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:
At present I am giving his suggestion serious – very serious – consideration ... but I will not be making any decision in a hurry.
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.
At present I am giving his suggestion serious – very serious – consideration ... but I will not be making any decision in a hurry.
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Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteGlad 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
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.
ReplyDeleteDavid Crook,
ReplyDeleteI 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
Sean,
ReplyDeleteIt 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
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.
ReplyDelete" avoid having duplicate collections of figures and vehicle."
ReplyDeleteBob, All this time I thought that was the goal of wargamers!
They look good.
-Steve
Conrad Kinch,
ReplyDeleteI 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
Steven Page (Steve),
ReplyDeleteI 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
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!
ReplyDeleteIf 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
Chris,
ReplyDeleteThanks 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!
A sound idea! All of my 20mm and 6mm toys are on 'Megablitz' bases. I hear it's a jolly good game....
ReplyDeleteTim Gow,
ReplyDeleteIt 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