"Suggestions for 15mm Longstreet basing?" Topic

I know that there isn't an official basing method for Longstreet, as long as everything is consistent, but I've never played a 15mm ACW game before, so I'm not really sure where to start. How do you guys base your 15mm ACW miniatures? Do you use basing that can also be used in other games, or do you base specifically for Longstreet? Do you have any recommendations or suggestions?

I'm looking for information on base size as well as number of figures per base, and how many ranks you have on a base as well. I've thought of potential schemes with anything from 4 to 8 miniatures per base (although in reality I'd probably like to keep it to 4 or 6. 8 per base seems like a lot.)

How about cavalry? 2 or 3 per base or even more?

I'm open to a variety of suggestions, and if you have pictures that is even better! Thanks a lot for any input!

In the Fire and Fury rulebook infantry, cavalry and artillery all have the same base width – 1 inch. 3 to 5 infantry figures, 2 cavalry. Depth is 3/4 inch to 7/8 inch. Gun stand has a depth of 1 1/2 inches.

I don't have Longstreet but in the AARs I've seen units consist of a varying amount of bases, so I think this basing would be fine.

1 inch square.

Inf: 2x2
Cav: 2x1

Art will generally fit on 1x1.5-2inch with 1 gun and 2-3 gunners. Though it doesn't ever look right to me unless there are 4 gunners. I haven't resolved this.
Limbers on same width base. As long as needed to fit.

Put commanders and markers on round bases. Makes it easy to see. The bigger the diameter, the higher the rank. You could use different numbers or diagrams to mean different things.

This will work for Longstreet, Fire and Fury (make each base worth 2 1 rank deep bases), Guns at Gettysburg, and They Couldn't Hit an Elephant.

It prob would work for others as well.

Longstreet does have minor basing requirements:

Infantry and cavalry bases should be either square or a shallow rectangle (3:2 width:depth ratio).

Artillery bases should be the same width as infantry and cavalry bases, and as deep as required by the model.

You cannot go far wrong with following the Fire and Fury guidelines above – the rules state you can vary depth by 1/8 inch either way (the width must always be 1 inch). So you could mount infantry in 1 inch by 1 and 3/4 inch or square if you want to.

In my experience, the physical size and shape of your figures determines the number of figures per base and whether you have single or double ranks.

8 figures is possible if you use a smaller scale figure than intended for the base. I have two armies of Heroics and Ros (5mm) and Adler with a few Baccus (6mm) – all are mounted on bases meeting the 15mm Fire and Fury standard.

The 5mm Heroics and Ros infantry are in two ranks of 8 or 9 figures (first rank of 3 or 4 in skirmishing/firing pose, second rank of 5 in marching pose)

The 6mm Adler infantry are a single rank of 5 figures in marching/advancing pose

Both sizes of mounted cavalry are a single rank of 3 figures

For dismounted cavalry, 3 Adler or 5 Heroics and Ros placed unevenly.

Artillery is a single gun and crew (you get larger crews with Heroics and Ros)

I chose for 15mm standard bases to ensure compatibility with other player's armies (you have to ignore the disparity in size), and because it's easier to pick up the bases without touching the figures.

For 15mm, the consensus at our club (GLC Games Club) is 3 figures in a single rank for infantry, 2 figures for cavalry (both mounted and dismounted), 1 gun and crew per artillery base.