"How do you decorate your wargame bases?" Topic

How do you usually decorate your miniature figure bases?

Feel free to choose more than one, and specify differences between smaller and larger scaled figures.

(a) Paint
(b) Flocking
(c) Grassy clumps
(d) Rocks and gravel
(e) Tree branches and stumps
(f) Other _________________

B

F!

I now put tons of "stuff" on my bases. The more stuff the better. Dirt, 3 shades of flock, 1 or 2 of my 3 different tufts, purple, white or red flowers, small shrubs, and discarded shields, javelins, swords and axes.

I often spend as much time on the bases as I do on the figures.

First "A" then "B"; I've always been minimalist with basing; for years I used matt board painted the usual grass green. When most of my games became skirmishes I painted the bases green or sand or brown or asphalt to suit the figures' genre. I started going the extra step with grass flocking when appropriate (sand for gladiators). Now I've discovered clear acrylic bases which don't even need paint so my new projects will be "F" for "Featureless"!

(f) Other.
Most of my bases are pre-coloured mount board.

f. Flat black paint

For bases representing grass b, flock, followed by a coat of varnish.

For desert bases f, chinchilla sand, patches of course flock and a coat of varnish.

Depends

For fancy bases (like command groups) all of the above – including Skipper John's Stuff

For grunts, paint and flock with the occasional tuft

All of the above, plus a texture paste of coffee grounds and white glue.

A then B and sometimes d. No one answer for most.

Decorate? Should I use glitter?

When I first started in the hobby everything was solid green flock. Now I go way overboard

Paint
Gravel or Gel Medium with Pumice
Small Rocks and or tree branches/logs
flock or Static Grass
Grass Tufts

Xin

A – Textured paint though.

I do D,A and C in that order.

(f) I use two shades of green sand, mixed with tan model RR ballast, which resembles gravel/stones. Quick, simple, and it looks good, too. Cheers!

Prime/paint the bases, Elmer's Glue followed by sand, let dry then paint a base color, then kind of dry brush it, then maybe put some tufts of static grass on the base to break up the monotony.
All this sounds like I do a lot of work on my bases but I don't.
There are just a lot of steps.

:)

I be a 'B'

Plumbers caulk. Fine gravel/dirt. Press in a bigger rock or two. Base paint dark brown or black. Dry brush highlighting lighter Browns and or gray.
Dark green little puddles of paint. Static grass and fine turf mixture onto that. Finish off with grass tufts, plants, and or flowers here and there superglued to wherever. That's right. Extra work but that's how I like it.

All the above. I start with very fine sand sprinkled onto water downed white glue with dark brown pigment mixed in, I add some random gravel to give it a mixed appearance. After that dries I begin to dry brush on layers of light browns to khaki at least 2-3 layers. I add some flock, some static grass and clumps, sometimes a twig or two or a rock again to give the base a random look. I am happy with the process.

I did this technique on my Saga Moors and the Byzantines. I used brown grasses and tufts though.
link

First, I paint the base (a). Then, I use Elmer's glue to coat the entire base with coffee grounds (f), and flick the excess off. Finally, a layer of flock is applied, mostly over where the coffee grounds came off too much (b).

Use loads of different stuff.My local shops have a huge selection, and I tend to buy a new pack on the side with every purchase. I've got drawers full of the it.

Rocks and sand, paint dark brown, dry brush burnt sienna, dry brush beige, than grass flocking, tufts and flowers.

My lady is now doing this for me. :)

First D, then A, then a little B, at least for individually mounted figures. For 28mm unit bases, I use printout terrain ground on top of the actual base.

D,A, and C.

B I'm too lazy to do fancy bases as slow as I paint

Pre-coloured mount boards work for me.

Most bases look attractive but, unless your army is retreating through a wheat field, say, then try not to make then too uniform in appearance.

First A and then B.

Builders sand, static grass, sometimes a drybrush of paint.

Paint, rocks and gravel, static grass.

It depends on the scale and the period. For individually-mounted 28s, I'm of the opinion that a dark grey base, evoking the mounted figure's shadow, is the best and most flexible option for gaming.

Nothing's more jarring that sticking (for example) outdoor terrain inside a building.

On the other hand, all of the 15mm terrain I have is nice, green spring fields. Sexing up the base to match that terrain looks pretty good.

As a 28mm skirmish sci fi gamer, it depends on the genre. PA figs get mud, gravel and scatter like ruined equipment/junk. Regular sci fi gets whatever ground terrain is appropriate to that force. Cyberpunk gets urban gravel and techie items.

Also, I try to contrast the base's color scheme with the figs to help it stand out.