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I know the rulebook have a statement on how to deal with irregular models (wrong size of bases or wrong number of models per base).
So that kind of answers my question from a gameplay standpoint.

But isnt it strange that terminators feature 5 on each stand, just the same as regular infantry? I would have thought 3 would be a better fit, in between dreads and infantry.

Im thinking of putting 3, anyone else have any thoughts?

Squads are 5-10 fluffwise. Can't split 10 with 3 can you?


Also logically they would shoot and fight less and be easier to take out. Anti-tank of lascannon makes less sense if stand has less guys

tneva82 wrote:
Squads are 5-10 fluffwise. Can't split 10 with 3 can you?


Also logically they would shoot and fight less and be easier to take out. Anti-tank of lascannon makes less sense if stand has less guys

Alrite, makes sense and exactly the kind of reply I was hoping for, thank you!

Five per stand it is!

The number of models on a stand is just an aesthetic question and doesn't affect the gameplay in any meaningful way. The community has played Epic for decades with all sorts of crazy variations from sparse bases to dozens of swarming models like nurglings or hormagaunts on one base. You should do what you personally find pleasing.

I for one prefer scenic bases, where fewer models packed with breathing space allow for far more interesting modeling than everyone standing shoulder to shoulder like fish in a can. Terminators in particular have broad shoulders and look much better with 3-4 men per base. My older prints have three men on larger 40x20 mm bases, for example

See for example Adam Stephen's tyranids here:



Some are full, some have a few, some only one. All of these are the same in practice for gaming purposes, a token to represent a statline. Not worth stressing over.

5 on 25 is way too crowded visually to most.

People bothered by that either do 3-4 a base or 30-32mm bases. I haven't decided yet. Siege Terminators look even more crowded, shooting into each others missile launchers. Definitely prefer looks & modelling options with less of a crowd.

I agree with Sherrypie here. Many years of playing Epic and especially these days, with larger, more detailed miniatures, five can sometimes be a squeeze especially with things like the Terminators and Assault Troops.
Personally I am doing both of those four per base, and if you want to do little dioramas then whatever will fit those.

It should be a personal choice I think - obviously GW have a vested interest in you using five as you then need to buy more minis, and they are also covering themselves for the one person that will try and model a single mini in the centre of a base and play for advantage at a tournament - but it's not fair that the rest of us, and any hobby creativity, suffers for that one person.

As an example, it's quite fun to do this sort of thing on a base:

Otoh it looks silly when your land raiders disgorge terminators and only half the capacity is used.(4 land raiders would disembark only 12 terminators rather than 20)

But as long as it's not outrageous advantage seeking won't cause issue. Good way to make sure at least couple models are on edges. Leave center more empty).

would suggest 4-5 is probably fine for Terminators, I'd avoid 3, largely in case GW ever release some of the specialist ones that run in smaller units to be a way to distinguish them.

using alternative ones here, and I need to sort some slightly different bases to space them a bit more, as tneva82 notes, a bit more to the edge so the one in the middle doesn't look so cramped.

from a visual perspective, if you create more space, do something with it, its an idea way to have say a small rock on some bases, or two, and use to distinguish units for example. Or find a small bit of something that can become a teleport homer or whatever.

reduced models on a base are a bit like fantasy unit fillers, a bit marmite, it helps having the stand look better because of it and not "just" fewer models.

rulewise its not likely an issue