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Hey there!

the bases of tactical marines got bigger in the latest kits.
I was wandering if I should swap the bases of my existing models.
Maybe even swap the bases of other armies as well (Grey Knight MEQs)?

I actually like the bigger bases, because they fit the size of the model better and allow me to do a better job basing them.

But what about actual gameplay?
Blast Weapons, (Emergency-)Disembarking, Moving through terrain? Any notable impact on any gamemechanic?

Bigger bases makes it harder to get as multiple models under blasts and templates but easier to get a single hit.

Shouldn't make much difference with terrain unless you are Max squad size and trying to fit as many models into ruins or cover.

Yeah, the pros and cons pretty much balance out.

My only advice is to do the same for _all_ your tactical armour wearing guys - not doing so looks odd and may make paranoid opponents think you're modelling for advantage.

Pros:
-Looks sexier
-Harder to get hit multiple times by blasts
-Easier to manipulate deep strikes to get into melta/charge range
- Easier to balance in some terrain
- Easier to push people out of ObSec Range of objectives
- Can get more models into b2b against larger squads in assault for multi charges

Cons:
-Takes up more room in a case
-Takes up more room in cover
- Harder to balance in some terrain
- Easier to get hit by blasts overall
- Easier to mishap because you take up more room
- Will lose some models to emergency disembark for larger squads in smaller vehicles (a 10 man in a rhino won't be able to place all models within the rhino footprint)
- Harder to fit through gaps
- More exposed to being in b2b with large units, have less models in b2b with larger units for the purpose of chosing which model is removed as a casualty in assaults

Overall, the fact that they look cooler over-rides pretty much all tactical considerations anyway, but yeah, it's mostly a wash, but there is a slight bias to the negative for it tactically.

Mishap thing is the part that irritates me. I dont think ive ever mishapped with my crisis suits before, and ever since i put them on 50mm bases ive been mishapping alot...by the skin of my teeth mishaping.

Also btw Drasius, Emergency Disembark is when you cant get out of a vehicle through an access point, not when it blows up. If you had to place all models within the crater, orks would never ever survive a wagon or trukk exploding since even average dice they have more models than the crater would hold.

Also disembarking from transports and the like is much harder as well as hiding behind vehicles. Overall I think it is a net loss game wise but I do it because it makes more sense to me and looks way cooler. Finally I can put some scenic elements on my marine bases

Larger bases seem bad to me, but I dont feel strngly enough to care much. I say go for it if you like the way it looks.

It all depends on the context.

Larger bases provide more protection against blasts as fewer models will be covered even if you're bunched up. However, it's easier to fit models with smaller bases in ruins or behind blos/cover or on the opposite, get models in los. This will come into play when you're, for example, riding a rhino and it gets wrecked. You disembark and less models are out of the opponent's los if your bases are larger. It will also be harder to disembark when you get surrounded.

With melee it's easier to get more models striking as the 2" reach of melee extends even further. Ideally, you get most models in range when you've got a mixed squad of small and large bases where large bases are in front. The drawback is that you're more vulnerable to being bottle-necked. That's when you've got a squad surrounded by models that are not engaged in combat with it so that you can't go b2b with them. For example, your squad of 32 mm based marines standing near a wall get charged by a bunch of ork boyz in a truck. Truck moves close to your marines leaving just a >25mm <64 mm place for a charge. Boyz charge through a gap and only one marine can get in b2b. This way, there's gona be very little retaliation damage from marines and a smaller squad of boyz could do more damage and recieve fewer casualties simply cause you can't move closer.

But disregard all that - 32 mm looks better. And i wish my nobz got 32 mm bases.