I create a separate basing scheme for each army. My Beasts of Chaos have autumny forest bases, my dark elves have weird purple-soil Ghyran jungle bases, my Slaves to Darkness have blue-black volcanic desert bases with patches of snow, and my Frostgrave (and Cursed City) models have reddish cobblestone bases with patches of snow.
I do the exact same thing. Dark angels are forest/meadows Tyranids are a tattuine/riddic 2 desert with a bit of a yellow tint to it and added cork/sand to create that 3d bit with bits of stalagmites added for the more elite models or ones on bigger bases Imperial guard (krieg/catachan units) get Vallejo mud with popsicle sticks for trench warfare vibes and some of the same style basing as my dark angels for the catachan. I imagine them as the krieg holding the fortifications and the catachan scouting the surrounding forest I’m thinking when I build my necrons they will get a similar vibe with the desert for my tyranids but I’m gonna try out bright pigments and make like a more alien vaporwave colored desert to contrast their metallic color scheme.
To have your army match every board, myself and some others I've seen, have ordered clear acrylic rounds and ovals to match the base sizes and just glue the minis straight to them, you can see the mat right through the base and it looks amazing, like the dudes are just standing on the board.
OMG, that is an awesome idea! I struggle for two years now on how to base my different models and always go back and change them when I create a new board. This is such a cool idea!
For my Primaris Black Templars, I am using the technical agrellan earth for a desert cracked earth style. On my Imp Knights, I use flock to make it look like a grassy field. I usually leave the bases plain. That way, if they do something “special” I can add bits showing the fights they have been in.
I have only one basing recipe for everything; appropriate GW style round or oval bases, Vallejo Earth paste, Steel Legion overpaint and rims, Agrax Earth wash, tufts and partial grass flock. If I need a Samurai in my Stargrave team, no problem. Like you Uncle Atom, I notice if the bases don’t match.
For Necromunda, metallic paint plus a stripe of contrast/speed paint is how i keep all the gangs with the same color scheme. Great little way to give each gang a bit of variety and those molded bases are easy to paint certain panels a distinct color.
I love snow, so I base everything in a snow base. I do use complimentary color undertones for the snow, because when it's an undertone it can match different settings more. My Dark Angels are green, so I use a very light blue undertone to the snow. If I was painting Blood Angels, I could do a very dark, mossy green. If I was painting WW2 American, I could do a very burgundy mud underneath the snow. I think it can easily work and still accentuates the model. Plus I love adding snow dust to the models using a medium and flocking in the wet medium.
my sci fi bases are always sand and tiny rocks, my fantasy bases are always Italian seasoning. Yup, glue, sprinkle with a poop ton of Italian seasoning, then prime and paint. washes are perfect for the seasoning.
I use a couple of others that I didn't hear you mention...You taught me the Baking Soda + super glue trick to texture bases. I use those primarily for desert/sandy or snowy basing. Also I use railroad modeling grass and tundra dust for models. This technique is Elmer's Glue brushed on the base, then sprinkle the grass and knock off excess. Then, to avoid little grains of that from getting all over the play mat every time I play, I put drops of super glue on top of that. Then sprinkle the kitty litter for rocks and use Army Painter's tufts of matching colors into that wet super glue. I normally do bases by army. The other thing I do is paint the rims different colors for different units and yes, I do mix and match for skirmish games, but that doesn't seem to bother me too much. But for instance, Orks that I originally built for 40k...there are 90 boyz...30 I painted black "basic" rims, 30 with brown.."oak" rims, and 30 I painted "sand" rims so I can tell the difference between the units on the table and when putting together the list. so, in gaming I can move the Basic boyz, then Oak boyz, then the Sand boyz. Great video! thank you!
I'm trying to up my basing game lately but for basing schemes I have a hierarchy of rules: 1, Does the faction have a strong theme*, e.g. Idoneth? Then theme the bases to match. 2, Is the faction part of a larger faction (e.g. Imperium, Death, Chaos)? Then base consistently for those. 3, If neither of the previous rules apply go with something specifically to work with the army which might be a light base for a dark army or a dark base for a light army, a complementary colour where there's a single dominant colour or make a two tone scheme into a triad or split complementary scheme with the base (e.g. my Necrons are blue-green with yellow-green glowy bits so my bases are a martiany red-orange). * Space Marine homeworlds are not a strong theme. Just because Space Wolves come from an ice planet doesn't mean they go looking for fights only on ice planets. Salamanders are no more likely to fight on volcano planets than any other chapter. Obviously fine if you think it looks cool (red/orange lava is a good contrast for salamander's green).
I make my bases separately, with no thought towards congruity with maps and little towards aesthetically complimenting the mini. Basing is a thing I really enjoy planning and doing; I want them to be as much of a focus on their own as the mini. I think about the habitat I'm recreating and little ways I can make them more realistic in that sense 'cause that's my fun. For wargaming, each unit has its own basing formula, but the bases of each unit are complementary. (E.g., My Nighthaunt are a late summer/early autumn mesic temperate forest. Some units are more towards one season or the other, and each unit looks like it could come from a different area within the same forest.) For ttrpgs, I go with a habitat that makes sense for that critter or person. Whatever tickles my fancy in the moment. (E.g., my roc is a high mountain meadow; and I painted a snail to look like an irl Volcanic Snail, but put it on a lava base instead of the deep sea smokers they live on because fantasy)
Great advice! I've got in the habit of gluing sand and grit to bases before priming for most models. It makes basing so much easier after starting the model and I can (and usually do) cover some of that texture with flock and tufts. Additionally, this doesn't push you into any color or biome much. I've used this to put my Beastmen in the Steppe/ Plains basing, Ogres in a frosty mountain zone, Empire in green fields with melting snow, or Dark Eldar crawling through city ruins.
I do basing at the end. For big models (dreads and wardogs) I do not stick the mini on the base and work on the base separately. For small minis, astrogranite debris all the way.
