sure why anyone needs labels on units. I've been gaming for about 40 years, used many scales but mostly 6mm. Sometimes I have a couple of hundred units on the table, using an order of battle I can find every unit with no problem.

What I do is label all generals, since those that command units are with them it's a no brainer who their troops are.
If any of them are different they have different facings, hats or uniforms etc. Very easy to tell them apart.

No unit labels makes for a nice clean look on the table.

I label the bottom with bn and regiment along with my initials, and paint a corner with the bn number on it. The bottom is to sort after the battle and the top is so you can ID the unit without flipping it over.

"Not really sure why anyone needs labels on units."
Well, yes, normally.
Units mostly can be readily identified by uniform difference, pose & by using different manufacturers for each unit.

But it does save time with higher organisation information (see my post above) in very large games but particularly if others are using my figures.

Hello ochoin deach!

Sounds like yours is more like a safety net rather than a need. We generally don't have too many units wandering away from their commanders so where they are in the chain of command is very clear. We also change the commands with every battle so changing who now reports to who is not needed or changing/making new labels etc. Seems like your units are either locked in to the same command for every game or require label maintance. We have played a few hundred very large Napoleonic battles with many others using my figures. Never lost a unit, very, very rarely have I lost any time and if so it was only a minute or two. Making or changing labels for hundreds of units would take a lot longer.

You're right, Glenn.
I decided to lock units into commands permanently.

So Davout's 3rd Corps fights at Qatre Bras & Kutaisov is heavily involved in the Campaign of 1814.

I can live with this twisting of history in order to organise my figures.

Thanks for all the input, I don't think no show lables would work for me. I keep OOB same for whatever I am doing and boxing is by regt. not bigger units. And I would have trouble keeping and knowing who belongs to who on table top. I do have Generals on colored stands. My letter/ numbers are as small as I can make and still see and try to keep on back of stand. Does sound like many ideas to work with if I change bases.