Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Been thinking about different unit marking systems for FoW, just something to help me with keeping track of who is in what squad and what platoon. Considered border colors, writing stuff on the border, etc. But they all seemed to have the same drawback with using the same bases in different lists.

Has anybody tried metal taps under the bases?

I was using thin metal sheets for my WFB movement trays, with small magnets holding the figures in place on the tray. So I was thinking about using a very thin magnet glued into the FoW bases (unless you are buying magnetized bases to begin with) and then just using small metal sheets with the marking on them. That way you can rearrange squads, take a different HQ with different weapons, etc..

Has anybody tried this?

Haven't tried but that sounds like a good idea.

I personally differentiate combat plts by basing schemes.
Muddy soil without grass for 1st plt.
Soil with bright green grass for 2nd plt.
Soil with dark green grass for 3rd plt, etc...

I just put a little color mark on the back of the base, and make sure that each platoon of a certain type - infantry, guns, tanks, etc. - get a different color.

Could do what a lot of the small scale historicals players do, and just print off little pieces of paper with what the base represents, and tape that to the bottom of the base so it sticks up behind them so you can read it without being too obtrusive. The local FoW players paint a color on the back edge of the base too...

I have been thinkng of doing the same thing,Marking the platooons.
For my Glider Infantry and PAras,Painting a number on the helmets. but for my Germans still not quite sure.Probably wil just paint a number on the base.

Any idea on how to mark tank platoons?

Germans often have numbers, not sure about the British.

British and common wealth tank brigades used shapes with different coloured borders to denote company and regiment.

EG yellow 1st regiment.
Triangle 1st company , Square second company, Circle third company .

Red second regiment


Blue third regiment

(Diamond was regimental HQ tanks, not sure about the order of the colours and shapes though....)

Each tank was numbered too,(Inside the coloured shape.With the platoon then tank number.)

There is an accurate and detailed info on the FoW web site if you want to look it up...,

 infinite_array wrote:
I just put a little color mark on the back of the base, and make sure that each platoon of a certain type - infantry, guns, tanks, etc. - get a different color.

Thats exactly what I do. Quick, simple, takes a minimum of effort and it works.

In 28mm for my IG I would just paint shoulder pads a different color to denote who belongs to what squad (much like unit patches)

In 15mm I usually just have different themed bases depending on platoon all while staying in roughly the same theater, and for vehicles I just use painted shapes and things to denote team.