Why 15mm deep HF?

[Montagu]

I was wondering what the thinking was for the depth of the HF bases being 15mm instead of 20mm for the MF/LF? I find 15mm to be harder to handle and move around and plan on using 17-20mm. I thought I'd ask in case I was missing something.

Thanks

Monty

[Andy1972]

Well, alot of people are comming over from DBA/DBM ect.. HF in that game are 40x15mm. Lighter foot(aux,bw,ps) are on a 20mm base. I would not convert to a game where i would have to rebase all my troops. Besides, i like the way they look.. They are tightly packed:-) and my lighter troops have a looser feel to them on their bigger bases.

[hammy]

If you base all your foot on 40 by 20 bases I don't see it as a problem. I would however use 4 to a base for heavy foot, 3 for medium and 2 for light just to make identification easy.

As pointed out the 15mm depth is primarily there because there are millions of figures based that way. I am fairly sure I have over 500 15mm deep HF bases and I am not going to rebase them without very good reason.

That said the game works fine with slightly over deep bases. The main area where it causes a problem is stepping forwards but if you do that limited by the depth of official bases you will be fine.

[nigelemsen]

I am basing my foot on 20mm depth bases as well... using the same logic 4 figs HF, 3 figs MF and 2 figs LF...

Plus Im putting my cavalry on 40 mm depth bases. Find the presentation of the army in battle lines looks much better and is easier to move.

If the "back end" sticks a out few mm, but my thinking if im worrying about that ive prob lost game anyway

Obvously I will need to be aware of proper depths for stepping forward etc..

My 15mm romans are infact 20mm tall...

[hazelbark]

Before you base differently, I would suggest you check with your most common playing opponents and try and use similar basing schemes. People who you only see once a year will be forgiving, but you probably don't want to be different from the people you see weekly.

[Montagu]

I am sorry. I am not familiar with 'stepping forward'. My copy of the rules arrives on Monday!

What is it and why would it be affected by the base depth?

Thanks.

[Andy1972]

fighting from the front.. It wouldnt have no impact.. But if you were to get hit in the flank or rear.. It could affect which charing stands come into contact after the stepping forward.. So, for instance... You had your HF hit in the flank.. Well a normal HF is 15mm deep.. lets say they are in 4 ranks. Thats 60mm flank.. Now you put them on 20mm bases.. now thats 80mm of flank.. Also from the rear.. Your bases are slightly closer to the charge by 5mm. That might cause a few head aches.. But im an easy going guy and i personally wouldn't care.. But their are some people that may get upset.

[lawrenceg]

I am sorry. I am not familiar with 'stepping forward'. My copy of the rules arrives on Monday!

What is it and why would it be affected by the base depth?

Thanks.

Normally all bases are formed into units ("battlegroups") with a rectangular formation.

Under certain circumstances, some bases can advance forward out of the front of the unit. This is called "stepping forward"

The distance you can step forward is sometimes limited by the base depth.

[themightycid]

As a mainly 10mm figs man my aries are based on 20mm this lets you get 2 ranks of HI on a base which gives good mass effect. I use smaller numbers for looser order types.

[Maxshadow]

HF are considered to operate with their ranks closer together than the meduims. The base sizes are smaller to reflect this.
But they're your HF. Base them anyway you think looks good.