"If Warhammer goes to round bases, who uses square left?" Topic

One of the very strong rumors about Warhammee Fantasy 9th edition is that there may be an evolution to round bases from square, and the associated use of WOTR-style unit bases for holding round-based figures in unit formation. (One of the rumored rules changes was that all units will be able to skirmish or maintain a unit formation as players wish during a game.)

Assuming this is true, it would mean that one of the main users of square bases for individual figures would be gone (LOTR and 40k already use round bases), so my question is who is left who uses square bases for individually-based fantasy figures? I cannot think of anyone. (SAGA and much skirmish gaming, historical or fantasy, uses round bases; many of the historical figures I know of bases on square bases have some relation to Warhammer Ancient Battles.)

Not sure about current games, but the old Confrontation game uses (used) square bases, and it was skirmish, oddly enough.

Just read up on some of the rumours, and… wow, if even half are true, there's some changes coming.

(Disclaimer – haven't played WHFB in several versions, but still have a painted Dark Elves army, and a Dwarven army in boxes, maybe one day to be assembled.)

Freebooter's Fate uses square bases to make it easier to define orientation (which I agree).

Though you can group-base (no casualty removal), Kings of War uses square bases. Ironically, they're mostly based on the equivalents from Warhammer. KoW is quite dedicated to them as they manufacture their own plastic bases with cavities to match their figures cast-on bases.

All that said, I wouldn't put much stock in the round-bases-for-WHFB rumor.

It would be nice for GW to resurrect the WOTC movement trays f or the LOTR Gamers.

Does it really matter with singly based figures?? Lion Rampant seems to show no favoritism either way, and most plastic Medieval sets include square or rectangular bases. For any game game that allows/requires formed units, square bases make more sense.

I suspect that this is the companion move to the 40k bigger base switch. Trying to force you to buy more crap not actually making the game better.

New GW President, same old GW "screw our loyal customers" attitude.

I more or less ignore what rule systems say whether round or square bases as far as I'm concerned loose order troops go on round bases formed order troops go on square basess. This seems to work whatever the tool book says.

I'm.unlikly to change.

x42

Not that basing really matters much in how a game plays anyway.

It would change the frontage of some units, I suppose, but as long as players are reasonable there is no reason that can't be worked out. The WAB tournaments used to deal with DBx basing mixed with individual WAB basing without much problem from what I've been told.

I agree, IF the rumor holds true that units can still rank, round or square bases are not going to be a major issue. My much bigger issue is the rumored discontinuation of 90% (or thearabouts) of the current range, in favor of a range of only a handful of "permanent" sets, and a rotating limited edition add-n sets that will go in and out of print. So if there is anything you want, buy it now.

Damon.

So they are doubling down on all the mean things their detractors say about them.

By "mean" do you mean "true" John?

You won't really need to change your current model bases.

Some third party will come up with a tray, similar to the new ones by GW, that will hold models with square bases.

This is stupid. You would have to be a complete moron to change to round bases in a game primarily based on melee combat and who is were. Gamers would hate it as soon as they played.

Which of course makes this exactly what Games Workshop would do.

I am selling all my Warhammer stuff, except for a few minis that I really like. The game is plain silly right now, and the background… well, if they wanted to ditch it altogether they could have been more forthcoming.

just base as you want. All you need to do is make sure the movement trays are the correct width.

1) I have never bought or (or to my knowledge) played a GW game, (admittedly, played some games friends used based on modified GW rules sets,) although I watched a couple of friends play multiple games (which is why I never bought or played 40K or Warhammer.)

2) I have never bought (knowingly) a GW figure, and certainly not at retail.

Therefore I am not an expert on their rules! (Joking)

Seriously, to paraphrase both THW and GZG, "Just play the game!" I choose to use 3/4" (circa 19 mm) squares for trained/regulars and 20 mm rounds for irregulars and levies (placing them on Litko movement trays (either rank or skirmish) if they are designated regulars. I think you need to not let some corporate decision drive how you find Joy.

If this is true, this does change Warhammer. Unless they have a smaller 20mm round base, smaller units such as skinks and ratmen suddenly have a larger profile and a "smaller" front rank.

Reaper's Warlord game uses square bases.

Just keep playing a version of Warhammer you and your opponents like.

Just mount 3 20mm bases on a 60mm wide frontage and play DBA 3.0 and its HOTT equivilent D3H2.

TomT

We play Armies of Arcana and it allows switching units from rank and file to skirmished.

My my regular sized troops are based on 20mm square bases.

Square bases make it super easy, and quick, to differentiate between front, flank, and rear attacks. I avoid using round bases for just that reason. Would not matter to me if rules specified a round base, but base size does matter -- I would use the correct sized square base. Cheers!

The only thing worse than square slotta bases is round slotta bases.

Watch GW mess everybody up by switching to hex bases…. :-p

The Beast of War weekender show just said Warhammer is going to become a skirmish game with 6 factions. One of which will be a new one.

Please please wargamer god, let all the rumours about WHF9 be true, then that monkey can really be humped and we can all move on to something that brings joy (besides EE downfall) I was/am an old school War Hammer player as well as having 2 old school type armies and old Rouge Trader 40' and a bit of Necromunda stuff, The so called continued developments after 5th WHF were pure marketing, good luck to them, but its time to move on and off their particular drug, I'll keep my old stuff and will find a set of rules that will hopefully bring back that joy I had when they weren't so corporate bound.
2 cents spent.

link

or even

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No sweat, you're covered, Zephyr1

You know, if they lose even 10% of their player base to Kings of War Ronnie will be a very happy man.

Hopefully the second edition will actually fix the problems with the rules without introducing a dozen new ones.

That's kind of what I feel about WFB 8th edition. Some good changes tied to far too many new problems.

It's funny because if 9th was better I'd have probably gotten sucked back in again but it sounds like GW is doubling down on the stupid once again.