"Most Common Base Sizes for 6mm Figures?" Topic

The DBA and HoTT ones

I picked 1" square, 1.5" square and 'other,' as my most common 6mm size is the BattleTech hex base.

I went for 1 x 1 and other. I think the smallest size I use are 1/2 x 1/2 square. Back when I made them I was using the size standard of close enough.

Depends what rules I am playing.

Doesn't this entirely depend on the rules you are playing?

Doesn't this entirely depend on the rules you are playing?

Not necessarily. I loathe the thought of having to rebase everything based on the currently popular ruleset of the month, so I picked a base size I like and make the rules fit my basing scheme, not the other way around.

I went with 20mm x 20mm bases for my 6mm WWII infantry stands, since I liked the way that scheme worked for the old GW "epic" infantry. I doubt if it fits in with any particular ruleset's way of doing things, but since I always provide both sides when running games, what does it matter?

I like the ones I do because they are the simplest to find or make,: the irregularly shaped 60 by 20 GZG ones give a nice random spread feel, and the 40mm x 10mm line abreast ones from GW.

I picked 20x20mm and 40x20mm, which are the old epic bases and the warmaster base sizes.

However, I do like and use the "new" epic bases which are 40x10mm, and I also use 20mm round bases for 6mm figures.

Having painted and based many thousands for customers my choices were :

60x30, 30x30 & 60x60 for most of the Polemos series of rules

DBX 40x20 & 40x40 (a few use 40x30 in addition)

3" square for some of the older brigade based rule sets

I have used most of the list at some time or another though.

I would not go so far as to call it common, but I do ACW skirmish in 6mm with troops based individually on sequins from the local crafts store.

My Ogre/GEV infantry are on 2p coins. I think I've still got some Epic toys on their original square 20mm bases. Both work for skirmish type games but, for formal regiments, I'd probably go for 40mm square.

I was torn between 30x40 or 40x30, in the end I went for 40x30.

I use 1/2" x 1/2"

I use 20 X 20 mm for my WWII, and the standard Fire & Fury/Age of Eagles for ACW/Napoleonic

I use 10x20mm for infantry (3 figures), 20x20mm for cavalry and guns, and 30x30mm for command in When the Navy Walks.

For BattleTech / OGRE, I use hexes the same size as a Mech's base (1.5" flat to flat, IIRC).

Yes, it can depend on the rules – then again, I voted for the ones I use.

Needless to say, I don't always use the ones recommended in the rules I play (it isn't necessary, of course) …

If all of us that use 6mm voted for the ones we use ourselves, the result of the poll would be quite informative.

Of course, AB asked 'What are the most common'? – which is different and is inviting opinion.

Did I miss 30mm hexes option? The most 6mm gaming I play is of the giant, stompy robot variety.

Al | ravenfeastsmeadhall.blogspot.com

I don't play with 6mm minis.

HOWEVER, were I to do so, I'd simply base them the same as my 25/28mm Impetus armies. 120mm wide by however deep I wanted them.

My view is that if I'm going to use a smaller scale miniature, then I might as well use scads of the things to show real mass on the table top. Since I normally buil;d both sides anyway so as to play solo or try to recruit someone else, then the system works fine for me.

I agree with TKindred in the 'scads'.
The 30x30 is an decent 15mm figure base size and it's conveniently half the almost 6mm standard Polemos 60x30mm. So I just fill those suckers. 20 x 6mm figures on a 30x30 really give the impression of mass. 240 x 6mm figures to a battalion really looks the business, while taking up no more space than a 15mm unit. So just play with 15mm rules and the world is your hard shelled aquatic creature.

I prefer 60 x 30 – but I play Polemos and DBx so the rules are ideal for this scale (60 x 30 is a good approximation of 25mm DBx scale for frontage at leats, and depth isn;t that important) Plus if you use 6mm figures, use lots.. they look fantastic.

I find it varies with period, but I usually aim for a fairly generic basing which works with most rulesets.

The most common frontage is 30mm, some are narrower, particularly singel based figures:)

Most of my pre-twentieth centruy bases are wider than they are deep, typically 30x20 or 30x10, although it depends. Artilley, wagons, bearer columns etc are often deeper.

Most of my twentieth century and modern bases are either square or deeper than they are wide. Again, 30mm is a common frontage but some bases are anything up to 60mm deep (logistics columns), but the vast majority are square. Apart from my 6mm WW1 stuff.

If I need to use bigger bases for particular sets of rules (e.g. Polemos), I just put more of my smaler bases together or use a magnetci base or whatever.

I prefer more, smaller bases for horse & musket types as I can arrange them in different formations.

DBx using 15mm or 25mm figure frontages. 6mm figures on 25mm basing is awesome to look at :)

For LMG's, A/t Rifles/bazookas etc, light mortars 15x20mm, then for Infantry, HMG's, medium/heavy mortars, HQ's, FAO etc 25x20mm.Most artillery 25x30mm, though some artillery has to have it's own custom size base to fit the piece so the barrel does not overhang the base.

I am not sure if it would be more ruleset driven or period driven, John. If I was doing Naps for example, I would probably prefer a larger base for the more linear form of combat than say modern with maybe a 4 man fire tem on a small circular base.