Author Topic: Base for battle armor help (Read 5395 times)

Robroy · « **on:** 01 December 2018, 15:31:42 »

Finally finished the star of these guys I had laying around. Now what base to use? I was originally going to use a regular IWM hex base.

Is there a better option? If so why?

Sagittaire · « **Reply #1 on:** 01 December 2018, 19:43:51 »

Pennies work great if you want to base them individually. This allows you to put them on or at the base of a 'Mech that is carrying them.

Robroy · « **Reply #2 on:** 02 December 2018, 08:44:22 »

Was not thinking of doing them as individuals. Now you have me thinking of putting magnets in them to use them together in a hex base or alone.

Cache · « **Reply #3 on:** 02 December 2018, 11:59:58 »

Magnets might be a problem if grouping them together, because magnets like each other--sometimes a lot. They're cheap enough you could probably paint up extras if you want to field them both ways.

Robroy · « **Reply #4 on:** 02 December 2018, 12:57:08 »

Ah good point about multiple magnets. Which means I am still leaning to the IWM hex bases for the whole point/ squad.

mbear · « **Reply #5 on:** 03 December 2018, 11:55:22 »

Well, you could always do something really complicated:

1. Get a steel base and embed a magnet in it to magnetize the whole base.
2. Glue/screw ferrous metal into the bottom of the Elemental's legs. (Small flat head screws like in watches or computers.)
3. Place Elementals on magnetic base. Metal in legs holds them on the magnetized base.

Luciora · « **Reply #6 on:** 03 December 2018, 12:05:58 »

Depends on how well you trim the base of the battlearmor in question as well as which ones, and how many you want on there.

Starbuck · « **Reply #7 on:** 03 December 2018, 12:29:14 »

i put two or three battle armors on a base, depending on size, too cramped doesn't look good.
i am using 30mm round bases for jump capable and 30mm hex bases for non-jumping BA.
standard clan elementals are an exception though. i started putting five on a base, now it is three to five.

Robroy · « **Reply #8 on:** 03 December 2018, 12:39:01 »

Quote from: mbear on 03 December 2018, 11:55:22

Well, you could always do something really complicated:

1. Get a steel base and embed a magnet in it to magnetize the whole base.
2. Glue/screw ferrous metal into the bottom of the Elemental's legs. (Small flat head screws like in watches or computers.)
3. Place Elementals on magnetic base. Metal in legs holds them on the magnetized base.

I have been doing some goggle-fu, and if I was going to do the magnet thing I would glue a small washer to the BA/infantry and use a magnetic sheet cut to size.

But the more I think about that I am afraid of losing some figures.

Quote from: Luciora on 03 December 2018, 12:05:58

Depends on how well you trim the base of the battlearmor in question as well as which ones, and how many you want on there.

I would like to do the whole point of five. The problem with the IWM hex base is that it tappers and has a rim around it so I lose some area. I am now trying to look into some round disk, ether plastic or wood, 1 3\8 inch in diameter. This would make them about the same size as a hex.

Just have to find some or make them.

Luciora · « **Reply #9 on:** 03 December 2018, 12:41:00 »

Chessex makes a black plastic tapered hexbase you could nip the top lip off and get a little extra room, or buy flat hex bases that aren't tapered.

shadhawk · « **Reply #10 on:** 03 December 2018, 17:32:19 »

You can get 5 elementals on a IWM base I have done it many times.
You and also find 25mm to 50mm hex bases on line that are flat / no lip

Hellraiser · « **Reply #11 on:** 03 December 2018, 18:50:29 »

Quote from: Sagittaire on 01 December 2018, 19:43:51

Pennies work great if you want to base them individually. This allows you to put them on or at the base of a 'Mech that is carrying them.

I do this.

Sure a whole hex base of 4-6 looks like a better representation of the unit, but, its also huge on the mapboard & much more of a pain when moving them on Omnimechs or sharing hexes once they dismount.

A single guy on a penny however works great, especially with the larger hexes on some of the felt maps v/s the cardstock.

Robroy · « **Reply #12 on:** 04 December 2018, 05:06:28 »

My old group would just put a peace of paper under the infantry carrier saying what unit it had. Trying to stack units in the same hex always seemed like a hassle to me.

I will also look at the flat plastic hexs.

worktroll · « **Reply #13 on:** 04 December 2018, 09:23:38 »

I'm not too fussed about having actual numbers of figures on the base for BA. I use a lot of DA BA, which have 1-3 figs per base, and when I'm using IWM or kitbashed BA I'll often use a half-hex. Helps that I use a lot of plastic hex bases (from RPE or Chessex), which are easier to halve than IWM metal.

I'll typically put one assault, two heavy, or two-three medium/lights on a half-hex, but it depends on the figure - the DA Salamander is too spread out, so it'll either be one per half-hex, or two on a whole hex. Here are some examples:

This economises on BA figs, and also allows two BA units to fit in a standard hex, as per the rules ;)

Colt Ward · « **Reply #14 on:** 05 December 2018, 10:37:46 »

Put me down in the 'use a penny for a single figure' camp . . . which is why I now have regiments & clusters of BA! I bought as part of a order 10 stands of . . . Steel Wolf? . . Cavaliers, which means whenever I get them all based I have a Cavalier battalion with a command platoon just from that. I know I have something like two clusters of Elementals.

