With my enforced break from the hobby due to my RSI problem I don’t have a planned project to do, or in reality I haven’t decided which of the many I have I will start when I return to modelling.
One of my options, that I have mentioned elsewhere, is the rebasing of the Discworld inspired wargame units I made in the past that have been lost to the Warhammer-Empire Forum due to the problems with Photobucket.
These were built over a number of years, but also since Photobucket intervened I have built a few more that I’ve not shown. I also still have a number of planned units to join them, some have the figures waiting to be built while others are just paper ideas at present.
None of these units have a consistent basing style as over the years I’ve just used whatever material was to hand at the time. My intention was to rebase them to a more uniform style and to keep enough basing material and a painting formula for those yet to be built.
The plan was to use AOS round bases but with the length of time it takes me to do things my problem is that with the release of ‘The Old World’ fairly imminent from GW it may have re-established itself before I finish start this project.
So what do I use – Round or Square?
For Round AoS
The circular bases give more space for conversions than cramped ranked units on square bases.
The current ‘square’ horse sized bases used for cavalry, including Empire knights, are too narrow and figures have to be staggered due to the width at the riders legs.
A mini diorama to go with the unit can be as large as you want (but wont count as extra men for those who actually play the game.)
I’d probably have to buy display/movement trays as I cant cut circles very well.
For Square TOW
The larger 25mm bases for infantry will allow the extra space required for most conversions.
A pike unit looks wrong on circular bases and needs to be ranked.
Unit fillers give the scope to make that little diorama to go with the unit (and counts as extra men for those who actually play the game.)
Movement/display trays would be easier to scratchbuild.
Undecided
Putting circular based figures on set sized display/movement trays (like my City Watch) means they can be formed together quite easily into regular shapes for display.
Movement trays that vary in sizes to fit a ranked unit’s formation, be it Combat Order, Marching Column, Lance or Skirmish wont.
I don’t play the games which is why my units are the minimum 5 or 10 man size but if I ever needed to pass them on I’d like them to be game ready for the new owner.
Questions
1) GW has suggested that the old 25x50mm cavalry bases will be replaced with bigger ones – has the new size been revealed yet?
2) Will TOW become the go to Fantasy game or has AoS too big a hold in the gaming world?
3) These units will eventually be forming a new thread on this Forum so do you have any preference for their basing?