Labels on bases

[paulr]

As you may have noted I'm a fan of labels

None of the rules we use require labels, some of the players on the other hand

We play a lot of different periods and having all players able to readily identify their and the opponent's units makes games more enjoyable

Once you've added labels it makes sense to me to include all the needed information as unobtrusively as possible
This avoids getting bogged down in looking things up

Even my ship labels have more than ship name, they include a flag, type and defense value
These give the opponent some idea what he is up against as would be given by ship identification books of the time. Damage is tracked on an OoB

Did you see collegialhoagie's labels at the back of the table approach here
https://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,21641.msg348427.html#msg348427

[Chris Pringle]

Labels are really useful when playing Bloody Big Battles rules.

Can't argue with that statement from a genuine player!

That said - for our BBB games we never use labels. I let the figures do the work. E.g., veteran units get 2 flags, raw units get none; the red kepis are always rated Aggressive, the white kepis are always Fragile, etc. This works just fine for us. Very occasionally there's a pause when we have to take a moment to work out exactly whose brigade we're looking at, but that's very rare. I could claim that I don't use labels because they spoil the aesthetic, or I could admit I'm just too lazy and don't think they're worth the effort ...

[Chad]

I always have unit rosters for games combined with a label on each unit base (normally under the command base). My roster sheets include amongst other things unit data, casualty figures and status during the game, although for the latter I am moving to markers placed with the unit.

[Last Hussar]

Is that because I use them? With not trying to make the Little Wooden Men look realistic I find it perfectly in keeping with the style.

[fsn]

Hmmm.

I think it's 'cos I'm a solo gamer that I don't use them. I know the units and their capabilities. 

[d_Guy]

I use them because I am a solo gamer and helpful when playing both sides. That said, the lack of labels in your last game
Greatly added to the impressive appearance.

I used to do something like Chris and assembled units in different ways on a magnetic sabot to give the essential information. In the end it became to fiddly and labels were simpler.

I am curious, how to you feel about status markers? Hits, morale, energy, that sort of thing?

[fsn]

I use single figures painted red, yellow or green. I find them a lot less intrusive than dice, and mark casualties on the OOB. 

[hammurabi70]

Any reason not to use discreet identifier and keep a unit card to one side?  Perhaps a bit like having on off-table roster but works as an on-table one; we find it appropriate as a solution.

[fsn]

I think my point is that I know which units are which. I don't need labels 'cos if it's British and the cuffs are red it's the 33rd (or my painting standards are really bad.)

I wonder if that's why I'm not keen on doing French infantry? 

[Raider4]

I find some kind of marker on the unit is useful to tell them apart. eg: four basically identical units - 1st has a small 'rock' back left, 2nd has it back middle, 3rd is back right, 4th has no rock. Wounds & status changes are marked on a roster.

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

Are you playing solo . . . ?

[Chris Pringle]

I am curious, how to you feel about status markers? Hits, morale, energy, that sort of thing?

BBB uses base removal, so that's hits dealt with.
I used to use functional but ugly plastic counters as status markers. Nowadays I use puffs of different coloured smoke: white for Disrupted, black for Spent, brown for Low Ammo. These are made from wool roving. I like the aesthetic effect.

Matt Bradley of the 'Pushing Tin' blog uses mounted officers, wagons, etc for this purpose in his beautiful games.
https://pushingtinwargames.blogspot.com/
Again, nice aesthetic effect.

[Leman]

I am also not a great fan of labels. I prefer to leave them to boardgame counters and use various markers to denote status etc in my games in order to preserve the aesthetic. Also, these days I am a solo player and not yet doddery enough to forget who is who on the table.