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Hello there!

I'm looking for a it of help. At an auction this summer, I snagged a box of Fields of Glory 'Ceasar's Legions' (late republic 28mm plastic infantry) and a Celt Warband. Since both of these boxes were originally released for a game that has since been replaced, I'm wanting a bit of help on how to base them for basic beginner games of Hail Ceaser.

Also, the boxes didn't come with bases, so I'm not sure if that was by design or they were just missing. Not complaining since I got both boxes for $20...not bad for about 90 Warlord plastics! Either way, I'm not sure what bases to use!

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Well, as long as you base them consistently with each other, you should be good.

I'd say do 40mm square bases with 4 miniatures to a base. That way you'll get 3 Roman units with 4 bases. You'll probably have to find another box of the Celts, so that they will have a chance against the Romans.

In Field of Glory, Roman Legionaries would be based four to a 60mm wide base, in one rank. The base depth should be 15mm or 20mm. You often deploy FoG elements (individual bases) two deep.

I believe that Hail Caesar figures are based on the equivalent of one 20mm square base per figure, but it would be best if a Hail Caesar player would confirm that as I could be wrong.

Agreed with Infinite Array, 40mm square should be good.

 Kilkrazy wrote:

I believe that Hail Caesar figures are based on the equivalent of one 20mm square base per figure, but it would be best if a Hail Caesar player would confirm that as I could be wrong.

Yup, 20x20mm is the recommended area for a 28mm infantry mini, though the book stresses that it's unit frontage that matters most.

 godswildcard wrote:
At an auction this summer, I snagged a box of Fields of Glory 'Ceasar's Legions' (late republic 28mm plastic infantry) and a Celt Warband. Since both of these boxes were originally released for a game that has since been replaced....

They are not "Field of Glory" figures. No historical figures are tied into a particular game system. They were just Wargames Factory figures that were branded with the FOG name as a marketing tie-in. Also FOG still does exist, although it is not as popular as it once was.

 godswildcard wrote:
.....I'm wanting a bit of help on how to base them for basic beginner games of Hail Ceaser.....Either way, I'm not sure what bases to use!

There are two main choices when basing:
- individual bases (or a mixture of individual and small multi-bases), for games where figure removal is required. Normally in these games (for example WAB and its successors) the actual number of figures is important for combat resolution,etc.
- unit or element bases for games where figures are grouped into units, which operate as an entity. Normally in these games (for example FOG, Impetus and my own Sword & Spear) the units or elements must all be the same size, and the actual number of figures on the unit base is not actually that important (although it may help to indicate what type of unit it is).
It is probably more common to bases 28mm figures individually and smaller scale figures as units. Basing them individually certainly gives you the most flexibility, as you can put then on movement trays or sabot bases when required. You can also use them for skirmish games if based individually. 20mm frontage per figure would be normal for foot figures.
Hail Ceasar is sort of in between the two basing systems, in that (as I understand it) figure removal is not required, and figures are grouped into units, but these units can be different sizes (large units, small units, etc). But if you base them individually (or on say 40 x 40mm bases) this would work.
I would be wary of basing for a specific game system though, especially if you haven't yet tried it. There are lots of historical rules that you can play with the same figures, so I would recommend trying some different systems out before settling on a basing system. Or just base them as flexibly as you can so that you can use them for lots of different systems.

I really wish that the DBx standard basing would just switch to an 80mm frontage for "elements" and get it over with.

Part of the attraction of the DBx standard was that it allowed for very easy identification of Heavy, Medium, and Light infantry based upon the depth and number of figures.

But with the size of most 28mm/30mm/32mm figures these days, it is impossible to get 4 miniatures on a 60mm frontage.

AND... All other systems use a 20mm frontage per figure (so that if you used a DBx basing standard for 28mm - 32mm figures, the bases would be exactly 2x the dimensions of the 15mm standard (in each direction). So the bases would be 80mm x 30mm for Heavy Infantry (4 figures); 80mm x 40mm for Light Heavy Infantry(4 figures) and Medium Infantry (3 or 4 figures depending upon Drill); 80mm x 40mm for Light Infantry (2 figures); and 80mm x 60mm for Mounted (2 to 4 figures depending upon type of mounted)... Not to mention 80mm x 100mm for Elephants and Chariots.

This would make it exceptionally easy to use WHFB, Hail Caesar, or KoW figures against others mounted for DBx games.

I know that the rules I have been playing (a variant of DBx called Hoplon - as well as it's Fantasy Version) have adopted an 80mm frontage for 28mm - 32mm... And they tend to play faster due to the extended move distances in Base-widths rather than basic "paces."

But, yeah... Hail Caesar uses 20mm x 20mm figure bases.

MB