"Basing question?" Topic

The new Warlord games intro box seems to use flat Renendra bases and the 20mm square raised bases…what seems to be the favored method?

I base all my figures on artist's mountboard. Cheap, comes ready coloured and I can cut any size base I like.

I'm with you, Major B.!

I use Wargames accessory metal bases. They are flat, unbreakable, blend into the table and pretty cheap. Plus you can get any size you want.

I use either fender washers for my TSATF type games or mount 3 infantry figures on 1"x2" basswood bases I cut myself.
These bases are the best I have come across in 30+ years if AWI gaming. If the rules call for double rank bases I just put one behind the other. Since both sides are mounted the same way, play is unaffected.
The washer based figures can also be placed on 2" wide magnetic bases if I need them for the "other" type game.

I can see no advantages for the current fad of 4 figures on 40mm x 40mm bases, since it seems to severely limit you to certain rules. If all you can ever see yourself playing is British Grenadier, that's fine. But what if you want to try another system?

I started paying 1776 back in the previous century. 25mm figures were quite scrawny, and Hinchliffe figures had no problems fitting on the suggested 3/4" frontages. However, figures grew taller and bulkier.
With my scheme, it is the most flexible if you want to try different rules. I wish I had started that way. It would have saved me some scar tissue from rebasing.

What if you want to play Rebellion, is 40mm x 40mm OK ? I would base 1 x 4 figs on 20mm x 20 mm so that I could take them away as casualties ….

I can see no advantages for the current fad of 4 figures on 40mm x 40mm bases, since it seems to severely limit you to certain rules.

No more so than mounting 3 figures on 1"x2" base.

There's no favored method. Every set of rules has a different standard, and most of us come up with our own to adapt to two or more favorite rule sets.

I prefer a 3mm thick base with magnetic underside, with the troops mounted 1x3 or 1x2. I came to the same conclusion as Winston Smith about basing them permanently 2 ranks deep – not flexible enough.

I used to prefer ultra-thin bases (e.g. Wargames sheet metal) because they can blend into the terrain, but they turn out to be a PITA when moving large units around, because they have no vertical surfaces to line up on. Lining up stands by eye makes moving large numbers of stands around more time consuming, and messier.

- Ix

I have started to favor raised bases as it allows for people to pick up the stand by the base easier. Flat bases tend to cause the stands to be picked up by the figures. This is always going to happen no matter what but you might as well as try and save the figures a little handling I figure.

I can see no advantages for the current fad of 4 figures on 40mm x 40mm bases, since it seems to severely limit you to certain rules.

No more so than mounting 3 figures on 1"x2" base.>/q>
It's quite simple.
A base with double ranked figures has a hard time in a game with single ranked figures.
But a base with single ranked figures can always be doubled.

I would not want to play a game of Patriots and Loyalists, or Age of reason with figures based for British Grenadier.

A base with double ranked figures has a hard time in a game with single ranked figures.

What rules require only single ranked figures?

In "Patriots and Loyalists" although the number of figures per stand is suggested in the rules, all game mechanics are resolved by stand; you shouldn't have to rebase any of your troops.

Furthermore, basing single rank will require movement trays or you'll have a never ending game. I based my Napoleonics that way and am regretting it now…. If you opt for movement trays, I can accept it, but then why not single base them all in that case ?

I have my figures "temporarily" mounted on mat board used for pictures. The long term plan is to mount them on metal bases which can be used in conjunction with various sized magnet unit sized movement trays to speed up movements. We'll see if that happens.

OK I will weigh in. First off you do not need the amount of troops Warlord recommends for a game of AWI BP.

We successfully use 16 figures for a standard unit and 20 for a large unit. Because I use magnetized storage mine are based on 1.5' x.75 bases with two figs per base with 8 bases in a standard unit. I use .75" x.75" for single figure in a small skirmish unit.

Additionally this gives me flexibility to use the same armies for Regimental Fire and Fury where bases are removed for casualties.

Our system allows you to stretch you figures for more units, but still gives a good look on the table with a unit frontage of 6" for a standard unit. A box of Perry will yield two units with additional command figures and WGF the same if you are only using plastics.

Just played Bemis Heights from the Rebellion book where the author specifically states they used 6" frontage for units.

HTH,

Aaron

From our game Sunday

[URL=http://s441.photobucket.com/user/adfilter/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-11/20151129_195332_zpsegovlqst.jpg.html]

[/URL]

[URL=http://s441.photobucket.com/user/adfilter/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-11/20151129_173151_zpsf3iln3dl.jpg.html]

[/URL]

[URL=http://s441.photobucket.com/user/adfilter/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-11/20151129_175920_zpss1q5w5kh.jpg.html]

[/URL]

I buy sheets of 1/8"-thick hardwood (I find that I get the best results with cherry) and cut the bases to size with my table saw using a fine-tooth blade. I don't have a truly standard size – I select the best size for the particular group of castings.

If I lived in the UK I'd get all my bases from Warbases. He offers any size you want (within reason), laser cut 3mm (1/8th ") high density MDF. A typical size for me of 35mm x 65mm rectangle is $2.80 USD for 14 bases – works out to $8.17 USD per square foot. After allowing for waste, my cherry sheets are about $6 USD a square foot but I'd gladly pay the extra for the convenience of not having to cut and sand. The chap offers a high quality product and excellent service – I know because I've bought some of his "pill" and circular bases. Unfortunately the shipping to U.S. makes the net cost prohibitive for day-in day-out basing.

Litko offers a similar product in 3mm microplywood. Although I hate MDF for furnishings and the like it is a better product than the micro ply for basing, but the real issue is Litko's price, which works out to $14.69 USD a square foot.