"15mm bases for Napoleonic" Topic

Hello everybody!

I want to consult you two important questions (at least for me !!)

1st: What are the most widespread basing for 15mm Napoleonics, in both, number of miniatures per base and measurements?

2nd: What are your favourite basing system for 15mm Napoleonics?

Thank you for your help!

1st: What are the most widespread basing for 15mm Napoleonics, in both, number of miniatures per base and measurements?

There is no "standard" basing for 15mm Napoleonics. It entireley depends on what rules you plan to use.

2nd: What are your favourite basing system for 15mm Napoleonics?

I'd probably go with the Volley and Bayonet basing of 3" squares.

2nd: 1 cannon or 2 cavalry or 3 infantry figures on 1" wide base.

we use 3cm front and 2.5cm deep for 6 figures, 2cm front/2.5 deep for 4 figs

I've gone with a standard base of 3x3 cm. Holds 6 infantry in 2 ranks of three figs, or 1 gun and crew, or 2 light cavalry figs. I can deepen the base for 3 cavalry figs (heavier cav) or for heavier guns. Magnetic sheet glued underneath so I can do bigger basing if needed for some rules.

Unless you play with others elsewhere, with your troops it does not matter so much. You can adapt rules distances to suit.
i use 3cmx 1-1.5 for 3 inf. 4 cm( dbx) for 3 cav, though some stayed with 3 cm for two. Batteries: depending on number of actual guns.
It was mostly the common stuff used, Empire, principles of war, legacy of glory etc.
As I actually now put them on two ranks I will have double bases for infantry to speed up things and hold better on slopes.

1" for three front is a bit tight nowadays for the 18mm figs.

1" for three front is a bit tight nowadays for the 18mm figs.

Actually I make bases as tight as possible, so for 18mm it may be even 21mm. I pointed out 1" as maximum front or common with others, where figures may be even in loose order, not always as in proper tight formation.

For 15mm figures:
I use to go with three figures on 1" width, then went to four figures on 1-1/4" width, but now I think I like the 2 ranks method. Currently I just double up my bases, that is eight figures in two rows on a 1-1/4" by 1" base. This is what I use to play Lasalle. However, I like more figures than less, so I'm thinking of rebasing. Putting ten figures (2x5) on a base that is 40mm wide and 25mm deep. The look of close order ranks is achieved.

I also have an older collection of older 15mm Napoleonettes (Heritage figs, which are true 15mm), and I will be forced to base this differently since I cannot get more figures of this type. The 24 fig battalions will be bases 2x3 on 1" by 3/4" bases I think.

Overall, basing your figures is:
1) according to the rules you like.
2) what you visually like.

@Nappybuff I think I may have acquired some Heritage as part of a bulk lot but couldn't say for sure.
Some of the cavalry castings have Custom casting with a copyright if 1976 on the base.
If you are interested in taking a look I can send you some pictures to help me identify them.
My email is kiltboyumass@yahoo.com.

David

I base almost all of my 15s regardless of period as follows:

2 figures on a 20x15mm steel base. This allows me to use magnetic movement trays quickly made for whatever rules are flavor of the month.

"1" for three front is a bit tight nowadays for the 18mm figs. "-For shoulder to shoulder formations… that is the idea isn't it?

I was always under the understanding for Empire Etc it was 3cm wide with 3 inf for the 2 rank and ~4cm wide with 4 for the 3 rank.
It is best to:
1) know your clubs plans
2) or the rules you plan to play or
3) be supplying both sides- then it does not matter to above.

For " 3) ….it does not matter" mount them as you see fit to give you the look you want!

Experiment with several set-ups before making your commitment.

For example I have 28mm width with 4 inf figs side by side staggered ( tight!), 40mm sq for artillery and 28mm sq for 2 cavalry.
this was chosen because the depth was reasonable to show the col/line/square formations the best w/o having to have 1:15 to 1:20 ratio for strategic level play.

Good luck and welcome to the period (madness)!
MG

Ok 1" works for the " calm" pnes like on boki pics. Not always the " gesticulating" ones or firing.
The shorter the base width the bigger your sapace as it guides your ground scale.
If I could rebase mine I would do 2.7 cm or 10% gain almost 1 km in depth and nearly 2 in width!

I knew I wanted to do Napoleonics but as you can see, the variety of basing standards is quite shocking.

I am going for something similar to Extra Crispy, but 20mm x 12.5mm as some people here have big armies based on 20mm x 25mm (4 figures)

Then start thinking about cavalry and artillery basing :(

John

Thank you very much for such a lot of good answers!

I´ll go for 1" x 7/8" with 6 figures for infantry and 1,5" for cavalry, with 3 mounted miniatures.

Me and some other good fellows are working in "The definitive Napoleonic Rules", and it´s near the end.

I have posted other question in this forum and I´m always satisfied with the kind and excellent feedback I´ve recieved from you.

A lot of personal taste here

I'm now going for 25mm/1in squares, with 6 infantry, 2 cavalry or one junior general.

I used to have the infantry in threes on 12.5mm deep bases, but the deeper ones work better, especially if the pose is advancing, charging, etc. I prefer to keep close order formations looking tight. This is about as close I can reliably get for 18mm, even though historically this frontage should be able to accommodate 4-5 men. I don't go with the fashion for loose files.

Artillery needs slightly bigger bases 30mm by 25mm (either way round) is the smallest, but 30mm squares more commonly. There's just about room for 2 crew. For 3 you need 30mm by 35mm. Here more space is more realistic – but the dictates of table space trump this.