"Litko Magnets *& Steel :: DBA and Basic Impetus" Topic

Long, and possible confising title for which I apologise.

I'm seeking experience from you all on my latest cunning plan.

Background. I have a lot of 6mm ancients based for DBA,
but have intended to re-base on Litko thin bases for some time.
I've recently got interested in Basic imptus and am looking for a basing scheme which accommodates DBA and Basic Impetus.

Geometry is pretty simple, using 15mm base scales for both rules we have frontages of 40mm and 80mm.
Most basic impetus depths are double those of DBA (Skirmishers, chariots and elephants and same depth).
For most types, 4 S=DBA bases make a BI base, (2 make one for the rest).

It seems obvious to base for DBA and use soem kind of movement tray to group them for BI.
Classic movement trays have a lip round the edge that throws out the dimensions.
I'd therefore like to use magnets on the bottom of the DBA bases and steel on top of the movement trays for the BI Groups.

Has anybosy else tried this?
I'm interested to know whether magnets are sufficiently sticky to maintain the formations on the tray.
Is slippage a problem etc?

Thanks for any responses/suggestions.

I do something similar with great results. I just base directly on 3/4-in craft magnets and cut movement tray to match the rule system.

Another discussion follows…

TMP link

Your idea will work perfectly for what you want. You will have occasional slippage when some of the heavier models (elephants, and some cavalry, for example) are moved but nothing major.

Mark Severin
Owner, Scale Creep Miniatures
scalecreep.com

I just use 2 DBA bases for a BI unit. The extra depth given by 4 DBA bases arranged 2 by 2 is irrelevant to the way BI plays. Not only that, but I get twice as many units by only using 2 for each! With only 2 bases per unit, movement trays are unnecessary.

Many thanks for those really quick replies.

In contemplating re-basing I've figured out a few things.

On Cavalry

12 Cav or 16 cataphract (2 ranks) on a 40 x 30mm base looks ridiculously crowded – more like sheep in a holding pen than cavalry on the move.
I'll therefore be re-basing the horsemen in a single rank using the depth of the DBA bases to convey a bit of irregularity/formation/skirmishness.
I think the look will be better, and the BI units will have 2 ranks with a more reasonable spacing.

Infantry depth (15mm against 20mm for DBA is pretty difficult to manage).
In BI I'll probably use a 40mm tray across the board.
The extra depth makes no difference in the rules, and I'll
have fewer components to worry about.

Thinking outside the box, Mikes suggestion to not use movement trays at all has considerable merit.
One problem with 6mm guys is that any kind of base tends to give the impression that the guys are formed up on a raised parade ground.
Base + Movement tray (with even the thinest materials available) is liable to look as through they're stood on top of a flatroof building.

if you have to rebase, but only if you have to, 6cm frontage bases are the best choice for both DBA and (Basic Impetus). I know that many DBA players choose a 6cm frontage. Baccus too recomend this size.
But if you have 4cm frontage bases, well keep them as they are or just use 2 bases frontage.