ECW Basing

[Plasticoutsider]

Hi,

I'm about to start (what I hope will be) a sizeable ECW collection. 
I just wondered if anyone could share their thoughts on how they base their figures.
My initial idea was to base 8 or ten infantry (pike and shotte) on 20x40mm bases.  That way I could easily swap ratios of both troop types in a regiment depending on whether they're representing Royalists or Parliamentarians.
I'm wavering though.  I wonder if that will result in overcrowding.
Any advice at all most gratefully accepted.

Thanks in advance

[FierceKitty]

I'd keep the pike and shot on separate bases. There are times when you legitimately need to swivel a company of musketeers etc, don't you think?

[Plasticoutsider]

Sorry, yeah, my writing was a lot less than clear there.  I'll be basing the pike and shotte separately, I just wondered how many figures people tended to fix to a base, and what size bases they used.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Sorry - but it is an impossible question. Pike you could get 15 figs 10mm on a 40x20, with 10 shotte, which would give a good visual appearance.

IanS

[Shedman]

ECW is on my To-Do list

Unless you are using rules like impetus or Principles of War etc where the whole unit is on a base then I would separate the shot from the pike

As to what size base to use again it depends on the rules

I intend to use 30mm square with 8 shot in 2 ranks and 12 pikes in 3 ranks

[Sandinista]

I based my pike 20 figs on 40 x 40 and muskets 10 figs on 20 x 40

[Plasticoutsider]

I based my pike 20 figs on 40 x 40 and muskets 10 figs on 20 x 40

Right, thanks.  That's kind of what I had in mind.  I'd seen a few pictures with less figures on larger bases (with more space between the figures and the base edge) though, and wondered if anyone was doing that kind of thing.

Thanks so much for all the replies

[Zippee]

ECW is on my To-Do list

Unless you are using rules like impetus or Principles of War etc where the whole unit is on a base then I would separate the shot from the pike

As to what size base to use again it depends on the rules

I intend to use 30mm square with 8 shot in 2 ranks and 12 pikes in 3 ranks

Even with Barroque (the Impetus rules for the period) I would base the battalia on three bases - 40mm square for me.

[Bernie]

Do your bases as your pocket will bear. Aesthetics is important

I like the look of blocky-looking units that look like the wood cuts of the period

Click link below for some games we did at Salute

http://s1213.photobucket.com/user/BernardGanley/slideshow/This%20War%20without%20an%20Enemy/Salute%202014

Link below for bases sizes we use: 12 pike to a base in 3 ranks, 8 shotte, 4 horse

http://realtimewargames.webplus.net/page17.html

Good luck with the project

[toxicpixie]

I've done 16 pike in four by four on a 40mm square base for my recent Italian wars stuff and that looks good, IMO! The arquebus are on five to a 40mm by 20mm in staggered 3-2 ranks. They're more skirmishy than "proper" Shotte, so either three by two or four by two would be good.

[Plasticoutsider]

Thanks again for all the replies.  Those pictures are fantastic.  I've got a good 300 or so figures to be getting on with (as soon as I finish the second of my little DBA Wars of the Roses armies).  The intention (always full of those) is to base things around Marston Moor; so we get Rupert and Newcastle, the Eastern Association and Covenanters - plenty of variety.

[Glorfindel]

Hi,

I started my first 10mm ECW army this year and have based the figures up as follows :

   Large Regiments (4 bases).
   Smaller Regiments (3 bases).

Each base is 45mm wide by 50mm deep and holds 15 figures (3 ranks of 5).
Large Regiments have 2 pike bases and 2 shot.   Smaller Regiments have
1 pike and 2 shot.

Two reasons for choosing the base size.   Firstly, I intended to add scenic elements
to each base (which didn't happen) - hence the need for depth.    Secondly, I
had a batch of this size base left over from an earlier project !   Bear in mind that
this was not an army based up for any particular rules requirement but something
done just for the love of painting.

A few pics here :

http://s761.photobucket.com/user/glorfindel-666/library/#/user/glorfindel-666/library/10mm%20English%20Civil%20War?sort=3&page=0&_suid=14039469525370800551121824647

I have also attached a couple of sample pics to give you an idea of what this looks
like so you can decide whether it suites.





Hope this helps to visualise the effect of this base size.

Cheers,

Phil

[FierceKitty]

Hi,

I started my first 10mm ECW army this year and have based the figures up as follows :

What the FAQ?

[Hertsblue]

My advice is - decide on a set of rules and go from there. If the rules are base-size tolerant then you'll have a lot more flexibility. The thing to avoid if possible is having to re-base the entire army further down the line when the next flavour-of-the-month set comes out. 

[Glorfindel]

>>What the FAQ?<<

Pressed the blinkin wrong button by mistake and submitted half complete post !!
Mutter, mutter.

Post now corrected !

Cheers,


Phil