A load of interesting views above, none of which is wrong. 

Quote from: steve_holmes_11 on 23 January 2020, 04:04:38 PM
* You'll get your armies on table faster.
* You'll likely want to collect extra armies.

Indeed, two of the attractions, my friend. 

So, most likely you need not worry about future sales, Leon (as Steve suggests). 

p.s. I would also like it noted that Dave and Leon have always gone that extra mile and accommodated my requests for extra officers, musicians and standard bearers in the past. 

I own and play in all scales from 6mm to 28mm.  Although I am using 6mm less and less now as I get older.

I like to see a battle line look like a battle line, so in most cases 28mm does not really do it. Sunjester and I do manage a battle line  it in 28mm lord of the rings stuff, simply because we can field 1000+ figures a side, although this takes a very large table and a ful day.

so for most things 28mm is a skirmish  or small battle scale. This is fine for a club night

15mm  is good for getting large units, although having resurrected my 15mm stuff recently, I was shocked at the cost of getting some additional units.

10mm is great for large battle lines and figures that you can actually see, also the cost is far more manageable, although I am not sure Mrs Orcs would agree ( I have convinced her that Pendraken figures are  astounding value at £1.50 a pack  ).

As my preference is for good looking games with proper battle lines 10mm has become my primary scale. Plus as I am fortunate to have the space and an accommodating partner that allows me to to have a large table up in the dining room, sometimes for months on end, I have the luxury to indulge myself.

That said I have played some cracking games with half a dozen figures aside.

As I have said before I am a "wargames slapper" any period , any rules, any scale.  Its the fun that counts 






 

Quote from: steve_holmes_11 on 23 January 2020, 04:04:38 PM

So, to summarise:
* Shrinking a battle wargame does not result in a skirmish.
* Some rules are more shrinkable than others, and the key lies in the rules measurement, basing and casualty mechanisms.
* Keep en eye on the look of your units en-masse.
* Scale movement and range distances in proportion to unit frontage.
* Grid games are generally easy to scale.
* You'll get your armies on table faster.
* You'll likely want to collect extra armies.

And the most important one: we never stop at one period so repeat the process.

Quote from: steve_holmes_11 on 23 January 2020, 04:04:38 PM


So, to summarise:
* Shrinking a battle wargame does not result in a skirmish.
* Some rules are more shrinkable than others, and the key lies in the rules measurement, basing and casualty mechanisms.
* Keep en eye on the look of your units en-masse.
* Scale movement and range distances in proportion to unit frontage.
* Grid games are generally easy to scale.
* You'll get your armies on table faster.
* You'll likely want need to collect extra armies.

I started years ago with 25/28mm as they were the only figures available. Then came 15mm and I switched. Finally 6mm and 10mm.

Scale of figures is now determined by my ability to paint them. 10 years ago I could comfortably handle 10mm but now as I move north of 70 this is becoming more difficult so now I have moved back to 15mm.

Scale of games is now determined by economics. Obviously 10mm quantity/price is the most attractive option for big games but would involve considerable expenditure. I now favour small to mid sized uncomplicated games.

Similarly new projects are determined by economics and availability of figures and while I might have interest in possible new ranges from Pendraken time is not on my side to wait for them.

I'm not widely read when it comes to wargaming rules, certainly compared to many on the forum, but in the rule sets I have looked at units relate to base size and model count doesn't come into it. I can fully understand having fewer models per base. Less time, less expense.

Personally I like as many models on a base as can comfortably fit as well as having a strong bias to metallic models. There's something very satisfying about the weight in the hand.

I moved to 10mm because I had no space for further storage. I doubt I will return to 28mm, particularly now everything is plastic but largely because it takes much less time to paint 10mm and also at a significantly lower cost to achieve the desired mass effect.

IndustrialTrousers post reminded me of another scale based clincher.

28mm now has a significant supply of hard plastic figures.
This certainly mitigates the sting of £1.80 - £6.00* per metal infantryman (* Non evil-empire alternatives are available).

The upside (or downside as I see it) is that the plastics come in multi-pose kit form.

Bonus, plenty of flexibility to create your unit with variety of poses and weapon options, while bringing costs into the reals of sanity.
Bogus, the need to glue a load of fiddly bits (smaller then 10mm figures) together before you can embark upon painting.

I'd have loved this option as a kid: Reduced costs, and conversion possibilities - I also had agile hands and eyesight like a hawk.
As a middle aged gent I see a ton of unenjoyable work for my poor eyes and wobbly fingers.


I think my sweet spot lies in the 10mm to 15mm range.

I'm increasingly coming to regard 6mm as another "Big battle" scale.
Its individual figures aren't really suited to single, or small group basing.
Where 6mm excels is producing close order bases of massed troops.

For example



Battalions of 120 infantry (or 80 jager)  figures, and a half-regiment of 32 hussar figures.
The equivalent stands would accommodate 12 small or 8 28mm infantry, and the cavalry stands are too shallow, but have the frontage for about one and a half.

Zoom out a bit and you get something that looks like a battle.




It's the vision of Altdorfer's painting, compared to 28mm hiving you a Lady Butler vision.
Neither is wrong, but I prefer the 6mm vision.

I suppose my rather clumsy point here is that I see 10 and 15mm as the "Future vision" scales, while 6mm and 28mm tend to suit the older "Big army" vision.

 
Great looking game

Another interesting discussion
One of the many things I like about this hobby is the many different ways you can do things

We are certainly a broad church Paul, which is no bad thing IMHO.