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Post by WaffleM on Aug 19, 2009 10:12:31 GMT -9
Just a general gaming question, as I've been outside the gaming world for too long:
What size and shape bases do you use for large monsters in your games? Are there conventional sizes/standards that exist between games so you can use miniatures from Warhammer or Lord of the Rings to play D&D, Savage Worlds, or Song Of- games?
Thanks!
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Post by squirmydad on Aug 19, 2009 11:21:35 GMT -9
Warhammer, 50mm square D&D, 2, 3, 4 inches square depending on the size of the figure
Everything else doesn't matter unless it's for an element style game, but they will give you the size in the rules. JIM
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Post by afet on Aug 20, 2009 10:04:40 GMT -9
D&D, 2, 3, 4 inches square depending on the size of the figure JIM More specifically, in 4th Edition D&D the "size" of the creature designates how many 1" (5x5 feet) squares it occupies: - Small&Medium =1 square; - Large = 2x2 squares - Huge = 3x3 - Gargantuan = 4x4 or larger So, if you're making a D&D monster, and you want it to be usable for 4e, check the Monster Manual for its base size.
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Post by josedominguez on Aug 28, 2009 1:13:30 GMT -9
The song of games uses anything sensible, as long as they are all similar. (so whatever fits the model is perfect). Lord of the rings uses circular bases and WFB uses square, then 40K uses round ones too. Best bet is to find which game you like best and base up for that, then play SOng of as well, as it will fit no matter what you do The lord of the rings skirmish game uses round bases that are then put onto square/rectangular 'movement trays' for the War of the ring massed battle game. So that's the best of both worlds. (I use magnetic paper bases and steel paper movement trays.
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Post by WaffleM on Sept 15, 2009 11:21:08 GMT -9
In a related question: Does anyone have a size comparison chart for D&D, Warhammer, or other games? I'm thinking of something to relate the different heights of various creatures so I don't design a minotaur that's out of scale with my troll. (I'm not currently designing minotaurs or trolls, I'm just looking for reference material for future projects) The current Monster Manuals only list size classes, but I'm looking for a way to tell which "huge" monster is "huge-er" than other "huge" monsters... My old copy of Call of Cthulhu had a great size comparison chart, but I'm looking for more classic fantasy monsters. And yes, I do understand that I'm looking for statistical information on fictional creatures. I'm just funny like that!
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Post by stevelortz on Sept 15, 2009 16:53:23 GMT -9
In a related question: Does anyone have a size comparison chart for D&D, Warhammer, or other games? I'm thinking of something to relate the different heights of various creatures so I don't design a minotaur that's out of scale with my troll. (I'm not currently designing minotaurs or trolls, I'm just looking for reference material for future projects) The current Monster Manuals only list size classes, but I'm looking for a way to tell which "huge" monster is "huge-er" than other "huge" monsters... My old copy of Call of Cthulhu had a great size comparison chart, but I'm looking for more classic fantasy monsters. And yes, I do understand that I'm looking for statistical information on fictional creatures. I'm just funny like that! You'd probably do just as well to make up your own size comparison chart as to find one published somewhere. Everybody has different opinions. Your chart would suit your vision closer than anybody else's would. Meanwhile, if you're mainly using One Monk figures, go with the images Jim has already published, understanding that imagery may or may not change change radically from set to set. I like what Jabbro did with his dragons. It only stands to reason that one particular monster type would come in a variety of sizes. Have fun! Steve
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Post by vectorsigma on Oct 3, 2009 18:00:44 GMT -9
If it helps, here are the standard base sizes for Games Workshop stuff (Warhammer):
20mm square - humans, elves, dwarves, goblins/halflings 25mm square - orcs, chaos warriors (ie, human-sized but bulky models) 25x50 - standard cavalry base 40mm square - large monstrous humanoids (minotaur, troll, ogre)
Note that the 20/25 still fit in a one-inch square on a battlemat, the cav fits in two, and the 40mm fits in four.
Those _might_ have changed since I worked there, but I doubt it. I think they added 30mm round (for Space Marine Terminator armor) since those days, but that's about it.
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Post by Kioma Winterwolf on Oct 8, 2009 23:47:40 GMT -9
/cast Resurrect Thread
So! I was wondering these same things (regarding base sizes) and was going to start my own thread about it but, hey, no point wasting virtual space. If something like that can be said to be 'wasted'.
