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Don't get me wrong, there are lots of amazing ways to make bases, with grass, debris, corpses, lava etc. And they look really great.... in a showcase or on a matching battleflield. IMHO it starts to get a bit silly when you have armies with grass under their feet marching around in a space hulk. That's why I prefer to keep my bases neutral black (and why I dislike models like Harlequins that always stand on some kind of Eldar ruin). But I seem to be alone with that point of view.

It's like framing a picture. The right basing can make a good model look incredible.

You might enjoy clear bases then. Personally seeing the model stand on a solid black surface (especially since some GW bases have that weird indent in the center) knocks me out of the immersion; it looks like a plastic toy base without the sand and grass on it.

EDIT: It's sort of like getting fancy Foie Gras made for you then serving it on paper plates. It works, but it just feels better to be on fine china than a paper plate.

 MechaEmperor7000 wrote:
You might enjoy clear bases then. Personally seeing the model stand on a solid black surface (especially since some GW bases have that weird indent in the center) knocks me out of the immersion; it looks like a plastic toy base without the sand and grass on it.

I hate clear bases, I don't really know why but I absolutely hate them.
But yes, sometimes the bases don't match the gaming mat and it is a bit awkward. However it is still better than being upon a strange black area, IMHO

To me it's the same paper plates syndrome. Thin clear bases look like actual paper plates and somehow makes my models look like cheap children's toys (like the base was almost an afterthought), while thicker ones makes my models look like they're magically hovering a foot off of the ground inexplicably.

I personally prefer a fully flocked base.

I like just regular flocked bases, for some reason I just cant stand "scenic" bases, inserts, cork, etc...drives me nuts.

I'm still a fan of the oldschool goblin-green bases.

(claps hands over my mouth to refrain from an un-ending tirade)

NNGGGHHHHHHH!!!!! MMMMMMFFFFFFF!!!!

I don't base my models. They just stand on their own. And if they can't, I just destroy them.

 Riverbear wrote:
IMHO it starts to get a bit silly when you have armies with grass under their feet marching around in a space hulk.

Or when you have snowy bases walking around on a burnt out city with absolutely no snow in sight.


Yeah, I hear you. I mean I get why people do it. But I also don't see it as a necessity.

Maybe these people have their own gaming boards that line up perfectly with their bases.

It could also be as a display army in which case black is possibly the worst colour.

I'm more into the painting side of the hobby, so my bases have a theme that relates to that army.

I never thought anyone would look at them on a board and think wow those look out of place.

I just assumed they knew it was for putting in a display case after, something for me to think about when I take photo's now.

 Galas wrote:
I don't base my models. They just stand on their own. And if they can't, I just destroy them.

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

For tabletop, most generic fantasy basing is easy. Paint, sand, glue.

For advanced tabletop, it's not much more. Cork, static grass, maybe a texture stamp.

While display-level basing can become ornate, tabletop-level isn't that time-consuming -- or frustrating.

Brown mud and Rocks. Goes with anything.

On grass and city it just looks like they are standing in a mud puddle.

Astrogranite gray also fits in with a ton of different play surfaces.

Plain bases make me think of toys or prepainted game pieces.
I usually theme bases around the army because I figure that closeup viewing of my models is going to occur outside of a game and common tables are often.. utilitarian and neither especially immersive nor something I’d care to base around.
So I don’t mind my models looking somewhat out of place on a battlefield for the duration of a game if it means they look better on display the rest of the time.

A well done base helps frame the model as others have mentioned. I don't really care if it doesn't mesh well with the surface they are currently occupying because, to me at least, a miniature represents the object it is depicting at a certain point. Sort of like taking a photograph. It doesn't represent the object at all times so a little clashing in what the miniature is depicted as standing on is fine. After all, I don't think my Lieutenant is holding his power sword at rest and pointing when engaging some Orks after all.

A plain black base looks unfinished and detracts from the model's overall appearance. Same for a clear base. I can't explain it but it looks off.

