Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

GW has been slowly increasing the size of their models over the last decade and with that size creep has come larger bases as well as shape swaps. I'm not entirely clear on how base size and shape affects everything in 9th, but I have read enough to know that it seems to have an actual effect on gameplay, possibly even a significant one. So here I am with a lot of old models with different base sizes than their current equivalent and am trying to figure out if I need to be worried about the older scale models having a distinct advantage or disadvantage for having smaller bases (and being a smaller model over all). I've heard some argue that they are fine with old models running their original smaller bases because it's a disadvantage in some situations, but I've heard other argue that it's actually an advantage in other situations and shouldn't be allowed. As a casual player, I'm not as concerned with this as competitive players might be, but I don't exactly want to hamstring my armies by using smaller bases than the current standard. On the other hand I also don't want to be accused of cheating because my models have smaller bases either.

For example, I have some of the old 3 piece metal Terminator models from the early 90s. These have slotta tabs and were originally intended to use the standard 25mm slotta bases of the time. Now however, Terminators are supplied with 40mm bases. I don't really want to go through the trouble of finding reasonably priced 40mm and rebasing them, partly because it's expensive and takes time if I want to actually do basing detail on my army, partly because I don't want to chop off the slotta tab as I feel it's part of the model and should stay, and partly because I feel they would look silly on the larger bases since they are smaller than current models. There are plenty of other models in similar situations, like my old CSM Bikes on the old cavalry rectangle base.

My best idea for a compromise on models that merely went up in base size is to copy my plan for old IG heavy weapons and double base them (leave them on their original base and simply stack them onto the new size, likely with some sort of basing effect and magnet to make the new base a tray of sorts instead of actually gluing them on. Alternatively, get some custom 3D printed bases with built in depressions for the old bases and make it literally a tray so as to reduce the extra height from two stacked bases), but it's not so easy with shape changes such as the bikers rectangle to oval.

I would get bases of the appropriate size and magnetize them to the bottom of the original bases. Then if the base size does become a problem you can put them on, or if it isn't just play them as they are. I think the height boost is good, since it will alleviate a bit of the smaller model syndrome as well.

Except the bikes. For me, an army needs to be all on circles/ovals or all on squares and a mix of both is just wrong. It makes me cringe just thinking about it. I would definitely rebase the bikes. But that's just me.

Are you playing competitively (ie. tournaments) or with friends in a club?

GW doesn't have any rules about base size other than "what the model comes with". So you are perfectly fine to use the old metals on 25mm bases. I've upped mine to 40's, but they look strange and lost. I might go back and do 32s or 30s.

It really only matters if a tournament is going to strictly require certain bases sizes, or your opponents are going to have a problem with them.

There is no super advantage, and even some disadvantages, to smaller versus larger bases sizes (and vice versa). As far as I've seen, it all evens out in the end.

Clip those tabs and put the metal Terminators on 40's. They look much better than they do on 25s due to less overhang and it gives them more presence.

I had the same issue just with all 200 of the ork boyz I own being on 25s, so I bought flat 32mm plywood bases from Litko with the plan of just gluing the 25mm directly on top of the plywood and just painting up the bases afterwards.

who cares, they came on (×) base size and they're 100% legit until GW says otherwise.
My entire RT Salamanders force is on their original base sizes and they're not gonna change just cuz some donkey-cave says they aren't "legal".

Save money and buy more models!

Just use whatever base you feel looks better, either the original or the new standard.

If you're playing heavily in tournaments, and the TO require the current standard, just blu-tack your dudes onto some carboard "bases" (or go whole hog and some thin magnetic "bases" and magnets ala a carrying tray) to match the current size, or invest in some snap on converters if you want.

Roughly what Cruentus said.

Tournaments might require certain base sizes.

If you're not a tournament player, leave them as they are.

Thanks everyone, I feel better about not worrying what bases to put under what. I might see how the Terminators look on 32mm since I picked up a cheap 100 pack for ebay rescues and other needs, but I don't plan to remove the tabs since I can just get 32mm slotta from the same seller or cut my own "slots" in the bases I already have. As for not mixing bases under bikes, well I can only do so much. I only have 3 bikes right now and they're on the old bases. If I get more I'll use whatever they come with, so it's likely I'll eventually end up with mixed base shapes.

As someone who got hooked on the lore of 40k after being introduced to the universe with DoW DC, I've always been a more casual player. I doubt I'll ever want to play in an official tournament unless I somehow get enough 40k friends to host a friendly "in-house" tournament so to speak that's big enough to meet whatever GWs requirements are for a tournament to be official. Even then, the only reason to go through that trouble is if GWs hands out official goodies or some such if they recognize the tournament.