"What size bases and where to get them? For SAGA" Topic

Hello, it's the ever inquisitive Matt again.
Now that I've sourced my Saga books and figures with the help of you all, I've run into another question.

I'm not a fan of the square renedra bases and prefer the round style like the Games Workshop LOTR and WH40k guys used to come on. What size is that and what sizes of bases do you all use for your 25-28mm figs? Also where to get them would be nice to know too; preferably in the US.

Thanks a lot for all the help!
Matt

1 inch fender washers, Home Despot

I used to absolutely swear by washers, yet always wanted something thicker, to make it easier to pick the mini up by the base. I have since switched to Litko round plywood 25mmx3mm bases. I love them. Unless someone starts selling thick, cheap stamping blanks, I won't go back to steel for 28's.

I am working on mounting my SAGA Saxons on them, though I am still on the fence about my vikings. I originally painted them up for WAB, and may keep them on 20mm squares.

I love the theory of "pick them up by the base." Never seen it happen in real life…

Saga uses round bases for foot: 20mm for foot; 40mm for warlords and rectangular 25mm x 50mm for mounted.

And yes, Crispy…that's a great theory.

It's a bit half & half, really. So, it does lessen the wear & tear, really. No, I don't ALWAYS use just the base, but I make an effort.

I don't have big fingers, so it works.

@jeffrey

Saga does not have required basing rules. In fact if you buy some of the 4 point armies they provide 25mm plastic bases.

Saga's basing "suggestions" are clearly laid out in C&C.

I assumed the original poster wanted opinions and feedback.

I got a batch of slotta-bases from Copplestone earlier this year. Yes, they're in Britain, but I'm in the United States, and I had no trouble with the order. Of course, I got a batch of Copplestone's figures, as well as the bases.

Grelber

I use pennies! No sxxx Pennies ! for all foot

Oh crap I'm not allowed to say that, 23 years in the army hard habit to break

@jeffrey

Thank you. I did not know C&C more specifically called out basing. I have not picked up that supplement.

It's an interesting development after the Dark Age initial rules specifically mentions there are no fixed rules and only that "you shouldn't get any advantage from your basing" along with some maximum limits.

20mm might provide a tiny advantage over 25mm or 1" but I doubt anything measurable.

I like the slightly larger 25mm or 1". It provides a little more stability and protection for the figures and their spears. 20mm has some advantages as well when it comes to ranking them up or using sabots for movement or other multi-based games systems.

Good Luck Matthias!

Thanks all for the tips! I like the range of answers and ideas. I may end up using some round bases (fender washers, plywood etc) for my foot troops. However, I just ordered all the rulebooks and supplements; going for completion, and if C&C implemented a basing standard, I'd much rather base all my figures to standard.

So to recap, 20mm round for infantry. 40 mm round for warlords and a rectangular 25x50mm for cavalry. Is there a good source to get all three sizes in one go? I am a fan of the one stop shop, which admittedly isn't always possible but is nice if it is.

Thank you all,
Matt

So, what does C&C say, then?

Is there a good source to get all three sizes in one go? I am a fan of the one stop shop, which admittedly isn't always possible but is nice if it is.

Litko manufactures them:

link

Noble Knight also stocks them. If you only ordered a few bases, NK's shipping would almost certainly come out cheaper-Litko uses a more expensive flat-rate.

In my opinion everyting thicker than washers is a sin to the figures. Playing is done with figures not with bases and they should be as unconspicuous as can be in order not to ruin the total view. And yes EXTRA CRISPY / "I love the theory of "pick them up by the base." Never seen it happen in real life…" is a fact.
Therefore with figures who happen to be used in several different invironments I even use acrylic see-through bases.
For ex those used on boardgames (AVP).
To me slottabases and wooden bases are a no no.

>>>Never seen it happen in real life…" is a fact.

I see it all the time. The majority of people are very considerate albeit sometimes after a polite reminder.

DM

Foot need to be at least 20mm and no more than 30mm wide.
Square or round. Doesn't matter.
Mounted at least 20mm wide and 40mm deep, no more than 50mm in either direction. Rectangular, oval or round (although I don't think mounted look good on round bases).
Warlord just needs to be easily distinguishable. Conventionally he is on a bigger base (I like to put him with a standard bearer on the same base to make him stand out – I think my warlord bases are 45mm round, but they have holes on them to accommodate 20mm square or 40x20mm rectangles so I can pop whichever figures I need onto the base.

So where does one acquire these movement trays (is that what a sabot is?) That will be compatible with saga base sizes? I want to make sure I base my guys in a compatible format so I can use these handy tools down the line and not shoot myself in the foot so to speak. I like that idea of being able to pop in figures into a tray/sabot especially for warlords, as I ordered two viking warlords because I liked the models and having variety.

Matt.

ALSO;
Is there movement trays sized for field of glory? THAT would speed things up considerably! Does anybody have any FOG experience using them? Experience using movement trays for SAGA? Does it make a considerable difference?

I apologize for my excitement, but this is the first I've heard of movement trays.

Field of Glory 28mm basing is 60mm wide for everyone.
20mm deep for close order foot
30mm for loose order
40mm deep for mounted
80mm deep for chariots & elephants
3 or 4 figures for close order infantry (exact number doesn't actually matter), 2 figures for light infantry.
Mounted 3 to a base except light horse who are two to a base.

You won't be able to use a sabot for Field of Glory unless your bases are very small (e.g. 15mm square for infantry). You could use magnets on your bases + steel bases of the right side for FoG.
It doesn't always work very well; it is often easier to multi-base the figures and then use markers when playing rules which require casualty removal.
You could base a whole FoG unit on a tray, but then how do you handle formation changes and stepping forward. A unit is usually 4-12 bases (so between 4 and 48 models, depending on troop type and size).

Also, be aware you'll be needing a lot of models for an army in FoG compared to a Sage warband. A 650 point FoG starter army will require 150 – 200 figures. A typical army has perhaps a dozen units, each probably around 12-24 figures.

My Viking Army for Field of glory is 15mm. They are all based according to the rules, I was just curious if anything was available to make the mass maneuver phase of my shieldwall infantry a little quicker. If not, no biggie. They are based on metal bases (admittedly I didn't paint or base this army, it was gift to me). For Saga though I suppose I could use sabots or would they not work in conjunction with the rules?

If you want unit bases, then yes, such things are available.
Warbases do loads of them in different sizes; for instance I have a bunch which are 80mm x 40mm internally.

You could use them with Saga, too, but you may need the flexibility of spreading figures out.