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So I finally got round to start assembling my Empire/Cities Of Sigmar models, I just don't know if I should be basing them on squares or rounds.

There are pros and cons for both, with round bases I could use them in Age Of Sigmar, with squares I could use them in the forthcoming Old World game.

I'd like to build them as I've got the fantasy bug right now, I can't bear to shelve them again, who knows when I may be motivated in future?

I'm hoping that someone can push me in the right direction, I'm paralysed by indecision right now.

Help!

*** I posted this in Dakka Discussions in an attempt to avoid the potential bias in the AOS thread, mods feel free to move it***

The way I see it is that it's easier to use square bases in AOS than it is to use round bases in Warhammer Fantasy (or similar games). So that might help influence your decision.

I also think that square bases look pretty ugly these days, models look better on round bases. Just my opinion of course.

Some people magnetise to be able to have both. You may not be willing to go through that faff though.

I can recommend round bases with movement trays. Helps with lining up the ranks and you still get to keep your round bases if you prefer them visually or need them for other game systems.

I’d go with round.

Honestly I think they look better over all for minis, so from a system agnostic PoV I lean that way.

What you can do is make custom movement trays with circle cut-outs/indents. So when it comes time to rank up into files, you can just plop everyone into their slot and start marching and wheeling in formation.

Agreed that round bases are much better visually.

I'm defo leaning towards round bases with movement trays, thanks dudes

Goes against the flow and with square bases for personal preference and ranking.... however.. this....

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/683560844/25mm-round-from-20-age-of-sigmar-from?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=warhammer+base+adapter&ref=sr_gallery-1-15&sca=1&edd=1&organic_search_click=1

It's hard to say since GW still hasn't given any useful information on what TOW is

Even if you put them on square bases, you don't know if the size is going to be right in the Old World game. I'd wait. Or if you feel the urge to paint them, do it without bases or glued to round magnets, so that you can build their bases in proper size once the game is out. With magnets you'll be able to swap them between different types of bases.

 Nevelon wrote:
I’d go with round.

Honestly I think they look better over all for minis, so from a system agnostic PoV I lean that way.

What you can do is make custom movement trays with circle cut-outs/indents. So when it comes time to rank up into files, you can just plop everyone into their slot and start marching and wheeling in formation.

Problem with that is round bases are bigger than equilavent. So old 20mm base will be on 25mm rounds etc.

It is easier to have square to round adapter than other way around.

I've never seen those square to round base converters before. I could work with the ones where the square base fits completely inside, not so much the version where the corners are jutting out.

It's good to know that they are out there if I go down the square base road.

 Undead_Love-Machine wrote:
So I finally got round to start assembling my Empire/Cities Of Sigmar models, I just don't know if I should be basing them on squares or rounds.

There are pros and cons for both, with round bases I could use them in Age Of Sigmar, with squares I could use them in the forthcoming Old World game.

I'd like to build them as I've got the fantasy bug right now, I can't bear to shelve them again, who knows when I may be motivated in future?

I'm hoping that someone can push me in the right direction, I'm paralysed by indecision right now.

Help!

*** I posted this in Dakka Discussions in an attempt to avoid the potential bias in the AOS thread, mods feel free to move it***

Mount them on squares.
Then magnetize them to rounds.

Problem solved & you can switch between games.

As noted, round bases use a larger area. It is therefore easier to add area to a square base than it is to subtract it from a round one.

Square is the logical choice.

Commissar von Toussaint wrote:
As noted, round bases use a larger area. It is therefore easier to add area to a square base than it is to subtract it from a round one.

Square is the logical choice.

I agree with Commander Spock.

Last I heard, AoS doesn't REQUIRE round bases to play, you can play it with square bases. Of course, as I understand the AoS rules this might cause some... beardy... interactions with the combat rules, especially with 20mm infantry.

Of course, we have no idea what size squares the upcoming game will use.

Round bases look better. Like, a lot better. And you won’t think “crap, that mini’s facing is a bit off” every time you look at them.

Round bases look much better, and there exist movement trays to solve the problem with rank&file

tneva82 wrote:

 Nevelon wrote:
I’d go with round.

Honestly I think they look better over all for minis, so from a system agnostic PoV I lean that way.

What you can do is make custom movement trays with circle cut-outs/indents. So when it comes time to rank up into files, you can just plop everyone into their slot and start marching and wheeling in formation.

Problem with that is round bases are bigger than equilavent. So old 20mm base will be on 25mm rounds etc.

It is easier to have square to round adapter than other way around.

Very likely, GW will go with larger base sizes than the previous ones for TOW. 20mm base is extremely restrictive for the sculpting and posing, so I can't see them bringing that back.

Square bases allow for a very precise facing which matters in some games.

You have a defined front and flank. A round base can be marked with facing, such as Mierce bases. But I like the squares.

I base everything for Oldhammer and most times they can still work for skirmish games.

I've been putting together a Wood Elf army To play against my old Warriors of Chaos army I didn't sell after the End Times. Either I play 8th or I play Old World, either way I go square.

It's hard to argue against using round bases and movement trays with round slots in them, unless base diameter becomes an issue. Maybe they'll go template-less in TOW and the movement tray size won't matter as much.

Since I use my WHFB models for multiple games, I'm a big fan of the round base/rectangular movement tray approach:


I wish I took some photos of my Daemons, since they have grey gravel basing & movement trays, but this is all I have handy

Yes, I know this works better on models with 25mm bases (none of my Chaos models used 20mm squares).
But given GW's increasing base sizes, maybe old Empire will go onto 25mm's?

In my opinion, Oldhammer models look great on rounds:

 Shadow Walker wrote:
Round bases look much better, and there exist movement trays to solve the problem with rank&file

Unless the square bases are smaller than the round bases for the same model. Unlikely, but possible.

We have no idea what the rules will be, unit sizes, base sizes...nothing. Whatever you do is a gamble

 Shadow Walker wrote:
Round bases look much better, and there exist movement trays to solve the problem with rank&file

So how you plan to get 25mm round into 25mm square? Seeing 25mm round takes up more space?

You are talking about movement trays that REDUCE the size of the model...

tneva82 wrote:

 Shadow Walker wrote:
Round bases look much better, and there exist movement trays to solve the problem with rank&file

So how you plan to get 25mm round into 25mm square? Seeing 25mm round takes up more space?

You are talking about movement trays that REDUCE the size of the model...

I am talking about ones like here https://www.renedra.co.uk/product/25mm-diameter-recessed-movement-tray-10-spaces-per-tray/ so it would be actually a bigger tray space than used by 20mm squares put on some tray but if all players use them then no biggie, right? Also you could simply place less minis on a custom made tray like in KoW.

Squares are the safest bet. Definitely the most versatile.
It usually doesn't matter in skirmish or loose formation games and squares are good for rank a flank games.

I suspect that GW will encourage players to buy new models for ToW and speculating about GW is going to do feeds madness, so I would be less concerned with them.
If you intend to play only GW games with old models then I hope you play with great friends and you cope well with disappointment.

Whether round bases look better enough to muck about with cumbersome movement trays is a matter of taste for you.