From the above conversation I'd hazard the guess that the exact size of the base matters a great deal less than the grid on the mat (or, for gridless games, the standard unit of movement measure).
Does that sound right? I mean if you wanted to get tricksy and say that in a grid-based game each medium figure takes up, say, 25mm2 but then produce bases for figures that are, let's say, something a bit weird like 19mm2 then it all comes down to the same thing: every medium figure still fits within a 25mm2 space.
Similarly if you say 'A reeeally big monster takes up four squares' then the important point is the size of the squares rather than the size of the base... as I see it.
Except that using 19mm2 bases would be damn confusing for the players. Or it'd just look weird. Or both.
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Post by glennwilliams on Oct 9, 2009 7:31:57 GMT -9
I don't see that base size per se is that important--as long as the figure doesn't tip over. The exception is where the base size itself conveys information, or the base contains information (Monsterpocalypse, for example). My concern is that the figures look about right. I've got a part of MageKnight Minotaurs remounted to serve as a dungeon party. I just picked out some bases that fit and used them.
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Post by jabbro on Oct 9, 2009 14:55:23 GMT -9
What Glen said. I usually use base sizes as guidelines. Some can fit on smaller or larger bases. You can decide what you like based on your gaming style and go with it.
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Post by vectorsigma on Oct 14, 2009 20:07:06 GMT -9
The only time I've ever seen base size 'matter' is when there are rules regarding how many models can engage the target model in melee, which are based on actual base-to-base contact. This is less of an issue in skirmish-type games, but does come up from time to time in Warhammer.
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Post by enpeze on Dec 18, 2009 4:00:36 GMT -9
For dnd4 play its quite important to have accurate base sizes, because the game put a fokus on playing out combats and all maps of the wotc modules are designed for the standard bases.
Thus said, I am not a big friend of the actual miniatures size of the prepainted plastic from Wotc. Especially the big ones are too big for my taste.
Comparing for example the troll from the last mini set with the plastic troll minis from reaper or those from some paper mini sets, one will see that the new dnd troll is probably more than 5m, while those others from other companies are "just" 3-3,50m. (which I like better)
It seems that wotc want to establish a "new" mini size standard for their dnd universe with "bigger sizes" than the rest of the industry.
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Post by Parduz on Dec 18, 2009 5:38:37 GMT -9
The only time I've ever seen base size 'matter' is when there are rules regarding how many models can engage the target model in melee, which are based on actual base-to-base contact. Ganesha Games "Song of Blade and Heroes" works in this way. It "balance" the more movement you do with big bases (as you place a stick on the base, and move the figure placing his base at the other end of the stick. So you always move "the stick" + your base): this is specifically written in a rulebook. And frankly, i like this a lot: no "center" to guess, easy for the kids, more variation between figures with the same "stick" for movement but with different sizes. So: bigger base = more movement but more foes surrounding you.
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Post by tabris on Dec 18, 2009 19:59:45 GMT -9
If i recall well must RPGs use 25mm minis.
But also, most of the use grids, and being so the scale of the model is not as important as the scale of the base. Savage Worlds is the only RPG i know that don't uses a grid, instead working like a normal wargame, using measures in inches. The recommended scale is also 25mm.
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Post by Adam Souza on Dec 18, 2009 20:43:28 GMT -9
Everything used to be 25mm since that was pretty much the only thing available.
Reaper and GW went larger, and D&D followed suit when they started producing their own miniatures.
D&D minis are produced in plastic, making larger figures more viable.
Personally, I was really excited when they added Huge figures to the line up.
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Post by tabris on Dec 19, 2009 7:25:02 GMT -9
Everything used to be 25mm since that was pretty much the only thing available. Reaper and GW went larger, and D&D followed suit when they started producing their own miniatures. D&D minis are produced in plastic, making larger figures more viable. Personally, I was really excited when they added Huge figures to the line up. So you are saying they are not 25mm anymore?
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Post by Adam Souza on Dec 19, 2009 10:28:03 GMT -9
Not at least what I consider 25mm anymore.
I stilll have hundreds of Fantasy minaitures from the 80s, and there is a definite creep in model size with what is produced today.
Alot of the smallerish models produced today are about 28mm at eye level. Wargames factory and Hasslefree are 28mm, Reaper is larger, GW is superdeformed and taller
Grabs random figures off of desktop
Random Mage Knight Human 28mm & 30mm eye level Random D&D Human 30mm eye level Random Heroclix Human 33mm eye level
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