doctorphalanx | 04 Feb 2015 3:44 a.m. PST |
I'm reviewing a number of options for creating some very compact games. One way of achieving this is to use quite small bases, maybe only 20mm square. I was discussing this with a friend. He commented that moving, say, 60 of these small bases would be tedious in a way that moving an equivalent number of 40mm squares wouldn't be. Is he right? In the games I'm considering (Maurice, Square Bashing and Battles For Empire etc) most of these bases would be grouped in 4s. His suggestion was to use magnetic sabots, at least in the initial part of a game. This would allow formation changes and casualty removal if required, but provide 40mm x 40mm or 80mm x 20mm 'bases' which would be used for a great deal of the movement. Any views? |
MajorB | 04 Feb 2015 3:46 a.m. PST |
He commented that moving, say, 60 of these small bases would be tedious in a way that moving an equivalent number of 40mm squares wouldn't be. Is he right? A 40mm square can contain 4 20mm square bases, so instead of moving 60 individual bases you would only be moving 15. That has to be easier and quicker. Your idea for magnetic sabots sounds fine. Having said that, my 6mm Napoleonics are all on 20mm square bases and I don't find it too much of a problem … |
JimDuncanUK | 04 Feb 2015 4:16 a.m. PST |
I base some of my collections singly on 20mm magnetic bases and then I use a magnetic sabot of an appropriate size for differing rulesets. link link |
Dave Crowell | 04 Feb 2015 6:23 a.m. PST |
20mm square bases aren't too fiddly. Lots of Warhammer players have entire armies based on them. The issue is how many individual items do you have to move and manipulate each game turn? 60+ 40mm square bases are going to be as annoying as a like number of 20mm square bases. Movement trays are well worth the time to make, especially if your units spend most of the game moving in the same formations. Instead of having to move each of the individual bases for a given formation you can just move one base for the whole formation at once. Consider the example of moving 15 formation trays each holding four bases vs moving all 60 of those bases individually. It doesn't really matter what size the bases are, you can move 15 or you can move 60… A movement tray can be as simple as a piece of cereal box card cut to the right size and shape. |
Martin Rapier | 04 Feb 2015 7:49 a.m. PST |
As above, it is the number of things, not base sizes which make it fiddly. What smaller bases do is encourage people to pick the figures up themselves, and not by the bases, which is why I tend to slather my smaller scale stuff in floor varnish! My 6mm strips (30x10) get treated like wooden blocks, so they need to be sturdy. Magnetic movement trays can help, as do nice thick bases which simply push up against each other so you can slide vast quantities of troops across the table in one go (on a relatively smooth playing surface). |
Great War Ace | 04 Feb 2015 9:02 a.m. PST |
Most of my armies' infantry are on 20mm x 20mm bases. I use movement trays to move six or eight at a time. When combat is joined, the last movement is off the bases onto the table. Works like a champ. If I were to do this all over again, I'd go with the magnet movement stands and steel bases. Instead, almost all of mine are plastic, so trays are the second best option. I enjoy the granularity of individually based figures. Element basing looks good, of course, but your options are greatly limited thereby…. |
MH Dee | 04 Feb 2015 9:28 a.m. PST |
I think its more an issue regarding ranking figures up if they're on single bases. It can be like a puzzle with some ranges. Those Warlord plastic Celts are a bit of a nightmare to rank unless they're on multiple bases. |
ordinarybass | 04 Feb 2015 11:05 a.m. PST |
Lots of 20mm is fine as long as you have some kind of movement trays. Now if you're talking about using the same number of 20mm as 40mm to shrink the space a game takes up, then I don't see why it would be more difficult to move smaller bases if the overall number doesn't increase. |
IronDuke596 | 04 Feb 2015 11:52 a.m. PST |
Nothing wrong with using 20mm square bases, particularly magnetic bases. This method makes for ease of casualty removal, the use of deployed company skirmishers and depicting open order formations etc. I make up the various magnetic bases for the appropriately sized unit and formation type. I use magnetic bases material similar to fridge magnets but bought in larger sizes from a local vehicle sign graphics company. I mount my figures on 20mm x 20mm individual figure magnetic bases and then cut another company magnetic base to whatever size I require, ie a British company four figure base (40 x 40) or French company six figure base 60 x 40) etc. Instead of company sized bases you could have battalion sized bases for small battalions. This makes for ease of casualty removal, the use of deployed company skirmishers and depicting open order formations etc. This methodology provides lots of flexibility for mounting your figures. Good luck with your project. |
doctorphalanx | 06 Feb 2015 4:52 a.m. PST |
Thanks for all the feedback. Magnetic sabots seem the way to go. |