BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat
BattleTech Miniatures and Terrain => Hobby Tips and Tricks => Topic started by: General308 on 18 May 2020, 12:22:22
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So I ordered a bunch of the Infantry and power armor. I have been wanting to order for a while. Now I have to base them. Is there any reason to use a heck base. I was think of just putting them on a penny and calling it a day. Is there any reason for these time units a need a hex base?
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It's really up to you. Given that infantry doesn't have a facing or pay for facing changes, the only thing I can think of game-wise is if you've got a stickler who wants everything on the same size bases while playing AS. I suggest cutting some out of cardstock if that happens. Most people will be more flexible than that though, so it comes down to personal preference.
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I have over three thousand individual infantry figures, all based on pennies. Considering that Canada no longer uses a penny, it took some forethought.
If you're concerned about weight though, I suggest looking for the kind of small plastic discs used for bingo and the like. Often found at dollar or craft or party supply stores.
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I actually use half-hexes. I get plastic hex bases in lots, so it's easy to cut one down the middle. Stick however many figures you want - for budget I tend to do 3 lights or mediums, 2 heavies, or one assault - per base, fill - I find sticking a strip of cardboard on the cut side to help form a "lip" - and bob's your uncle.
Why? Because then I can fit two BA in a hex, or two platoons, etc. I also use a lot of MWLDA figures, and their "kidney bean" base is just about half a hex anyway!
Can supply photos if only mildly nudged to do so ;)
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I have used pennies, little wood disks, and a few other things . . . I play hex-based 3D maps and while the hexes are larger, using something that size still makes it easier to put it in a hex with a mech or armor. I use a single trooper on the base, even before IWM started selling them by the single . . . with all of my unprocessed IWM Elementals and MWDA BA, I cannot tell you how much that would make for a total. But I am pretty sure I have a regiment of MWDA Cavalier suits- most of which came from the Steel Wolves.
I quite stripping off the MWDA stuff- and sort of regret it now with some of the MWDA vehicles- because I will be using that game to start off with my toddler. But considering I still have the dial bases, I can temporarily re-attach the vehicles to the base while he learns to play. Lol, teaching the kid math by TH numbers! Kid, its 4+2+2+2- what is that? Ok, roll.
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So, just to make the counter-point, I do base my infantry on hex bases. I do so for the sole reason that I like the way it looks and it can cause me minor headaches if I decide to put more than one squad within a hex. As a result, at least for my battle armour, I also have made up some single troopers attached to a small washer. I use them to represent squads swarming mechs, or riding on mechs or whenever I otherwise have to squeeze multiple units in a single hex.
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*snip*
Can supply photos if only mildly nudged to do so ;)
Um... since no one else has yet... Nudge? 8)
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I like to put mine on plastic circular bases. As noted previously, there is no facing for infantry, but I like to maintain some form of consistency within my forces, and the raised circular bases I use allow me to also put the unit number on the back of the base, in the event that I am using multiples of the same unit.
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On a side note, this does limit me to a certain number of models per base. Usually I can get three infantry, or two to three battle armor per base, depending on the size of the battle armor. The plastic bases I use come from reaper minis, and I think it is $5ish dollars for a pack of 25.
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Thanks for replying! /Just here for the pics... ^-^
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Um... since no one else has yet... Nudge? 8)
Apologies! I hope this thread (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=56317.msg1294980#msg1294980) will provide sufficient examples.
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well, the scum at PhotoCan will scream at me more if I post the pix, but....
https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=34024.msg793382#msg793382
As I am currently packing to move, I was able to get a reasonable count of my infantry:
with each stand of 7 figures = 1 platoon, and 4 platoons to a company, and 3 Co. +1 HQ Pltn. to a Btln.
And 4 Btln. to a Reg't....
I've got 4 Regiments of "motorized" Infantry, 1 Regiment of BA, and a Btln. of "Leg" infantry.
It all fits into two 30 gallon RubberMaid totes and are quite heavy.
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Thank you both for the links! :thumbsup:
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Grog's got some great stuff. I've done similar using Epic Rhinos as APCs - they work brilliantly with DA infantry!
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ooooh. YES. Epic Rhinos are GREAT for infantry. But they're so rare to find, I've got all of 8 in my entire collection.
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I was lucky to score a bag of them some years ago - just down to a few Whirlwinds, which make great engineering vehicles with the spikes on the front.