Warmaster bases

[Darthvegeta800]

I put in an order for several boxes of these Zvezda Livonian and Teutonic Knights:
http://willwarweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/ ... valry.html

I'm hoping to make them usable for Warmaster (and other games on that scale?).
But does anyone know where I might be able to get some good bases for these fellows?

[Jchaos79]

Hi,
zvedza figures are awesome. If you are into warmaster with 1/72 I recommend use the rule set as it (movement and base sizes). I mean with no modification unless the scale of figures. Pendraken miniatures sells good mdf bases 40x20. They also sells other size of bases.
check this out http://www.pendraken.co.uk/MDF-Bases-c28/

hope it helps

[Darthvegeta800]

Very cool i presume the measurement you gave me are good both for infantry and cavalry?
Also... any advice on which to use for the commander?

As for the regular bases for infantry and cavalry. I presume these are the ones you were referring to? http://www.pendraken.co.uk/BS4020-p5973/

[Granticus]

I can definitely recommend Kallistra bases:
http://www.kallistra.co.uk/Shop/figurebases.html
http://www.kallistra.co.uk/ (home page)

When I was stuck in Shanghai, I experimented with Italeri which was about the only historical figure readily available. Just a warning; it gets rather expensive when trying to accumulate the correct amount of figures for an army, as they tend to come in mixed sets. In attempting a Crusader army it became clear in order to get enough crossbowmen there would be unused figures, like mounted knights, in a ratio of at least 2 to 1.

Fitting them on bases can be tricky as well. The mounted knights barely fit on a Warmaster base as shock, regular cavalry would require a 40mm x 40mm base.

Most players here in the UK use a 1p coin for subordinates and a 2p coin for generals. Maybe Euros would work in the same way for you.

Hope this helps!

[Darthvegeta800]

Would the round bases used in WH40K be good for a general?
Also I presume i should take these in your opinion: Plastic Base (20mmx40mm) 50 pack

[Granticus]

I've seen many a commander mounted on 40k bases, so definitely a way to go. You can pretty much mount commanders on any base, since the base size for command stands is irrelevant. You wouldn't want to make it too big, as they might just get in the way.

Players tend to mount their Generals on a larger base to make them easier to identify. Recently, I played a game with an army in which all the commanders were mounted on the same base size and managed to miss a turn by starting and failing Orders with the General! Haha

If you are asking about the Kallistra plastic bases, then yes, 20x40mm is the size you want. They are nice in that they have a suitable earth tone to them, so you don't feel obligated to paint the base, especially for arid based armies.

For 20mm plastics, you might need a few of the 30x40mm for non-shocked based cavalry and chariots.

[Darthvegeta800]

Given i never played the game before I'd best know what is best prior to 'assembly'.
Should I place the Teutonic Knights as shock cavalry or regularly? And on that scale, how many figures per base is advised as i get the impression Zvezda and Italeri's are 'bigger' than the guys in the rulebooks.

[Granticus]

Okay, so if all your cavalry either has the shock special rule or the knight rule, which I believe combines shock within it, then you have less to worry about because they get mounted facing the short edge and should fit the length of the base. (The advantage of shock basing is twice as many stands may charge against a long edge based unit-- their combat bonus is built into the way the unit is based.)

Here is where it gets a bit complicated. I agree with Jchaos79, it's best to try to keep the standard 20x40mm basing-- it's part of the beauty of WmA where battle lines look like proper thin battle lines. However, if you are planning further armies, you may have to go with deeper bases to accommodate certain units at 20mm, due to not quite fitting on a normal WmA base.

Having played a couple dozen games using 15mm with DBx basing, I can't say using odd sized bases makes a huge difference in gameplay, yet you will want both armies to match in their troop type / base size.

As for figures per stand, WmA is mercifully accommodating-- most players simply put on as many figures per stand as they like, usually fewer to identify troops fighting in loose formation (skirmishers) and more to distinguish close order units.

I hope this makes sense. I fear I've made it more complex than it actually is.

[Darthvegeta800]

Hmm I got the bases and they do seem fine for 1/72th infantry but far less so for infantry. Just 2 side by side cavalry units is already cramped.

[Granticus]

That's where you are saving the most money-- that's why you went with 20mm, no?

Assuming a Italeri box of 21 knights is around £5, that's 24p per knight, six knights per unit, so £1.44 per cavalry unit.

Kallistra sells Teutonic knights for 38p per knight, four knights per base, 12 knights per unit, so £4.54 per cavalry unit.

It's not much of a savings per model, but because less models will fit on a base it quickly adds up.

I would suggest doing the maths on the infantry you will need. In my case, the crusader list requires two units of crossbow. The Italeri set only comes with 2 crossbow per box. I desired to squeeze four crossbow per base, twelve in a unit. So, that meant I had to buy twelve boxes just to get the minimum crossbowmen when I really wanted two more units.

There are suggestions at the back of the WmA rulebook for using 20mm or 1/72 on 60mm wide bases if you want more soldiers per base.

[Darthvegeta800]

*nods*

Currently i'm using 1 cavalryman per base.
As for te crossbowmen... i'm inclined to go 3 or 4 per base.
I put in an additional order along with the Russian adversaries for my TK's which should boost the amount of TK's I'll have AND Swordbrothers. So I should get more Crossbowmen.
Currently I have 20 I think and I'll get 8 more later on.

I had hoped to be able to place 2 knights per base but that is impossible and using the width is certainly too cramped.

For my leaders i'm using some leftover Battletech hexagonal bases i had lying around.
I'm putting the Livonian commander together with an infantryman blowing a horn on it to indicate my generals directing their men.
He's pointing and the hornblower is sounding his instrument so it looks a bit like he's giving orders.