I don't much care either way whether someone bases their models (I base mine with cracked egg shell - lava... Or at least try to... God I hate PVA glue...), if I can suspend disbelief that these plastic toys are actually warriors from the future, I can ignore the fact your Space marines are being followed around by little patches of grass or little circles of black shadows.

This is an interesting discussion. I think a lot about basing, and this time has increased as my skills have increased.

I always base my models on something that I think either compliments the model, is interesting, or tells a story.

For my army models, everyone in the army gets the same colour scheme on the base (even if some have more scenic bases than others), and I nearly always base them with the terrain that represents their home planet. I wouldn't dream of leaving a base unpainted.

Unlike most people, I paint the base first, mainly because, for infantry, I don't like to spend a lot of time on it - it's usually base coat, wash, highlight, and I do this in a fast and messy way that splashes the model. I then paint the rim and then move onto the model. This has the added bonus of meaning that when I finish the last highlight on the model, it's actually finished and I haven't got 10 beautiful space marines with unpainted bases.

I find hero bases quite easy to do, since the bases are just the right size for a bit of imagination, but not so big that you wonder how you'll fill the space. Monster bases are much harder to do, as a flat, flocked base looks unrealistic and odd, and therefore it needs to be broken up. My monster bases have been hit and miss. A couple have random rocks on them and they look a bit lame, and others look quite dynamic, such as Rassorog (see Bloodstorm blog), who looks like they're climbing over a huge pile of skulls.

I find it odd that people would be worried about people's models matching all the gaming tables they play on, since there's no way to actually match them to every table, unless you use clear bases! I usually play at home, and so my models actually do match my gaming table, although usually it's one army that matches and one that doesn't, since I have two boards and different armies match different boards!

I dont like to base models anymore for numerous reasons:

1. Its hard to not get sand and grass plastered halfway up the legs of the model, runing the paintjob

2. If using "texture paints" same issue.

3. Rarely matches the board, which breaks immersion for me. Sometime nicely made bases look great, but having Space Wolves on Ice Bases vs Salamanders on lava bases on a forest based board is just jarring.


4. I just imagine the base is the rough approximation of a shadow, as with video games that use a small black circle to approximate one.


5. If the model comes with natural basing, such as the Plastic Chaos Terminator Lord (rock, spikes and little Daemon familiar) or similar, I'll fill in the rest of the base appropriately. Otherwise I don't have the time, energy, skill or inclination to build scenic bases, outside of a few centrepiece models.

A model whitout a decorated base is simply unfinished.

There is imo two types of bases: the themed one that suites your armys paintjob but never any table unless you make a table for it
and; the generic 1 style that suites the 3 standard board colours of green, brown and grey.

If one is too worried about flock or gravel messing up the feet/lower legs, then make the base before you begin painting the model. If you make a footprint in the still fresh applied basing material, the model will have no issues beeing glued on top of the basing material.

 FrozenDwarf wrote:
A model whitout a decorated base is simply unfinished.

There is imo two types of bases: the themed one that suites your armys paintjob but never any table unless you make a table for it
and; the generic 1 style that suites the 3 standard board colours of green, brown and grey.

If one is too worried about flock or gravel messing up the feet/lower legs, then make the base before you begin painting the model. If you make a footprint in the still fresh applied basing material, the model will have no issues beeing glued on top of the basing material.

I'm going to contest that statement. The model is finished when the painter decides.

For your second suggestion, may I ask how you plan to paint the model without a base? I know for me, I do all my building, including glueing the base, before I being painting. The is simply no way to hold the model if you don't have a base, except by the model itself which is just not an option. Unless you want greasy fingerprints on the model, or to dip your thumbs in the wet paintjob.

The basing materials should applied when the model is built, and should be primed along with the mini as a whole. Incredibly easy to do - basing material can be applied with a narrow piece of sprue/plasticard/or a bit of a coffee stirrer. I've done 500+ minis like that without any issue.

You can't go wrong with a good ole ash waste/urban ruin setup. Greys and rust/oxidation colors mostly.

