" Bases, size, frontage and number of figures ???" Topic

Gents help me understand the concepts behind the basing of 28mm ECM figures.

I'm a painter rather than wargamer and so am coming to this from that perspective, (having an urge to build a few battalia of shot and pike). I would however like the basing to adhere to some generally accepted (if there is such a thing) rules and concepts as to base size and layout of figures so the painted units could be gamed if desired.

I've a box of warlord ECW infantry on order along with their rule book, which I hope will give some insight, and I get the idea that for a shot and pike battlia its a pike set flanked by musketeers along with command figures. I would like to base them however in a way that could suit several rule sets, (but not on individual bases).

Hope I'm making sense here, and I suspect that basing may well be rule book specific but hopefully there are some general conventions I can look to adhere to.

All help appreciated

P

From the last time I dabbled

My 28 mm ECW infantry are generally based on 40mm square bases, with 4 figures to a base (2x2). Units consist of 4 musketeer and 2 pike bases (which carry the comand group as well) as a minimum, or multiples of these for larger units. I based like this for a particular rule set (Warre without an Enemy) , but it works OK for Black Powder and Pikeman's Lament. I have also based some of figures on single or double bases, mainly fir playing the skirmish level games.
I know you reject the idea of single basing, but if I were starting again, that's the way I would go, with steel movement trays of various sizes (all of my figures have magnetic bases).

I base my ECW foot in 12s on bases of my own design. To my mind, there's not much point in basing individually, or even in 4s, lest half the gaming evening be spent unpacking and moving the minis!

link

I like them reasonably crowded so it will depend on the manufacturer. I do 4 Blue Moon 18s on a square inch base.

Command is always with the pikes if that helps, though I like what BigRedHat does here and has a strip of command he can add anywhere. In the end I have a a slight preference for them integrated in with the pike though.

I also like big units so 12 per seems weak to me: 16 pikes and command in the center on 4 bases flanked by 2 sleeves of 3 bases at 4 figs each: ("S" = Sergeant, O= Officer, m=Musician, F=Flag bearer) These are 40 figure regiments.

______________|PP| |PP|
______________|PP| |PP|
|MM| |MM| |MM| |PP| |Pm| |MM| |MM| |MM|
|SM| |MM| |MM| |PP| |FO| |MM| |MM| |MS|

Don't base pikemen in deeper ranks than musketeers. They should have the same depth.

Arguably pikemen should based on a narrower frontage per figure than musketeers, but few bother to do that. Older rules accomplished this by using 60mm wide bases, 4 pikemen or 3 musketeers in a single rank.

I'm not aware of evidence for a differnent frontage between pike and shot- although both types might halve the ranks and double the files on the same frontage in certain circumstances- in melee or to conduct salvee fire.

Of course you could really do it in style…

Another thing you might want to consider when basing is the variable ratio of shot to pike. Instead of basing on 2X2 squares, you could base 4X1 or even 3X1 (much like the example of the command strip posted) and then use movement trays that would hold two strips deep, 6 strips per unit. Gives a bit more flexibility for other rule sets.

Cheers all for the responses.

I've not been ignoring you, but as a new member have had to wait three days before being able to post.

I very much like to look of the three bases plus command that Simon uses, as that is a very attractive look (bearing in mind I'm coming at this from a painters perspective)

As for 6mm – my old eye's will struggle with 28mm let alone 6mm ! It does look grand to see a fully manned unit though.

The Warlords infantry pack I have on order is for 40 figures and so I'll go with 12 pike flanked by 12 muskets an each side on three bases plus a separate command base which use all 40 figures and will make for a nice busy scene.

Now to decide on what colours for both coats and flags. !

P

For colours and coat information the BCW Site is brilliant. I mostly use Flags of War, they are very nice.

Hi Pete,

I understand where you are coming from re age and eyes – I share your pain! But I would not dismiss 6mm so easily. It is much more a question of technique than eyesight, and Peter Berry has a guide on his Baccus website to help newbies to tackle 6mm. I find, once you have gone for a black basecoat, decided on using lighter colours than you would on larger figures, and remembered that even on big figures, it is the small details which mark out the skill of a painter, then it is perfectly possible to produce a good result. Think how many great paintings are actually made up by small points of paint, and give some thought as to how, as a painter, you would tackle the challenge. I am sure you would surprise yourself! A sample pack from Baccus will cost you far less than your 40 Warlord figures!

mollinary – I was being a little tongue in cheek, and have indeed in the past (many many years ago) gamed at that scale playing with Heroics and Ros 1:300 modern armines.

I'm a painter these days and my aim is to create top class painted units attractively based for display more so than gaming.

We'll see how I get on. I've gone with Warlord at this stage as they seem decent figures and are good value, but I am eyeing Bicorne Miniatures for the next Battalia

Cheers Simon for the BCW site.I discovered that a few days ago and have been working through the information on foot units they have.

P

Hi Peter, also link and link

What about 15mm stuff?

What size bases?