My favorite thing in all of fiction is a feeling of place. That i can take a scene in a movie or book, and imagine going out the door and over the hill, and i can imagine that this is a real place that extends beyond the limits of the work of fiction. In recent years, I've really enjoyed creating elaborate bases for my minis for the same reason. To give myself the feeling that this is a real place i can explore.
hi! loving the channel. what i do is i make a story for each army, and a sub story for each squad inside the army. for example, my dark angels were stationed in space wisconsin (long story) and i make a lot of farm stuff, fences, billboards, road signs, stuff like that. my sisters basically are going into an old long forgotten imperial temple/furnace. so everyting has a wrought iron, fire feel to it.i can show you if you want
Very balanced and informative. I’ve mostly gone for terrain mixes. European, desert and grim dark. Makes life fairly easy. Then…. I code my squads with same coloured tufts. So 30 infantry models in a box can easily be sorted into the three sections/squads 👍🏻
I base my models and prime them up together. I also love basing and on some models it’s my favorite part and sets my models away from the others of a similar army such as dark angels to dark angels. Only on really special models such as primarchs and big center piece models do I build and paint in sub assembly. As for styles I have 3 main ones. My dark angels army is all on a forest/meadow style made with lots of grass tuffs, the little flowers etc added over top ground up tea leaves and coffee grinds mixed with some mod podge. Gets basically 2 shades of brown with a wash and a highlight. It goes by quick and has a somewhat realistic look. My tyranids are all on a somewhat yellow tinted tattuine/riddic 2 desert theme with cork sand dunes/rocks combined with bits sand, desert grass tuffs sparingly and it’s zandari dust primer, then down hobgrot base, white dry brush, then the usual ear shade wash. Lastly my imperial guard which get a mix of my dark angels forest schemed bases and muddy bases made with popsicle stick bits and Vallejo mud with a bit of staining on the sticks to make somewhat of a trench aesthetic. My guard is all krieg with catachan converted Cadians plus gaunts ghosts. It’s funny because to me the bases do truly finish the models and I spend a bit of time but after a squad of 5 or 10 I have the theme down and it’s quick, fun and sometimes really helps me push through something like the next big pile of shame as a bit of desert if you will vs painting a whole 20min squad. So I’ll paint them kinda mixed in my routine to break it up and keep me feeling fresh and engaged.
Listened to quite few of your videos today at work. I work like you do. Basing is part of the process with me with any mini. If I have tree logs, rocks, gravel, I put it down after I place the mini on the base then prime it all together. I feel majority of my bases are simple but adds so much.
Absolute pleasure to meet and chat with you at NOVA :) I've been using the same muddy battlefield look for all my sci fi models since I started, dabbling here and there with other settings but it's like you say, having ol' reliable takes a whole mental step out of the equation.
My minis of choice are Battletech, so i do run into a scale issue. Most things i put on bases are way too big, even the smallest sand would be like 5 inch rocks. So my process is using a big pot of AK sand diorama paste that i apply after i finished the model completely, letting it fully dry, drybrush it with an off white, using a contrast color of choice like Skeleton Horde or Aggaros Dunes, or whatever else from the Speedpaint lineup, and after thats dry, add some more visual interest with dark tone, flesh tone and strong tone. These bases work like you said - they give the perfect background to help the model stand out more. And since the paste is a very pale yellow, you can also shift it around easily to like a red for a martian theme or black for that volcanic area.
I prefer to use already coloured baseing paste, either bought or home made. I don't like having to paint the base cover. I don't use textured bases. I do add grass, leaves, twigs and rocks/stones ect. Keep up the content Grand job 👍
I am mostly painting 10mm mass battle game models. I try to select a basing theme consistent with an army, so for example: for my necromancer army I am doing a Halloween cemetery in the autumn. Everything will be in the same warm oranges except for the weapons. They will be a little bluish.
I don't quite go for complementary colours with basing but I do tend to switch tone between mini and base. For me that emphasises the model enough without feeling over-contrived, as I prefer a pretty realistic look. Although if I've diverged a long way from an "established" faction scheme, I do look for ways to bring faction colours into the basing. I also like to add some story to a force, so currently I'm putting chaos marines onto sector imperialis bases and wherever possible, the models are stepping on top of any imperial iconography while rubble and detritus are getting painted to look fresh (or that's the aim at least). My Malifaux bases are pretty consistent, using Greenstuff World rollers and trying for an effect like the m2e box art. But even then I added vines crawling across the cobbles for Lilith's crew, while Ressers had stones cut away for a run-down quarantine zone feel. But I have found myself using consistent basing when I'm being the advocate for a game and putting together multiple factions, since I know that bases and battlefield will match when I'm providing everything.
Yesterday I just finished painting up some GW Dark Reapers. Being a nerd, I had trouble sleeping last night because.......I couldn't decide how to base them!!!! I base my minis added texture to the base last. So, The grey base you showed would work perfect I think, moving away from the mud or grass bases I usually do. Thanks for the help Atom.👍👍
I am about halfway done with my first big project, I am painting my Tiri crew (Malifaux) and I chose a basing scheme based on the lore. I wanted a very specific look to it as well, so there is a bit of busy work to them, but I am reaaaaally happy with how they come out.
I've tried two different styles of basing so far. A) making bases that match my terrain, and B) making bases that match where the the unit comes from. I'm using the latter for my Kings of War Forces of Nature Army. My naiads/sea elves are all on intertidal blueish grey rocks with assorted sea life clinging to them, while my salamander primes are getting black columnar basalt rocks surrounded by mud and assorted junglish foliage. B is time-consuming (I spent ages modelling tiny paper plants and sculpting and casting sea stars) but it allows for a huge amount of creativity and artistry and I'm finding it a lot of fun. I also like that it says something about who the models are and where they're potentially fighting for as part of the Forces of Nature alliance. The salamanders will also really stand out against their bases because I painted them red and cream which will go against black, dark grey, dark brown and green. Meanwhile, the naiads blend in a bit more, though not enough for camouflage.
