"pros and cons of different basings 4x1, 2x2, 3x2 (BP)? " Topic

Hello,

I am in the process of planning a French Napoleonic army for Black Powder in 28mm.

I know the basing is rather flexible but I am hesitating between several version.

My regular unit will be 24 figures.

The options I am hesitating on are :
a) strips of 4 figures per company (4 x 1)
b) squares of 4 figures per company (2 x 2)
c) or something a bit hybrid with rectangles of 6 figures (3x2)

I will have 144 figures in one regiment (2 battalions, 24 companies).

Based on your experience, from a practical and aesthetics perspective, what base type would you recommend?

thank you

I am a complete advocate for basing multiple figures on a single base. To my eyes, it looks better, the figures travel batter and your arm doesn't fall off moving them about.

BP is a unit based game which doesn't involve casualty removal or figure counting – so the fewer the bases the simpler and possible better it plays.

I'd recommend bearing in mind what formations you may need to form marching columns, forming squares and also consider your terrain. For example, I'd want my bases to fit on any bridge or road width I might have.

The French infantry battalions in the mid and late war period each had six companies (1 grenadier, 1 voltiguer, and 4 fusilier). I would recommend you go with six 4-figure stands in a 2x2 square arrangement.

Jim

Jim, that is the question. Why 2x2? I saw people doing 4x1.

It really leaves me perpelexed

…eventually I will go with --->
b) squares of 4 figures per company (2 x 2)

that's what people do around me. Still the other two options appeal to me :)

Personally I have a standard infantry base of 2x6. My standard infantry battalion is 36 figures giving 6 bases. If that coincides with the company/platoon organisation, that is fine. If not, I am not concerned. For a 24 figure battalion I would still use 6 figure bases but if I did go to four figures I would have 2x2. This 'two rank' solution is purely aesthetic. I have experimented with one rank bases but that just looked odd. I know there is an argument about scale depth and frontage, but for me, two ranks just looks better and 'right'.

I use 2 X 2 on a 40 mm X 40 mm base

Repaint – As Artilleryman said, it is just the aesthetic.

Way back in the day when my Napoleonic forces were based using the Fred Vietmeyer system, my British were in single rank stands (3 – 4 figures per stand and 10 stands per battalion) while my French forces were in double rank stands (6 figures per stand and 6 stands per battalion).

Later I rebased to 4-figure stands in double rank.

Jim

ok, thanks all. Will definitely go 2 x 2 on 40x40mm. No more agonizing existential question, I can move on :)

I used to base each figure individually, but after basing a few 2 X 2 I have gone with that for infantry and 2 per base for cavalry. Seems to work better.