"How do you base for Polemos games?" Topic

I've been looking at Polemos and possibly Volley and Bayonet rules. My aim is to make an army that can work with both rules if need be, but if not then I'm focusing on Polemos.

For those rules I'll need a way to mark a unit's training, skirmish level, and type of weapon. My current plan is to place magnets on the rear of the bases so I can mark it's rating on the right, skirmish on the left, and possibly weapon type in the center.

I'm wondering how y'all base your figures. Do you have parts you can swap out to show a force's stats?

I believe that 60mm x 30mm is the standard Polemos base size, but I am not totally sure since I don't use them.

I'm talking more about base materials and how to mark them, less about the sizes.

What I do is to use differences in equipment, appearance and standards to indicate training.

e.g. French units in greatcoats are veterans, units not are trained, units not and with fannions but no eagles are raw. British units carrying blue flags are veterans, the rest are trained. And so on.

For skirmishers, I currently have different numbers of skirmisher figures on the same base (2 = SK1, 4 = SK2); alternatively bases with only skirmisher figures on can be SK2. This works fine. However, for various reasons I am thinking of doing away with this and taking all of the skirmishers off the bases. In practice, this won't matter, since the vast majority of an army's line infantry units tend to have the same skirmish-level.

I hope that helps

I use Polemos 60 x 30 on a 3mm MDF base.

Units are obviously in line, 2 rows of 12 figures for line infantry, no skirmish ability.

It's 2 rows of 8 figures with 6 or 8 individual figures in front if they're SK1.

For SK2, the the base has two small columns of 6 figures each and a cloud of skirmishers out front.

Quick visual information. I had Tony of "TinyTinSoldiers" bases and paint them for me a decade or so ago before he gave up commercial painting.

Best investment I ever made.

Pretty well all my stuff is based 30x30, so for Polemos I just use two bases for each element. I'd be cautious about sticking a whole load of expensive figures on a non standard base size like 60x30, what happens if/when you get bored of Polemics?

As for stats, like Whirlwind, I use the unit type or figures to remind me and make a note on the briefings.

I think I've got a more simple plan than before. SK1 and SK0 infantry will be as standard. I'll add a place to add a small colored magnet to distinguish Raw and SK0 troops, since those will be the exception. Veteran troops will have fancier headwear, and SK2 troops will be spread out like light infantry.

This is all for the Napoleon era. I'm not sure how to do ACW when I get there: on top of the rating/SK/elite status you need to mark the weapon type.

Hello Martin Rapier!

I think Baccus has managed to make the 60x30 base "the standard" for 6mm. I'm not aware of any rule set where you can't use the 60x30 base as is or with a simple house rule or two. It's sort of become the Swiss army knife of basing for 6mm. Also most new rule sets are pretty much base neutral so mounting your figures on a 60x30 base should not present anyone with any future problems.

I have mounted my entire collection of 50,000 6mm figures on 60x30 and play different rule sets and periods. It makes having a large collection very easy to handle, store, transport. It also greatly reduces game logistics.

The 60x30 base and it's sister base 60x60 was a major breakthrough for the 6mm community.

Best regards,

Glenn

Hello GeneralWAnders!

I'm using a very simple system as some of the gamers in my group don't know what different troop types look like. It's all pretty much by command unit, base mounting, and uniform colours, etc.

The first is in general most similar troops are brigaded together so once you identify their commander you know who they are and what they can do etc. Put a changeable label (generally held by magnets) on a commander and your done.

Next step is to mount all light troops who are often SK2 in a skirmish order. I put 8 figures on these bases that are often sold by Baccus as skirmishers. If they are SK1 you can easily tell that by their different uniforms/colours, etc. I also create the same bases for line units that have grouped their skirmishers together to skirmish for a Brigade.

All other troops line, grenadiers, guards etc. are mounted in the normal fashion, two lines of 12 figures.

Where needed to separate or identify better or poor quality troops I have simply given them a different look such as hats, greatcoats or brown pants, etc. The beauty here is the opposition never knows if their different quality of troops or not until they contact them.

So it's very simple and does not require any markers or labels except on the commanders. I even use a simple magnetic system to identify the quality of the commanders. White for Senior commanders, red for Decisive commanders, yellow for Capable commanders and green for Plodding commanders.

Overall a very clean and almost clutter free system.

Best regards,

Glenn