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.
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
Thank you.
(https://i.imgflip.com/1dj89o.jpg)
I do. The same unit may have different values in different scenarios and I don't like having to frequently consult the OoB.
When playing with people who "can't tell a cataphract from a catapult", as I often am labels can be useful.
Labels are really useful when playing Bloody Big Battles rules.
Hi Fsn
'Rowan and Martins laugh In', now that it showing our ages! :o
Cheers Paul
Thought I'd replied to this earlier - but clearly didn't press the right buttons :o
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.
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!
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 ..... #-o
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) ]
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
Quote from: fsn on 10 October 2022, 06:18:50 PMAre 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.
Quote'Rowan and Martins laugh In', now that it showing our ages! :o
One of my early crushes. :D
I only use labels on Ships, find then intruseive on other stuff....
Quote from: T13A on 10 October 2022, 06:52:33 PMHi
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! ;D
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 ;D
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 (https://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,21641.msg348427.html#msg348427)
Quote from: Steve J on 10 October 2022, 07:56:38 PMLabels 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 ...
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.
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.
Hmmm.
I think it's 'cos I'm a solo gamer that I don't use them. I know the units and their capabilities. :-\
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?
I use single figures painted red, yellow or green. I find them a lot less intrusive than dice, and mark casualties on the OOB.
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.
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?
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.
Quote. . . Clip boards with roster sheets are great, until you find out that your opponent is hopeless at admin when it comes to recording casualties ..... #-o
Are you playing solo . . . ? ;)
Quote from: d_Guy on 11 October 2022, 01:06:46 PMI 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.
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.