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There's been quite a lot of base size changes over the past few codexes with daemon princes now all on 60mm, broadsides on 60mm, and now wraith guards got a promotion from 25mm to 40mm bases.

How much of a stickler are you personally that people upgrade these model bases?

Voted 100%, but it's really a 90%. If you have really cool scenic bases and would be ruining a work of art if you took them apart I'd let you keep them, especially if you were willing to count them as being on the new base size if you would ever gain an advantage from the incorrect size. But if you're playing with the usual gray plastic on plain black bases then you'd better at least use the correct base size.

I don't care very much, as long as the base is somewhat proportioned to the model. After all, there's no strict ruling on them as in other games (Warmachine, Malifaux) where base size is actually a stat in the entry of troop choiches.

As for me, sure as hell I'm going to base my Doom of Malan'tai on something bigger than 40mm

If I still played, my wraithguard would stay on their 25mm bases.

Until such times as GW actually state in a rulebook the size of bases used by such units.

Or even a shape of base.

Sure, the webstore will tell you that they are usually sold with or come with an x base - but the rulebooks for WHFB for the last several editions have not - and 40k hasn't for at least the last 15 years.

I have some old terminators that were on the smaller bases. I had a guy start a random full nerd rage on me for MFA with my smaller bases. I had to look up on my phone to show him that they did come on the smaller bases at one time, and I assembled them on the bases they came with.

If your model came with that base, I'm cool if you use it. I don't expect you to re base your models because they changed the base size on you. Just use the base size that comes with any new models.

I changed the bases on my terminators anyways, because they are more stable on the larger bases, and I like them better. But to each his own.

I'm also fine with using custom bases as long as they are the same size as the base that the model came with.

My wraithguard are on small bases. I've had them since about 1998.
This is almost a hidden model tax.

Things I own on which the base size has changed
20 terminators
3 obliterators
2 Wraithlords
3 War walkers
10 Wraithguard
My Chaos Dreadnought didn't even come with a base.

I use the correct bases wherever possible.
I've changed the bases on my terminators and my obliterators so far.

Why is not having the right base MFA?

I've been told its because the squad is easier to move in a confined area - but I feel that is countered by blast templates hitting more men.

Has anyone done any research into the pros vs cons of base size?

PredaKhaine wrote:

Why is not having the right base MFA?

I've been told its because the squad is easier to move in a confined area - but I feel that is countered by blast templates hitting more men.

Has anyone done any research into the pros vs cons of base size?

There are advantages, and disadvantages, to using smaller bases. I run my old metal terminators with the small bases that came in the box. I can deep strike into tighter positions then modern terminators. That's a solid advantage. On the turn I come down, they are in a nice, neat circle where you can catch the whole squad with a small bast or template. Big disad. How many you can get into BtB contact can also be an issue. Do these things even out? In my opinion, yes. Other people can argue I'm MFA.

I personally like larger bases as you can model more detail on them

I'd normally try to keep everything with the official scale, from model size to bases, but if you've already gotten the models before the update, and it's a chore(or might break your mini's) to swap to a new base, I'd say just stick with the old bases, no point fussing over that in casual games.

I would prefer the bases to be upgraded, but by no means I will demand it.

I really don't see a reason not to play against someone who's using old bases

Aren't the rules to play with the bases provided? You'd be breaking the rules if you did upgrade.

I'd prefer if they were upgraded, but I don't demand it.

 Lobukia wrote:
Aren't the rules to play with the bases provided? You'd be breaking the rules if you did upgrade.

As the previous 6000 threads on this subject have argued, the rules do and don't stipulate this. Shoot, they don't even say they have to be assembled properly...

Best bet is to base the old minis on the currently used bases. It prevents the MFA arguments and just normalizes the game experience. Sometime it can make your minis better by allowing more room for modelling.

I just buy blank new bases when these things happen, then glue my old base on top of it. I.e., biovores

Just use the base the model came with, is my rule. IF you have an old daemon prince, then keep it on it's old base, if you buy a new daemon prince, don't stick it on an old one.

Pretty much it for me as far as I see it.

hubbsey wrote:
I just buy blank new bases when these things happen, then glue my old base on top of it. I.e., biovores

Don't even need to glue em.

Blue Tac, and discount a bit of the height of the model for LOS. (edit:when people complain) easy peasy lemon squeezey

Keep em on the original bases. I'm not going to throw a fit about it since that's what they came with.

