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Hey everyone,

Not sure if this is the right category for this question, but if i was to put models on a bigger base, for example Jain zar on a 40mm base instead of a 25mm, is that considered modeling for an advantage? (Want to do this because he's a character and warlord and make him stand out more)

I understand that if i put an entire guardian squad on 40mm bases that would be considered modeling for advantage as the area they cover is increased significantly and can deny deepstrike in a wider area for example.

But would people in tournaments complain if 1 character was on a bigger base?

I wouldn't really call it modelling for advantage for just one character. However she isn't that big so I would go with a 32mm base rather than a 40 if I was changing it myself. It probably won't be an issue of it is just for local tournaments, just ask the TO beforehand.

I'd say people might only become suspicious if model in question has an aura bubble.
Which Jain actually has.

it is generally frowned on to change the base size of a model to one that it was never intended.

In most cases of a Tournament it could result in a model being rendered unusable... take a chance I guess.

In the case of things like Space Marines that had a smaller base and now come with a bigger one.. both base sizes would be considered usable. (my devestators are mixed)

Nevdog wrote:
Hey everyone,

Not sure if this is the right category for this question, but if i was to put models on a bigger base, for example Jain zar on a 40mm base instead of a 25mm, is that considered modeling for an advantage? (Want to do this because he's a character and warlord and make him stand out more)

I understand that if i put an entire guardian squad on 40mm bases that would be considered modeling for advantage as the area they cover is increased significantly and can deny deepstrike in a wider area for example.

But would people in tournaments complain if 1 character was on a bigger base?

Jain'zar isn't a he. Even though she isn't rocking a string tanga and a boob tube like Lilith Hesperax, Jain'zar is most definitely female.

You could always take a leaf out of ForgeWorld's book and make the original size base slot into a nicer, bigger base.
Assume for example you are using an old metal Jain'zar, that means she came with a 25mm base. You can make a recess in the bigger base for that and have it held down with a magnet.

Alternatively, you could just leave a small block around her feet and have that magnet-attached to a 25mm or 40mm base as needed.

I personally dont have an issue with resising of bases to a degree, Like for eg. 25mm to 32mm upgrade for single model units.

Same with space marine sized models being mounted on 32mm as standard. I'm happy with 40mm's for single model units

as long as it doesnt "look" like the base is too big Its generally ok but not usually for Squads. try to keep those on the bases supplied

 zedsdead wrote:
it is generally frowned on to change the base size of a model to one that it was never intended.

This.

 zedsdead wrote:
In most cases of a Tournament it could result in a model being rendered unusable... take a chance I guess.

In the case of things like Space Marines that had a smaller base and now come with a bigger one.. both base sizes would be considered usable. (my devestators are mixed)

Mixed based devs, I think you could get away with, zed. Most others though ...

Anyway, Nevdog, yes, putting Jain on a bigger base would be modeling for advantage. Her bigger base, being a h2h focused model, is in her favor.

I can see (imagine) some of the top table guys, and some *not* top table guys arguing hard against Jain on a bigger base. When templates were in the game, I play termies on their original 25 mm bases and they were poo-pooed by a few, stating that I ought to put them on 40 and that I was modeling to advantage to avoid template hits.

That said, this year's LVO winner, Mr. B. Perkins, specifically told me that he wouldn't care if my termis were on 25 (in an online 'conversation'). 'Course, that might be because, by reputation, he might know me as a light weight, a stepping stone in a tourney's early rounds.


For other guys, I stuck with, "That's what they came on, which is a GW axiom. "

8e:
Play on the original base. At least for the tourney scene/events. Or, bring two Jains. I do know one high calibre player who had the regular Avatar of Khaine and the FW model. He brought both, on occasion (if memory serves, it was 5e).

I've been mounting all my SoB units on the 32mm urban bases, for the sole reason that those on 25mm bases are inclined to fall over to a light breeze, potentially resulting in scratched up paint jobs.

Putting a squad on 40s instead of 25s can work against them too... try getting that squad in cover!

Given that Games Workshop will happily sell you Hero Bases to put your heroes on bigger *and* taller bases than normal, no, a bigger base is *not* de facto 'modelling for advantage'.

If anyone gets pissy about it, ask them to point out where in the Rules base sizes are covered or defined. Because they aren't.

The Tourny scene might give you trouble but for anyone else as long as it looks good who cares. the advantage being for the most part minor.

Me Howing metal banshees looks amazing on 32mm and no more tipping issues.
so do a lot of my IG characters

Im not going back.

In my opinion, modeling for advantage is a very loose term.

if somebody puts a single human-sized infantry model, such as an Imperial Guardsman, on a 60mm round base in a game that uses base size for some rules (measuring range for example) that might cause some frowns. But is that the same for putting two of such models on such a base and calling it a Heavy Weapons Team? Is it modeling for advantage if I keep my heavy weapons trooper and his teammate/loader on separate 25mm bases just because GW did the very same and showed in in their previous AM Codex? Even still if I also have a 60mm scenic base for any such heavy weapons teams to appease the nay-sayers who fail to accept that I didn't buy them as a boxed set with specific bases provided, but as separate bits without bases? Is it modeling for advantage when I heat up and bend an antenna so that it flows from the front of the vehicle to the back, instead of poking out from behind everything to be targeted as 'it is part of the model'? When do things like weapon swaps and arm repositionings stop being cool conversions and start being modeling for advantage? Different people, different opinions.

Heck, putting Howling Banshees on 32mm bases instead of 25mm provides the advantage of them not falling over so often, and thus saving a paintjob, is modeling for advantage by a very loose definition.

in friendlies I personally couldn't care less what base your using.

In our Tournaments the general rule is you will get no advantages but all the disadvantages of model modifications.

so for example... if you put a character on a bigger base and he gives an aura bubble. The bubble would come from the actual base size that was provided.
If said character needs to be "wholly" within something and the bigger base prevents it.... you get the penalty.

I've been looking at the deathguard and the models are the size of terminators.
They are falling off the 25mm base!

Is putting them on 40mm bases (terminator bases) modeling for advantage? They fit and actually look good.

The only minor quibble I can see people having would be the aura/bubble thing. I run various minis on 30mm bases because they actually stand up. As basic infantry units it doesn't change much of anything in the game.

The base is 5mm closer to an enemy? Then the enemy is 5mm closer to me as well, etc. My Jain Zar (just primed) is on a 30mm renedra flat. Why? Because she's metal and top heavy. The Phoenix Lords - despite being old minis and Eldar are quite large - I think all of mine have been on 30mm so far.

If this becomes an actual issue (for some reason) offer to measure a whoppin 2.5 mm in from the edge of the base, lol.

I'd say mark a circle the size of the original base around the model on the new base and measure from the circle.

You could get creative with the circle, make it a rune, a blood circle, force field outline, etc.

Modelling for advantage tends to mean stuff like having a tall model lying prone on the ground, negating most of it's height and letting it claim cover easily (like, say, a Wratihknight squatting). Technically what you are doing could be considered that, but 40k has a rich history of people modeling their characters on bigger scenic bases so I doubt many people will care. Some tournaments might have issue, but those would be the most stringent ones (and probably full of un-fun people).