"How do you label units?" Topic

For Napoleon's Battles, scenarios came with little unit labels to cut out and tape to the bottom of command stands.

I've seen FOW players do color-coded bases.

I used to make squad markings on my 40k troops.

Do you and, if so, label or identify your units on the tabletop?

I was going to title this "How do you label your unit?", but that's just too easy.

One of the first things I asked in a poll suggestion or in Nap board. Anyway I paint a abreviation of unit say 2nd Battalion 5th Regiment so paint as smalll as possible 2/5 or I'm shuffling some artillerists and right now (7th division Position Battery) so it will get a little P7. I Was suprized how many didn't mark their units at all. see if I can find my original board and link it.

I'll put a folded printed label on the back of the base. So for Napoleonics it would say in 6 pt. font something like: 1/114e, for first battalion, 114 Régiment d'Infanterie. Only the controlling player can see it and I don't feel it is obtrusive to the tabletop. For FoW I lightly stick a small circle sticker to the base to indicate company and squad. I can swap in new ones each game if they need to be tracked in a different manner. Ships get a name and a flag on the base. Even the ones on otherwise clear bases.

TMP link
here was my question sent out to Nap players

In most of the games I play, the uniforms are different. Otherwise, different officer figures or banners.

For games with multiple stands in a unit, I usually have a tag on the back of the command stand identifying the unit and I put small color dots on the back corners of the stands to mark each unit with an unique dot arrangement. Sometimes I'll put a letter or number in black ink on the dot.

For games where each figure is mounted individually, I either use numbered color dots on each stand or I print out names in very fine font and glue on the back of the bases. An example of the first case is having an American WWII infantry squad denoted by all figures in the unit having the same color dot and then each figure having an unique number on the dot.

I normally have a separate roster or OoB that matches the color of the dots and/or number used to specific units on the roster or OoB.

I use the small dots you peel of a sheet or roll and then stick on a surface. You can get them at any office supply store.

What noimtheotherguy said. I find tags annoying and detracting from the figures. A friend of mine used to put dots on the back edge of the stand. Dots were a different color and a different number of dots for identification. A good systm that is unobstrusive.

If I bother at all, I just write the name of the unit on the underside of the base.

Usually starships, mecha, and on skirmish figures if the bases have enough room.

Al | ravenfeastsmeadhall.blogspot.com