I have too much fun making little dioramas for the more important members of the army to do a universal basing scheme for everything.... Except with my Space Station Zero squads, for which I scratch build the same kind of industrial bases for all of them. But yeah, I'll pick a setting for my army and then build all the bases to match. Stormcast are on cobble stone, Gloomspite Gitz are on purple stone, Tyrranids are on forest texture, and OBR are in the desert. As for color scheme, it depends; for my Stormcast and OBR they're contrasting but not complementary. The Stormcast for example are all cool colors, so the bases are predominantly warm colors. The OBR are blue and gold, and the bases are all ochre yellow based sand. On the other hand, the Tyrranid were supposed to be bug people that fit in with the natural setting, so both have a lot of similar colors of brown on them.
I dig this video. For the paint handle question I use dollar store shot glasses hthey come in packs of 25) and Loctite Poster Tac. Actually speaking of, Loctite Poster Tac is probably my most used hobby tool. It covers what you don't want painted while priming, it holds bits to anything while painting sub assemblies, and it helps hold troublesome droopy tank. It also never dries out and it comes off of whatever you want cleanly. All you do is take a bigger glob and smush it against the stuff you want off your model. It's super useful. Go get it. cannons up.
I am batching make 150 bases at the moment. I have managed to get a colour that works well on Desert, Green and Urban boards so very happy! Was bit of a Eureka moment. I use Vallejo Russian Mud paste as its really dark and Drybrush a bronze flesh too add some warmth and then a pale cream to highlight. Sticking a few broken coffee stirrers on as well to be broken planks!
If you scratch lines into the bases of GW that do not have that annoying dip in the middle, you get awesome floortiles. Use the backside of your hobbyknife for it. If you want to go above and beyond, you might get yourself a structural rolling pin thingy. Did that for my tyranids. Looks amazing. Most work ever though. There really is a ton of options when basing. And choice really can ruin things sometimes. ^^
I appreciate you mentioning about bases matching. I have a number of minis I use for DnD and I've been collecting a few new minis for Deth Wizards now. It's definitely weird seeing different bases. I may go back and redo some.
I'm working on an army of OPR Dutchies of Vinci, that are getting a forest style base with DAP quick set concrete (found a tutorial for it on youtube and it looked fairly good), then set into the DAP is sand, and small rocks. Once hardened I prime grey, then hit it with a couple of brown washes for the forest floor, followed by painting the biger rocks with a medium grey, then dry brush a light gray on top, to finish it I add a tuff or two of AP grass. My OPR Grimdark minis currently have plain black base as I'm stuck debating what to do. May go with the asphalt idea, or might go with a crackle texture then paint it like concrete.
I’m rather fond of complimentary colors when possible. My Death Guard are on the GW Martian dirt. The red-orange contrasts with the olive drab nicely. For a more generic option, I like gray dirt with a brown wash. Fits ruins and dirt.
for me basing is always a separate step. I use a paint handle for my minis and dont like having the base on while i paint the figures.. gets in the way in some cases. Basing is usually texture paste, some gravel, or bark pieces, cork rubble etc, then primed in green and other paints added to pick out details and finally a dry brush to make the rought edges of rocks etc pop a bit. I dont paint a lot of armies, usually dnd and fantasy minis.. lots of variation in the bases in terms of color etc. Cool video, keep up the good work!
I agree with the gray rubble bases and now stuck to them after all my other basing styles. I used some model railroad sound deadener cork for the tracks. I crumbled it and separated different sizes and put into Dollar Tree paint sample cups and pill containers for later.
I find a useful rule of thumb is to use a simple substrate (grit, texture, whatever), then use 2 extra bits to make it pretty. The 2 extras could be bigger rocks, tufts, flowers, broken metal or whatever. This keeps things fairly simple but with enough room for variation. If I'm feeling fancy I'll bring in some sort of third addition but use it more sparsely, maybe 1/3 of the unit's bases. For colours, I try to contrast the mini so the base 'frames' the mini.
As a teenager with my dad’s help I settled on a basing scheme for my 25mm sci-fi figures and I have basically continued to use this ever since. 1 paint the base grass green. 2 add builder’s sharp sand (glues with PVA). 3 wash the sand with brown ink. 4. Stick flock (rough coarse pasture) over most of the base allowing some of the rocks to stick through. It looks pretty cool.
I've always based my models. For me, it's just that final touch that really make them feel finished. I don't comment on others when they say the model is finished, but the base is splotchy from dribbled paint or whatever, not my model, not my issue. But my modeling OCD doesn't let me play with unpainted or unbased models. I usually go with the kitty litter and some playground sand mix. Great video
I keep my bases neutral to blend into as many board styles as possible. Lots of grays and browns. And I try to keep them consistent within a faction. Often it’s just my generic house blend ground scatter, but for some more exotic armies a themed base can help bring out the style of the model. E.g. my Necrons are rusty - nothing new there - but they also have some moss on them and being on lush bases full of vegetation emphasizes the idea they just crawled out of a jungle tomb. But no lava bases for me…
Great video as always. Something you didn't mention is base ready mixes. A couple of good ones are Geek Gaming base ready mixes and Krautcover scenics. Great for getting bases done quickly and excellent for horde armies.
I tend to paint far more than I play the game and like to make each of my minis a small diorama with some sort of story, so even within my armies, the bases don't always match. My troglodon is splashing through a stream in a cave, my spawn of chotec is standing in an ash waste, the carnosaur is in a jungle stomping a orc spear in honor of my first game of AoS that was won in part due to a well timed stomp on the enemy general during their turn, my KO frigate is floating between some stone towers like Zhangjiajie, etc. I am still trying to figure out the base for my stegadon that I painted a year ago or so because I would love to have it charging up or down a ramp out of a seraphon temple ship, but can't figure out how to make that fit on the base.
I do base my figures from time to time, but my preference is clear acrylic. Hate the looks of a base that doesn't match the terrain! I know that's controversial, but thats my choice. But when I DO paint a base, I use a chisel tip perminant marker to edge the base, more robust and clean then any paint finish I can do!
Complimentary color bases are a lot easier if you keep it subtle. My necrons use an "orange/green/purple" scheme, but subtle. Green is the GW style green weapon bits. Bodies are actually a lighter brown that skews a bit orange. Bases are black, purple wash, slate grey (blueish) drybrush. The purple on black is subtle but there. Things like red, orange, and yellow all can be shades of brown and/or rust. Blue and purple can tint a black.
