"The Portable Wargame - Figure Spacing" Topic

I have started basing my 10mm figures on a 10mm frontage but I'm now thinking that 8mm per figure looks better.

Help me solve the quandary.

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They both look good but I lean towards the 10mm spacing.

I'd go with 10mm, easier to measure

Another vote for the 10mm. The figures "breathe" better.

I base my infantry ( WSS, LoA) at around 7.5mm or tighter, (2 ranks of 8 on a 60mm x 30 mm base) and think it gives a better look than those on the 10mm basing, which look too sparse and vulnerable to me.. Cavalry would be through them like a fise of salts! I have some units, Dutch Guards for example where there are 2 ranks of 10 on the 60mm bases. I use 6 cavalry figures to a 60mm frontage and 5 mounted dragoons.
The wider spacing might be OK to represent formation in approach march, but once in firing/ fighting line they would close up tighter, so that's what I am trying to represent with my bases.

I agree with steamingdave. A lot of gamers seem to like open spacing for what are supposed to be close order troops. It just doesn't look "right" to me. I would go with the 8mm frontage. Be careful however, that all your figures will actually fit.

10mm

I use 10mm spacing for 15mm troops, so I'd suggest going smaller for 10s, but as Dan says. Make sure they fit.

The 8mm looks better. Real elbow to elbow cloe order.
Of course as has been said its all a question of preference.

8 looks better. But (a) how many troops would you want to rebase? and (b) can you get a guarantee that next year's 10mm will be more or less the size of this year's? I might bunch them up a bit but leave them on the 10mm stand just in case.

I agree that 8mm looks better so I've gone ahead and ordered 32mm MDF bases from Warbases.

I've only had to undo two bases (16 figures) which wasn't too bad.

I already have two army packs of 10mm Pendraken Marlburlians, one French, one British but the castings are actually identical (one of the reasons I choose this period (simplicity)). I may have to buy some more cavalry and maybe some artillery even if I do a double sized army for both sides.

I won't be short of matching figures up.

Thanks for all your comments.

I go as tight as will fit on the base. That tends to be 3 on 20mm and 4 on 30mm.

Horse and musket troops fought shoulder to shoulder. An advantage of this is more units per table length.

I like the 8mm spacing but would add another figure to use up the "extra" space. Two rows of 5 compared to two rows of 4. Now that shows how close order they were.