"* Figure basing question Impetus vs. Fields of Glory?" Topic

Hello,
I am just getting into playing ancients and have a question regarding mounting figures. That is, after looking over both 'Fields of Glory' and 'Impetus', I have decided to play 'Impetus'.
My question is this, would it be best to mount my 15mm figures on the base sizes recommended by the 'Impetus' rules book or would it be best to mount them as per the 'Fields of Glory' rules book and use movement trays to keep the individual units together for play?
If possible, I would only like feedback on those gamer's who have significant experience with either or both of these game systems.
Thank you for your time!
Tom Semian
Avalon, Pa. 15202

Hi Tom.

I played Impetvs with both kinds of bases. It really doesn't matter really as you can play Impetvs with FoG/WRG bases with no problem. However, Impetvs bases tend to allow you more efficient use of your figures (you may need less). Also, Impetvs bases allow you to go crazy and make little dioramas if you want. The number of figures you use on an Impetvs base really is up to you.

One thing to note is that the smaller FoG bases allow your units to conform to terrain better than Impetvs bases, which tend to be quite large. Imp. bases can be quite clumsy in fact unless you use more flat and well spaced terrain.

In the end it is up to you really. If you want really good use of available figures, and make some really nice looking units, Impetvs basing can't be beat. Otherwise stick with the more common FoG/WRG basing- which also allows you to play a lot more rules systems down the road as well.

Hi there, the basing dimensions of the Impetus system allowed gamers with their armies based on 40mm frontage elements to try the ruleset.

If you game on your own or in a small group and have no intention of entering the competition scene then you can base them how you feel. Not only that but you don't even have to stick to the recommended base sizes. If you like the look of 100mm wide bases with rounded corners then why not?

It is a sign of of good set of rules that it can be used with figures of any scale and base size variation with minor adjustments if needed.

The practical side of getting figures on a base is that some "15mm" ranges are nearer 18mm and getting these large figures in the requisite 40mm base dimensions can be fraught at the very least. I personally prefer to have no overhang so in handling fingers don't catch model extremities and damage to the paint work is minimized.

In this respect Impetus basing on 2-3 mm thick bases does quite nicely apart from giving opportunities for 'dioramas' and reducing the number of figures to make an army..

The smaller FOG bases will give you much more flexibility to what rules you play. Say visiting other players or in the future. I think the impetus bases look slightly better but in the end I'd prefer to keep my options open.

If you want to use other rules, take 4 dbm/ fog bases for one impetus, it works well.

I have done both but have chosen a 1/2 of one and 1/2 of the other system which still makes nice impetus style bases but more flexible. I basically take a impetus base and divide it in half so in 15 mm 40x40 or what ever depth used by Impetus. This works very well for me ( I also use whatever looks good figures wise too)
Cheers

I use 40 mm frontages and either 20 mm or 30 mm depth- this allows me to play DBA, FoG, Impetus, Sword and Spear and Hail Caesar with the same figures. Rule preferences seem to shift a lot; this way I don't have to rebase to play whichever rule set is in vogue at a particular time.

The nice thing about the large Impetus bases is that they look so good visually. Going with the smaller bases loses you the ability to create this kind of effect. When I played FoG most of my units were 4 or 6 stands, either 2 by 2 or 3 by 2. So you could something along the line of Zargon and do a bit of both.

Unless you are sure you are only ever going to play Impetus I would base them with 40mm frontages. It's no problem using these as Impetus units – I've played lots of games of Sword & Spear (which has the same sized units as Impetus) with my ancients armies which were based for DBM / FOG. You don't need to use sabot bases or movement trays – just move the four bases that make up a unit.
Even if you have decided you don't like FOG, most ancients rules use 40mm frontages for 15mm, so if you base them on Impetus bases you will not have the flexibility of playing many other rules with them.

I'm conflicted by this issue. On the one hand, single-element width bases are more flexible, yet on the other the larger Impetus-style bases can be more aesthetically pleasing, as one can construct a diorama on them.

I'm personally more inclined to the latter because I run a lot of very large games. It is much easier to take a single large element from a box than four (or even six) smaller ones, and they are much less prone to damage. Also I find sabot bases somewhat visually unappealing.

Here's one of the new generation of large bases that I use in my To the Strongest games; it is 18cm wide:

I'm definitely tending towards larger (and larger) bases for gaming; but, that said, it is also possible to design units that form dioramas across multiple bases:

Maybe it's just me being clumsy, but I noticed that with my Impetvs sized bases (even in 15mm) I would knock a model off or loose from the base (did that a few times). With the smaller DBx bases that never happens. The bigger bases just don't have any give.

Lol… just something I noticed. Not really something that should influence your decision on basing.

