"Basic basing question for 15/18mm" Topic

I am sure this will spark some comment. It has been awhile since I did any 15mm scale Naps, and in those days I was using the 'Napoleons Battles Rule set' As it was very specific and a long time ago I don't want to do that.

So here is the question: What is a good generic basing size for 15mm Naps these days? I know there are an abundance of rules but if someone folks out there could provide me with what they think is a good base size and the number of troops per base, I would really appreciate it. For example for a line or guard battalion, then 4 figures on a 20x20mm base.

Anyway at the end of the day I will be happy for any advice as I am about to paint my 1000s of 1809 Austrians!

Cheers

This is always a good idea to put 3 infantry or 2 cavalry figures to one universal modul-base.. ;-)
They have the same front.

Afternoon.

You really need to answer a few questions first.

Who are you going to be playing with?

Are you going to be supplying both sides?

Which set of rules are you hoping to use?

Does this set of rules have a basing requirement?

I do Napoleonics in a number of scales.

I have some where a single base is 60x30 and represents a whole battalion.

Others are 40x30 and 4 bases represents a battalion.

Another is 40x40 and 4,5 or 6 bases represents a small, standard or large battalion.

I also have some figures individually mounted and group them on a suitable sabot tray using magnetic bases.

There is no such thing as a 'generic base size' as the answer will vary from club to club, group to group, or individual player to individual player.

Best of luck.

If they are already based for NB, they are good for Shako and Age of Eagles.

Most of the newer rules work as long as both sides are consistant

For Nappies, long ago I went over to 'the heck with it, I'm just doing the bases I like and I'll provide all the figures for a scenario' So now they're on 50mmx50mm, 1 base= 1 brigade, and the bayonets are not all going to get broken off! I am happy with them, and will never need to rebase again ^,^

I have a few odds and ends on DBx sized bases for playing DBN.

For all of my horse & musket periods I base my 15mm the same way: 2 figures per stand on stands of 20mm x 15mm. I use steel stands so I can make movement trays out of sheet magnet.

My battalions are 24 figures (mostly). But this lets me cut down to 12 or bulk up. And cutting sheet magnet can be done with scissors. You can make an army's worth of movement trays in an hour or two. I cut to the unit template and spray paint green.

With this basing system you can easily play 99% of all the Napoleonics rules out there. So whatever your mates play, you can match their basing fast, easy, and cheap.

I have all 18mm AB figures. I base on a 40mm x 30mm for cav and infantry.

There are 2 rows of 4 figures for infantry and 3 cav figures per base. I have 16 figure battlions so 2 bases or or 12 cav figures per regiment so 4 bases of 3.

I do Naps for Blackpowder already in 28mm.

I don't have a set of rules.
I have French and Prussian, all AB miniatures 18mm.
No one in my club does 15 or 18. I will probably paint them then try and work out what to do with them or sell them….. @extra Crispy I ike the idea of basing for magnetic trays that you can add or remove as you wish. Thinking of doing 4 figs per stand on 20 x 20. Smirmishers 2 figs on same base, Cav 2 figs on 20 x 30.

I am in no hurry so plenty of time consider options.

Thanks by way, I appreciate the feedback.

Cheers.

If you base them in a single rank you have a lot more flexibility with what you can play, since you can double them up if the need arises.

However, I'd do a bit of looking around at rules reviews to see if any appeal. If need be buy a couple and play them with card counters before leaping into a basing decision. For example, the set I like has single rank basing but there are lots of very enjoyable game systems that use double rank basing. I wouldn't commit them to bases too soon.

When I decided what I was going to do I got about 100 figures painted and tried various arrangements before making a final decision. It's not just how a battalion looks on the table but also consider the aesthetics of the brigade, division and corps (if you go that large).

Aspects that were important to me (in 18mm) was that I wanted the smallest battalion that I thought still looked good, as I have limited painting time and multiple periods to collect. I wanted battalions that had the right kind of footprint – in other words I wanted them too look linear even for units in two company frontage column and I wanted units and higher formations that could be arranged in the common formations without looking over crowded. In other words whatever I went for had to ensure that there was plenty of room for manoeuvre on my table top. Oh and I wanted three or four divisions a side.

Obsidian, in your position, I'd do the full Morschauser--four infantry. two cavalry/1 gun with two crew, each on a 1"x 1"/25mm square. It's consistent, it's close enough to most rules to be used with them, and you only need to stock one size of base.