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The more I shop around the more I see these impressive resin bases. They would make an army stand out on display better then with scratch effects on the GW bases. What really matters though is the size...

What sizes would be most commonly allowed in a sanctioned tournament?

25mm round, what about 28mm, what about 30mm?

As far as bike bases go. Does it have to be the 25mm x 70mm base that GW provides?

Could it be 30mm x 80mm, 28mm x 72mm, or 25mm x 75mm?

What about models that barely fit on their bases, or protrude over them? Could someone build a Possessed Space Marine on a 30mm resin base (the model has protruding parts on every edge of the base)?

What about height of the bases? Could the model stand 10mm above the others? What about 25mm?

How do you all feel about specific Dimensions of tournament display and play bases?

The diameter of the bases is obviously critical for tournament play, and stretching smaller or larger than that brings up questions of fairness with regard to base contact and assaults and the like.

If you go outside the set diameter, you'll want to at least be extremely self-deprecating in how you play - give opponents charges that are even a little close, and deny yourself charges that are the same.

That said, there are a dramatic number of bases out there that are the appropriate size to match GW base requirements, and they are completely legal otherwise at almost any place you'd want to play tournament-wise.

With the changes in disembarking for 6th, you get almost no advantage for oversized bases for disembarking like you used to in 5th.

But the pile-in of new 6th edition really does change how bases impact assault much more than the 'everyone's within 2" and everyone is happy' assaults of 5th.

As for height, most people take the disadvantage and less ability to hide by being on a scenic base.

So I guess if it is a GW tournament you are suppose to stay in the rules of the most current edition. And use the bases that came with the models... or similar in size.

What about display pieces or over hanging models.

It would be impossible to put them in base to base contact, unless maybe you put there back to the assault.

I can tell you I helped run the 'ard boyz semi finals down here in Orlando this last year and we allowed scenic bases as long as they were the same approx size as the original.

Everywhere I've seen people normally use the standard size bases, occasionally with a character or other special model on a slightly larger one, but in that event they play it as much as possible as if it were the normal size, and give their opponent the benefit of any conflict that arises based on the base.

It's not at all uncommon for dramatically-modeled figures to overhang the actual base. This usually isn't an issue, as many GW official figures, even without special converting or bases, substantially overhang their bases, and you just work out placements as close as you can get them.

There are a metric TON of third-party resin base suppliers out there making gorgeous bases which are the same diameter as the official ones for whichever game you like.

I use a lot of aftermarket bases. As long as they are the same (aprox) size no one has issues with them. As for tall scenic bases, I always count my opponent as having a normal height base. Its an abstract but I see no reason to cheese a guy because he chooses to make his Army something above average.

dkellyj wrote:I use a lot of aftermarket bases. As long as they are the same (aprox) size no one has issues with them. As for tall scenic bases, I always count my opponent as having a normal height base. Its an abstract but I see no reason to cheese a guy because he chooses to make his Army something above average.

This is how I do it as well, it kind of goes along with not being able to blast an HQ or Sgt because you can see his banner but not his face. When this happens we always assume the 'fluff' part of the model(s) are not there and try to play it as best as possible. If you don't you'd have laying down Pathfinders who could almost never fire if they were in ruins, you'd have people cutting off their banners because it was getting their model taken out too easily, you'd have people who refused to use crouching models and a million more reasons to justify making models not very eye pleasing.

Cannot say I've ever had someone complain about a scenic base though, me personally, I much prefer playing against a snazzily painted army because it is good eye candy.

It's up to the tournament organizer since GW has cut off prize support and thus has no right to tell you one way or the other how to use (or not use) their product. I would expect most TO's will require same size (diameter) at a minimum and if you intend to have scenic bases that are excessively tall, you might want to bring some models on regular bases along as "stand ins" in case there's any LOS issues/concerns. Most TOs are there to try to let everyone have a good time so they'll usually get out of your way, but that also includes your opponents, so you should be prepared in case there's anything extraordinary with your bases.

Thanks for all the advice. I saw some nice bases, but I do think there is plenty for sale at the exactly same size. I also looked into a lot of tricks with bases; from bark chips, dry wall cock, cork wood, finger nail polishes, mesh bags.... Lots of stuff to try it out.

I use oval bases for my crawling wraithlords because they look cool!

Also, for fluff reasons.

 scarletsquig wrote:
I use oval bases for my crawling wraithlords because they look cool!

Also, for fluff reasons.

Is this a serious post? Crawling Wraithlords? Really? They would have to be damn cool to meet rule of cool!

I had some guy place a Trygon on the table at one point without a base.


He claimed there was no rule against him using THE TABLE as its base...

He never tried that again when my first turn i just shot the hell out of it with pistols from across the table.

Prick ¬¬

 Bloodhorror wrote:
I had some guy place a Trygon on the table at one point without a base.


He claimed there was no rule against him using THE TABLE as its base...

He never tried that again when my first turn i just shot the hell out of it with pistols from across the table.

Prick ¬¬

When he bought the Trygon, did GW supply 'the table' with it? It wasn't the base it came with so... there is a rule against using it.

I gotta say base size has almost no impact on 6th edition the way it did with 5th.

Should have made him glue it to the table, since you must glue it to a base (if provided).

I only tend to use non-standard bases for models that are very very top-heavy and would keep falling over otherwise (St. Celestine I'm looking at you).

I hear ya

my Raptors always fall down, why don't they make plastic ones. I use the old ones (glider wings), the newer ones (Rocket packs), and I will use the new Dark Vengeance Chosen with the Possessed wings ( Bat Wings)....

I hope the plastic ones wont fall over from their high jumps.

With 40k it seems like base to base contact and such isn't as critical as fantasy and slightly varying base sizes wouldn't give as much trouble. In fantasy, it is definitely a no go to use wrong base sizes.

As long as the right diameter/shape is used, shouldn't be an issue as long as you don't do any extracurricular modeling for advantage (i.e., really tall bases to shoot infantry over Chimeras or something).

In yesterdays mini tourny in two games it come down to a run move to get onto the objective, literally it was MM's, I thought it was out he thought it was in, I gave it to him in the end but with a bigger base it would have be different

Then for me I was 9inches away from a objective locked in combat won the combat and needed a 6 for consoldition, I got a 6 luckly, might have be different with a bigger base (had two ic's in there)

So for fair play sake I would say stick to 26mm bases, for display bases have a look at the FW angron, and I am sure this has been done before, have a nice big display stand but be able to slot the normal stand into it

Why should you?

Unless you are playing at a GW store, who cares?

Use whatever you want

No, and even GW stores don't care from what I've seen.

The only time they really get feisty over it is when you start pimping the another company's product every chance you get even when you're not being asked by someone about it.

Manufacturer? No one cares. The cooler the base, the better.

Size? That's tricky as you could be seen as modeling for advantage. I'd have no issue with an over-hanging scenic base on your warlord or other "trophy piece", but you should be a gentlemen about it and give your opponent the benefit of the doubt if your base causes an issue with regards to charge distance, range for shooting, and other issues.

As long as the size isn't too off(a millimeter in either direction isn't going to have a measurable effect)