In my opinion, it depends. If it's just a single model or unit (say, a squad of old-school Broadsides) then go with it, keep 'em on the old bases. But once you start mixing them up, that's when it becomes a problem. I think it's a little dubious to have one Broadside on the monster base that the new kits come with, and in the same unit, a Terminator base from the old kit. Basically, I don't care whether you keep the old ones or new ones, but be consistent. If you're going to keep the old bases, then have every model use the old bases. If you're going to go with the new ones, then upgrade your models to the new ones.

Of course, if you do have some sort of cool, scenic base or whatnot, or if you have a hundred different models that would require updating, then I'm not going to be picky about it. For the most part, though, if you're just swapping out a black, unpainted/unbased base, it's not that hard to snap a model off of its base to glue it onto a new one. Hell, the clips I use to cut models off of sprue are fine enough to cut a model off of its base with no problems.

For me it depends on 3 things.

just how old the model is (Rogue trader era? that thing stays as is. bought it just before the change? upgrade the base)

The size of the old versus the new EX: Some older versions of a model would have absurd amounts of extra room on the base versus the new version.

Resources available to the player. If the owner of the models has an extremely tight budget, (be it time, money or both) than I'm not gonna stop letting him use the older models just because the base no longer matches the current version.

on a side note, a cheap way to make a base larger is to take a thin piece of paper/card (if you play at a shop that also sells Magic, than just dig a few of the booster inserts out of the trash) cut it to the correct size. if you do plain bases, spray the cut outs black before attaching. if you do scenic bases, just extend the original bases scenery onto the card.

For casual games, whatever. It's all for the lulz.

If you show up to a tournament or organized event, don't cry if your model gets you disqualified. Most of the tournies I've been to/heard about require the base sizes to be uniform with how the model is released now. The rules that GW "playtests" (yeah, right) are done with that space in mind. Terminators on small bases should cost another 75 points apiece, since their life expectancy rose in deep striking. It's just not fair to the newer players that never had a chance to get those archaic models.

Just a note...

If you take an old style Terminator and put it (including its base) onto the modern sized base, it will now be on the correct base and the same height as a new Terminator.

I don't play all that competitive, so take this as you will.

I'm still waiting for my order to ship into my LGS, because bugger buying from GW direct, so I'm still using 2 broadsides on terminator bases (the most tippy hard to pose models I have ever seen, but that's another subject). Whenever I get a game I just explain "These are my old broadsides. I have new broadsides on order. If there is ever a question on weapon or charge range I will give you the benefit of the doubt because they should be on bigger bases. Is that acceptable?"

So far I've gotten a few "I really don't care what bases they're on. play them." and one "Thank you for being polite about it, I have no objection." If I ever get "Could you put them on the right bases please" I'll probably just buy some dreadnought sized bases and glue them together for the time being. If I ever get something like "Feth you, modeling for advantage with smaller bases!" I'll probably not play the guy...

I'm also using a flier base with the clear flier stand as a proxy riptide. I think the clear stand is about the right height for a riptide. Still need confirmation on that but that has been ok so far.

I also have older models with the "wrong" bases, but, some are RT (they can feth off), and some are just too cool to replace (2 metal wraithlords on 40mm square bases).

I just decided to not worry about it, I have the new models to use if I go to a tourney, but in casual, my fun stuff is hittin the table.

MFA is 100% legal in the rules, and it leaves it to you and your gaming group to decide the rules on base size. Overall, I dont give a damn. I have a model or two without bases at all—I don't see how I could rant about "improper" base size.

MFA refers to posing not base size, base size is considered to be the current release standard.

anything else is disqualifiable under tournament standards

I put models on bases that best suit their size, usually this means larger bases because a lot of figures are spilling over their 25mm base. People who get upset about these sorts of things and claim MFA have too much time on their hands.

Chris Lysander wrote:
MFA refers to posing not base size, base size is considered to be the current release standard.

So far as the rulebook is concerned, the correct base size is simply whatever the model comes with, or whatever a similar model is on in the rare siutuation that you rmodel doesn't come with a base.

The 'current release standard' is simply something imposed by some players or events in the belief that base size makes a significant difference to the game. Not all players agree with this premise, given the discrepancies inherant in the game already simply due to choice of model or posing.

anything else is disqualifiable under tournament standards

Which tournament standards?

There is no single, world-wide set of tournament rules. And most of the tournaments I have played in over the last few years have had no issues whatsoever with old models being on the bases they originally came with. Rebasing onto the current release base is not a universal standard.

Those choices don't really work for me.

I voted 100% simply because I think you ought to replace them; however I would still play a game with someone on old bases.

Whatever they came with or ever came with or newer is perfectly fine.

New Broadsides on new bases, old broadsides on old bases or new

Eldar Jetbikes on any hex bases, small round bases, or large round bases. That's the price of having a 20 year old model.