"Turning line troops into skirmishers and back again!" Topic

Whether you are an ancient, Dark Ages, medieval, renaissance or black powder era wargamer there will be a need for line troops to skirmish and then reform into line again.
This is my solution (suits all periods):

YouTube link

Barry

Or you could just use the movement trays from Warbases, with individual figures mounted on 1p or 2p bases.

The figures need to fit 40mm by 40mm bases to match other line units visually..

Barry

In the video it is clear that your skirmishers are overhanging the 40mmx40mm base at the rear. A Warbases 2x2 1p base is ~45mm square. You really aren't going to notice the difference unless you mix bases of different sizes in the same unit.

In the 18th and early 19th century wasn't skirmishing carried out by light companies, light infantry and sometimes grenadiers? By the ACW any unit could skirmish.

So in the ACW and afterwards, in most rules skirmishers were denoted by simply keeping the bases apart. Some rules say one inch some say not touching. I don't see the need to removing figures from their bases.

I find this sort of basing scheme as shown in the video not very effective because if you try to pick the base the figure comes off in your hand. So if you a label your units under the base or remove them as casualties they pull up the whole base. Very annoying.

@Old Contemptible:
You are right. Light companies could be sent forward to skirmish but could then return and reform into line. The same with a company or two from a Union or Confederate regiment.
My idea allows troops to be used in both roles. Bunched on the magnets and in line or scattered forward as single figures skirmishing. The latter formation looks more realistic than just shoving a four-figure base out in front and claiming it is skirmishing.

I have had no trouble with the figures coming off if all four figures are gripped at once. The choice of magnets was deliberate as I find rare earth magnets too powerful for this application.

Barry

I've used transparent clear round discs 2-3 times to size of a stand placed or blu tacked on to indicate the effective range or zone of a skirmishing element. Again, across all periods.

The method proposed by warsprite might also be adaptable for mounted to dismounted troops as horse holders perhaps?

@Cockney yokel:
An interesting thought.
Thank you!