Kurt "the Clumsy"

What BRB said … FoG/DBx elements lay over the landscape better and give you options for other wargames, unit diorama bases are more dramatic. For my current Bouvines project which uses Basic Impetus some of the personalities are getting their own Impetus diorama built around them (because they just look splendid) while most of the rest of the units are made up of conventional bases.

Phil
Ancients on the Move

I did a ton of BatReps and also the "Basic Impetvs- How to Play" series on YouTube. All were using the basing Impetvs calls for. However, I did one BatRep using the FULL Impetvs rules and two armies mounted on DBx bases. If you want to have a quick look at THTA BatRep here is the link below. The other videos show off the large Impetvs basing. You can see a couple things from watching: 1. is that the DBx basing does allow conforming to terrain MUCH better. 2. the Impetvs basing is easier to see each unit (while playing); it does get a lil confusing with DBx basing if units are blended close together. Not really a major issue however.

Full Version with Extras!

Alternate Version

Both feature some good period tunes as well :)

… and just for added measure, here is one using the LARGE bases called for by Impetvs:

Basic Imp. Feudal French v. Feudal Scotts!

Another thing to consider is that it is quite difficult to get the textured basing material around the feet of the figures on a large base with multiple ranks of figures.

That is very true, Mark! Big basing takes longer and is fiddly. But once it is done it is done, and it does save time later when setting up and playing.

Good points in favor of the DBx/FoG basing. I used to base both ways. However, MOST (and all from now on) are DBx bases. Reason? As wonderful as the Impetvs/BIG bases look, I prefer the small DBx style over all (for all the reasons listed above). I had to re-base quite a few models because of this. I still play Impetvs however.

The DBx basing lets you play pretty much any set of ancients rules (including Impetus). My figures get used for many sets of rules, and it's best to have a basing scheme which allows that.

I like the visuals of big bases but I prefer the flexibility to be able to play whatever rules I want. DBX basing for me all the way.

Is there really a problem playing DBM(M) or FOG with one Impetus base is 4 bases? Or do you regularly field 3 base units?

with FoG probably not in many cases (tournaments apart), with DBMM you cannot play with Impetus bases.

You can do a mix, anyway but much depends on how many figures you have or you want to paint.
With Impetus bases you can save a lot of painting (and with a better visual result), but then you cannot play with DBMM.

Another note is that in LADG two of these bases equals a single Impetvs base. In LADG depth is like Impetvs; only the frontage is different (half).

Both FoG and DBx remove individual bases. In FoG bases are formed into units but there will be bases removed, bases within a unit can be turned and it is possible fot the bases of a unit to slide forwards. I would say that playing FoG with what are in effect quadruple bases would be difficult at best.

If you really like Impetus and are not interested in any other set of rules then use big bases, they look great. If you want to be able to play whatever rules are on the way or that have just been released then stick with the 40mm frontage.

As a DBA/FOG/etc player that is just now looking at Impetus I'm planning on using 40mm bases but sticking that fridge magnet material on the bottom on each stand so I can make foil lined movement trays for Impetus that will keep the whole unit together for easy movement on the table, transport etc but allow me to easily break them down for games that use the smaller bases. Best of both worlds!

Just starting Impetus.

Help me out here….I normal order my bases from Litko in 0.8mm because I like thin bases. I am assuming that a 0.8mm base won't support 28mm figures in 120 X 60mm and I need to go thicker.

Is this correct? Will 1.5mm do the trick?

It depends on the scale imho.

I'm a big Impetus fan and love the basing, however with 15mm I'd advise going with DBX basing as it allows you to play whatever system you want if you change your mind as most games played at this scale are on DBX basing or using dimensions of it.

Now 28mm is a different kettle and since no system or system grouping dominates at this scale your pretty much free to roam without too much concern as most systems played here are flexible in their basing requirements so here would be a good place to go with Impetus basing.

Christopher

at ACW gamer. Never tried 0.8 bases, I use 1.5 and they are perfect.

@BigRedBat

Great summary on the basing dilemma and an outstanding illustration of what can be done with Impetus basing.

John

Thanks John!

I spend a lot of time whipping minis off of DBx or WAB bases, and rebasing on big bases to suit my own gaming needs. I bet there is someone within 5 miles who is doing the direct opposite, for equally valid reasons. :-)

Adding to the variables, my group has simply based all our 28mm on 2.5x4" bases. We started this with one rules system and the it just spread to others. For example, with DBM, we have larger than normal bases, but remove bases as normal. The downside is playing against standard basing with other players. We aren't tournament gamers and have close to 10k total figures combined, so not an issue. For those wanting to compete in tournaments, or play strangers, it is crutiial to standardize. You can base to the smaller and sabot, as has been suggested, or compensate as we do for the larger. Perhaps you can less permenantly base to the smaller, play both, and see what you like best. Good luck!

Thanks Losart