Objective Secured

Base Sizes and 40k – what should you use?

Something we have seen happen – a lot in recent years – is base sizes being updated when a model kit is. We saw it for Age of Sigmar (going from square to round bases) but with 40k its been more subtle. You see, the shape has mostly stayed round – though oval is now a thing – but more importantly the sizes have moved about for various units.

Before I get started on some of the effects on base sizes – I found this article on the Tharses Project Blog… so go check out just how many units this impacts!

Did you realise just how many base sizes that 40k models use?!? This image (again produced by Tharses Project) highlights just why there is confusion around which bases you should use for a given model, especially when its old.

Traditionally there has always been an understanding that you use the base the model came with. In recent years, there has been a push to have players have their models on the most recent size relevant to a given model regardless of the age of the model. For example, Space Marine Terminators came on 25mm bases (many, many years ago!) but these days come on 40mm bases, mainly as the models have grown a bit in recent years!

In 8th edition 40k, the reasons to keep the correct and current base size have become more important than ever. Bases have several impacts depending on their size. Lets look at a few of them.

• Larger than standard size bases impact the distance a models aura effects can reach – the area of the circle is increased just by going from 25mm to 32mm even when you take out the space the base itself takes up
• Larger bases also allow players to take up more board space. Filling a floor in ruins to block assaults, larger areas of deep strike denial and screening mean having bigger bases can be significantly better.
• On the flip side, smaller bases would allow you to drop units in via deep strike in smaller spaces – spaces the opponent might assume would be covered if you have the correct bases
• You can also move units through much tighter confines with smaller bases, avoiding enemy units and even making charges which would otherwise be impossible

These are the biggest impacts that effect the game in my opinion but there are others of course.

Its also made more complex when there are models available from forgeworld which take the place of games workshops own model (the Avatar of Khaine for example is 40mm from GW and 60mm from FW) – which is correct? In this case, thats a significant change in the aura range and its effects for the Avatar.

I’m not going to make out I have all the answers on this (ultimately sticking to the base the model comes on right now is usually the best bet) but in an effort to clarify things for players of our events, we have been working on this – the ObSec Basing Guide. It is based on the ETC 2017 base chart with updates based on what we have seen in our events over 2018 – so I have to thank the team at ETC for doing the ground work.

You will notice its not complete however – there are units and even whole codex missing from the list, especially Forge World (as the ETC does not allow that).

Where to from here?

I am hoping with you, dear reader, we can get this document up to date. The goal is to provide a list of bases that are the best possible to use (Primary on the document) while giving an option for another size to allow for older models in most cases or the most sensible size for others.

We would love to hear from you if you spot something not in the list (inc Forge World) or if you think we have a size wrong. If you have a codex thats missing (there are a couple) then getting these added would be awesome as well. We will continue to work on this document in the mean time ourselves of course! Keep an eye out for the updated versions as new books come out as well as the initial official release.