"Labelling 6mm bases, feedback and opinions wanted" Topic

Just a test I did tonight to see if it is readable and with enough information. Aimed at CWC.

I decided to go with just the vehicle name and number, as I feel that is enough info during a game. I've never been a fan of stats on such a tab as it makes it much bigger then it needs to be.

Font is Arial, size 6. (height of lettering is 2mm). The text would be centred as much as possible, with the sides filled in with the same dirt as the rest of the base. I think I do not need to add flags etc, the name alone will tell me what army these go with.

Since I'm looking at doing this for Battlegroup as well, I would like to make normal troops bases on 40x20, marked with a simple Inf Unit #1-1 till #1-3 and Inf HQ #1, MG-42 #1 till #3, the latter being on 20x20 bases. Same would go for things like Spotters (unless in a vehicle, then 40x20) etc

Its just a trial sofar, due to the fact I'm really bad at keeping own stuff apart unless it has markings of some sort that are easy and quickly deciperable. And while my colour system works great for 20mm, I don't want to use it for 6mm, hence this test.

What say ye?

Feel free to reply here or on my Blog

Personally I dont like labels on bases but I think it looks the right size

I generally prefer not to have vehicles on bases, and dislike labels on them also, when they are present.

However, yours look quite good, and don't detract much from the minis. I like the thin bases you are using.

Some people may have difficulty reading the 6 point font, but it looks good to me.

If you wanted to make them a little less conspicuous, I'd go with trying to match the color of the terrain on the base, with the labels' background, since that'll stand out a lot less. If you do that, you might even be able to go up to an 8 point font, without it looking too large.

If you can't get a good color match, you could go with a clear label, so the paint shows through.

For thicker bases, I generally try to put the labels on the rear edge, instead of the top surface, so they are really inconspicuous.

Agree with Mako11 – I do all my labels white letters on green or clear lables with white letters.

I generally dislike labeling bases (when I was in the Army, I never saw a WarPac vehicle towing a huge info placard behind it – we were expected to identify types on sight), but, having said that, it does make certain aspects of gaming with micro armor much simpler, keeping platoons in the correct company, etc. so from that standpoint, I think it looks quite good.

As others have said, it looks a good job, but I'd rather do without if possible.

Doug

Yup used the same font size for my Baccus GNW units. Looks great to me.

For my current project, I'm going with thicker wooden bases, and the plan is to put the label on the back edge.

I have slowly come around to the idea that thicker bases, while not aesthetically pleasing, are eminently practical for thick-fingered gamers.

No pictures to show, as I am barely out of the planning phase on this one…

These are just for a part-time flivver, so I apologize for the poor quality, but…

re: label color same as base (2nd sqd, 3rd plt, 1st co)…

re: thick bases for thick fingers (magnet embedded in base = .020" plasticard)…

While it does no thelp with weapon type I prefer small colored tabs on the back edge of the base. For example 1st platoon has a yellow-green edge say, 1/2" wide on the back of the base. 1st squad has one white stripe down the middle of the yellow-green stripe. 2nd squad has two white stripes, 3rd squad three. Leaders have a red stripe or red inside the white. Makes keeping units together very easy, and has minimal impact on the look of the game. Won't help you tell a 75mm from a 90mm tho…

Thx for all of the replies guys.

It is not the perfect method, but it will work for me, and should do in the future as I can do all the labelling at home and won't need to keep a colour diagram on the side telling me who is who like I sometimes need to do with my 20's.

But feel free to chip in some more, as I know opinions on this will vary wildly.

I just write any details on the underside of the base.
It's what your preferences are, and what you like displayed.

I prefer no labels – except underside of bases or directly on the models underside.

But these are quite nice. I'd say either no labels or ones you can clearly read. Clear labels or dark colours would seem to be the worst of both worlds. Just my opinion.

I Never base vehicles … and don't label bases … You may want to put labels on the bottom if you need to ID some units for some reason. Just my 2 Cents. All I do is 6mm … But in the end … always do what works for you … not me or anyone else …

In my games I usually give players a roster or stat card. Normally the rules are new or we have noob players. So a 3x5 card with ranges, movement, etc. helps speed play and saves a lot of lookup. What's the range of a 75mm gun? Flip, flip? and it's AP value? If that's all on the card it makes the game really flow.

Then I can color code the card as well. So if you have a platoon of NVA or Panzer IIIs, you match the color on the card to the color on the back of the base. Subtle and very effective.

I color-code to keep infantry platoons together, but I play in 15mm.

Cav Recon have bright yellow across the back of the base, arty (including observers) has red, rangers have bright blue (WW2 Ranger tab), regular infantry has dark blue.

Germans get the correct Waffenfarbe colors (Art of War vol2 is wonderful), though my scout platoon also wears camo.

Haven't figured out what to do with the Soviets yet, but I'm not working on them now, either.

Vehicles get pennants (8th Army) or numbers (Germans).

Thx for the additional ideas lads.

My recce is easy to spot, as the base they are on is cut so it has a point at the front. I'm moving away from colours as my eyes would just see a mess of coloured dots and stripes when they are all in close, hence me making black and white tabs for this.

Extra Crispy, what a lovely idea!

ED- Magnetic bases and Palette knives save us from a lot of ham-handedness.