I got FDM 3d printer and have been experimenting with printed base features. I also like the color contrast technique since I'm not a very good painter and the base can really tell a story.
While I admire the standardization aproach to basing I feel like a lot of the theme of the army can get lost that way. I recently did a celtic inspired Darkoath warband for warcry where my theme was that they where a cult dedicated to a Shub-Niggurath-like forest chaos entity. Without theming the bases to be forest-y that would have gotten lost. But I get that if I later want to mix and match models between warbands it will be a bit harder. Still - Basing to me is where I get to be creative on the model and create the setting and the context where my models exists. Like every mini is also a mini-diorama.
That's pretty similar to my Forces of Nature army I'm doing for Kings of War. Though since that's an alliance of different peoples, I'm doing the bases based on which nation they're from. So salamanders/reptilians get volcanic/rainforest bases, while naiads from the trident realms get ocean/intertidal bases. It's a lot of work, but I get to be really creative, I don't get bored, and each unit tells a visual story of who they are and where they're from.
Fun topic & thanks! I usually hit the base with PVA glue and sand or often just put the texture paint at the end. If I want I can paint more on the base later. With the bases I've been inconsistent on an army basis so all the minis in the unit/box match (often just shows the time i was out of a particular texture paint). I'm guessing at some point I'll at least have to repaint the bases to get the colors to match. Also a big fan of the AP battlefield rocks, ive used them a bunch to get around flying stands. And lastly of course goblins are real, seen plenty of photos of them with Da Gof Rockers at various conventions.
I use Unreal Wargaming Studios resin bases, the detail and quality is insane, there's no way I could make them to that standard for every model. I use the Urban Rubble range for my Tyranids and the Sacred Ruins for Space marines and Sisters of Battle 😁
I use option one a lot for the majority of my models - especially the ones I buy for multiple games systems. But for my actual armies I like to theme the base to the faction. Lately I've been using a lot of the Krautcover mixes, they look great especially if you add some extra large rocks or gamer grass/army painter grass tufts
I think my biggest issue is trying to decide on which style and brand of base to stick with for a wide range of figures... I have 2 and 3mm thick MDF... I have mantic round bases... I have lipped wyrd and privateer press bases... I have all the different GW bases.. I have cobalt keep bases... I have modiphius bases, infinity bases... I have a 3d printer and can make my own bases... and so beyond just finding combos of colors and textures, I also just struggle with how uniform to make my choice of bases across different games... basing for something like The Drowned Earth tends to be very specific... then similarly something for like Carnevale is city based... I think the real issue is i have too many games.. lol...
My approach to basing is the concession that few figures can stand on their own. I don't give bases to large models, (i.e. monsters or vehicles,) because these models are stable enough. Those figures that can fly, get flight stands. All others get an unadorned OD Green painted base. Unadorned because the basing material might clash with the gaming table. An urban theme might look great, but it will clash if the table is a glacier. OD Green because most of the tables I've gamed on were green felt. I know that the hobby is moving away from green felt, so I'm considering on switching to another base color.
How did I never notice the giant Khorne axe in the background? Great video, and I've found myself doing similar lately with bases in terms of keeping a straightforward formula
I definitely use a "general" basing for everything...dirt...some grass...couple big rocky chunks...then some fancy stuff for the specific army...same as you would with tufts or whatever...they're specific within their army...but all sorta similar in general tone and theme
I used to struggle with basing for certain factions. I applied them later after painting the minatures on their bases before deciding what environment they are on? With some of the models, I would give them a texture basing with some debris based on a narrative for the particular faction of the world they are standing on.
I've been a victim of analysis paralysis on this topic. I finally settled on having the majority of my sci-fi minis on desert bases while the majority of my fantasy is based on some variety of flocking/static grass. Not a strict rule though. My Mordheim minis are based on cobblestones and I have fishmen on beach sand, for example. Aside from flocking, I always put on texture before priming. One interesting thing I read in the Warhammer Fantasy Battle 3rd edition book was the reason they gave all their mini bases green rims was that they blended in with the greatest variety of terrain types.
I have 5 spare bases with my different basing pastes and a very cheap smashed slate one then I place the test model on each one then choose colours it's also a good idea to put the smallest amount of superglue on the model place in on the raw base prime the model then break the model off and then you won't get paste and superglue on the legs and it won't look like the model is floating
As a kid, I used to keep my Fantasy army bases black, often tidying up overpaint with Chaos Black. Honestly when I got back into the hoby as a adult, I didn't try properly basing models other then ones with pre sculpted bases until recently when making the gnome bloodbowl team, and the huge bases and tiny gnomes really stood out.
I am totally your way… glue the model, make the base, prime black, white zenethal and start painting… superb video, thank you 👍🏻🙌🏻 and i got different Bases for each project… well i should have gone your route… a couple of years ago 😂
I'm a "Themed Army" baser. My Warriors of Chaos army was "Winter wastes" themed. My Chaos Marines were "Ash Wastes" Themes. My IG were Jungles, then Urban (Built old Catachans that eventually got redone as Cityfight gangers.) My fallout stuff is all going to be unified, as that's the game, as well as my MCP stuff (which is easy, as the bases come pre-textured.) The place where this becomes a problem is painting for D&D. Unless a monster is tied to a location, deciding on a base can be tough.
For me each army has it's own style. Usually either sand, texture paste, or baking soda with rocks/static grass/skulls as appropriate or wood filler epoxy and a texture roller. For Blood Bowl I've been using clear bases but I am going to make lava bases for my Chaos Dwarves (now that I have nearly finished the models and new rules are coming making me need new models).
Funny thing how you build and paint your bases. I started doing that about 15-20 years ago. It didn’t become a conscious effort until 2020. The rationale is exactly the same idea. So my historical models tend to get warm brownish sand with deep green flocking. My fantasy models tend to get dull, grey slates (sometimes just painted bases with various bricks and rough stone). My sci-fi models are done in the old, GW, city-fight style, where it looks as if they are climbing through concrete rubble. Finally, my modern era models run around on sidewalks (more concrete colors but square slabs) or right on the asphalt (very dark greys and blacks with the occasional street markings). Ultimately there isn’t any “bad” choice, so long as it looks like the models is standing somewhere other than on a plastic base. 😊
I like to make bases for the origin of that army or squad. So... my orks are in a desert world to play modulorka. My intercession killteam of space wolves have a snow base while my guardsmen are in piles of rubble fighting in Armageddon. I like to tell stories with the bases.
