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Searched the forum and it looks like this was last discussed in 9th.

Me and a mate are getting back into 40k after about... 15 years?

Using armies that have been buried in the shed that long.

All my power armoured csm are on 25mm bases. But i noticed current model kits and the 'world team championship' doc refers to 32mm.

Likewise my eldar all on 25 but new models seem to be 32 or 28.5??

Are there any mandatory requirements here? What about standard expectations for tournaments?
Thanks in advance

For casual gameplay? Do whatever you and your opponent agree on.
For a tournament? Ask the TO what their requirements are.

I am no tournament player but from what I have heard over the years tournaments tend to be pretty strict on models having the most current base size. This is to avoid "modelling for advantage". I don't see why 10th edition tournaments would move away from this stance.

GW's line on this (as far as they have one, I haven't seen much official communication on this topic over the years) is that you can use the base that the model came with. So if you bought some CSM on 25mm bases you don't need to rebase them. Of course tournament organisers don't have to go with what GW says.

This is easy. The current model for CSM is 32mm. From the store page:

"This kit builds 10 Chaos Space Marines, with your choice of weapons. The set is absolutely packed with optional extras, giving you the choice of arming every member of the squad with close-combat weapons and pistols or ranged wargear. You’ll be able to add your choice of plasma gun, flamer, meltagun, heavy bolter and missile launcher. Optional components let you build up to two Aspiring Champions, giving you the freedom to build the set as a single squad of 10 or two squads of 5. A Chaos icon, interchangeable components and optional grenades offer you even more choice, ensuring no two units need look alike. The set is even designed to be compatible with the Havocs, allowing you to mix and match heavy weapons for even more choice.

This set is supplied in 144 plastic components and contains 10 x 32mm round bases."

Just want to add, every time this comes up on YMDC, it's someone trying to sneak smaller base sizes in, one of the easiest overlooked, and simplest forms of cheating. It's the Magic "Top decking" of 40k. Very hard to spot, and no one is likely to call you on it, and if they do, you can fall back on, oh, whoops, I've not played the game in 15 years, and forgot to read the rules!"

That's not very nice or fair, FezzikDaBullgryn. Almost everyone asking this question is asking do I need to rebase my old army to the current standard?

The answer also hasn't changed:

GW says the proper base for your model is the one it was supplied with.

Casual Play: Is up to your opponent. Some will go, cool old models. Others will say, you need currently supplied base sizes on your models.

Tournament Play: Many tournaments require the base the unit is currently (or most recently) supplied with from GW. Check with the tournament organizer for details.

Ok, but again, almost EVERY time, this gets brought up, it's a "Can I use my smaller bases than regulation size, or will I get called on it?" style thread. If this were not that, it wouldn't have asked what "championship" rules are.

If you are asking what the rules are, and you found the rules on one site, but are coming to another site to ask, then you are not happy with the answer mom gave, and are asking dad. Which get's back to my original point. These sorts of "base size" threads are 99% of the time someone trying to get a feel for topping the deck. Hey, it's not technically cheating, I wasn't even Looking at the deck, I don't know how 5 lands keep winding up on the top of the deck every shuffle! Magic gave up trying to argue this point and just literally starting banning people. Which is the right decision. The OP has found the correct answer in multiple places, and knows enough about 40k tournaments to know that TOs exist. They do no need a thread on Dakka asking if it's ok to use smaller then regulation bases.

I based all of my new Necron Warriors on 25mm bases to match my old Necron Warriors.

And I don't care what anybody thinks of that.

Welcome to Dakka, and back to 40k.

Most people at the FLGS will not care. Some might. If you play in official events, you will need to abide by their rules packet.

Especially if you are just getting back into the game, most friendly opponents will give you some slack for playing with old minis. While modeling for advantage is a thing, people only really have issues when it’s done intentionally. There are pros/cons for being on smaller bases, it’s not pure advantage.

If you do want to rebase, you can find extender rings that make it easy.

FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:
Ok, but again, almost EVERY time, this gets brought up, it's a "Can I use my smaller bases than regulation size, or will I get called on it?" style thread. If this were not that, it wouldn't have asked what "championship" rules are.

Which is almost entirely because base sizes have universally increased over time. I can't think of a single one that's decreased (I'm sure there will be one somewhere). If you have old models this will be a possible concern for any number of reasons, not just some sort of attempt to game the system.

To the OP, most tournaments will usually ask for models on the "correct" bases, which will be whatever they are currently supplied with. For most casual games I wouldn't expect it to be a problem though. There are a variety of places where you can get base adaptors to increase your base sizes to the new standard without having to completely rebase your entire army. Unless you really want to rebase everything I'd highly recommend checking them out. Not sure if they're still available but I got a bulk order of adapters from Winterdyne on Etsy for my Space Marines and they were excellent quality.

FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:
Ok, but again, almost EVERY time, this gets brought up, it's a "Can I use my smaller bases than regulation size, or will I get called on it?" style thread. If this were not that, it wouldn't have asked what "championship" rules are.

If you are asking what the rules are, and you found the rules on one site, but are coming to another site to ask, then you are not happy with the answer mom gave, and are asking dad. Which get's back to my original point. These sorts of "base size" threads are 99% of the time someone trying to get a feel for topping the deck. Hey, it's not technically cheating, I wasn't even Looking at the deck, I don't know how 5 lands keep winding up on the top of the deck every shuffle! Magic gave up trying to argue this point and just literally starting banning people. Which is the right decision. The OP has found the correct answer in multiple places, and knows enough about 40k tournaments to know that TOs exist. They do no need a thread on Dakka asking if it's ok to use smaller then regulation bases.

Who cares? Just ignore it rather than making a fuss.

FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:


Just want to add, every time this comes up on YMDC, it's someone trying to sneak smaller base sizes in, one of the easiest overlooked, and simplest forms of cheating.

What advantages does a player get from using a smaller base?

 Arschbombe wrote:

FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:


Just want to add, every time this comes up on YMDC, it's someone trying to sneak smaller base sizes in, one of the easiest overlooked, and simplest forms of cheating.

What advantages does a player get from using a smaller base?

Easier to get into melee, more fit in ‘wholly within’ bubbles, for non-infantry easier to move round terrain.

Larger bases give units larger footprints, better for auras and table control.

One is not purely better then the other. There are pros and cons.

 Nevelon wrote:

If you do want to rebase, you can find extender rings that make it easy.

Word of warning as a fellow returning player. I got a bunch of warfactor adapters and it seems like they're ever so slightly too small on OLD 25mm bases (for me it's all the ones marked GW 1992). They're perfect for 2003 and up, but if you have older bases be prepared to do a decent amount of sanding around the edge.

As noted for play with friends it should be fine, but for a CC especially army the extra size makes a noticeable difference in play. There have been several times I dumped my Orks out of their Trukk and realized they wouldn't have fit with larger bases. It's enough that I'd feel bad trying to play with the older bases at a tournament.

Thanks very much for the discussion everyone. I was actually asking in good faith, but the impression I get is that the best approach is just to bite the bullet and rebase.

We played a practice game and the gameplay impacts of smaller bases were pretty clear when a transport got blown up, and also when we had a couple of big melees.

I found the 'world team championship' doc I referred to earlier, and also
https://spikeybits.com/2023/12/warhammer-40k-base-size-reference-guide.html

So I guess if I just follow those?

The follow on question - are old models still legal? All my aspect warriors are old metal ones, and my Avatar in particular is the old metal one which I understand is like half the size of the current model.

Also, Havocs now apparently are a 40mm base size. Does that mean people never swap them back into normal csm legionary squads (32mm base) now?

OphionAU wrote:


The follow on question - are old models still legal? All my aspect warriors are old metal ones, and my Avatar in particular is the old metal one which I understand is like half the size of the current model.

