doctorphalanx | 01 Mar 2015 3:36 a.m. PST |
I've got the figures and was originally going to rebase them for Grand Armee, but now Blucher has arrived, that's become the obvious choice. The figures are already painted and organised in 18-figure battalions, so my idea is to put two of these on a base. My original plan (for Grand Armee), was to use 2" square bases, but I'm now thinking of using the recommended 3.5" x 2.5" bases to give a more dioramic look: link Any thoughts? |
MadDrMark | 01 Mar 2015 4:53 a.m. PST |
Big bases! More minis! Unless table space is a concern, I'd go for the epic look. |
Veteran Cosmic Rocker | 01 Mar 2015 4:57 a.m. PST |
I have my 6mm armies on 60x60mm bases – I play mainly Grande Armee and have now started playing Blucher. This allowed me to play the Polemos rules as well – which was the reason for the decision, but I only play GA and now Blucher. It allows the 6x4 table to play "bigger" with the smaller bases. I have two units per base – two double lines of inf or inf columns and two lines of cavalry. |
Footslogger | 01 Mar 2015 5:02 a.m. PST |
I'm thinking on similar lines with my own H&R 6mms. Putting two or more units on the base will make it look much more like a brigade. With a few skirmishers out front. My questions are, do I put them in line or column? Do I do it differently for each nation? Do I create a strip along the back with a wipe-clean surface with the elan points on? Do I have anything on the front edge for the 45' zone, or just make myself a template to drop in front of a unit when I need to know? I'm inclined to go for the back strip only. I want to get it right first time. I really don't want to change it all EVER AGAIN. |
Veteran Cosmic Rocker | 01 Mar 2015 5:10 a.m. PST |
Footslogger, I have a thin strip along the back which I put thin self adhesive labels on with the unit info. I have one unit towards the front of the base and one unit towards the back – so that there is clear separation- and in double lunes for infantry. I have a mix of styles for each nation – although my French are predominantly in two columns, my British are in line, etc. Hope that helps. All of my cavalry bases are in two lines. |
doctorphalanx | 01 Mar 2015 5:11 a.m. PST |
I have the rules on order but not yet in my hands… I've since read that although the cards are 3.5" x 2.5", the default base size envisaged in the rules is actually 3" x 3". I could just as well go with a 60mm square as a 3" square. The question is, if I go for smaller bases, will that make my 6' x 4' table 'bigger', i.e. able to play larger scenarios, or have all scenarios been 'bathtubbed' to fit an unchanging table size? |
Veteran Cosmic Rocker | 01 Mar 2015 5:16 a.m. PST |
Hmm, I have only played a couple of Blucher games – the rules allow for changing the unit scale to play larger scenarios (i.e. Still playing with around 24 units but they represent more troops). So perhaps making the 6x4 table "bigger" is not so critical. I think I have that right but will bow to the knowledge of others. |
normsmith | 01 Mar 2015 5:57 a.m. PST |
Would you get a 'bigger table' if you both based to a smaller base (say 1/3 smaller) and then also photo copied your ruler down by 1/3? |
doctorphalanx | 01 Mar 2015 6:26 a.m. PST |
@normsmith That would normally be the case with rules that used a consistent ground scale, but I suspect that Blucher works like Command & Colours, i.e. the same playing area whatever the size of the battle. This is how Maurice works, with historical battles 'bathtubbed' down as required. The only advantage, therefore, of smaller bases would be the ability to play on a physically smaller table, e.g. with 60mm bases a 4' x 3' table would be about right. That in itself is an attractive option and one that I am still considering. |
Trajanus | 01 Mar 2015 7:08 a.m. PST |
That would normally be the case with rules that used a consistent ground scale, but I suspect that Blucher works like Command & Colours, i.e. the same playing area whatever the size of the battle. You got it. There is no ground scale in use so changing up or down is really only a matter of making best use of the playing surface and whatever visual element the players decide for themselves. |
Mike Petro | 01 Mar 2015 7:25 a.m. PST |
I have a 4'x3' little pub table. So my bases are 50mm x 40mm(I dont like the square block look)giving me a "standard" table of 24BWx16BW. At approx 250? yards a BW at normal scale, A little over 4 miles by 3 miles. Good enough for Waterloo. If I want to fight Borodino I will just use the Upscale rules. |
Footslogger | 01 Mar 2015 7:55 a.m. PST |
@ VCR, thanks, that is helpful. Hadn't thought of interchangeable labels. Means a unit could change identity as required. That would work especially well with troops of nations where there's not a lot of difference between regiments – like French line. |
