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This is something I've kind of been pondering ever since I started building my squadron of looted biker boyz for my Orks. What do the Dakkanauts feel about bases, base sizes, and consistency between them?

The main example that I can give is in the aforementioned looted squadron. I want to (and have been) kitbashing a squad of boyz with various bikes from other armies - so far, one each of an Eldar, Dark Eldar, Chaos and Space Marine bike. But anyone who's seen these on the table can see that they have different base sizes and model "footprint." Would you be concerned with playing against someone whose bases are different within the same unit? Or even in different units across the table? The other one that came up constantly when I played Space Wolves was the Thunderwolf Cavalry. There's only one official TWC model, and it's an HQ whose entry says that the model in question is larger than normal. I therefore built my own TWC to use the elongated cavalry bases, rather than the larger monstrous creature bases.

Just something that's on my mind - what are your thoughts, Dakkanauts?

Models in the same unit should have the same bases, even if it is that awesome sounding looted biker unit. I think you should chose one base type and then stick to it for the unit. In this case, I'd think that the SM biker base would be best for your biker unit.

Using an elongated cavalry base for models which aren't even in production is fine in my opinion. I'm not sure how that would fare in tournies though.

As for units across the army, if two identical units have different bases then there's a problem. Otherwise I think's it fine.

having different bases can somewhat be cheating or a disadvantage. Its generally not a good thing not to have different sized bases. Things like having eldar bikes and space marine bikes is easy to make the same base by drilling a hole in a space marine bike base and sticking the rod in.

Where is the problem simply mounting them all on cavalry bases? There should be no problem getting a flying stand to fit on there.

I wouldn't expect anyone to make a fuss about the models themselves, as long as the bases are consistent.

Jidmah wrote:Where is the problem simply mounting them all on cavalry bases? There should be no problem getting a flying stand to fit on there.

There is no problem from a modelling point of view but from a gaming point of view. A jetbike has a very different base to that of normal bikes. Although I'd be fine with this and I'm sure many others would be too, some people might be picky and call it cheating even if there is no clear advantage. I'm looking at WAAC players here.

Lord Rogukiel wrote:

Jidmah wrote:Where is the problem simply mounting them all on cavalry bases? There should be no problem getting a flying stand to fit on there.

There is no problem from a modelling point of view but from a gaming point of view. A jetbike has a very different base to that of normal bikes. Although I'd be fine with this and I'm sure many others would be too, some people might be picky and call it cheating even if there is no clear advantage. I'm looking at WAAC players here.

But while the model is a jetbike, it's a "counts-as" for a normal bike so I don't see a reason not to mount a jetbike to a normal bike base.

Exactly. There is no reason to mount it on a flying base.

Knowing an Ork they'd try to get a Mekboy to fix the flying mechanism and fail miserably, so they'd do the Orky thing - strap wheels and a big engine to it.

Conversion opportunities, you have them.


As for bases, it would be best to put them all on the same base. An Ork player in my group converted Ghazghkull Thraka to fit on a Dreadnought base. It's slightly annoying because it allows him to get more models into base-to-base contact, but it also bits a big target on the model as well.

Whenever possible its advisable to use the same size of bases in a squad to avoid confusion and conflicts with your opponent. Personally however my heavy weapons troopers and officer all have slightly larger bases than the standard troopers just so its easier to find them on the table (30mm rather than 28mm), with the extra two or so millimeters being pretty adequate in allowing for extra detail to be placed on the base. =P