Universal Basing for Sci-fi

[Benihana]

I\'m attempting to decide how to base some Star Wars miniatures. I\'d like to do something more interesting than the Rebel/Imperial symbol, but I need the bases to be somewhat universal.

With Snowtroopers or Sandtroopers it\'s easy to decide how to base them. With Stormtroopers I\'d like to use the same ones in multiple places, but I don\'t want a Stormtrooper with a forrest base in the desert and so on.

I\'ve looked around for ideas quite a bit and found nothing so far. Any suggestions or ideas that might point me in the right direction would be appreciated.

As an aside, what disadvantages are there to square bases save having a predisposition to point in a specific direction. For whatever reason square bases appeal to me more. Thanks in advance.

 

[NGArtStudios]

I would think that the basing that is most widely used for sci-fi is what I refer to as the rubble base. It\'s basically regular flock/sand base coated with a dark gray and then high lighted up to a very light gray or even as far as white. Although I think it\'s near impossible to match up the bases with every gaming surface you will play on. Therefore I would just suggest to base them the way you best like without worrying whether it will look \"right\" on every table top.

I don\'t think there are any disadvantages to square bases per say. Just a matter of preference really as well as following rules, since most game systems have specific rules on what type of base the mini should be on. A lot of it I think is just that square bases are used for troops that are meant to be ranked up in blocks while round bases are better suited for skirmish troops that don\'t really need to be in any specific formations. Again when it comes down to it, unless you plan on using these minis to game within a specific rules system, just base them on whatever looks best to you.

 

[Benihana]

I appreciate the reply and thoughts. Regular sand bases seem mediocre and I think would be a let down after working so hard on the miniatures. The square-round base comparison is precisely what I was looking for, and convinced me to stick to my square impulse.

I\'ve come up with 2 ideas so far. Perhaps removable bases per terrain, with stiff wires extending into the bases (and the bases would have to be thicker than usual). There are some drawbacks but it would accomplish my universal goal and save me from producing miniatures for different environments.

Alternatively, I could go with a somewhat generic base and instead include removable rank markings or some other type unit/marker info on the base. At the scale I\'m working with (20mm) it\'s difficult to distinguish rank, and having that info on the base would give a bit of flare.

I\'ll update as I move forward.

 

[Shadzar]

???

Crazy idea. How about just clear resin bases you could see the underlaying terrain through?

You could even make them squares. That way no matter what they are sitting on, from top-down views, they appear to be on the correct terrain.

You could either glue the mini to the base with clear epoxy or clear super glue so the base isn\'t disturbed, or take something like a GW flying stand, or other clear stick and glue it to the mini the height of the base you want, and let dry then have it standing in the resin while it cures to make the mini cast into the resin.

Then you never have to change a base or worry about what terrain it is on cause it is always on the correct terrain?