"What size buildings?" Topic

All, in your experience, what looks better? Buildings that are slightly smaller scale than figures (HO and 1/72), or buildings that are slightly larger scale than the figures? Thoughts?

Doesn't that depend on what the figures/bases represent? If one unit equals a brigade then smaller is better whereas if it is a skirmish with one figure representing one person then having building scale match the figure seems the way to go.

I would vote on slightly smaller scale almost always, on the principal that maneuver is the most interesting part of a wargame and therefore anything that increases the maneuver room on the tabletop is a good thing.

Generally smaller, especially if you are not gaming at 1-1.

At or slightly below the figure scale will be nice aesthetically (e.g., 10/12mm buildings with 15/18mm figures).

I scale them based on the scale of the game I'm playing. For 18mm Brigade Fire & Fury I use buildings closer to 10mm. Same for 28mm Might & Reason (one unit is a brigade) I tend to use 15mm buildings as otherwise the building footprint is ludicrous. For Pulp Alley (1:1 skirmish) I use 28mm buildings for 28mm figures. Same for Team Yankee although in this case it's 15mm buildings for 15mm figures.

Same as all of the above comments.

Jim

Well, when I play with my 1/72 armies, I use the old Guidancetown buildings, which are pretty close to "scale." Plus, I have practically a whole city of them… ;-)

I think Mckinstry has it right. 1:1 needs to be at or close to scale--especially if there is fighting IN the building--but if your ground scale is not your figure scale, smaller tends to be better and it's a matter of aesthetics.

I use 15mm buildings for my 20mm WW2. Just seems right to my eye and takes up less space. Also have HO scale buildings for my 20mm zombie games, and they are close, too, esp the older Plasticville buildings.

I use too small and too large. Go walk around a city and look at the windows and doors. Some doors are small, particularly on older houses and some doors are big, particularly on large public buildings. If it looks right use it and ignore the scale.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek

I'm with Bunkermeister:

If it looks right use it and ignore the scale.

Thanks, all. It was how I was leaning but it is good to see so many agree. Good thoughts about 1:1.

With 15mm figures I use 15mm buildings.
I find it makes the "scene" look better.
In most games that I play, the buildings are on a template and therefore their individual characteristics do not matter. The template represent a built up area with models for decoration.

martin

I do slightly smaller

My buildings tend to be on the small side. Fully matched to figure scale results in huge building footprints. Matched to game ground scale can result in tiny buildings. It's a bit of a compromise.

We use prettey much figure scale buildings but smaller ones. A 10 bedroom houses look out of place, 2 bedrooms erroom not so much. We also dispece with gardens and the like to close in the viewing angles to be more representative of a built up area tacticaly. Its a balance of art vs playability one definitely compromises the other. You need to rank your requirements and go according to them. Personaly our approach is stuff art, its the game that counts. Other may see it diffrently.