"New player worried about how I've based my models" Topic

Hello everyone, I've played several different wargames over the last decade and a half, but I've recently gotten into 15mm napoleonics. I have seen numerous topics on how to base because I wanted to base my french in the most versatile way possible, as I do not as of yet have any regular opponents and don't know what rules I may be using in the future. I settled on 30×30 cm in 2×2 ranks, which I have done for my first unit of fusiliers. However, upon some further investigation, it appears I made a mistake and it is far more common to do 3 wide by 2 deep ranks on 30×30 cm bases. My question to more experienced players is, out of these three options, which would you recommend?

1.) Re-base these guys (and if so, how do I go about doing that since they are very thoroughly superglued on) and do 3×2 ranks on these and future bases

2.) Keep this basing scheme for the entire army

3.) Keep this basing scheme for this unit, but for future units do 3×2 ranks on the same size bases, and for gaming this might just look like an under-strength unit (I have already painted a few of them, and would prefer not to re-base)

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Some rule sets have specific basing requirements. Some players have specific basing requirements due to their historical research or aesthetic preferences.
30x30 cm is nice size and can support many rule sets. 4 figures to a base may look a little dispersed for some but I would not re-base over that. Maybe they represent a unit operating in a more dispersed manner for this action or have taken losses and have to cover the same frontage. If funds or painting time are limited, then 4 figures is what you should go with for the army.
From an aesthetic perspective, I think 6 on a base would look better for troops in formation and then put 2 or 3 on a base to represent skirmishers.

I made my call based on a desire to represent infantry battalions in a square formation. So I use 3 x 1 bases rather than 3 x 2. It does depend on what scale you are trying to represent, tactical or grand tactical. if I hadn't wanted to see squares physically represented on the table then I would have gone with 3 x 2.

If what matters in the rules you end up using is the "base" I wouldn't consider rebasing those you've done, and I'd stick with four figures to a base because you either get more units with the figures you've got or you need to buy less figures for the army size you need. If anybody queries the 15mm frontage for 15mm figures tell them that the figures were based in the time of Covid when social distancing was important.

If ever you _have_ to rebase and you've used bases made of an organic material (like card, mdf or plywood) stand the figures knee deep in a tray of water for 24 hours – the figures can be gently peeled off. If you've used metal or plastic bases and superglue try putting them in the freezer for an hour or so to weaken the superglue joint. Bits of glue residue on the figures bases can be removed by rubbing them on a flat engineering file.

All Napoleonic basing decisions are wrong, and you have no opponents to match. If you're happy with what you've got, continue with it.

My 15mm Napoleonics are being rebased at the moment.

I am using 40 x 30 mm stands with eight line infantrymen in two ranks. Two stands will form a battalion allowing for differing formations to be depicted. This gives me the visual I need. Skirmishers and supports will need one base to be replaced or split.

Three cavalry on a 40 x 30 mm stand works well. Two does not look right to represent a regular squadron in my mind.

As usual YMMV (and your rules). ;-)

Have fun.

I've rebased a couple of times and done the same for other periods. I'd now suggest not basing until you know what rules you are going for. You can always use blu-tak to attach the figures to temporary card bases. However, I appreciate you may want to crack on and adopt a generic basing standard.

I have my French based in a single rank 11mm depth and 8mm frontage per figure, three figures per base. You can play any of the rule sets that use single rank basing and simply double up for games that require double rank basing. Clearly if you base in double ranks then if playing rules that require a single rank your rear rank is there for aesthetics only.

I prefer the tight massed ranks the 8mm frontage gives. It works for Minifigs and AB figures.

4 figures on a 40mm x 20mm base. 4 bases per bn. If you want 2 deep then have two units stacked together.

My units, for instance Russian musketeer battalions are not all of equal strength. They have mostly 12 figures but a fair amount have 11, the Jagers vary more from 10 – 8 in a battion. My point being units are not of all equal strength so if your going for 1 figure = x troops they can be different.

All Napoleonic basing decisions are wrong

Would you care to expand this statement a little bit – if not for me then for the op?

As a Napoleonic wargamer for the best part of 50 years, I have rebased several times. I have now decided that the infantry basing for Naps Battles works best for me; 4 x 15mm figures on 20mm frontage and 25mm depth. I use these bases for Naps Battles, Over the Hills, General d' Armee and Black Powder. Cavalry are 2 figures on 1inch square bases (two such bases, one behind the other) are fine for the 2 invh x 1 inch Naps Battles cavalry bases.
Figures based on mdf or plywood bases are pretty easy to rebase, even with so-called superglue. I just standcthem in warm water girca few hours and pop them off. The worst to rebase are those on plastic bases, but having rebased several hundred in the last 18 months, I have not been beaten yet.

If you decide to rebase remember that superglue holds well but is also brittle. If you can flex the base (Twist or bend) you can usually get the bond to break quite easily. For instance if you base on metal just use pliers and bend the base. You will ruin the base but the figs should pop off easily.

If it is on something you can't bend (like thick wood) then putting the figs in the freezer can help make the glue even more brittle.

Wait.
Dont base, or if you must, use the common sizes.
Unbasing, use the same craft knife you use for cleaning figures. Place point under figure and twist upwards gently.
I prefer PVA (wood glue) for fixing down- it will break off before a valuable figure does!
regards d