2mm DBA on 15mm Bases

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2mm Ancients for DBA based to 15mm sizes

When I f i rst started using 2mm blocks fo r Ancient games I based them individually on 20mmfrontage bases. Although this had the advantage o f making i t possible to play games on ahandkerchief -sized batt lef ield, i t did make them awkward to handle and too small f o r my agedgaming mates to see.

Having f inally taken the hint af ter seeing some o ther gamers' ef f o rts at using 2mm on 15mmbases I decided to re-base. The f o llowing pho tos and no tes are the result.

The bases are all standard sized 15mm scale DBA bases. The bases are made f rom adense and rigid card glued (with PVA) onto magnetic sheet (fo r ease o f sto rage andtransport).

The texturing is actually co loured sand (sprinkled onto thinned PVA) over the painted base.

Base Layout

I have tried to use the same number o f blocks per base as there would be 15mm f igures butthis is modif ied a bit in some cases (e.g. Elephants).

Where possible I have also attempted to make the base into a bit o f a dio rama so that i tactually represents the ' look' o f the troop type.

Because o f the size and relative lack o f detai l, I have also attempted to make dif ferentelement types distinguishable f rom each o ther. In some cases, no tably Blades, I have sincethought o f better layouts so I wi ll no te these in the appropriate places.

Generals' elements are distinguished by, well, a general added. I used the ABG5 (Roman)general with blocks painted in one co lour and ABG11 (Barbarian) f o r less regularly paintedblocks.

Close Order Foot : Blades, Spears & Pikes

2mm DBA on 15mm Bases http://www.gildasfacit.btinternet.co.uk/2mm/2mm_DBA_15mm.htm

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Above : Bd4 & Bd4 General - Use either ABG1 or ABG2

The General's base has the two sets o f 2 blocks separated, I now think this is a betterarrangement f o r Bd4 - i t makes them distinguishable f rom Sp4. Don't know why I didn't do that inthe f i rst place.

Below : Bd3

Uses the same blocks as the Bd4 but this t ime painted in random co lours and hints o f armour -as dismounted Knights o r Vikings perhaps.

Above & below : Sp4 - Use ABG18

The General in the f ront base would be better placed in f ront o f the so lid 2-ranks o f spearmen.That way Bd & Sp would be more easi ly distinguished f rom each o ther.

The lower picture has irregular spearmen, thei r shields and tunics painted in random co lours.

Above : Pk4 & Pk4 General

The pair o f mounted generals JUST f i ts onto the f ronto f the base. Use ABG16 (as here) or RBG9.

Right : another option fo r Pk using the smaller ABG17.You could also use the RBG33 or 34 blocks.

Loose Order Foot : Warband, Auxilia & Bow

Above : Wb3 & Wb3 General - use ABG8

Place the blocks in ei ther a 2-1 o r 1-2 f o rmation but all touching each o ther. Generals should bein the f ront rank and you could use the 2-ho rse chario t (ABG7) as an alternative general fo r thosearmies, such as Celts, that use them.

Below : Wb4 & Wb4 General

Arrange these as a so lid block, the irregular appearance o f the f igures wi ll dist inguish them f romthe heavy foo t elements.

Above : Ax3 & Ax4 General - use ABG13

Arrange these in a looser fo rmation than Wb, with space between the bases.

Below : Ax or Bw (alternative) - using ABG24

This block has 12 regularly spaced indiv idual f igures and produces a good loose f o rmation. Theproblem is that this block is o f ten rather poorly cast and you can't always rely on gett ing goodblocks. Note the general's element has one block spli t ei ther side o f the general.

Above : Bw3 & Bw3 General - uses ABG20

Possibly the easiest block to paint. Lay out with space between the 2 ranks in a 2-1 fo rmation.

Below : Bw4

Lay out as a so lid block, bowmen should be dist inguishable f rom the o ther close o rder f oo ttypes.

Other Foot : Psiloi, Hordes, Art il lery & War Wagons

Above : Ps - use ABG3 (javel ins) or ABG12 (bows)

Cut the blocks into smaller groups and randomly distribute them over the base.

Below : Hd - use any mix of ABG6 and BG23

In the elements shown the f ront rank is 2 ABG6 and the o ther 3 blocks are all BG23. Anyarrangement with more than 4 blocks would be OK.

Above : Ar - use ABG25 (or RBG30 for Medievals)

Below : WWg - uses RBG31 (armoured wagon), RBG30 (bombard) and some cut up RBG22(dismounted dragoons)

This version represents a Medieval WWg, no t quite sure what I 'd use fo r o ther periods.

Mounted, the Basics : Knights, Cavalry and Light Horse

Above : Kn3 & Kn3 General - use any combination of ABG14 (BG10 similar) & RBG13/14.

Arrange in a 1-2 f o rmation with all bases touching. Generals should be out in f ront

Below : Kn4 - use ABG22

Arrange as two separate lines o f 2 blocks with a small space between them.

Above & below : Cv & Cv Generals - use either ABG4 (regulars) or ABG8 (irregular)

Arrange in ei ther 1-2 or 2-1 f o rmation with the general between the separated lines or wi thin thef ront line. This makes them di f f erent to Kn.

Above & below : Lh - use ABG10 (javel ins) or ABG9 (bows)

As with Ps, cut the bases into smaller groups and arrange on the base. If you use single f iguresthen a passable base o f circulating light ho rse can be modeled (as above).

Mounted, the Rest : Camels, Chariots & Elephants

Above : Cm3 & Cm2 - use ABG23

The Cm2 are just cut up and randomly distributed. The Cm3 have the 3 blocks arranged in a lessregular f ashion than Cv.

Above : LCh - use ABG7

5 blocks arranged as you wish. I use the 'arrowhead'fo rmation to indicate the general i f I need one.

Below : HCh - use ABG19

4 blocks arranged over the base with a 'square'fo rmation indicating the general, ei ther that o r the whitehorses.

Right : SCh

Just a pair o f ABG19. Looks a bit bare but i t needed tobe dif ferent to o ther chario t bases.

Above : El - using ABG15 (Indian, warriors astride)

Use 4 elephant blocks (o r 5 fo r a general). Add a couple o f bases o f light infantry too , i f youfancy i t.

Below : El - using ABG21 (with Howdah)

These are no t the only possibi li t ies but they do make a set o f elements that can be distinguishedf rom one another and st i ll look like the armies they are supposed to represent.

Army 2/3 : Classical Indian

Army 2/56 Early Imperial Roman

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