"Basing 28mm?" Topic

Hey so, basically I'm quite new to medieval 28mm gaming and would like to know how you guys base your miniatures? 1 on a base, 4 on a base etc? I'm quite new so not so good with sizes, however me and a friend play Napoleonic 28mm games with 2 infantry per base and it seems to work well.

All suggestions and advice is apprecaited.

It depends…

I base all my 28mm as single figure per base. If the need arises, they can be placed on movement trays to move in groups.

Multi-figure bases are only used for 20mm and below.

All my medieval figures are single based, foot on 2p coins or washers, cavalry on 20mm x 40/50mm. I don't play any rule sets that make you rebase.

I do 4 on a base for tightly formed units and 3 to a base for looser formed units.

I do single figure on a 20mm base. Mostly I do skirmish but can put them on a movement tray.

It truly depends on the rules. Personally I dislike single figures put onto movement trays as it doesn't look great. BigRedBat does a great job with multi-basing – you can see his work and tutorials here:

link

And some eye candy from him:

I prefer single bases for 28mm and up, and multiples for 15mm and below. Having both gives me a lot of flexibility.

For many decades. the WRG element base was the closest thing to standard basing we will probably ever have in our hobby – almost all troops on 60mm wide bases, 4 per stand for pikes and very close order spearmen, 3 per stand for most other infantry and cavalry, 2 per stand for Light infantry and cavalry. One per stand for Chariots, elephants, etc. My ancients have been based this way since the mi 1970's.

With the larger figures of today, 3/2/1 is probably more feasible as well as notably less expensive. Impetus (and some others) suggest 120 mm wide bases, one per unit.

Lots of options; depends on the rules you plan to use, how others you might game with do it, personal aesthetic choice, etc. etc.

Rules matter.

So do the minis that you are buying. Are they slotta bases? Plastic, or metal? Sometimes the manufacturer will dictate how you begin your shopping.

And for me, another vote for individual basing.

A big reason for single basing is that it allows you to use your figures for any of the numerous skirmish-level games out there, like Lion Rampant, etc. Many also have Warhammer fantasy figures that are single-based, so keeping your medieval figures also single-based makes them compatible.

Single basing with group movement trays.

I base many miniatures on individual 25mm flat round bases, though I usually base civilians on 20mm.

Horses go on rounded base.

This works quite well for all skirmish games and RPGs.

For larger games I do base 2-6 miniatures on a 3cm*6cm base, to be used with FOG, Impetus or DBx. Some units for Impetus go on 12*6 or 12*8 for better looks.

For the less crowded base I try a system to put individually based minis on the unit base, using magnets, but that is imho yet unsatisfactory. For infantry in close formation I found that individual bases do not work. No way to make a pikeblock look real when they stand on 20mm bases…

In the end, go for the rules (no use having a basing that is not supported), and/or go for the looks. You will always find a rulesystem that suits your basing… the problem will be to find an opponent.