I swear by molded decorative bases. They're easy to paint, and look amazing. You can paint them to suit any theme you like and are relatively cheap to purchase in bulk (I think I've spent less than 40 dollars on all the bases I've purchased and have over 45 or 50 now for my army).

As was said earlier in the thread, and I'll echo it here, good basing is like adding the proper frame to an excellent piece of artwork. It enhances and really makes a model 'come alive', for lack of a better term.

An example from my Blood Angels, a tactical marine of mine with a sculpted/molded base:





Nothing against people and their basing preferences, but I see each piece or model telling a story, and the basing/surroundings of the miniature help tell that story and communicate it to the person looking at it. Bare/plain bases just make a model look a little unfinished to me, personally speaking.

Just my input on that. Take it easy.

-Red__Thirst-

My army before this one, BA, had Gobbo Green with flock, and I both (a) got tired of hearing about it--even with the back-handed "old school bases" compliments, and wanted to try some of the texture paint (also, their base color is GG, so it might look weird--there is such a thing as too much green). So for my revival Green Marines counts-as-any-chapter guys, I went with brown bases and grey Astro-whatever texture. It looks... OK. I'm not a skilled painter, but I please myself.

I might go back to green when I do my pink-and-black Harley/Eldar.



EDIT: man, my scheme has changed a ton since that test model

I think it makes them look better, and helps flush out a theme.
Also, once you get into more advanced model techniques - the base can tie into the model - for example, urban rubble would have grey dust on the model, if he is in mud, there would be mud on boots tracks etc.

Finally, I used to think clear bases were cheesy - until I actually saw them. They are pretty darn cool in my opinion.

 Deadshot wrote:



I'm going to contest that statement. The model is finished when the painter decides.

contest it you can, but it wont change my oppinion.
the base is a part of the model and just as important as the model itself, not just for measurments. if you dont want to paint use transparent bases.

as for painting a model whitout a base simply cut off a 1 inch section of the sprue frame and glue it to the feet and hold it whit a clamp.

Oddly enough Duncan just put out a basing video today on Facebook (soon to YouTube I'd imagine) addressing the basics of basing. Some good input.

To me, basing makes or breaks a figure/army...and I'd say 70% of the ones I see don't work with the figures or the army (or the tabletop)...or basic artistic principles, or visual weight...

 FrozenDwarf wrote:

 Deadshot wrote:



I'm going to contest that statement. The model is finished when the painter decides.

contest it you can, but it wont change my oppinion.
the base is a part of the model and just as important as the model itself, not just for measurments. if you dont want to paint use transparent bases.

as for painting a model whitout a base simply cut off a 1 inch section of the sprue frame and glue it to the feet and hold it whit a clamp.

You're opinion is your own, I'm not going to argue that you're not entitled. I just wonder where the is drawn. I believe a model is done when the painter decides. If not, what's to say "Your model is done when it has 6 highlights and at least 2 of the following: NMM, OSL, feathering, wetblended power weapons, Perfected freehand," etc becoming the norm? A painter is free to decide what he prefers for his own models. Which includes a black base, which to me, personally, is purely a game component and doesn't affect the model's overall look if not sanded. Transparent bases also arent the solution. They look dire.


I was more concerned with the painting without a base. Glueing a bit of sprue to your model is a terrible idea. First off, it damages the model when removed. Second, it is not nearly as stable and reliable as a base. Third, a clamp? As in a desk clamp? Not everyone has one of those and not everyone is going to be able to use one. Take for example, me and my brother. He can only paint effectively when the model is flat on the table, and I CANNOT paint unless I'm free to maneuver the model in mid-air. Its like different learning styles or personalities, its not going to work for everyone.

So, use a cork like every other painter?

As far as where the line is drawn? I'd say if you unpainted plastic (outside of a clear base I suppose) your model is unfinished. Easy math. If you paint your bases black, sure your model is "finished" but just looks incomplete. Different approach entirely.