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Another one I see from time to time is clear bases. I'm not personally a fan but i can understand the versatility of being able to see the ground beneath you.
I've got a whole bunch of Imperial Knights to paint, and I think this asphalt technique will work great. Maybe a bit of Valhallan blizzard since I want them to be allied with my Space Wolves. I feel like I could crank out all the bases pretty quickly after the umpteen weeks it'll take to actually paint the armor and hit the random hoses and cables on the frame of a half dozen of the buggers. Still, a plan makes it feel like a conquerable challenge
I really enjoy printing my bases. Some creators specialize in only making bases and greebles and I think it's a solid investment. Most of the bases even have magnet slots.
Painting mainly historical minis for games like saga, bolt action and baron's war. I do basing as last step because usually the models have these pudle bases. As for the idea, it is usually some texture paste, base ready material and a few Tufts. Colour scheme i decide based on where this army would be operating in my mind. But the techniques are the same for most models.
Am planning on basing my LOTR fellowship with some mud, rocks, A little bit of gray dust, and lastly topped with mostly grassy turf stuff. Then I will be making some ringwraiths with the same scheme except I’ll do only a little bit of green and cover with mostly gray dust. Small difference between the good and the bad
Been wanting to figure out a AP scheme to get away from citadel dawnstone and agrax. Been using monument coarse texture and the rocks. Looking forward to merging these two recipes. Thank you!
My Blood Bowl teams just have a solid black base. If your minis are not too dark, it makes the model pop. Your eye just ignores the base. I used to paint the bases for champions and single characters. Weird patterns or a color that complimented the mini. No rocks or texture, just paint. A riot of color for a Tzeentch champion. A dark blue with silver streaks for a dark elf. I have only recently got into "traditional" basing. Sometimes I like the look, sometimes I want to go back to my old heretical ways.
I'm a big fan of using color schemes for my bases that are the opposite of paint scheme of the models. For example, my Warmachine/Hordes Trollkin, who are very blue and tartan heavy, got a darker brown and orange fall themed base complete with fall leaf litter. Or my Dark Green Dark Angels who are on a rusty orange mars type basing scheme. My imperial fists are on dark grey bases with purplish mud and broken ruins of marble and steel. You get the idea.
Started Basing my orks by type of unit. Burna boys, red, shootas, grey etc. That way, if they were run in a mob ( past editions were allowed) I could pick out the unit types. My Nids started as winter because the local store ran a painting contest and that particular event was winter wonderland. My new Death guard has been saved the trouble after finding a swampish paint, one colour for all (whew). Now that these "newer" army look that much more finished, my6k plus ork army will slowly be united. Slowly, painfully...
Did almost the same with my Orks going with trying out a different texture paint or basing color per unit/box & might have to fix them all to have the same color eventually.
At the moment I'm sticking with a pretty basic and easy basing scheme - just paint the base a nice flat black. It's easy, it's fast, it goes equally well (or poorly) with anything, and it acts like a nice halo around the miniature, kind of like a selection halo in an RTS computer game.
Great timing! I was just dealing with how to base models that would work across a couple of model-agnostic games. I love your sci-fi scheme. Would you share your fantasy one, either here or a future video?
I used to go all out on bases when I played competitive 40k. Painting and basing points made a big difference in scoring. Since I've been playing at home a lot more now, I just slap a neutral brown, grey or muted green color on it with a few puddles of washes to abstract the model's most common environment. Most of my minis are played in dungeon crawls and urban skirmish so there's a lot of grey.
For Warhammer I buy Underwords warbands with premade bases and then basically craft similar bases for Warcry and AoS models of the same faction. Goblins in a cave, ghosts in a cemetery, rats in a sewer and humans in a city.
Painting my bases and adding basing bits, such as 3d printed bits and cork, has serviously helped me base model. I hated basing before moving to this method.
I spent way too long making sea stars, plantain and bromeliads to put on my Forces of Nature army bases, so I can totally see why you'd do that. I bet your armies look amazing.
@@EdwardCullenij I hope so. I'm really pleased with how the salamander bases are coming out, and pretty pleased with the naiad's bases. They do add to the time required, though!
The last year I have been painting/repainting old metal D&D figures I got in the 80’s. I have been putting them on larger bases and creating unique scenes for each figure. Basing was never done on the figures originally and most are still metal. Basing is now a huge part of my enjoyment in the hobby. But to your point the figures are not going to be used in a game format
I'm a collector more than a player, Carnevale and Necromunda being the main two. For Carnevale you can buy cobblestone/ruined cobblestone and wooden/ruined wooden which match the various areas you can play in. For Necromunda, as you say you get the Zone Mortalis bases included however with, the Ash Wastes set this made no sense and the recent Hive Secundus set they have stuck tactical rocks (admittedly bits of ruins) to some of the figures and it looks a bit out of place. Another great video.
![ILLSLICK - KILLSHOT REMIX [FULL VERSION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RIK8RrqIAzE/mqdefault.jpg)
I create a separate basing scheme for each army. My Beasts of Chaos have autumny forest bases, my dark elves have weird purple-soil Ghyran jungle bases, my Slaves to Darkness have blue-black volcanic desert bases with patches of snow, and my Frostgrave (and Cursed City) models have reddish cobblestone bases with patches of snow.
I would love to see that S2D "Blue-Black Volcanic Dessert base with a patch of snow" That sounds epic!
This is the way
I do the exact same thing.
Dark angels are forest/meadows
Tyranids are a tattuine/riddic 2 desert with a bit of a yellow tint to it and added cork/sand to create that 3d bit with bits of stalagmites added for the more elite models or ones on bigger bases
Imperial guard (krieg/catachan units) get Vallejo mud with popsicle sticks for trench warfare vibes and some of the same style basing as my dark angels for the catachan.