doctorphalanx | 01 Mar 2015 8:10 a.m. PST |
I usually make my bases from MDF and steel. I've been thinking about making the MDF 5-10mm shorter than the steel so that I can fit interchangeable magnetic labels at the rear. I'm not necessarily going to do that for this game, but it could be a useful approach elsewhere. Some of my armies have small ID labels on the back of the bases, but I wouldn't want to overdo it. As regards recording casualties etc, I don't like rosters. I prefer on-table markers but I appreciate that some people don't like the clutter. |
Glenn Pearce | 01 Mar 2015 1:18 p.m. PST |
Hello doctorphalanx! Ah the old basing problem. I think your there, the 60mm x 60mm base is used by a number of people for 6mm brigade rules. It might give you some common ground should you meet other 6mm players. It's sold by Baccus and is used in a number of their rule sets. Some people use their 60mm x 30mm base to form two parts for their brigades (I do). That way they can intermix or change the brigade looks for different battles and also use them as battalions for lower level games. If you like the 60x60 better there were a number of photos on the Baccus site that look stunning. Presently they are redoing their site and a number of the old photos might not have been uploaded yet. I used both 2" and 3" bases in the past and found the 2" too small and the 3" too big. The 60mm just seems to look and feel the best. Hope this helps. Best regards, Glenn |
doctorphalanx | 02 Mar 2015 8:41 p.m. PST |
Glenn I'm inclining towards the 60mm x 30mm solution, with the guns mounted singly on 30mm square bases (according to the Polemos standard) and used in pairs for Blucher. I note, however, that it is easier to fit in some skirmishers if using a single 60mm x 60mm base, and that also allows two units to be put side-by-side in column…so much choice! |
Glenn Pearce | 03 Mar 2015 8:23 a.m. PST |
Hello doctorphalanx! Cool, I just think that the Polemos standard base 60mm x 30mm and its sister bases 30mm x 30mm and 60mm x 60mm work best for almost any rule set and have done so for many years. I switched over a number of years ago and have never been happier. We play all scales of games using the basic base of 60x30, battalion, 1/2 battalion, regiment and brigades. At first we mounted skirmishers on the 60x30 base but to give them room you had to push the main unit on the base to the back of the base, while units without skirmishers were centered. It just looked a little odd to the big picture. So now we simply mount skirmishers on their own 60x30 base. For Blucher skirmishers are simply cosmetic so you probably don't even need them. However, if your more into dioramas then practicality then the 60x60 is the better choice as these can look amazing. Never easy choices. Let us know your final decision. Best regards, Glenn |
doctorphalanx | 03 Mar 2015 9:20 a.m. PST |
Hi Glenn Many thanks for your further response. I think you're right about leaving out the skirmishers if using 60 x 30, but I'm not sure whether I'll ever want to use 60 x 30… link However, if I reject flexibility in favour of aesthetics now, I'll probably regret it later! So maybe 60 x 30 wins out. Richard |
Glenn Pearce | 03 Mar 2015 11:32 a.m. PST |
Hello Richard! Flexibility vs aesthetics, yes that was indeed the cruncher for us. Although it kind of broke my heart we went with flexibility as it was just too logical to deny. I have no regrets as even the 60x30 looks good and they are easier to handle on the table. In some situations like valleys, hill tops, etc. the bigger base just looks like Godzilla in awkward poses. We use all 6mm figures but mainly Baccus now. Your using H&R which are on the smaller side so adding skirmishers to a 60x30 looks good and fits fine. We just got away from that look and concept so our skirmishers could function tactically rather then just look good. I note on your blog your concerned about square, line and column for other scales of games. For Polemos and some other modern games you don't have to show the various formations as it's assumed they are always in the best possible formation for the situation at hand. That has worked so well for us that its rare that anyone asks or even cares what formation their in. It's actually taken a lot of the nonsense out of the game and allowed players to focus on the higher tactics of Napoleonic warfare. We are now playing much better games then we did in the old days. Best regards, Glenn |
Hohenlohe | 21 Jul 2015 5:27 p.m. PST |
I've gone with 60x30 at my blog. Prussians of 1806 so no columns. I've added attached artillery that I cna indicate as being present by placing it to the front. link Cheers |