"Basing for 2mm scale ECW? Any suggestions?" Topic

Hi Folks,

After reading the latest Wargames Soldiers and Strategy !magazine featuring Mark Backhouse's lovely Siege of Portsmouth I bought a couple of starter armies from Irregular Miniatures.

I'm itching to get started on them, but was wondering about basing sizes. My initial thought was to copy Mark's example and have two units on (what appears to be 40x15mm rectangular bases).

As many will know, 2mm ECW units come as a complete single mould element with pikes in middle and shot wings. So two of these would be presented as a brigade or similar. The Osprey book on Marston Moor shows this rather well, and I assume I could replicate it…although some units are understrength at Marston Moor (or composites). So are shown as a single unit. So not sure if I should show a handful as just one per base to reflect this.

A friend suggested maybe three units per base (with one forward and two behind), then just two units per base as understrength/weaker ones. Though this may be confusing when creating lines.

Also unsure about the cavalry. Maybe three deep in two sections?

Anyway, hope that's not too confusing!!
Thanks in advance :)

Irregular 2mm ECW on 40x15mm base….

I use separate pike and shot elements. 1:1 scale using horse and musket blocks for shot and renaissance pike only blocks for the pike elements. Ground scale 1 yard to the mm so same scale as the figures.

Hi,

I had great pleasure in helping Mark Demo the 2mm ECW game last year. His bases are 60 x 30mm, with some of the guns and small units on 30 x 30mm bases. The large bases add to the 'epic' look of the game. If 2mm is your thing have a "Roundwood's World ", its full of inspiring ideas.
Let us know how you get on.

Thanks guys!

Giblab: I've been checking out Roundwood's world for a while. Brilliant and inspirational. I've just received a copy of his rules, which we'll be playtesting at our club soon.

I'll probably go with Mark's basing idea on the 60x30's.

Elenderil: I've seen pictures of your figures and they really do look superb. If I hadn't already bought the ECW packs I would have used your idea of separate blocks.

Lee Derik could you post a picture of one of your regiments please?

I am also putting together a 2mm collection based initially on Marston Moor. Using the historical information my bases have various elements on them, so it may be 2, 3 or even 4 infantry blocks per base.

Commanded shot would be a couple of single lines.

Cavalry depend on whether close order trot chargers or hell for leather gallopers. Close order use 2 to 4 of the square blocks of riders, gallopers single lines of figures two or three ranks deep.

I have smaller bases than in the article mentioned as I want a more tactical game and to maximise my space available.

I am using my own quick play rules with activation decided by playing cards, and elements on the base reflecting the dice rolled. For me infantry firepower is included in close combat as is light artillery.

I also think I can adapt Pike and Shotte to this scale with some tweaking.

We shall see, all WIP!

60x30 (or even 40x20 or 40x15) will work for a bunch of rule systems, including Polemos.

Thanks Old Peculiar.

Do you (or anyone) have any detailed references for the cavalry regiments at Marston Moor? Especially which ones were close order trotters and chargers?

I'll be working on the infantry basing later today. I'll post up some photographs towards the end of the week.

I'll probably base the cavalry in a similar fashion to the infantry, with weaker units fielded with less figures.

Treading through the OOB for Marston Moor there was quite a varied amount different sized brigades and single regiments.

I'm also aware that details are sometimes sketchy. With some sources casting doubt on which regiments were actually there, and their positions on the field.