Labels on bases

[fsn]

I don't.

I have a separate OOB, but I can also identify all the units on the table and so know their stats.

Are labels necessary because of particular rule sets?   

They do look very professional and all that ... but is it necessary?

Exception is 1:3000 ships where I do put the name on the base.

[T13A]

Hi

I can't think of any rule sets that I play that couldn't have a roster sheet (with the units stats etc. listed) rather than unit labels.

That said I do tend to use labels for many of my games (WWII being an exception that springs to mind) simply for speed of play and more importantly for me, not having to remember stats etc. I tend to use M/S excel to make the labels and for example when playing 'To the Strongest!' or 'For King and Parliament' (FK&P) I simply have a label with the relavent 'save' required on it and they are colour coded for each command/brigade (for FK&P I tend to put the regiments name on as well). That said, labels would be dificult to do without for playing the 'Fire and Fury' family of rulesets where the labels show how many bases a unit has before it is 'worn' then 'spent', typically shown as 8/6/4 for example, they also show the chain of command, the experience level and what the unit is armed with, and all on a label about 1" x 3/4"! I do make an effort to make the labels as unobtrusive as possible. typically using green/brown for the colour. I did try labels when playing Sam Mustafa's 'Blucher' rule set but ended up prefering a unit roster.

Cheers Paul 

[fsn]

Thank you.

[d_Guy]

I do. The same unit may have different values in different scenarios and I don't like having to frequently consult the OoB.

[Ithoriel]

When playing with people who "can't tell a cataphract from a catapult", as I often am labels can be useful.

[Steve J]

Labels are really useful when playing Bloody Big Battles rules.

[T13A]

Hi Fsn
 
'Rowan and Martins laugh In', now that it showing our ages! 

Cheers Paul

[fred.]

Thought I'd replied to this earlier - but clearly didn't press the right buttons 


I mainly use labels when playing the ECW rules For King and Parliament and for the WWII rules Rommel. 

For FKaP the reasons are:
1) telling the sides apart, as we have fairly generic ECW troops
2) tracking ammunition usage and some other one-off special rules - but we still use small dice for tracking casualties
3) identifying brigades and regiment names
4) displaying unit stats

I don't think any of these are needed by the design of the rules, as they could be tracked on a unit roster. But the problem is knowing what unit on the table is which one on the roster - and similar looking units (and it being ECW most of them are pike and shot units) can have differences in abilities and rules. So once you have decided to label the bases to cover off identifying them - you may as well add the other info to them as well. It is no.2 tracking ammo that is the most practical in-game thing as you can readily see the status of your units. Also as the label is at the back of the base, your opponent needs to put some effort in to check the status of your units, adding a small amount of fog of war. 

In Rommel the rules contain the idea of playing with unit cards, and positioning the model on top of the card. So the idea of labels is more integral to the rules. The unit stats in Rommel are pretty simple so can easily be displayed on the label, and again you can add details around organisation and historical naming to the labels. 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Depends on the rules?
For my FPW yes, because I started with labels, and have carried on, but if I were to do it again, nope.
Napoleonics, yes, under the bases, so I dont have to match units by facings when putting them away.
1:3000 shis - it's the law?
Flames of War, a code stripe in the back of each base.
Principles of War - unit number on a pebble on the base rear edge, or a label underneath.
Platoon based 10mm games, like BKC, stripes to show platoon.
Some ancients to show status of unit get a colour code, as their shields are facing the other way.
Otherwise, nah!

[Westmarcher]

I've used sticky labels in the past that I stuck to the underneath of the command base with the name of the unit; a Fire & Fury idea, I believe, but with the relevant information on a roster sheet instead.

Clip boards with roster sheets are great, until you find out that your opponent is hopeless at admin when it comes to recording casualties .....

Fortunately, the units in the games we currently play are readily recognisable so labels aren't usually necessary but we do use dice (usually in attached dice boxes) to record casualties/loss of resolve, etc. and still have separate rosters to remind us of the various units' attributes.

[Edit: like Will I also have a system for ensuring the bases of unit stay together for storage purposes but I don't use labels - instead I paint the underneath of the base with the facing colour (or other unique colour) ]

[sultanbev]

We name our units on the underside of the bases for Napoleonic-colonial generally. Always have an OOB showing which battalions are in which brigade/division, and with unit ratings, weapon where different, and commander ratings written on.

WW2 units are not named or labelled generally as the same models can be used for different divisions from week to week.

We use casualty markers next to units to note losses, so no need to write on the roster sheet.

Mark

[John Cook]

Are labels necessary because of particular rule sets?   

Not that I know of.  I have the unit name on the trailing edge of the command stand of each unit, and full details underneath.  I find it vital to be able to identify units for reasons of 'book keeping', for some periods more than others. 

[fsn]

'Rowan and Martins laugh In', now that it showing our ages! 

One of my early crushes. 

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

I only use labels on Ships, find then intruseive on other stuff....

[sunjester]

Hi

I did try labels when playing Sam Mustafa's 'Blucher' rule set but ended up prefering a unit roster.

Cheers Paul 

Apart from the obvious requirement for Fire and Fury based games, Blucher is actually the only other rules set I use labels for!