Why put a building on a base?

[TacticalPainter]

Part of the evolution I can track of my involvement in the hobby is the way my thinking about terrain and buildings has changed. We all love the look of a good table but given it is not a permanent diorama and needs to be packed away and stored how can we make the components so that they all look as if they belong in the same location? I've posted a fairly lengthy blog post on various options and ways I've found of doing this which you can find here https://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2023/07/why-put-building-on-base.html

[Pattus Magnus]

Excellent article! I have found much the same thing with buildings, even a small base helps blend them into the scene. Your modular approach adds a level beyond what I have done so far, but I see the advantages and may just try something along those lines.

[ced1106]

With generic fantasy, I've found matching the game mat particularly hopeless, as some mats are above-ground on different terrains (grass, dry hill, swamps) and some are below (caves and dungeons). Miniature bases are particularly out of place, since they're divided into brown sand, black sand, cobblestone, grey brick, wood, etc. Fences are almost always wooded planks so can't separate the "inside" grass from the "outside" game mat.

OTOH, With post-apoc and old west, game mats should be more uniform, and weathered buildings should have plenty of weeds and grubby bits around the building that would need a base!

[Grumpy Gnome]

An excellent article. Great food for thought and you articulate your point well. You are a skilled model and diorama builder. Your tables really create a sense of immersion.

The only thing I would add is to ask if you have considered modifying the Citadel game mat to help it better blend in with your muted color palette?

When I had one of the Citadel grass mats I liked it’s versatility but I found the color a bit too vibrant and uniform. I had been planning on trying to airbrush some variation with a more muted color palette. However, we switched over to neoprene mats in the end for convenience sake.

[FifteensAway]

While little of your ideas are original, the execution is quite well done.  And from the responses to your blog, clearly some people are discovering this concept through your efforts.  So, good job on keeping the concept floating about and finding new adherents.

I don't recall the name, but a few years ago an LAF poster did much the same and also modular in his Old West set ups - and very effectively.  And many years ago there were various articles in Wargames Illustrated doing this in quite similar fashion - though I think the buildings were permanently in place with the landscaping.  I do wonder if those bases where you are placing buildings in 'varied' positions goes counter somewhat to your basic premise to avoid the 'plop' in place issue?  I like the idea of giving the buildings more of a 'stuck in place' look.

I have a bunch of farm fields in flexible latex meant to 'plop' onto a game table that I intend to 'plop' into custom made surrounds with fences or walls or hedge rows - for which I have bunches of the said fences, walls, and hedgerows.  Similarly, I plan to create both farmsteads as well as more urban set-ups with fixed 'landscaping' in a modular manner.  The versatility is great but the bigger asset, in my view at least, is being able to setup a fairly 'detailed' game in much reduced time.

One question with your specific models: do you have any issues with them sliding about or not?  I find some game mats can be a bit slick where this might be a minor problem (easy solution is a little bit of weight added to the models).

And - oh, my, yes - storage can be quite an issue! 

[TacticalPainter]

While little of your ideas are original, the execution is quite well done.  And from the responses to your blog, clearly some people are discovering this concept through your efforts.  So, good job on keeping the concept floating about and finding new adherents.

SNIP (more patronising blah, blah, blah…….)

Crikey, when I want this level of condescension I go to The Miniatures Page, are you sure you came to the right place?

[carlos marighela]

Great minds think alike....

[AKULA]

Great minds think alike....

Ahh… any chance of an update to your Cold War gone hot thread? 

[carlos marighela]

Ahh… any chance of an update to your Cold War gone hot thread? 

Quite a good chance as it happens.

[Burgundavia]

I'm slowly moving my stuff to Open Lock bases, which is basically the same thing as basing buildings. Is definitely well worth it.

[Cat]

Nice work Tactical Painter!
 
I'm definitely hooked on basing buildings.  Planting weeds and vegetation around the foundation is a great spot to add more detail where figures won't be tramping on them too.
: 3

Great minds think alike....

Yeah, starting planning on an urban table and been thinking I'll need to inset the buildings something like that so I can drop them in but still be able to take them out and store the boards flat.

[carlos marighela]

Building and the boards all fit nicely into a cardboard carton. I did that one as a trial but i wanted to be able to use the building as a free standing item as well as potentially part of a streetscape. Still need to do the children's playground/ treed area to complete that one and then, if plans work out, do another set where two of those buildings go back to back.