We use 1.75" hexes so its not like the hexes are super crowded, but I do put the single BA next to a mech, veh or even the base of the VTOL so that everyone knows its loaded. Its also fun to see that single trooper sitting at the base of a mech I am going to try to take the leg off.

Jonathan Cyr · « **Reply #15 on:** 05 December 2018, 10:56:39 »

Facing doesn't matter so you don't have to use a hex. I can fit three on a quarter. Two on a nickle. Just keep them 'touching' if you are using landscape rules or if you're on a hex map I just use the 3 on the quarter to represent the entire star.

Sartris · « **Reply #16 on:** 05 December 2018, 11:09:49 »

Virtually all of my BA are MWDA on their traditional bases, which can get crowded. I have some metal elementals I’ve put on pennies to save space. Aesthetically I’d rather have as many as look good on a base for a particular suit but practicality for playing purposes takes precedence

Robroy · « **Reply #17 on:** 05 December 2018, 11:18:10 »

I am not worried about trying to save on BA, so 4 or 5 to a base just looks better to me.

Standard infantry I can see more because there is no way you are getting 20 some figures on a base.

shadhawk · « **Reply #18 on:** 06 December 2018, 05:08:50 »

these are some of the BA I have done. these are just the ones that are on hex bases. I have done some on pennies also.

some are IMW bases, some are Chessex and the large one is Proxie Models.

the Proxie bases are nice in that they start a bit larger then the Chessex and IMW bases. They offer 30mm, 40mm and 50mm bases

Hellraiser · « **Reply #19 on:** 06 December 2018, 20:30:49 »

Quote from: worktroll on 04 December 2018, 09:23:38

I'm not too fussed about having actual numbers of figures on the base for BA. I use a lot of DA BA, which have 1-3 figs per base, and when I'm using IWM or kitbashed BA I'll often use a half-hex. Helps that I use a lot of plastic hex bases (from RPE or Chessex), which are easier to halve than IWM metal.

I have to ask, what are those Mr. PotatoHead Urbanmech looking things.

I have no clue except maybe Mk1 Infiltrators & I don't think they look like that.

Major Headcase · « **Reply #20 on:** 07 December 2018, 01:31:19 »

I use Litko 1.25 inch laser cut wood hex bases. Very close to the size of a Btech map hex, and cheap. I try to fit 4 or 5 BA on each (IS and Clan squad sizes) they can look a little crowded for bulkier suit types, nut it helps me tell units at a glance.
Not the best pic, but it demonstrates some IS squads I've done.

Colt Ward · « **Reply #21 on:** 07 December 2018, 09:59:32 »

What are the tanks and the mech on the right?

Daryk · « **Reply #22 on:** 07 December 2018, 18:31:58 »

The weapons load out suggests a Commando, but the shape is all wrong for that.

Robroy · « **Reply #23 on:** 07 December 2018, 19:46:16 »

I want to thank you all for your insights. I decided to go with the Proxie 30 mm plastic hex bases, but after getting two points glued on I decided to also go with one point setup with the metal washers individually. I picked up some magnetic sheets from Hobby Lobby so I can always put those individuals on a hex if I want to. The last point I'm going to try and do them mid-jump.

Major Headcase · « **Reply #24 on:** 09 December 2018, 05:44:38 »

Quote from: Colt Ward on 07 December 2018, 09:59:32

What are the tanks and the mech on the right?

The tanks are Starcraft boardgame Terran tanks that make good Zhukov tanks (2×AC/10 and SRM 6) and the mech is a converted plastic Heavy Gear turned custom Commando. Battletech on a budget. :thumbsup:

Colt Ward · « **Reply #25 on:** 09 December 2018, 11:57:00 »

No, that is cool, its part of why I use a single BA and bought a ton of MWDA bits.

Hellraiser · « **Reply #26 on:** 10 December 2018, 00:23:07 »

Quote from: Major Headcase on 09 December 2018, 05:44:38

The tanks are Starcraft boardgame Terran tanks that make good Zhukov tanks (2×AC/10 and SRM 6) and the mech is a converted plastic Heavy Gear turned custom Commando. Battletech on a budget. :thumbsup:

I was actually thinking those things look a LOT like the Demolisher (Devastator) variant.

Got the quad tracks & shorter barrels & everything.

Robroy · « **Reply #27 on:** 12 December 2018, 05:50:18 »

I just had a stupid idea, so keep that in mind when you read it.

Now that I have a bunch of cheap plastic bases I am thinking of doing a couple up with just the ground cover and plant flock and saying it is a platoon of infantry in gilly suits, your not supposed to see them.

Daryk · « **Reply #28 on:** 12 December 2018, 17:22:44 »

I don't think that's stupid at all... :thumbsup:

shadhawk · « **Reply #29 on:** 12 December 2018, 18:19:32 »

Quote from: Robroy on 12 December 2018, 05:50:18

I just had a stupid idea, so keep that in mind when you read it.

Now that I have a bunch of cheap plastic bases I am thinking of doing a couple up with just the ground cover and plant flock and saying it is a platoon of infantry in gilly suits, your not supposed to see them.

Dude ..... Scout / Sniper Teams :thumbsup:

CranstonSnord · « **Reply #30 on:** 12 December 2018, 18:38:17 »

Just have a couple of rifle barrels poking out of bush clumps.