Bases

[teufelhundenrogers]

I have a question about bases you can/cannot use.  Are you able to use any base that has come with that model before?  For example, the 'Great Unclean One' from 3rd addition is on a ridiculously tiny base for what its supposed to be and now they came out with that new one that is huge, or old fantasy bases for other models.  I was just curious because I have a bunch of old fantasy demons on those old bases and didn't think I could use them in tournaments or anything if I wanted so wanted someone to point me in the right direction if they could.  Thanks.

[Arkhanist]

There are no GW rules on bases any more in 8th, and many units have been repacked with different base sizes over time. Their general approach is to use the base size that makes the model look best, i.e. rule of cool. Now templates are gone, it's much less of an issue. Larger bases make auras a bit better, but also restrict more where you can place models, i.e. taking advantage of cover and falling back from melee so it's somewhat self-balancing. AoS officially measures model to model, so base size is unimportant officially. In practise most people house rule base to base, but given the switch from square to round bases, there has to be a lot of flexibility as long you're not obviously taking the piss.

 

The standard rule for tournaments was usually to use the base it came with. Old metal terminators used to come with 25mm bases, which remained tournament legal in 7th ed, though was sometimes accused of basing for advantage. I can't find anything in the current ITC rules about base sizes. 

 

If you want to avoid any doubt then basing on the current base size for that model will be safest - and gives you a chance to update to new snazzy bases for better painting scores - but they should be legal on their original bases if you'd rather not.

Edited December 27, 2017 by Arkhanist

[Major_Gilbear]

Whatever bases the models came with are "legal" in every edition as far as I have ever known (so, since they had slottabases basically).

 

In other words, if you bought your daemon models waaaay back in the day and they came on smaller bases, they you're fine to just use those.

 

However, if you try to put new models on smaller bases, and you're not just adding one or two new figures to complete an old unit, then expect to be called out on it. That said, putting old models on modern base sizes (so classic RT-era Terminators on 40mm bases for example) is normally regarded as perfectly acceptable even in a tournament.

 

Personally, I'm of the mind that if you ever have the choice, putting them on a sensible base such that they both fit and look good is fine. So those old RT Terminators I mentioned earlier would be cool by me on 32mm bases - they tip over less than on 25mm, and the look less ridiculous than on current 40mm bases.