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Simple question, and I'm at work, or would consult my rule book: Is there a standard/customary sized base for objective markers in Warhammer 40K? I ask because the tournament I soon will attend requires that three be brought.

Your best bet is to check with the tournament organiser, then.

There is no set size. Tournaments commonly use anything from 25mm to 60mm bases for their objectives.

No preset thing but people will object if you put Orks on a 60Mm base its fine for the Characters and the like.

InquisitorVaron wrote:No preset thing but people will object if you put Orks on a 60Mm base its fine for the Characters and the like.

Ah, I meant "objectives" as in terrain to capture for points in a game.

InquisitorVaron wrote:No preset thing but people will object if you put Orks on a 60Mm base its fine for the Characters and the like.

There most certainly are rules for base sizes on models. The question was about mission objectives, though.

Personally I have 3-5 objectives for 25mm, 40mm and 60mm...

You can't go wrong with 25mm because if you need to upsize you can by blue-tacing to a larger base but downsizing is harder.

nkelsch wrote:Personally I have 3-5 objectives for 25mm, 40mm and 60mm...

You can't go wrong with 25mm because if you need to upsize you can by blue-tacing to a larger base but downsizing is harder.

I did something similar or you can grab some stick tack and stick on a larger base if needed. Mine are 25mm normally but making them larger is very easy.

40mm is the most common I see.
25mm next.
I almost never see bigger.

There is no official rule. Each tournament will have to spell it out if they want to be consistent.

I have attended tournaments in several different US states which specified 40mm, and multiple different events where poker chips were used as well, which are ~40mm.

I prefer the reading of the rules which states that objectives are a "point". As such, you would always measure to the centre of the marker.

If you measure to the edges then the size of the marker affects how many models you need to keep an enemy from contesting without assaulting or tank shocking.

Scott-S6 wrote:I prefer the reading of the rules which states that objectives are a "point". As such, you would always measure to the centre of the marker.

The actual wording of the mission rules makes clear that it is not a geometric "point". It's a larger "point" in the military sense, like "point of departure", "rendezvous point", or "rallying point". A place where people can gather. Neither a counter nor a "detail of a terrain feature" can be a geometric point.

Scott-S6 wrote:If you measure to the edges then the size of the marker affects how many models you need to keep an enemy from contesting without assaulting or tank shocking.

Certainly. Which is why well-organized tournaments usually either provide their own objective markers, or specify the size of the objective markers players are required to bring.

Mannahnin wrote: Neither a counter nor a "detail of a terrain feature" can be a geometric point.

No, but they can be markers for that point. Nothing suggests measuring to the edges of an area.

I would go for 25mm or 40mm, and if that area is too small, then say the capture zone extends to the required amount.

Scott-S6 wrote:

Mannahnin wrote: Neither a counter nor a "detail of a terrain feature" can be a geometric point.

No, but they can be markers for that point. Nothing suggests measuring to the edges of an area.

I am afraid you are incorrect on this occasion, sir.

Page 91 wrote:As different objectives vary in shape and size, it is important to agree at the beginning of the game exactly where this distance will be measured from.

A geometric point never varies in size or shape. According to the rulebook, 40k objectives do.

If its not a point (as in geometic point in space type point) then there's nothing stopping me saying this 4x2 slab is an 'objective' thereby breaking the game.

Nothing except:

1) Opponents can just refuse to play you. Say "good game" and look for someone who actually wants to play

2) Tournament organisers can look at you funny, ask if you're serious, and if you say "yes" remove you from the tournament for being TFG

It's not difficult. This game is a social contract; break it at your peril.

I've always played it where as long as all the objective markers are the same size its ok. Thats why I always bring 5 objectives which are on 25mm bases. I can see someone crying foul if they brought 25mm bases for their objective markers and the opponent bringing 60mm bases for his.

Phototoxin wrote:If its not a point (as in geometic point in space type point) then there's nothing stopping me saying this 4x2 slab is an 'objective' thereby breaking the game.

Nothing except the rulebook explicitly telling you that you need to agree at the beginning of the game. If you can find an opponent who will agree to that, you can have a party.