I imagine them as the krieg holding the fortifications and the catachan scouting the surrounding forest
I’m thinking when I build my necrons they will get a similar vibe with the desert for my tyranids but I’m gonna try out bright pigments and make like a more alien vaporwave colored desert to contrast their metallic color scheme.
To have your army match every board, myself and some others I've seen, have ordered clear acrylic rounds and ovals to match the base sizes and just glue the minis straight to them, you can see the mat right through the base and it looks amazing, like the dudes are just standing on the board.
OMG, that is an awesome idea! I struggle for two years now on how to base my different models and always go back and change them when I create a new board.
This is such a cool idea!
Like dudes standing still on top of force fields that's rad
For my Primaris Black Templars, I am using the technical agrellan earth for a desert cracked earth style. On my Imp Knights, I use flock to make it look like a grassy field. I usually leave the bases plain. That way, if they do something “special” I can add bits showing the fights they have been in.
I have only one basing recipe for everything; appropriate GW style round or oval bases, Vallejo Earth paste, Steel Legion overpaint and rims, Agrax Earth wash, tufts and partial grass flock. If I need a Samurai in my Stargrave team, no problem. Like you Uncle Atom, I notice if the bases don’t match.
For Necromunda, metallic paint plus a stripe of contrast/speed paint is how i keep all the gangs with the same color scheme. Great little way to give each gang a bit of variety and those molded bases are easy to paint certain panels a distinct color.
I love snow, so I base everything in a snow base. I do use complimentary color undertones for the snow, because when it's an undertone it can match different settings more. My Dark Angels are green, so I use a very light blue undertone to the snow. If I was painting Blood Angels, I could do a very dark, mossy green. If I was painting WW2 American, I could do a very burgundy mud underneath the snow. I think it can easily work and still accentuates the model.
Plus I love adding snow dust to the models using a medium and flocking in the wet medium.
my sci fi bases are always sand and tiny rocks, my fantasy bases are always Italian seasoning. Yup, glue, sprinkle with a poop ton of Italian seasoning, then prime and paint. washes are perfect for the seasoning.
And they smell like pizza!
I use a couple of others that I didn't hear you mention...You taught me the Baking Soda + super glue trick to texture bases. I use those primarily for desert/sandy or snowy basing. Also I use railroad modeling grass and tundra dust for models. This technique is Elmer's Glue brushed on the base, then sprinkle the grass and knock off excess. Then, to avoid little grains of that from getting all over the play mat every time I play, I put drops of super glue on top of that. Then sprinkle the kitty litter for rocks and use Army Painter's tufts of matching colors into that wet super glue.
I normally do bases by army. The other thing I do is paint the rims different colors for different units and yes, I do mix and match for skirmish games, but that doesn't seem to bother me too much. But for instance, Orks that I originally built for 40k...there are 90 boyz...30 I painted black "basic" rims, 30 with brown.."oak" rims, and 30 I painted "sand" rims so I can tell the difference between the units on the table and when putting together the list. so, in gaming I can move the Basic boyz, then Oak boyz, then the Sand boyz. Great video! thank you!
I'm trying to up my basing game lately but for basing schemes I have a hierarchy of rules:
1, Does the faction have a strong theme*, e.g. Idoneth? Then theme the bases to match.
2, Is the faction part of a larger faction (e.g. Imperium, Death, Chaos)? Then base consistently for those.
3, If neither of the previous rules apply go with something specifically to work with the army which might be a light base for a dark army or a dark base for a light army, a complementary colour where there's a single dominant colour or make a two tone scheme into a triad or split complementary scheme with the base (e.g. my Necrons are blue-green with yellow-green glowy bits so my bases are a martiany red-orange).
* Space Marine homeworlds are not a strong theme. Just because Space Wolves come from an ice planet doesn't mean they go looking for fights only on ice planets. Salamanders are no more likely to fight on volcano planets than any other chapter. Obviously fine if you think it looks cool (red/orange lava is a good contrast for salamander's green).
I make my bases separately, with no thought towards congruity with maps and little towards aesthetically complimenting the mini. Basing is a thing I really enjoy planning and doing; I want them to be as much of a focus on their own as the mini. I think about the habitat I'm recreating and little ways I can make them more realistic in that sense 'cause that's my fun.
For wargaming, each unit has its own basing formula, but the bases of each unit are complementary. (E.g., My Nighthaunt are a late summer/early autumn mesic temperate forest. Some units are more towards one season or the other, and each unit looks like it could come from a different area within the same forest.) For ttrpgs, I go with a habitat that makes sense for that critter or person. Whatever tickles my fancy in the moment. (E.g., my roc is a high mountain meadow; and I painted a snail to look like an irl Volcanic Snail, but put it on a lava base instead of the deep sea smokers they live on because fantasy)
Great advice! I've got in the habit of gluing sand and grit to bases before priming for most models. It makes basing so much easier after starting the model and I can (and usually do) cover some of that texture with flock and tufts. Additionally, this doesn't push you into any color or biome much. I've used this to put my Beastmen in the Steppe/ Plains basing, Ogres in a frosty mountain zone, Empire in green fields with melting snow, or Dark Eldar crawling through city ruins.
I've tried different basing methods, before mini, after mini, and find that painting the base first has the best results. Thanks for the video!
I do basing at the end. For big models (dreads and wardogs) I do not stick the mini on the base and work on the base separately. For small minis, astrogranite debris all the way.
My favorite thing in all of fiction is a feeling of place. That i can take a scene in a movie or book, and imagine going out the door and over the hill, and i can imagine that this is a real place that extends beyond the limits of the work of fiction. In recent years, I've really enjoyed creating elaborate bases for my minis for the same reason. To give myself the feeling that this is a real place i can explore.
hi! loving the channel. what i do is i make a story for each army, and a sub story for each squad inside the army. for example, my dark angels were stationed in space wisconsin (long story) and i make a lot of farm stuff, fences, billboards, road signs, stuff like that. my sisters basically are going into an old long forgotten imperial temple/furnace. so everyting has a wrought iron, fire feel to it.i can show you if you want
Very balanced and informative. I’ve mostly gone for terrain mixes. European, desert and grim dark. Makes life fairly easy. Then…. I code my squads with same coloured tufts. So 30 infantry models in a box can easily be sorted into the three sections/squads 👍🏻
I base my models and prime them up together. I also love basing and on some models it’s my favorite part and sets my models away from the others of a similar army such as dark angels to dark angels.
