"Basing giant robots" Topic

Trying one more time…

Does anyone pick a theme for basing their giant robots? I am thinking of one from the following list:
dirt
sand
mud
swamp
marsh
rocks
mountains
lava flows
roadway, runway, wharf
ruins
forest, scrubland (burnt?)
city blocks
wetlands
creek
shore
plated decking/hangar floor
junkyard
moonscape

Also, does anyone get fancy with their scenic bases, including elements such as:
wrecks
corpses
dismembered parts of other robots
crashed flyers
railway line
trees, bushes
rocks, cairns, monoliths
buildings
jetties
navigational aids
boats
seawall
material handling equipment
damaged powerline, communication etc. pylons
containers

such as many 28mm bases are strewn with (not to the extent of certain base makers who keep packing on the details until you can't put a figure on properly)?

Hey Chironex
It can be a little hard getting a response around here so I'll pipe up, we are soon releasing the first of our robots (mecha) for Warfighter Epoch. The theme for the first wave is blasted wasteland so its pretty straight forward, the debris style, the earth and the tones used are all dusty and bleak in nature. Have a look if you like. These are for 15mm miniatures but I guess they can apply to any scale with a stretch of the imagination.

I love themed bases and intend to use them for all future releases.

With the mecha (Juggernaught) pilots I went a little further…

flytrapfactory.com

Cheers
Anton

I prefer my bases simple (like me, LOL) with grey and some brown sand. Fine Ballast from Woodland Scenics.

I've always wanted to do a jungle themed army, but the work I know I would need to put into it would be huge, may do that with my Avian army when I get around to the, hhhm wonder how I will make an Avian Titan Mech, interesting.

I want my bases to help identify the faction, along with colors and camo schemes.

Although I like themed bases, I worry that they may appear a bit jarring when the scenario changes. If I was to use say, sci fi floor tiles for my "boarding party" mechs, will they look weirdly out of place on a dusty planetary surface?

It' seems a bit of a quandary just how specific to make the bases, especially with larger mechs, when there is a much larger base area just crying out for extensive detailing.

Which reminds me: I need to start basing my troops.

As soon as the rain stops…

I'm afraid the only real answers to that are to leave bases a single plain colour, such that it doesn't look like it's standing in terrain at all; not stick the mech onto the base, in order to swap them, which doesn't appear practical at all; or buy ten times as many minis.

Or clear plastic bases, but then the robot looks like it's hovering.

link

It doesn't sound like the answer you're looking for, but I base all my minis on as plain a base as possible. Usually a plain green flock. There's nothing that bugs me more then minis that carry their walls, rocks and weeds all over the battlefield with them.

I suppose I might feel differently if I was using them for display purposes or painting competitions, but I use them to game with.

When I play on a snow-based battlefield, I dip the stand in some baking soda which can be blown off after the game.

And then, there's the sand-based battlefield? I don't know what to do then, other them to play them as they are – dragging their grass all over the desert.

I agree with Dlatz1:

Personalty I aim to make the base with as little as possible on them. I try to make them blend in with the table as much as they can, the art of camouflage, is what you should shot for. Make them as invisible as you can. put nothing on them that is not on your table that would end up under the base as you play.

nothing looks as dumb as a base with turfs of tall grass all over it and not a turf of that grass to be seen on the table.

painting competitions dress it up to the max. on the gaming table camouflage it.

The first photo above in not bad except they should have used the same color on the bases as they used on the table.

Does anyone pick a theme for basing their giant robots?

Sorry I don't have any pics to show, but I do generally try to do consistent "theme" bases for single force. All my giant robots are for BattleTech, and I tend to build themed forces for that game. For example, my first such force was a mercenary company. I did the 'mechs in desert camo, and did a desert/badlands basing scheme, with mixed sand/gravel painted a suitable desert color, and sparse, dry grass added. I've done others in winter themes, jungle themes, etc.

I generally like to keep my basing simple, like someone earlier suggested, to blend into my gaming mat. Comlicated bases with terrain features, dead bodies, broken vehicles or robots, etc. are great for showpieces, but I don't care for them on gaming pieces.

Less is more. Keep the base overall simple, but leaving a single piece of debris, a dropped/lost helmet, rifle, etc, or a single casualty figure will booth provide a point of reference for the subject's scale, and add to the basic groundwork.

Just my two yuan's worth on the matter.

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

chironex:

It took me a bit to decide, but since I'm going to be gaming a Winter/Polar/Arctic campaign, and mostly having engagements take place "outdoors" I ordered Snow Flock and Ash Flock from Army Painter (through Litko), as well as various tufts. I plan to use the Snow Flock on two or three of the "Terran" factions, and the Ash Flock with the rest of the factions, particularly the Spacers and the Aliens. I plan to identify the faction with the tufts, and possibly "leaders" with other bits or more tufts or a dot of paint or different-colored washer edge or something.

Even though they may look like they have snow under their feet when they're on pavement, I can always rationalize that by saying that they bring the very soil of their homeland with them, crammed into the soles of their boots. The Ash Flock (I'm hoping) will give the effect of total war/scorched earth to the more "terrifying" factions.

Plus, I'm solo gaming, so there isn't anyone else to please but myself. When I get to the Spacers and Aliens, I may start adding more battlefield flotsam, because I think it makes them more "fearsome" or something.

As for the huge mechs, I really don't know how I'll handle it, other than trying to keep each base in line with general faction "style" and/or "theme".

Hi, I use basic flock and leave an area to paint in the name of the mecha. I play too many games and can never remember all those details. Have pity on an old man.

I just use brown sand dry brushed for more depth and then patches of flock.

One of the better options is to do the base up as a mix of bare earth and green grass. This blends into multiple different gaming mats if you do it right.

I'm using 3mm thick clear acrylic bases for my zero-gee troops (who are supposed to be floating!), and I'd use thinner (say, 1mm or less) for ordinary troops that I didn't want to appear to float.

Now, for my Heavy Gear minis, I'm torn. The classic battlefield is in the Equatorial Desert, but urban/concrete is another possibility. Jungle is yet another option since most of the Southern hemisphere is jungles, while much of the Northern Hemisphere is temperate grasslands.

Some of mine …

They guy on the left is a big 15mm I'm using for a 6mm Mech/Titan …

Looking good on those Epic Titans

Thanks !