"Figure size for 6'x4' table" Topic

I am looking into doing some WOTR on a 6'x4' playing table – I'm undecided on which figure size to go for…15mm, 20mm, 28mm etc.

I would appreciate some input and recommendations from long-time WOTR gamers.

Anything you want. That size works for pretty much anything. There isn't a "table size = specific miniature scale" formula really.

I would put your energy into storage appraisal, cost of miniatures, and time availability for making it a fortuitous project.

If it were me, I would look for plastic first just for sheer cost savings.

First figure out how many figures you want in an average unit. Then decide how you want to base them. Let's pretend 24 figures, 4 to a stand, 2 figures deep per stand. In 28mm that is probably about a foot across. Then make some cardboard dummy units of that size and lay them out on the table and see if that gives you the right amount of feel for movement and maneuver you want. If that is too crowded for you then repeat for 20mm, 15mm. Etc until you get the feel you want.

It is really going to depend on rules/unit size. I think Virtual has given you sound advice.

Consider the price of minis too.

The superb plastic, 28mm Perry minis cost a lot less than the average 15mm WotR minis now, which is a bit surprising, and disappointing if you want to go with the smaller scale.

I've played DBM/DBR in 15mm and Big Battle DBA in 25mm all on 4x6 tables comfortably. It all depends on your man:figure ratio.

The superb plastic, 28mm Perry minis cost a lot less than the average 15mm WotR minis now, which is a bit surprising, and disappointing if you want to go with the smaller scale.

But the 15mm metal figures would look way better in my humble opinion .

Actually, at about 50p per foot figure, they are significantly more expensive than most 15mm figures, and, if price matters, I have always been surprised how expensive they are.

On the poster's actual question, my own most recent WotR project was indeed 28mm (metal , supplied by Foundry), and fits very nicely on a 6' round table (so would work OK on 6x4 if you don't mind dealing with corners). Many battles in the wars were relatively small affairs, and you can vary scales to get the effect you want.

Each to his own aesthetic

Phil

Thanks for the advice so far.

I think in the first instance I need to choose a ruleset for WOTR as many of them have specific basing requirements.

Is there a list of figure manufacturers of WOTR era figures in the various scales…?

link

PDF link

Here are a couple of excerpts from the Peter Pig Website.
One consideration would be to ask any friends involved in the project what size and rules they prefer. it is always great to have a variety and number of opponents.

Bloody Barons has no required base size whih might make thinsg easier.
Good luck with the search.

You cold play BB with bits of card to see hwo it works for you?

martin

martin

Thanks Martin – I was considering BB based on some other threads I have been reading.

We share a name – do I get a discount…? ;)

There is a list of 28mm figures here. Look at both 'Wars of the Roses' and '15th Century'…

link

Well Martin you can get BB as a pdf too.

martin

Essex and Minifigs 15s are about 50P per figure, which with international shipping, the current exchange rate, and other fees (Paypal surcharge in some cases), works out to about $1.00 USD a figure on the left side of the pond.

I've found the 28mm Perry figs about the same price, or a little lower, but with a far lower shipping charge from a domestic supplier, so am saving about 30% – 40% on the much larger figs.

28mm Perry's are my choice for any period they actually do. The Plastic sets are in particular good value

I think I have replied to a similar thread elsewhere a while back.
For me 28mm figures are a tad too big for a 6 foot by 4 foot table, which happens to be the size of table which I also have.

I would strongly recommend 15mm or smaller as it allows more 'elbow room' around the sides of the table for flanking moves or just general scenery.

I use:

Roundway
Peter Pig
Donnington New Era
Essex
in roughly that running order. The Roundway used to be manufactured near my old home, they were a bus ride away. Now, mail order.

The Peter Pig figures are quite shiny so I often forego any undercoating of the fully armoured knights and just use the metallic shine as the armour. A very VERY thin black wash into the cracks to create some shadow detail, pick out the belts, scabbards, etc in various colours and any flesh (if showing).
Finally a very thin brush of gloss varnish and then (after a good two weeks or so) a generous spray of matt varnish following the basing. I have never had any nasty reactions between the two varnishes (as some report) by waiting two weeks and ensuring that first gloss is throughly dry. Also do the spray in warm, dry conditions.

I did buy some Minifigs awhile back but I was very disappointed with them. The mouldings are crude, the poses are wooden and the few samples I had I mostly junked. I managed to blend a few billmen into my Levy unit as the chain mail detail was so poor that two coats off paint killed it and I then passed them off as unarmored. I do not recommend Minifigs at all. Donnington can be a little hit and miss but are still much better that the Minifigs. If tempted by Minifigs buy some samples first!

I also have some very old Mikes Models (circa 1978/82) and, unbelievably, found some of their shire levy longbow unpainted in a box. These had the typical old Mikes Models 'chunky dwarf' look but are not too bad mixed into a bigger unit.

Some of the Essex are a bit short and thin but remember that men had a height range of maybe 4 foot 10 to 6 foot 2 inches even in those days. Edward IV was about 6 ft 2.

B

I enjoy both 15mm and 28mm, and usually play either on a 6 by 4 table. However I've generally played WOTR in 28mm (yes, Perry plastics) using To the Strongest on a 3*4 table, 4" grid. So small units, but to my mind it looked fine.

I think that the two main criteria that will help you to decide will be the rules set that you intend to use and the size of the battle that you intend to fight. I prefer 28mm figures as my eyes can still just about cope with painting the detail and I find this scale to be great for conversion and modelling potential.
I am playing WOTR using the Never Mind the Bill Hooks rules set. You can play a games comfortably on a 6 x 4 table with about 150 figures a side, with plenty of room for manoeuvre, depending on how much scenery you prefer.
The rules suggest that the opposing sides set up no more than 30 inches away from each other to encourage combat to commence!

Lots of diverging ideas and I agree about deciding on a ruleset early on Steve.

I am not an expert with the paint brushes so I reckon smaller battles with fewer figures will suit me well…!

Take a look at ‘Never Mind the Billhooks' or the WOTR variant rules for ‘Lion Rampant'.

I'd consider substituting a base or 3-4 15mm figures for each single 28mm to give the impression of much larger companies – more expensive but visually impressive.