Only on really special models such as primarchs and big center piece models do I build and paint in sub assembly.
As for styles I have 3 main ones.
My dark angels army is all on a forest/meadow style made with lots of grass tuffs, the little flowers etc added over top ground up tea leaves and coffee grinds mixed with some mod podge. Gets basically 2 shades of brown with a wash and a highlight. It goes by quick and has a somewhat realistic look.
My tyranids are all on a somewhat yellow tinted tattuine/riddic 2 desert theme with cork sand dunes/rocks combined with bits sand, desert grass tuffs sparingly and it’s zandari dust primer, then down hobgrot base, white dry brush, then the usual ear shade wash.
Lastly my imperial guard which get a mix of my dark angels forest schemed bases and muddy bases made with popsicle stick bits and Vallejo mud with a bit of staining on the sticks to make somewhat of a trench aesthetic. My guard is all krieg with catachan converted Cadians plus gaunts ghosts.
It’s funny because to me the bases do truly finish the models and I spend a bit of time but after a squad of 5 or 10 I have the theme down and it’s quick, fun and sometimes really helps me push through something like the next big pile of shame as a bit of desert if you will vs painting a whole 20min squad. So I’ll paint them kinda mixed in my routine to break it up and keep me feeling fresh and engaged.
Listened to quite few of your videos today at work. I work like you do. Basing is part of the process with me with any mini. If I have tree logs, rocks, gravel, I put it down after I place the mini on the base then prime it all together. I feel majority of my bases are simple but adds so much.
Yes! Yes! Have basing texture sorted and on the base before priming! Totally agree!
I really like your discussion types of videos like this - a general talk about choices & motivations rather than a 'how to' tutorial :) Thanks
I appreciate it. Thanks for watching!
Absolute pleasure to meet and chat with you at NOVA :)
I've been using the same muddy battlefield look for all my sci fi models since I started, dabbling here and there with other settings but it's like you say, having ol' reliable takes a whole mental step out of the equation.
My minis of choice are Battletech, so i do run into a scale issue. Most things i put on bases are way too big, even the smallest sand would be like 5 inch rocks. So my process is using a big pot of AK sand diorama paste that i apply after i finished the model completely, letting it fully dry, drybrush it with an off white, using a contrast color of choice like Skeleton Horde or Aggaros Dunes, or whatever else from the Speedpaint lineup, and after thats dry, add some more visual interest with dark tone, flesh tone and strong tone.
These bases work like you said - they give the perfect background to help the model stand out more. And since the paste is a very pale yellow, you can also shift it around easily to like a red for a martian theme or black for that volcanic area.
I prefer to use already coloured baseing paste, either bought or home made. I don't like having to paint the base cover. I don't use textured bases. I do add grass, leaves, twigs and rocks/stones ect. Keep up the content Grand job 👍
I am mostly painting 10mm mass battle game models. I try to select a basing theme consistent with an army, so for example: for my necromancer army I am doing a Halloween cemetery in the autumn. Everything will be in the same warm oranges except for the weapons. They will be a little bluish.
I don't quite go for complementary colours with basing but I do tend to switch tone between mini and base. For me that emphasises the model enough without feeling over-contrived, as I prefer a pretty realistic look. Although if I've diverged a long way from an "established" faction scheme, I do look for ways to bring faction colours into the basing.
I also like to add some story to a force, so currently I'm putting chaos marines onto sector imperialis bases and wherever possible, the models are stepping on top of any imperial iconography while rubble and detritus are getting painted to look fresh (or that's the aim at least). My Malifaux bases are pretty consistent, using Greenstuff World rollers and trying for an effect like the m2e box art. But even then I added vines crawling across the cobbles for Lilith's crew, while Ressers had stones cut away for a run-down quarantine zone feel.
But I have found myself using consistent basing when I'm being the advocate for a game and putting together multiple factions, since I know that bases and battlefield will match when I'm providing everything.
Yesterday I just finished painting up some GW Dark Reapers. Being a nerd, I had trouble sleeping last night because.......I couldn't decide how to base them!!!! I base my minis added texture to the base last. So, The grey base you showed would work perfect I think, moving away from the mud or grass bases I usually do. Thanks for the help Atom.👍👍
I am about halfway done with my first big project, I am painting my Tiri crew (Malifaux) and I chose a basing scheme based on the lore. I wanted a very specific look to it as well, so there is a bit of busy work to them, but I am reaaaaally happy with how they come out.
I've tried two different styles of basing so far. A) making bases that match my terrain, and B) making bases that match where the the unit comes from. I'm using the latter for my Kings of War Forces of Nature Army. My naiads/sea elves are all on intertidal blueish grey rocks with assorted sea life clinging to them, while my salamander primes are getting black columnar basalt rocks surrounded by mud and assorted junglish foliage. B is time-consuming (I spent ages modelling tiny paper plants and sculpting and casting sea stars) but it allows for a huge amount of creativity and artistry and I'm finding it a lot of fun. I also like that it says something about who the models are and where they're potentially fighting for as part of the Forces of Nature alliance. The salamanders will also really stand out against their bases because I painted them red and cream which will go against black, dark grey, dark brown and green. Meanwhile, the naiads blend in a bit more, though not enough for camouflage.
I have too much fun making little dioramas for the more important members of the army to do a universal basing scheme for everything.... Except with my Space Station Zero squads, for which I scratch build the same kind of industrial bases for all of them.
But yeah, I'll pick a setting for my army and then build all the bases to match. Stormcast are on cobble stone, Gloomspite Gitz are on purple stone, Tyrranids are on forest texture, and OBR are in the desert.
As for color scheme, it depends; for my Stormcast and OBR they're contrasting but not complementary. The Stormcast for example are all cool colors, so the bases are predominantly warm colors. The OBR are blue and gold, and the bases are all ochre yellow based sand.
