Inches or centimetres

[has.been]

and often rulesets will suggest switching to cm measures if using smaller scale figures

Yes, especially if the rules were written for 25/28mm figures
and we wanted to use 15mm figures. It was an easy work around.

Also when we used to play Western Gunfight in 54mm (Kid Caldwell,
Botch Blake & Long Haired Steve Curtis, you were responsible for
many, MANY hours of fun.) we used CMs for weapons' ranges, but
kept inches for figure movement. Close range really did become
CLOSE. Even more embarrassing if you missed though.

[Reed]

I prefer metric over imperial. I get that the predominance of imperial system measures is a byproduct of the weight anglosaxon countries have had in wargaming development.

[Westfalia Chris]

Cubits.

While we're at it, 254 mega-Ångströms.

That said, I prefer Imperial for anything using "human-sized" units (mainly in 25/28mm), and Metric for anything involving aviation or naval vehicles (unless using gridded maps/playing areas in the first place). There's something about the unit of measurement being roughly the same as a typical figure's height that endears it to me.

[jon_1066]

Inches are a natural measurement for tabletop gaming - especially in 25/28 mm. One inch was roughly the base width and how tall a figure was.  I guess none is really better objectively than another but most games I've played haven't needed to use half an inch as a measurement.

I suppose a bit of mental maths is made easier with inches.  Halving 6" is easier than 15 cm, eg for movement.  12 is a really nice number to sub divide and multiply so ranges based upon 12" are nice and easy to manipulate and remember

[tereydavi]

I use both and that's not a problem.

No one has complained about that.

[N.C.S.E]

Depends.

Inches are what I'm used to and work fine in 15mm and 28mm. However, for some of the smaller scales I may well end up using cm when the time comes.

[Mammoth miniatures]

I prefer metric over imperial. I get that the predominance of imperial system measures is a byproduct of the weight anglosaxon countries have had in wargaming development.

That dominance does seem to be fading as time goes on.It's also just a hangover from RPGs where a one inch grid is still standard.

That sounds quite innovative...

In retrospect inquisitor did a lot of experimental things and was a bit ahead of its time.The idea of a floating ground scale that you set yourself is something alot of systems could probably replicate. Ironically inquisitor really didn't need it since the size of the minis made using anything but inches sort of silly.

[NurgleHH]

As long as all sides use the same it is not important... Remember this Problem on a Mars-Mission when some scientist uses inco and other centimetres. So they didn't met the mars... That is not so clever

[Hammers]

I definitely find it more convenient to wargame in the Imperial line of thought, although Sweden is firmly adherent to the metric system since the early 19-hundreds. It has almost become like a tradition, hasn't it? Something inherently associated with wargaming.

There are of course some practical aspects to. Many measurements are still derived from old standard carpentry and engineering measurements, like the 2" washer, for example. These have of course been translated to the metric system by now but the aforementioned is the origin.

[Hammers]

Cubits.

Reactionary!

[N.C.S.E]

Reactionary!

Go full Art of War and measure everything in Li!

[Jemima Fawr]

As Spacey says; using feet and inches means that you're just using smaller, more manageable numbers that are quicker and easier to say and remember.

That said, I've converted Fire & Fury (which normally uses inches for 15mm figures) for 10mm games at 2/3rds the normal groundscale simply by doubling the number of inches and calling them centimetres.  So 1 inch becomes 2cms.

[Mammoth miniatures]

As Spacey says; using feet and inches means that you're just using smaller, more manageable numbers that are quicker and easier to say and remember.

By cm are smaller...
I think the adherence to inches is largely generational and will probably cling on more out of tradition (40k does it so everyone else will) than out of any real advantage.

[duc de limbourg]

both

[Jemima Fawr]

By cm are smaller...
I think the adherence to inches is largely generational and will probably cling on more out of tradition (40k does it so everyone else will) than out of any real advantage.

As has already been said, people generally prefer to discuss a 6x4 table than a 180x120 or 6 inches rather than 15 centimetres.