The Existential Doubt Of Basing

[Keith]

Morning Everyone,

Just a quick question to pick your brains and get something off my chest  

So, the short version, I have determined that I paint figures best one at a time. I can focus and get great pleasure painting this way. At the same time I have some strange internal drive to paint units multi-based for games which, frankly, I never get around to playing. The tension between how I like to paint and this urge has effectively got me stuck in a rut where I'm happier not to think about it and don't paint anything. This is, clearly, not good!

I'm about to make some pretty serious changes to my gaming (and painting) life with a move to an island in the middle of the Mediterranean and will, effectively, just be a painter for the foreseeable future.

So my question to this august group is - should I stop worrying about basing up large units for games I'll never play and blissfully chip away at the lead pile. If yes, what sort of games do those of you who base singly play? I'm focusing on Punic Wars, EIR Roman and Saxon figures if that makes any difference.

I wouldn't normally post such a ramble, but having looked at Alex's and Doc's blogs this morning I'm keen to find my own way to doubt-free gaming nirvana  

 

[maxxon]

Sabot bases are your friend.

I grew tired of official basing requirements many many moons ago. I standardized all my basic infantry on 25mm washers or slottas.

If I play a game that uses element basing, I simply get sabot bases of the correct size and fill them with single minis. Usually with element-based games the actual number of figures on the base is not an issue.

If a game can't accommodate my figures, I don't play it. It's as simple as that. The world is full of games to choose from.

[OSHIROmodels]

You're moving to the Med 

Oh yeah, sabot trays 

I can do you custom clear ones, drop me a line mate 

cheers

James

[LeadAsbestos]

Agreed on all points. My Trojans are in big unit trays, Saxons and Romano-Brits in skirmish trays, all singly based on washers. I'll do the occasional display base w/ multiple figures to tell a little story, and get my creative-juices fix.

So when can I bring the family over for a visit?

Congrats on your move, and paint what you like!

[WillieB]

Agree with all of the above. Especially with the 'move' part.
Single based and movement trays. Now, if I were to start over again I would use round bases as they are easier to position, but somehow I don't feel like re-basing some 1500 Late Romans/Arthurians so they'll remain on their 2x2cm square bases.

I'm to start on my next ( and probably last) big project, 28mm Great Northern War, and all figures will be based singly and then on 6 figure sabot trays for infantry and 2 for cavalry.

[Captain Blood]

Agree on all of the above too.
Individually based figures, movement trays for massed battles.
I only ever paint figures a few at a time. 5 or 6 max. Often singly, or 2 or 3 at a time. This hasn't stopped me building armies of 200+ figures for WOTR, ECW and so on... Plus several smaller ones.
I cannot cope with painting lots of figures at a time, and I hate to waste today's beautiful figures, which are always such superb little characters, by gluing them ten to a base, and turning them into an object - a unit.

You're moving to an island in the Med? Gosh. How are you going to get back to work the Empress stand at all those shows? 

Sounds ruddy marvellous to be honest. I'd like to live in the Med. Especially between say, October and May 

Good luck with it Keith.

[Prof.Witchheimer]

Keith,

I've decided to go with roudn bases and movement trays (they're not yet painted though). I think it's the best way for me to have my beloved round bases and at the same time to be flexible enough for any sort of games.

Here are some pics just to give you an idea of how this could  look

[julesav]

I agree with all of the above, I'm in the middle of rebasing my 28mms onto 1" discs and then into sabot bases. This solution has resolved much of my basing 'angst' which had been slowing painting productivity to a crawl. Now Ijust have to rebase quite a few miniatures from slots to discs! :-)

[Captain Blood]

And if you make your own trays, using a piece of plastic card and Jimbibbly's patent acrylic 'holes', you can get rid of the big step to the tray. Thus:



The method of making them is here: http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=26058.0

 

[Atheling]

Keith,

Just base them how you think looks best.... don't worry too much about basing not matching in various rules systems. The most recent rule sets that I've read don't worry about it so I don't think I would- except for maybe a demo game but even that can be easily sorted out.

Examples of my various types of basing:

[AdamPHayes]

Keith,

Just base them how you think looks best.... don't worry too much about basing not matching in various rules systems. The most recent rule sets that I've read don't worry about it so I don't think I would- except for maybe a demo game but even that can be easily sorted out.

QFT.

Grow some, base as best suits you and defy anyone (ruleswriters or the peasants that you allow to see the fruits of your hard work) to tell you it should be different.

I have standardised everything onto multi-bases for my figures as it protects them so much better and just looks more coherent. I rarely see sabot bases (definitely including mine) that don't look like a dog's dinner or waaay more additional work than the additional flexibility warrants.

[Modhail]

Precisely, base as you please, they're your figures and it's your hobby after all.
And if a ruleset makes demands on how you base things, just remember "Rules to fools are holy writ, but merely guide those with wit."...

[Vanvlak]

Would the island in the Med be my location? 
Love the sabot idea, and those shown look grand, although I tend to go for Atheling's approach.

[Rob_bresnen]

Sell your lead pile, and use the money to buy a smaller number of really tasty high quality models, basing materials and good quality paint brushes, and try to refine your painting to the next level...if you are never going to get to game then why not just accept that your hobby is painting and excel at it.

Just a suggestion- failing that go for sabot bases.

[Keith]

Would the island in the Med be my location? 

Well, yes it would!

Thanks for all the great feedback guys! Stuff it, off for a life of painting figures one at a time in the sun 

And some inspirational pics from all concerned! So, final poll if anyone has the energy? What is a good 'universal' base size? I find 2p pieces in the UK just a little too big (and soon in short supply). What do you recommend?