"GW LOTR Basing question" Topic

Hi TMP,
I am gearing up for some LOTR/WOTR gaming and I'm wondering about the Cav Basing. Do you go with the default basing, IE the big circular base or something else?

I really don't like the look when you try to make units for WOTR. The horse just don't have the density they should have. They look like open order skirmish cav.

Would going to say a WHFB cav base(25mmx50mm, I think) effect the rules at all? either the LOTR or WOTR?

Thanks, Xin

I am the rogue in my play group with regard to LOTR SBG cavalry bases. Everyone else uses the round standard bases. I base some of mine on 3/4" by 1.5" rect. magnets. I agree that the look is off a bit with the round bases for formations.

The size does matter in the skirmish game. The number of infantry that can make base contact with a mounted unit comes into play. I use metal washers and snap my figures onto them.

You could use 25mmx50mm bases. For LOTR SBG, just Blu-tack them to washers. For WOTR, just Blu-tack them to sabot home-made bases.

Any time you change the standard base size you are going to start effecting the rules. Generally smaller base sizes are more beneficial, as it minimizes the amount of enemies in contact thus the amount that can try at strike you.

I don't use them. It makes your cavalry useless for most other fantasy rules. I use 2"x1" bases. I drill a hole for the small peg on the horse and they fit well. Problem solved. I don't use the SBG rules. I prefer Armies of Arcana and the LOTR lists.

Thanks,

John

Definitely use the standard basing for playing the game.

We ran into this with figures for D&D. Cavalry and certain creatures with a similar birds-eye profile (lions & alligators, say) just look wrong on the regulation base, which is supposed to be a circular base taking up 4 squares (50mm or 2" circle). So I base those on Warhammer Cavalry bases (25x50mm or 1x2"), which are 1 square wide, 2 deep on the D&D grid. They look much better and for roleplaying purposes like marching orders, setting up a camp site paddock, etc, they rank up better on the table.

But … my DM uses my figures and does not think in terms of figures and grids so I felt it was best to provide him with standard basing so that part of the game system wouldn't be a variable screwing him up (or us). I created sabot bases. My figures have magnets on the bottom so I just flocked some 2" galvanized Fender washers, leaving a center 1x2" strip bare of flock. But you could make real sabots pretty easily.

If I was running the game I wouldn't bother with the sabots, just adjust spacing if it appeared to be an issue during a combat.

With a miniatures game like LOTR though there's no referee to reach down and do that so it's best to use the sabots so the basing enforces correct spacing.

And the basing size does matter in War of the Ring, since you use the individual models as 'wound' markers for the units.

I agree, I'd prefer seeing heavy cavalry knee-to-knee, but it totally messes with the combat resolution.

In WOTR if you used hit markers, instead of figure removal, would that work? Anything else you need to count figs for? Don't have the rules yet, on order.

Cheers, Xin

It might work, since you roll a number of dice equal to the company's Attacks characteristic – any losses.

I haven't actually played a game of WotR yet…

For WOTR, hit markers will work fine. The company stands (plastic bases) remain until the company is eliminated.

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