There are a lot of 15mm Napoleonic figure collections out there in different forms and flavors. The two most common ratios I know and have seen of are the 1:60 and 1:30 collections. Most, if not all, of my figures are set for 1:30 gaming; typically, a French infantry battalion has 24 figures in it. I use to have a small 1:60 collection, but it got converted to 1:30. I prefer more figures than less, so those 32 figure units in the Lasalle rule book catch my attention. And it would be easy, if not time consuming, to just paint up some more figures - it would require 8 figs infantry per battalion - to bring the total to 32 figures and have four bases of eight figures each. I have briefly thought of this, but I ran into a couple of snags. First snag was that there will be a LOT of painting to do if we would like to fill out the ranks of our 1:30 collections and base them as “recommended” for Laselle. Second snag, and the most limiting one, is that most of the figures in our collections are no longer being cast, though we still have a few packs of unpainted figures laying about. These figures that are no longer produced are only available here and there at random (mostly on ebay, miniatures forums, or at gaming conventions) but even then, there is no guarantee that we’ll be able to get the needed figures to fill out the ranks.
As a result, we have decided to leave the 1:30 collections as is because we don’t fancy the idea of painting hundreds figures unless its to create new units, and also, because one of the nice things about Lasalle is that it is flexible enough to adapt to almost any base size. “The most important criterion is that you and your opponent use the same system for basing figures.” When I do paint new figures, I can always make the newly painted units 32 figures and base them as “recommended” on page 6 - in fact, I have already painted one new unit this way. But as for the old collection, I’m just going to work with what I have. In the end, I will have two sets of figure collections; one old collection and one new collection.
Here are some ideas we have been contemplating:
Idea #1
Rebase all of the old figure collections so that 1BW = 1” (25.4mm) so that we can use inch rules for Lasalle. The figures would resemble what you see on page 5 of the rule book. Except that instead of “20mm+” figures we would use 15mm figures. Also, instead of 2” (50.8mm) per BW, one BW for us would be 1” (25.4mm). But the number of figures would be the same at six figures per base for infantry and two for cavalry, or a total of 24 figures and 8 figures respectively. There are two very good reasons to go this route:
1 ) One BW = 1” so we can use standard inch rules when playing Laselle.
2 ) Visually, three figures to an inch or six figures to a base looks and resembles close order formations. Not shoulder to shoulder, but close never the less(1) However, for the larger 15mm (figures that measure 18/19mm from bottom of foot to top of head) it will start to get constricted. But fortunately, most of our figures are the second generation minifigs with a few of the newer ones thrown in, and they are true 16mm and 17mm figures. These will fit very nicely on basing described above. Even more so would be the old Heritage 15mm figures; which happen to be true 15mm figures as they measure 15mm from bottom of the feet to top of the head. The old Heritage 15’s look and work best on the above basing.
However, there is on negative… and it’s a very big negative. Just the word “rebasing” sends insalubrious chills down my back and may be the cause of some nightmares. So…
Idea #2
Our collections are already based at 3/8” per figure with some bases having three figures per base, and some having four figures to a base. That is, a base that measures 1-1/8” x 1/2" (28.6mm) has three figures while a base of 1-1/2” x 1/2” (38.1mm) has four figures. If we choose to have one BW equal to 1-1/8” (or 28.6mm) then those figures already based three per are almost done. Just need to slap two bases together “or doubled” as the rule book says. Those that are mounted four per stand just need to be rebased on bases to match, a base that measures 1-1/8” (28.6mm) x 1” (25.4mm) with six figures. Example of this can be found on page 6 of the rule book. However, 1-1/8” = 28.6mm and not 30mm, and 1-1/2” = 38.1mm and not 40mm… but one might say, “close enough” since you get roughly a 6mm to 8mm inconsistency. There is one good reason to go this route. That is, we do not have to rebase all our figures - those that are 3 per stand are just doubled up.
Are there other gaming groups with a similar situation? If so, how did your gaming group come up with a workable solution? I’m leaning towards the BW = 1”, but I’m open to good ideas. I have seen other posts were gamers have used six figures in two rows on 40mm bases. For us, that is not an option as it looks like skirmishers, and we want the look of close order formations. I have seen a lot of figure collections that are 1:30 (also 1:33) and 1:20 that have three figures per stand. For them, I just recommend doubling up. But for 1:20 collections, there are enough figures to base as “recommended”. But what did you do if your collection was mixed?
Here is a question to fellow Napoleonic gamers out there. If you had hundreds of Napoleonic figures that are organized for 1:30 gaming, and adding new figures to form 32 figure units from 24 figures is not an option, what would you do? I guess you could cannibalize other units, but this would have limited success in that it wouldn’t work for all units; can’t stick line infantry to fill up a guard unit.
(1) Probably more historical if not really shoulder to shoulder since the ranks would open up a little but then close up at times, but more about this in a different thread. Let us just stick to basing here :-)