I had a vision the other day after seeing the amazing work in 2mm scale by Paul Clarke on the 2mm Facebook page. Probably - no definitely - the best example of how to use 2mm scale figures to their best effect for creating large armies that really look like armies! I know that quite a few of my followers who are interested in the smaller scales don't use FB so with Paul's permission I'm sharing a few of his photos here. I would love to hear your thoughts on his wonderful work, especially how the table and bases blend so well.
And so of course I immediately saw the potential of DBN armies in the scale done in this way, large bases each representing a brigade with hundreds on tiny men in various formations, marching columns, skirmishers out front, mounted generals, supply wagons at rear possibly, this has really caught my imagination! Just 12 bases (points) per side would look most impressive I think? I'm thinking that 1812 French v Russians could be a good place to begin,
As I always like to have something ticking along for myself this could make a perfect little side project maybe.
Photos of Paul's amazing Medieval armies shared with his permission, as Mr Punch would have said "That's the way to do it".
They look fabulous for 2mil figures, albeit I do have reservation about base thickness but then again how would pick then up without those bases? DBN would look great, although I think double-size games would offer more varaiety / game-play - the 'Storm Within the Empire' blog makes a good case for double-size armies (https://dbagora.blogspot.com/2022/07/dba3-double-size-command.html).
ReplyDeleteI guess viewing them from above helps the bases blend into the terrain a bit more Rob. I'll resist going down this route myself as it could be potentially too time consuming but I must admit I really admire Pauls set up.
DeleteLee.
It took a good few seconds for me to stop thinking “but they don’t look like Napoleonic French/Russians”. In retrospect the huge flags should’ve been a clue. Paul’s figures are, of course, 3mm Wars of the Roses armies. Well, at least that cleared up why they don’t look like Napoleonics…
ReplyDeleteAs you know Lee, I am a big (ouch, that “pun” hurt when I crowbarred it in) fan of 2mm gaming. You can keep bases the same size as, say, for 15mm figures and just simply fill the bases with lots and lots of tiny little fellas in what looks like a proper battle formation - rather than, for example, “this is just 4 Byzantine spearmen standing in a line, shoulder-to-shoulder”. I dare to be different and take a slightly different approach, often using smaller bases (such as 1/2 DBx size) as this allows me to have a smaller tabletop footprint. Say a 12”x12” battlefield rather than 24” square. I do also think that it’s easier to get a game sorted when you only need, for example, 12 figure bases for each opposing army rather than to think “right, now I just need to finish painting that last 192 landwehr and then I can start on the line infantry”. By that stage the enthusiasm is often long gone…
Anyhow, that’s enough of an early morning ramble from me. Enjoy your weekend Lee.
Cheers,
Geoff
Geoff, I have dug out my copy of DBA (Version 1) and ordered myself a 15mm ready made Macedonian army from Essex Miniatures, It is sort of your fault really, your 2mm bases got me thinking about the rules again! I just fancy painting some Ancients as it's been decades since I did any. I like the idea of being able to produce lots of 12 base armies that will play on a dedicated 2 x 2 board.
DeleteLee.
They are superb
ReplyDeleteI agree Neil.
DeleteSome superb photos there. I think the balance here is it the game or the figures that are the priority? If it’s the game but you want it to be visually nice at the same time then something like this would fit the bill nicely. A 12 element DBN game always suffers from the visual aspect ( I think) EPIC is a part way solution but if you’re not bothered about individual pieces and want mass effect then why not indeed. As always I shall watch with interest. 😁
ReplyDeleteIn my case Graham it's usually the figures for sure but I do really like Pauls work, his WW2 terrain/vehicles/figures in this scale is breath taking. having given it some thought I don't see myself doing this though as I have something else in mind now :)
DeleteAs a quick, cost effective and straight forward project in which the entire project can be stored in a box file, it has much to commend it.
ReplyDeleteI have had two dabble with 2mm. The first was a Roman / Carthage collection designed specifically to do the Trebbia River battle. I can’t recall it exciting me much. The second I really did enjoy. Napoleonics on an 18” x 18” field. Formations were given orders and then if the orders needed changing, several turns might pass before the formation could receive those orders and respond, by which time they had already marched a good deal further on than when the change of order was given by the gamer.
It did show that sometimes it is better to leave a formation to execute it’s less than perfect order, rather than interfere, divert and ultimately have that formation non-committed for much of the game …. or worse, by the time they receive the new order, the order itself is already effectively out of date / use. That, I thought was probably as much of a realistic top down approach to command that I have ever played.
I do think that if doing 2mm, the DBA / DBN 12 element route does not get the most out of the scale. Bigger armies allow for different parts of the battlefield to take on their own character and narrative, you are winning here, but losing there and the reinforcements are in the wrong place etc - there is a telling of a bigger story with more moving parts.
Either way, this would be a project that on cost / time implications, would allow all of these things to be explored / discovered and if it doesn’t work, the investment won’t be too telling.
Hi Norm and thanks for your comment which makes some interesting observations on the scale. For myself something like Geoff's Cigar Tin DBA armies in 2mm would be ideal, and is just about the most truly portable wargame I have ever seen played on a 1 foot square terrain board! I'm not going to go down that rout though having decided that I'd like to paint a couple of 15mm DBA armies now using true old school Essex figures :)
DeleteThey do look great but as noted by Graham above, it really depends on your primary focus...mine is on the aesthetics of larger figures...but that doesn't mean I can't see the appeal of these smaller scales, the main ones being larger battles on smaller tables at lower cost!
ReplyDeleteThat looks absolutely superb Lee. Thanks for bring it to us. The potential for 2 mm to produced grand results is demonstrated so well. It's such an interesting, enjoyable and useful scale.
ReplyDeleteRegards, James
I'm glad that you enjoyed seeing the photos James, I must admit I was staggered when I first saw them.
DeleteCheers,
Lee.
They do look great, it's like an animated map, I can see the appeal for sweeping strategic games but I'm with Keith and sticking to my 28mm figures as I'm more a painter than a gamer!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain ( caveadsum1471)
Hi Iain, you are a dedicated 28mm man I know, (and very nice too). I do like your description of it as an animated map, that's spot on.
DeleteRegards,
Lee.