Am I the only person who's not into basing?

I see lots of beautiful bases on people's models on this forum, and I think they look terrific.

Yesterday I was reading some painting advice here on the forum and one entry talked about certain painting techniques that, while not realisitc, are important to creating the proper illusion. Basing was also identified as important to creating that illusion.

However, I am averse to decorating the bases on my models myself, because it bugs me to no end when the base greatly contrasts with a terrain surface my model is on, for example a stone base against the wooden floor of a building. It bugs the crap out of me, and I think it does a lot to shatter that illusion referred to in the aforementioned thread.

So I leave my bases black, which just looks like shadow to my eye, and blends (or contrasts) equally with everything.

Thoughts?

Don't know if you're the only one not basing, but I always try to. Simply because it looks pretty awesome when a model DOES stand on the same ground as the basing covers.

My second though would be.... not basing means a black base, which doesn't look good on any surface except something totally black, right? So not a wooden floor, not a stone floor......etc. etc.

Well, you're right, a black base doesn't match any surface, but my eye (I realize that this, as with all aesthetics, is somewhat subjective) sees the black base as neutral, as if it's a shadow, rather than as contrasting.

I never got into basing, mostly because I'm lazy and I consider it enough of a victory when I actually paint something. Most of my bases are just kinda brown, which works ok cause my table is brown and so are a lot of floors.

I do think that brown/gray with a bit of gravel looks nice almost anywhere on a mordhiem table, but I never liked the ones where a guy is basically hauling a boulder around with him on the battlefield so he can always pose dramatically

Ya I'm on bord with you on this one, I have never been in to baceing. I'm just to lazy to do it. I paint them some times but thats it

Maybe you can have the best of both worlds if you just put some random rubble on the base and give it an indistinct brownish/grayish color. Would make your mini's look better and not out-of-place on most Mordheim surfaces.

Just my 2 cents, I would experiment first on some spare bases before you decide on anything.

i wasnt into basing myself, but i found that plain earth to be a nice touch

However, I am pondering about using transparant bases, you know like the flying bases, that match the ground under the feet

Paluke wrote:

i wasnt into basing myself, but i found that plain earth to be a nice touch

However, I am pondering about using transparant bases, you know like the flying bases, that match the ground under the feet

Now that IS a very interesting idea! This way you can still measure base to base, but do not have to paint them any more. Suits the game and the lazy bastards.

Hmmmzzz

I've seen transparent circular bases from Geronimo on Frothers. He has some sort of fancy laser cutter and could probably do square ones too. Might be worth dropping him a PM on Frothers or contacting him via ebay where he trades as geronimo_jones.

His bases are a bit shiny for my tastes and I suspect you would get frosting problems if you tried to matt varnish them.

I'm a bit of a fanatic with the basing...among other things. HOWEVER, ultimately the only one who has to be happy with the appearance of your minis is you. If plain black bases appeal to you, that is how you should do them. AND on this one, you're probably in the majority; there seem to be a LOT of folks that do little or nothing with the bases.

Most time on my few painted models is spend on scenic bases so i'm extremely biased.

The other day i saw this cat that used clear see through bases for the same reason as you are keeping them black they looked pretty sweet and matched al services you put them on... maybe thats an idea?

i love that base!!

The clear bases are an awesome idea. The purist in me is a bit bothered by it though. Once we enter the realm of stock bases, without change, we might as well play HeroClix. (Fun game, but not Mordheim)

I tend to paint my bases as a pile of dirt or mud with a piece of wooden plank on it. Dirt/mud can be found anywhere and the piece of wood adds a run-down effect to the model. I find it fits with all tables.

It's actually a quick and easy base to make. I'll post an example here. Once I finish my possessed I'll post a tutorial on how I do it.

I have tried clear bases on a few miniatures, but ultimately I decided I liked basic no-frills dirt-and-grass bases better. The color of the dirt and the mix of the flock are the same as on my terrain boards, so they look perfect there. My Mordheim boards have the same color ground (or close to it) but no grass at all.

Back when I started the hobby I felt the same. It felt stupid that the same rock was tagging the guy across the battlefield, especially since I was pretty bad at doing bases. Once I got the hang of it, I wouldn't take it any other way. It's amazing how much more depth even just the slightest effort into the base can add to the big picture. In some ways I feel basing to be as important as the mini itself. Then again I'm more into the painting aspect of the hobby and not that much into gaming.

I'd really recommend to do at least one miniature, where the premise is that you're doing a cool scenery with a character placed into it and not the other way around. Treat at least one if not each miniature like a small diorama.

As a side note, currently I'm doing some pirate orcs (I hardly have any spare time these days so this project is extra delayed) and they all have wooden planks under their feet as if they were on a ship. Might not look that proper if placed into cobblestone terrain, but heck, adds up to the piratey feel.

I´m with the captain here... I love basing my miniatures, and mainly base them to display their natural habitat (be it ships/forest/caverns/whatever)
When they are in my display case, they look great, and most of the time the scenery matches as well... (I make all my scenery along with the models/bases, so the colors at least fit)

I've tried transparant bases in the beginning as well, but didn't like the shiny part, and when I spraycoated it matt it really didn't feel well, so I based everything (even the flyers)

So now I have a dark elf army on the beach (raiders) high elves on the lush green fields, dwarves on rocks, goblins on mushroomfilled cavern floors, inquisitors on the foul streets, merchants on the silk road, and woodelves on heavily wooded trays (yes even though it looks weird to carry a tree,some rocks and a bunch of brushes along on the battlefield - it just looks good in the display case! )

that said, I do tend to leave the lower part of the base black, so I can name them there, and just to give it a slightly "modelish" feel... just to show that it's a bit of a diorama in its own.

I think bases are the most important part of bringing your model to life. even if the model is just undercoated and has it's skin painted on, with a bit of basing it comes alive instantly... and vice versa, if it's superbly painted but not based.. it's not half way as impressive as it could be.

though everyone can make up their own mind about basing, I find it much more satisfying to play against a painted and BASED band than to face a bunch of black bases...

imo a nice basing will make a correctly (but not awesome) painted mini look awesome, a crap base will make an awesome painted mini make me pull my hair out screaming why WHYyyyyy did you ...???!!

well my opinion really!

personally i bate basing aswell but i do believe its an essential part of tje model it doesnt need to be amazin but it needs to be done. do i usually make tiles or cobblestone either with clay or by cutting them into the base itself then i paint m in one colour and wash them with either black or brown, tuis way is fast n easy

In my mind...

Basing is an art form all on its own.

The base is the canvas that your figure stands on, the background scenery to your masterpiece. It is an extension to the feel or character of the model (s) that stands on it. It is also the unifying factor that justifies why all these guys are standing together in the case of squads or warbands. AND, it is the chance for the painter to lend a little bit of themselves to the sculpt of the figure.

The base is a powerful, powerful tool that should not be overlooked, but at the same time it can be overdone (as some of you have mentioned characters standing on boulders - Which is more appropriate for a showpiece model than a gaming piece IMHO). A base should be subtle, as to not distract from the painting of the figure. Because after all, isn't it the figures that we should be paying attention to.

Bases done well can practically blend into any environment. I say practically because there are exceptions to everything ( i.e. Snow bases on a desert board would be a strech)

But in the end, it is what works for you. They are your figures, and your choice.

I would encourage all of you to take a look at Salmondworks Tutorial