"Lotsa rules and the use of sabots so we can use them all." Topic

Just dusting off our old 6mm Napoleonics.

I've been considering basing options in terms of flexibility. The objectives are fourfold:

maximise compatibility with different rules
maximise Blücher scaling
minimise Blücher book-keeping
get the most out of the figures we have

I did some basic research on scaling for some popular rules which you'll have to look at on my blog as it won't format here:- miniscampaign.wordpress.com

I'm trying to get the very most out of the figures by placing sabots on larger bases. What do you think of the approach on the link? I'll use iron paper and magnets with consistent flocking across the lot.

Advice/warnings etc. gratefully received.

All my 6mm Napoleonics are based on 20mm square bases. I can then group them together for any particular rules.

So cav fit alright then.

So cav fit alright then.

I fit 5 6mm foot on a 20mm square base, 4 Heavy cavalry or 3 light cavalry. Works for me. You could even double rank the foot and thus have 10 on a base if you wanted.

For 6mm, 20mmx20mm on sabot as necessary works for me. Other depths are possible as needed. The 20mm basis allows even more rule sets to be considered that are not so large scale.

(Good for most 15mm infantry as well in the basic 2x2 mode.)

I do 20x20 for 6mm and 20x15 for 15mm. Mount the figures on steel bases and you can easily cut sheet magnet sabots with scissors.

Frankly though, I never met a set of rules that two friendly sides couldn't game even with widely different basing. A little common sense, civility, and an occasional piece of math will suffice.

Hello Hohenlohe!

Oddly enough the one base that gives you the most trouble is your salvation. The 60mm x 30mm used in GdD for Polemos is the mother of all basing systems. You can use them as is or with minor rule amendments. I've not heard of anyone saying that they couldn't use them for a commercial rule set.

You build them as a battalion or a cavalry regiment. So you can create any historical unit you want. For small scale games some people use them as half or even quarter units. While others break them down into 3 20x30 or 2 30x30 bases that are simply on the same base. Two different approaches but still using the same base.

When you move up to brigade level games they are considered to be half of a brigade. Two of them together make the brigade for games like MdE, V&B, GA and Blucher. This allows you to mix or change your brigades from game to game, i.e. the 6th & 7th Hussars are not doomed to be on the same base for eternity. Some people also let brigades have two formations, a deep one, one behind the other, or in line side by side. For some lower level games people also put them back to back to form square.

Most people mount the infantry in two ranks, cavalry in a single rank. Some push the infantry to the back and add skirmishers in the front. There is just enough room to be creative in your design. I put all my light infantry and skirmishers on their own 60x30 base.

It's generally very easy to tell the brigades apart so most people avoid using labels etc. and simply track any details on a roster sheet that you probably need anyway.

Your 6mm collection probably predates Baccus but if you ever decide to add to your collection Baccus sells them to match the basing. No left over figures.

This base is very popular and should you ever attract any new 6mm players to your group there is a good chance this is how they have based their figures. You can also generally find them for sale on ebay should you want to quickly add to your collection.

Of course the size of the base is also smaller then your 75mm sabot which means the size of your table will be bigger for those brigade games.

It's really a no brainer once you see that this base size can do anything in 6mm and do it well. No more rebasing, no more sabots. It doesn't get any better.

Best regards,

Glenn

Thank you all very much for the considered advice. Of course 20mm is the most flexible and polemos is the easiest. Both are probably better than the 30 x 20 I was thinking of.

I'll chat with the guys in our group and see where they want to go with this.

Cheers

Sheldon
miniscampaign.wordpress.com

I've been considering adopting the 20x20 standard for my 6mm miniatures, but have not yet taken the plunge. The main thing holding me back is the ability to make certain formations (e.g. a good looking wedge of Macedonian companion cavalry) from the small bases (without making them useless for anything else, in which case I might as well just use a bug base). Experimentation is called for, methinks.

Doug

Well, I'll post how I go.

I've established that 20mm is far too small for 15 mm cav and only one rank of inf in any pose other than straight at attention.

Your option is looking more attractive Glenn.

My AWI are based on 20mm x15mm rectangles, 6 bases to a battalion, 4 bases to a cavalry Squadron. 3 mounted figures per base, 2-3 skirmishers or 8 marching figures. This means that they can model formation changes well and look great BUT also means basing is not so good as their isn't a lot of space for decoration.

My napoleonics Im basing on 20x20mm squares just so I have more space to decorate the bases.

The 60x30mm bases I'm using mainly for ancients. I didn't like the look of 24 man units on a single base in little columns or short lines… I like to have formation changes and I rarely play games where my figs are brigades. Ancients though these big bases look superb. I have 9-12 Baccus strips per base and 2-3 bases per unit.. Creates really impressive mass effect and looks right.

Also 20x20 squares mean that you can put 3 on to a 60x30 base and still get your polemos/ brigade level game.

I would like to use the same base size for 15mm and and 6mm which complicates things. That cruels it for 20mm.

I had a look at some options here:
link

I see. Sorry missed the 15mm bit.

You hadn't missed it, I think I failed to express it. Sorry :(

OK, we're going with 60x30 for the 6mm. You can check out the trials on my blog at:

link

Thanks Glenn.

Cheers

Sheldon

If you're going with a standard WRG size like 60x30, I would recommend something like the Wargames Accessories pre-cut sheet steel bases, with flexible magnet sheet cut to size to go underneath for the larger combinations of stands.

Doug

Yeah, I have a stock of their steel bases I'm using for the 75mm bases for the 15mm using exactly that system.

I think that's a good idea.

Hello Sheldon!

Your welcome, glad I could be of some assistance. Looking forward to hearing all about your exciting games.

Best regards,

Glenn

The final product:

link

Cheers and thanks all for the help.