Also, Havocs now apparently are a 40mm base size. Does that mean people never swap them back into normal csm legionary squads (32mm base) now?

Yes, you're old models are still legal.

As for your now smaller Avatar vs the new gigantic (and overpriced) one?
There is nothing in the rules that makes yours illegal.
The most you'll come across is guidelines to use the current base size.
So you'll have to discuss it with your opponent.

ed. ninja'd!

OphionAU wrote:

I found the 'world team championship' doc I referred to earlier, and also
https://spikeybits.com/2023/12/warhammer-40k-base-size-reference-guide.html

So I guess if I just follow those?

That list doesn't include the 28.5mm size that comes with the plastic aspect warriors.

The follow on question - are old models still legal? All my aspect warriors are old metal ones, and my Avatar in particular is the old metal one which I understand is like half the size of the current model.

Old aspects are fine. Probably still fine on the 25mm bases in all but the most persnickety environments. Metal Avatar is a bridge too far. The current rules reflect a more powerful monstrous creature than the rules for the older, smaller one. Even casual opponents will likely object to using him.

Not gonna lie, the original Avatar is about the size of the current Trajaan Model. Not even close to the same thing.....

https://preview.redd.it/are-these-mini-me-avatars-of-khaine-to-the-right-legal-in-v0-nbp36h7ca7ja1.png?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=245a657bbd58e00e569f3c2582418be39668e1a5

Well that old model was appropriate for a T6 4W model with a 3+/5++ save like it was back in the day.

The new giant model is too busy. I don't care for the plastic flames. The FW models are better.

There has been a lot of scale creep, both in rules and models since he came out.

Technically there was a non-epic version on an infantry sized base way back in the RT era. Mine is not quite that old, but is metal and came with a square base.

And I would not field him, even in friendly games. It’s one thing to fudge a few mm of base, even up to 25mm to 40mm (which I’ve done with old terminators) But the Avatar is just an order of magnitude different.

I do have plans to rebase my old Nagash for AoS to bring him up to the scale of the new one, but that’s a backburner project for “someday"

OphionAU wrote:

The follow on question - are old models still legal? All my aspect warriors are old metal ones, and my Avatar in particular is the old metal one which I understand is like half the size of the current model.

Same as with the bases, I think some things are balanced by how easy/hard it is to hide them behind terrain.
I have some models in similar situations that I'm planning on mounting atop some chunky ruins that I plan to build out to a profile similar to the new "official" model. Haven't talked to any TO's about it yet but I don't imagine anyone complaining about a tiny avatar in a big diorama.

Base Size isn't really part of size of the model (the exception being a model X inches Tall with feet Y inches apart needs a base Z inches across just based on the phsyics of keeping the model upright and on a single base). Base size is more involved in the Fight Phase - which is probably a big chunk of why the same size Terminator Captain with more combat prowess is on a 50mm base yet stock Terminators are on a 40mm base. More 40mm Terminators need to get into B2B contact (and from there Engagement/Eligible to Fight Range) than 50mm Terminators. And ho-boy the number of 25mm Grots you'd need...

Height is more about the shooting phase what can hide behind the GW built (and this example of how tall to make stuff for their rules) terrain.

Base size is defined by the design team, and has nothing to do with game balance. They just made what looks cool or fits the model they designed. There is zero indication base sizing is in any way balanced or that balance is built around base size, just as there’s no official rulings on base or model sizes.

Just do what you will. In a friendly anyone objecting to cool old models is being a curmudgeon. At a tournament, expect to have to field latest base sizes and size-approximate models, as tournaments have their own stipulations and players have their expectations. There’s not much more to it that that, despite many many threads in this topic.

AoS has a Base Sizes doc:
https://www.warhammer-community.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/59NHG8W0rPt92WyK.pdf

40k doesn't, so use as listed above. If GW doesn't list base sizes, it's sort-of up to you.
If they do release it, it'll be here:
https://www.warhammer-community.com/warhammer-40000-downloads/