ACW basing for black powder.

[getagrip]

Hi all.

What would you guys recommend for my ACW bases?

10mm PD minis using BP rules.

Thanks in advance.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Utterly your choice!
I went 3 x 30mm x 40mm, giving 120mm width, but also allows you to form columns. It allows at least two ranks per base, plus space for mounted command/skirmishers too.
You might want to do 4 x as then you can form squares?

[Ithoriel]

ACW, so not many squares being formed.

[getagrip]

Utterly your choice!
I went 3 x 30mm x 40mm, giving 120mm width, but also allows you to form columns. It allows at least two ranks per base, plus space for mounted command/skirmishers too.
You might want to do 4 x as then you can form squares?

Thanks.

I've read people basing on 20x20 four figs per base.  This seems ridiculously small to me.  I'll be moving the buggers all day!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

My AWI Americans are on 60x30 x 2, it works well enough.
My Brits are on 20x30, 30x40, 30x40, 20x30 so I can detach light company and grenadiers.
The 4 figure thing sounds like a hangover from Fire and Fury...
It depends what formations you want? Line is easy, attack column can be done with three bases, by going two up, one back. Columns are just one after the other,and, as our learned fiend correctly pointed out, squares really didn't happen!

[getagrip]

How do you base cavalry Will?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Romans & Samuari, as well as AWI brits 3 x 40x30, with 4 or 5 to a base depending on 'heaviness' or 60 x 30 for AWI Anericans to show lack of flexibility!  LoA cav on 4x30x40...
Mongols not decided yet for the heavies.

I would definitely do a cavalry unit and then a dismounted unit (in loose line or skirmish, probably behind a linear obstacle ). On the same frontage as my infantry. As long as both forces have the same frontage in BP, it doesn't matter.

The uncredited victor of Gettysburg:
http://youtu.be/TglhKUX6fmQ

[getagrip]

Thanks WIll.

Loose line?  I think I know what you mean but...

Thanks for the cavalry clip; seems to be the element of ACW which really divides people.

[Leman]

Bit radical, but for FPW I have based 60x60 where one base counts as two, using casualty markers to show losses. Side by side = line, one behind the other = column.

[getagrip]

Hmm, that's a bit bigger than I was thinking.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Loose, as if in about 2/3 of the amount of line in the same space as a line unit.
If we are using the 20mm square base example, 4 foot vs 3 dismounted cavalry or 2 skirmishers per base.
Cavalry units tended to be smaller, and then 1 in 4 men would be a horse holder.
Union Cavalry also sometimes had repeating carbines, murderous rate of fire at short ranges.

[petercooman]

I did warmaster size bases, 40X20, 8 models to a base in two lines of 4, 3 bases to a unit.

Cavalry  3 models to a base, 3 bases to a unit.

Skirmishers will be 3-4 models to a base i think.

Artillery are based towards the short edge. Works good for many rulesystems.

You all have seen my picture numerous times, but i'll just post it again 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

I did warmaster size bases, 40X20, 8 models to a base in two lines of 4, 3 bases to a unit.

Cavalry  3 models to a base, 3 bases to a unit.

Skirmishers will be 3-4 models to a base i think.

Artillery are based towards the short edge. Works good for many rulesystems.

You all have seen my picture numerous times, but i'll just post it again 

Keep posting them, they're lovely.

[getagrip]

Thanks Peter, they're cracking.

Works for me as WM is my main game.

[petercooman]

It just works out pretty well too.

3 bases of 8 = 24 
-3 command figures and one casualty figure thrown in for good measure = 20

2 packs of infantry are 60 models, so that gives you enough regular troopers  for 3 units/9 bases.

[Westmarcher]

Maybe I've missed this but no-one seems to have pointed out that you can have large, standard, small and tiny units in Black Powder  So have a think about how many bases you are going to have per unit.

Personally (after a few re-basing episodes), I find square bases are the best (I use 25mm x 25mm - but suit yourself). I use 4 bases per standard unit. This means I can form line (4 x 1), column (2 x 2) and march column (1 x 4). Although I made some movement trays for line and march column (if you use square bases, they are the same dimensions), I hardly use them, finding that moving 4 bases per unit is no bother and does not have such a  significant effect on the speed of play as some people may think. As for the amount of figures on each base I say do whatever floats your boat.    

[Womble67]

I normally use 24 figures 3 x 40mm x 20mm for a standard unit. Tiny unit 8 figures 1 x 40mm x 20mm. Small unit 16 figures 2 x 40mm 20mm.
for a large unit I use 8 figures 2 x 20mm x 20mm plus the standard unit.

Take care

Andy

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Whereas I use the same frontage, but put less figures on the base!

[getagrip]

Thanks guys.   I've ordered the rules so I guess I'll have to decide when I read them.

Seems to be a lot of variation though. 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

That's because the writer wanted people to use their own figures and initiative...
Honest...