Visibly different command stands?

Empgamer · Post by **Empgamer** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 12:06 pm

Just wondering how widespread this is or might become? To some degree I suppose it will depend on what obligation there is to be open about the types of leader involved but I would suspect it would be incumbent on a player to declare whether their army CinC, for instance, has a higher or lower command ability or not, and certainly to identify, at least, which of the command stands is CinC?

Essentially it's a hangover some of us have carried over from Napoleonics where in some rule sets the various levels of command are depicted by different numbers of figures on bases (e.g. brigade = 1; division = 2; corps = 3; army = 4). Looking at doing some playtesting of FOG soon with some new armies and am contemplating at least having the CinC represented by 4 figs on a base with subordinate commands of 3, possibly 2 for allied.

Some have taken this to extremes in the Napoleonic field (one reason I don't play any more) with gifted commanders having white horses or other such identifiers. Personally I'd not favour 3-4 different horse coloured stands to denote commander quality but am quite keen on the 4-5 figure (mounted and foot) CinC and 3 figure subordinate command stands. The downside for me with an approach which further uses 2 figure Allied Commander stands is that those allied contingents may well be used in their own right as armies at some stage, requiring yet more command bases to be made up.

neilhammond · Post by **neilhammond** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 12:36 pm

You have to declare your commander type at deployment. And convention is usually that if anyone asks for clarification during a game for a commander or troop types you tell them. So there is no need to visually differentiate different commander grades.

Commanders represent leaders, not troops, so you can pretty much depict you commander as you wish. There is a lot of opportunity for diaramas. The number of figures on a base isn't really relevent from a game sense, more a matter of what the player wants to do. Commanders are on 4cm x 4cm bases (although this isn't compulsory) so are slightly different from most bases anyway. I'm rebasing most of my DBM commanders on FoG bases, simply because it becomes easier to "see" which bases are troops and which are the generals.

Empgamer · Post by **Empgamer** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 12:58 pm

I'm thinking of re-basing cdrs to 40 x 40 too. Only differentiation I may make (as much for my benefit as others) is to put a slightly more ornate diorama (and probably 4 figures) for the C in C and more business like (likely with three figures) for subordinates.

ars_belli · Post by **ars_belli** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 5:40 pm

I think this is potentially an area where players could really have a chance to showcase their creative talents.

I have just finished remounting my generals on horseback to 4cm x 4 cm bases. Are base sizes the same for generals on foot?

Many thanks,
Scott

neilhammond · Post by **neilhammond** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 10:35 pm

ars_belli wrote: Are base sizes the same for generals on foot?

Many thanks,
Scott

Yes, generals on foot, elephants, chariots, being carried on a shield, or on a portable throne are all on 4cm x 4cm bases. Number of figures used is up to you.

ars_belli · Post by **ars_belli** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:32 pm

Excellent... many thanks, Neil! My Testudo Gallic general's chariot will probably have to go on a 4cm wide by 5cm deep base though, as its simply too long for 4cm x 4cm.

Cheers,
Scott