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Sunday 3 March 2013

An interesting suggestion

I exchange emails with David Crook on an almost daily basis, and in yesterday's he made a very interesting suggestion regarding basing my figures for my planned Eastern Front/Great Patriotic War campaign. What he suggested was that I should base all my figures on MEGABLITZ-sized bases, with a small square of magnetic material fixed to the back of the base.



The reasoning behind his suggestion is that:
  • The figures can be used with the MEGABLITZ rules system ... and I already have quite a collection figures and vehicles based for use with MEGABLITZ;
  • The bases would be compatible with my PORTABLE WARGAME: MODERN rules (both the basic rules – where whole bases are removed – and the Big Board version – where the existing single-figure removal system would be replaced by changeable magnetic strength markers);
  • The bases could be used with Richard Borg's MEMOIR '44 rules (or my own MEMOIR OF MODERN BATTLE [MOBAT] rules) and Hexon II terrain. Changeable magnetic strength markers could again be used to replace the single-figure removal system.
David's suggestion has a lot of merit ... and would solve quite a few problems, including allowing me to avoid having duplicate collections of figures and vehicle.

At present I am giving his suggestion serious – very serious – consideration ... but I will not be making any decision in a hurry.

12 comments:

  1. Hi Bob,

    Glad to be of service! It seemed to be a logical idea - especially given the vast amount of Megablitz kit you have. I am giving the idea very serious consideration for the Middle Eastern project and for any of the rules you have mentioned it would appear to be a neat solution.

    Don't tell anyone but it also means that, for me anyway, the number of figures I will need to paint will be smaller....;-)

    BTW, I liked the bases in the picture - how did you make them?

    All the best,

    DC

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  2. Fantastic idea really. If you have a basing scheme that could work across so many games, and a system that would work for your next project, it seems almost fool hardy to go any other direction.

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  3. David Crook,

    I must admit that it was so obvious a solution to so many problems that I just did not see it. Thanks very much for pointing it out to me.

    The bases in the picture were made from 3/8th inch thick balsa wood. Easy to cut, light to carry, simple to use, thick enough to be easy to pick up; what more could you ask for! (An additional benefit is that figures can be removed from the balsa quite easily if need be.)

    All the best,

    Bob

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  4. Sean,

    It is such a simple and obvious answer that I don't know why I did not think of it myself. One solution to several problems cannot be a bad thing can it?

    All the best,

    Bob

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  5. It wouldn't be my first choice - I'm not a fan of the look, however it would solve a lot of problems for you.

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  6. " avoid having duplicate collections of figures and vehicle."

    Bob, All this time I thought that was the goal of wargamers!

    They look good.
    -Steve

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  7. Conrad Kinch,

    I know that the 'look' does not appeal to everyone ... but I have used it extensively and have no problems with it. Each to his own ... and as you write, it does solve quite a few problems for me.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  8. Steven Page (Steve),

    I must admit to have fallen into that trap myself in the past ... but I am now of an age that I need to get the most out of everything that I have in my wargame collections.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  9. You should do it Bob. Your style and Tim's are compatible - in fact a number of your early 20mm Russians are in Tim's collection now anyway!
    If you don't want to stick markers on to the bases, consider having a separate "unit" base that holds all the markers for a brigade, division or whatever size group you want.

    Regards, Chris

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  10. Chris,

    Thanks for your suggestion.

    It does make sense for me to use MEGABLITZ-style bases ... and if I paint the magnetic strip the same colour as the base, it does not show up if I don't want to see it.

    All the best,

    Bob

    PS. I had forgotten that much of my first 20mm-scale Soviet Army was in the Gow Collection!

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  11. A sound idea! All of my 20mm and 6mm toys are on 'Megablitz' bases. I hear it's a jolly good game....

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  12. Tim Gow,

    It seems that - with the honourable exception of Conrad Kinch - everyone is encouraging me to go down the MEGABLITZ route ... so I suppose that I will have to!

    I have heard the the rules are quite good ... and actually saw them on sale at 'Cavalier'.

    All the best,

    Bob

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