"Basing to Empire V ruleset" Topic

Dear all,

I am attempting to base some figures to the Empire V ruleset.
I wish to base my British infantry combined light as a two rank company formation.
Now I am trying to match historical data from the Battle of Maida.
Here The combined light under Kempt had 25 officers and 510 men.
So this would be a grand total of 9 figs at 1:60 scale and 18 figs at 1:30 scale. I would prefer the latter.
Next a typical British battalion would be 8 centre and 2 flank companies. So How do I base this unit?
It seems to me to generate historcially accurate but then fit the game basing convention this is not possible.
Any advice would be welcome.

If I base two figs to a stand as per a two rank company, then I would have 9 stands….

Best regards,

Robert

Nothing wrong with a nine or eighteen figure British battalion, especially if it reflects converged elites.

For the "average" British battalion I make four stands of two each for the centre companies (and command) with two single figure stands for the light and grenadier companies. If we jump to a fifteen figure battalion I'll have twelve castings for the centre coys, two lights and one grenadier figure.

In 15mm each figure would have 1/2" frontage, compared to 3/8" for a three rank figure.

Don't play Empire, but for such grand-tactical rules is it important that each stand equates to a company?

I kind of varies by nationality. Since in the French army the company was just an administrative format; the peloton being the fighting element; it was less important. For others like the Russians and Prussians, I try to conform to a company = stand basis.

With Empire I would say it matters. My personal commentary is that it shouldn't but the scope of Empire is from company to army so at least it is consistent.

Cheers,

The Bandit

I try to base to companies and recently moved to 1:!5 figure ratios but back in the day of 12 figure brits I would have 1 figure light, 1 figure grenadier and then 5 stands of 2 centre figures.

Yes, base to companies.

hi everyone,
i have french, prussian and russian inf to base for 1813 campaign. My questions are on basing conventions:
Should french be based 3 or 4 figures to a base? They are 9-12 fig strong units.
My prussians are 12- 16 fig strong. Again should i base 3 figs to a base?
Similarly Russians are 9-12 fig strong..
Basing 2 figs to a base becomes very fiddly..
any advice welcome!

I do company's with usually 2 – 4 figures to a base. Singles I try to avoid but have a few. 5 could be my highest.

G'Day Gents

As for myself…I use the 1:60 scale and I base my figures so that each battalion when in column can meet the required divisions.

My French are normally 7 to 9 figures strong, therefore I divide 9 into 4 divisions and that gives me two figures per division with the 9th figure acting as the grenadier company that is detached…if the grenadier company is formed with the battalion, then it is considered a peloton and centered behind the last division.

When France goes to a battalion with 6 pelotons, then I only need 3 divisions when in column (therefore I base each division on two stands, one stand with two figures and one stand with one figure).

If I have a 7 figure battalion in column in 1808, the column is 2 figures wide and 3 figures deep. the 7th figure I place on the flank…using a commander as an example…nevertheless the column is only 2 figures wide. If the 7 figure battalion is in column from 1792 to 1807 then I still need four divisions, the first 3 divisions are two figures and the fourth division is one figure and centered on the third division.

When I am not playing a historical game that requires the exact effective for a battalion from 1808 onward…I always use 9 figures…

The French Garde of 1815 are formed in 4 divisions when in column and the Jeune Garde are in 3 divisions when in column…

As for a Grand Bande…prior to 1803 the entire battalion would deploy into skirmishers…than after 1805 only 50% were permitted to detach and form into a Grande Bande. Therefore I always have extra fusiliers on single stands when they are sent out to skirmish…and up until 1808 (officially) battalion commanders would take the third rank and deploy them as skirmishers, but we know that it was done even up until 1811 because Davout attempted to put an end to it.

It is also mandatory for the British, Prussian, and Russians to have 4 divisions when in column as well.

Best Regards
Art

I base to companies and I replace my light companies and light battalions with open order bases when they deploy for skirmishing.