Minimum # of Figure for Attractive Visual "Mass"?

[Dr DeAth]

I think for visual appeal of big battles 10mm is perfect. 28mm takes up too much space/money/painting time (unless you're fortunate enough to have unlimited funds, a massive table and a small army of painters)

Couple of photos of a recent 10mm Napoleonic game played on an 8' x 4' table, 5 players and approx 1,000 figures (36 per infantry unit)

[Cubs]

For big battles, they look lovely. But in the quest for absolute realism of scale, where does it end?

Some would argue the board and terrain must then realistically recreate the battlefield 1:1, or the model representation is pointless. What about supply wagons and non combatants? Surely they must be represented? What about the enormous space taken up by artillery limbers behind the guns? Hardly anyone represents that exactly. Supply wagons, messengers, deserters, casualties ....

At some point you have to draw a line and say, "I'm abstracting from here on". Everyone's line is somewhere different and, as already mentioned, some people are just out to have fun with their toys and aren't looking to actually recreate anything.

[dijit]

For big battles, they look lovely. But in the quest for absolute realism of scale, where does it end?

Some would argue the board and terrain must then realistically recreate the battlefield 1:1, or the model representation is pointless. What about supply wagons and non combatants? Surely they must be represented? What about the enormous space taken up by artillery limbers behind the guns? Hardly anyone represents that exactly. Supply wagons, messengers, deserters, casualties ....

At some point you have to draw a line and say, "I'm abstracting from here on". Everyone's line is somewhere different and, as already mentioned, some people are just out to have fun with their toys and aren't looking to actually recreate anything.

Which is why I normally stick to skirmish gaming, all that stuff is off table.

[Arlequín]

Some would argue the board and terrain must then realistically recreate the battlefield 1:1, or the model representation is pointless. What about supply wagons and non combatants? Surely they must be represented? What about the enormous space taken up by artillery limbers behind the guns? Hardly anyone represents that exactly. Supply wagons, messengers, deserters, casualties ....

Nevertheless the collections which do feature such things are usually the ones people gush over.

For us mere mortals though, the cost of including that "Vivandiere's cart" or "Surgeon's Tent" against another company of infantry is often a hard call.

Indeed you are right though, for most the need to abstract is essential if they are to live their dreams. Mine is a 1:1 Spanish SCW infantry company, with its farriers, butcher, stretcher bearers, mule train and everything else... but I bet they are the last things I buy for it, if I ever even get that far.