Would you play a 54mm game?

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**Delephont**

precinctomega wrote:My turn.

First off, let's talk INQ.

The game is still very much alive with a very active community forum at http://the-conclave.co.uk, and events and tournaments run several times a year at Warhammer World. Until recently, the INQ 54mm range was the highest-grossing in terms of sales of all the Specialist Games range (yes, including Bloodbowl). GW doesn't support INQ, not because it didn't get the players, but because they don't support any of the Specialist Games.

Moreover, INQ is not alone. Check out Smog 1888 (which is 1/35, so technically 50mm).

Now to talk 54mm gaming.

Miniatures: there is an enormous breadth of options for miniatures for the 54mm gamer. Go to http://historexagents.com and do a search for "54mm"and you'll see what I mean. A well-painted 54mm model knocks the socks off a similarly-painted model at 28mm. However, it is also true that a poorly-painted mini is hard to hide, not only because of the size but also because of the lower number of minis on the table.

Terrain: a tree is a tree; a hill is a hill; an ancient monument is an ancient monument; a ruin is a ruin; a river is a river. Yes, something like a Warhammer Manor House may not work in 54mm, but at least 50% of the terrain you already own will.

Ranges: infinite ranges aren't a problem in 54mm any more than they are in 28mm games that include them (given that real life sniper rifles can have a range of a mile or more, does no one else think it odd that in 40k they can only reach out to 48"?). INQ uses a system of range modifiers such that all weapons have infinite range. It's just very, very hard to hit targets as they get further away... Just like real life!

The main advantage of 54mm wargaming at a skirmish level is that it enhances the player's experience. The larger miniatures provide a more exciting engagement with the action and create a greater intimacy between player and character.

Cost should not be considered an issue if the result is beautiful minis in an elegant, well-presented game system.

R.

This is the best post so far. I agree, the only reason to not play (small scale skirmish games) in 54mm is because you don't want to. Full stop.

**Kampfgruppe Cottrell**

To expensive to game at that scale, especially terrain. However, I have gamed at that scale at some cons with a guy who used nothing but King and Country pre-painted collectable minis and vehicle and it was really epic! He was a retired CEO and it showed in his toys; incredible.

Brian

**Lanrak**

In my opinion the scale of the minatures is a secondary concideration.
THE GAME PLAY is what decides it for me.

I would simply proxy what I have to try out the rules set.
IF I realy like it , and my gaming buddies do too, then we MAY buy some 54mm minatures for it.
OR we would continue to proxy what we have, if the 54mm minatures are too expensive.

I have played detailed skirmish games using smaller than 54mm minatures , so unless its for 'better painters' to show off thier talents .I dont see the NEED to use 54mm minatures.

**insaniak**

Lanrak wrote:I have played detailed skirmish games using smaller than 54mm minatures , so unless its for 'better painters' to show off thier talents .I dont see the NEED to use 54mm miniatures.

That was actually a fairly common solution to the 'Inquisitor Problem'... the range of miniatures was small, people didn't want to build new scenery collections for it, and it was scaled in inches anyway... so some groups just left the rules intact and used 40K miniatures for it.

**Mad4Minis**

The thing I like most about the 54mm idea is mini size. I like big minis. I never played Inq, but I bought a handful of the minis. They were great. Im not the best painter and found them much easier to paint, being they were twice the size of the other GW minis. My Space Marine was awesome, especially after I gave him the power fists from a 40k scale SM dread.