"How many miniatures do you prefer?" Topic

How many miniatures do you prefer in a single game on each side?

It depends on the game, genre, etc. A skirmish game 1:1 should be a limited number of figures. For a higher level such as Napoleon's Battles which plays at a corps commander level, you need about 300 figures in 15mm for a Napoleonic corps at 1:120 infantry and 1:80 cavalry. I don't really know what you are trying to determine. In a medieval game I play in 28 mm my army has about 100 figures. My ACW 28 mm armies each have about 250 figures, but they were not accumulated for a game.

I deliberately limit the number of units in an AWI TSATF game to a maximum of 3 units. This is because it's a political conflict and the leader should CARE more about his men.
An aristocrat cares less.

"Thousands of ‘em!"

So, for figures, it depends on scale and game. For units, it depends on the genre and setting. There's really no set number. Enough to look great, fit the theme, and be playable.

Genre, scale, basing?

Rustymusket's right--a LOT more fighting out a major horse and musket battle with 5mm or 6mm castings than conducting a 1:1 skirmish in 28mm.

OK, trying to be cooperative here. Think in terms of 12 castings max if I have to remember or write down which one has the sniper rifle and who was wounded in the left arm. Maybe a dozen units--and I want at least six--if the unit takes casualties, changes formation and throws out skirmishers. If the largest units have 24 figures, you're probably talking around 200 total. If we're talking DBX "elements" which have no formation and are either there or not there, at least twelve, with an upper limit of maybe fifty, and the number of castings on the stands is completely irrelevant.

Depends as noted on game/scale

Most of my gaming is grand tactical so 200 – 300 per side is usual for my 28mm games – for 6mm Napoleonic multiply by 3

Depends on the game.

Less is more. If the density is too high, maneuvers suffer and the game takes too long to resolve. That said the spectacle of a densely populated diorama is incredible to behold. Just don't ask me to play it.

Don't care.

About 1 division more than I can handle

A couple of hundred stands

Mate, if I had access to a large field and about 150,000 figures that's what I would PREFER!

* How many do you have?

For 30k/40k, 100 figs per side feels right (ie. company size engagements or an Alien "horde".).

Depends on the rules, scales and scenario. I usually only do scenarios. Either pre-written or written by me. So it depends on what battle. But in general though, the more the better.

Enough to play

I am a strict adherent to Bob Cordery's wisdom of keeping your armies small. So depending on scale I can fit out an entire division with less than 30 miniatures aka 3mm.

Perhaps if I were one of those fine gentlemen whom game one particular period or in some cases strictly one battle then I could see me amassing a huge army. However my interests are way too varied for that. I want Hittites, Napoleon, Afrika Korps and Space Marines.

<= 2,000. I used to like even bigger battles but I'm older now.

about 20 per side.

Thaasands of 'em…

I prefer Skirmish games. 10 to 50 figures a side is where I am most comfortable.

It really depends on the organizational scale … I generally like 2-3 Co. to Bn+ sized mini-games. I like 6mm as a rule for mini gaming.

Depends on a lot of things – figure size, representational scale, period, genre,, rules , etc.