The round bases for Mahdists was suggested to me by Kevin Calder who uses them when playing his Up The Nile rules (as a matter of interest to this subject, I don't have these rules yet but his Bonnie Blue Flag rules use the four stand per unit formula and I understand these rules have very similar mechanisms).
I was sceptical about round bases at first but, knowing Kevin quite well (we are both members of the League of Gentlemen Wargamers) and trusting his judgement, I mocked up six 50mm rounds with 5-6 figures on each to see how it looked. It's actually quite remarkable in the difference it makes to the overall look: When fielded together higgledy-piggledy the bases blend into each other so that you lose track of where one base starts and another begins and the whole looks like a singularly based 'masse' - something that doesn't happen with square bases no matter how they are arranged. Obviously, the more bases put together the better - I mocked up 6.
I will do the cavalry in threes (if I go for 6 figs to 100 men) because, firstly it works well with British squadron numbers (they seem to be either around 100 or 150 strong, 6 or 9 figures) and secondly because the figures come in packs of three and there will be no wastage. Historical cavalry numbers, being so low, are a good reason to go for the high 6:100 figure scale - especially as cavalry often fought by the squadron.
Choosing the figure to man scale is now my biggest issue. The option being to go for historically based units or a simple gaming fudge for ease. Obviously, the lead pile to use is decided.
THE SUDAN LEAD PILE (As yet unsullied by a single drop of paint).