On the other hand, the Tyrranid were supposed to be bug people that fit in with the natural setting, so both have a lot of similar colors of brown on them.
I dig this video.
For the paint handle question I use dollar store shot glasses hthey come in packs of 25) and Loctite Poster Tac.
Actually speaking of, Loctite Poster Tac is probably my most used hobby tool. It covers what you don't want painted while priming, it holds bits to anything while painting sub assemblies, and it helps hold troublesome droopy tank. It also never dries out and it comes off of whatever you want cleanly. All you do is take a bigger glob and smush it against the stuff you want off your model.
It's super useful. Go get it. cannons up.
I am batching make 150 bases at the moment. I have managed to get a colour that works well on Desert, Green and Urban boards so very happy! Was bit of a Eureka moment. I use Vallejo Russian Mud paste as its really dark and Drybrush a bronze flesh too add some warmth and then a pale cream to highlight. Sticking a few broken coffee stirrers on as well to be broken planks!
If you scratch lines into the bases of GW that do not have that annoying dip in the middle, you get awesome floortiles. Use the backside of your hobbyknife for it. If you want to go above and beyond, you might get yourself a structural rolling pin thingy. Did that for my tyranids. Looks amazing. Most work ever though.
There really is a ton of options when basing. And choice really can ruin things sometimes. ^^
I appreciate you mentioning about bases matching. I have a number of minis I use for DnD and I've been collecting a few new minis for Deth Wizards now. It's definitely weird seeing different bases. I may go back and redo some.
I am totally your way… glue the model, make the base, prime black, white zenethal and start painting… superb video, thank you 👍🏻🙌🏻
I'm working on an army of OPR Dutchies of Vinci, that are getting a forest style base with DAP quick set concrete (found a tutorial for it on youtube and it looked fairly good), then set into the DAP is sand, and small rocks. Once hardened I prime grey, then hit it with a couple of brown washes for the forest floor, followed by painting the biger rocks with a medium grey, then dry brush a light gray on top, to finish it I add a tuff or two of AP grass. My OPR Grimdark minis currently have plain black base as I'm stuck debating what to do. May go with the asphalt idea, or might go with a crackle texture then paint it like concrete.
I’m rather fond of complimentary colors when possible. My Death Guard are on the GW Martian dirt. The red-orange contrasts with the olive drab nicely. For a more generic option, I like gray dirt with a brown wash. Fits ruins and dirt.
for me basing is always a separate step. I use a paint handle for my minis and dont like having the base on while i paint the figures.. gets in the way in some cases. Basing is usually texture paste, some gravel, or bark pieces, cork rubble etc, then primed in green and other paints added to pick out details and finally a dry brush to make the rought edges of rocks etc pop a bit. I dont paint a lot of armies, usually dnd and fantasy minis.. lots of variation in the bases in terms of color etc.
Cool video, keep up the good work!
I agree with the gray rubble bases and now stuck to them after all my other basing styles. I used some model railroad sound deadener cork for the tracks. I crumbled it and separated different sizes and put into Dollar Tree paint sample cups and pill containers for later.
I find a useful rule of thumb is to use a simple substrate (grit, texture, whatever), then use 2 extra bits to make it pretty. The 2 extras could be bigger rocks, tufts, flowers, broken metal or whatever. This keeps things fairly simple but with enough room for variation. If I'm feeling fancy I'll bring in some sort of third addition but use it more sparsely, maybe 1/3 of the unit's bases. For colours, I try to contrast the mini so the base 'frames' the mini.
As a teenager with my dad’s help I settled on a basing scheme for my 25mm sci-fi figures and I have basically continued to use this ever since. 1 paint the base grass green. 2 add builder’s sharp sand (glues with PVA). 3 wash the sand with brown ink. 4. Stick flock (rough coarse pasture) over most of the base allowing some of the rocks to stick through. It looks pretty cool.
I've always based my models. For me, it's just that final touch that really make them feel finished. I don't comment on others when they say the model is finished, but the base is splotchy from dribbled paint or whatever, not my model, not my issue. But my modeling OCD doesn't let me play with unpainted or unbased models. I usually go with the kitty litter and some playground sand mix. Great video
I keep my bases neutral to blend into as many board styles as possible. Lots of grays and browns.
And I try to keep them consistent within a faction. Often it’s just my generic house blend ground scatter, but for some more exotic armies a themed base can help bring out the style of the model.
E.g. my Necrons are rusty - nothing new there - but they also have some moss on them and being on lush bases full of vegetation emphasizes the idea they just crawled out of a jungle tomb.
But no lava bases for me…
Theres a reason flock/green rim was the standard for so long. I prefer bases that fade away as well. Id use clear ones if they werent so reflective.
Great video as always. Something you didn't mention is base ready mixes. A couple of good ones are Geek Gaming base ready mixes and Krautcover scenics. Great for getting bases done quickly and excellent for horde armies.
I tend to paint far more than I play the game and like to make each of my minis a small diorama with some sort of story, so even within my armies, the bases don't always match. My troglodon is splashing through a stream in a cave, my spawn of chotec is standing in an ash waste, the carnosaur is in a jungle stomping a orc spear in honor of my first game of AoS that was won in part due to a well timed stomp on the enemy general during their turn, my KO frigate is floating between some stone towers like Zhangjiajie, etc. I am still trying to figure out the base for my stegadon that I painted a year ago or so because I would love to have it charging up or down a ramp out of a seraphon temple ship, but can't figure out how to make that fit on the base.
I do base my figures from time to time, but my preference is clear acrylic.
Hate the looks of a base that doesn't match the terrain!
I know that's controversial, but thats my choice.
But when I DO paint a base, I use a chisel tip perminant marker to edge the base, more robust and clean then any paint finish I can do!
Complimentary color bases are a lot easier if you keep it subtle. My necrons use an "orange/green/purple" scheme, but subtle. Green is the GW style green weapon bits. Bodies are actually a lighter brown that skews a bit orange. Bases are black, purple wash, slate grey (blueish) drybrush. The purple on black is subtle but there. Things like red, orange, and yellow all can be shades of brown and/or rust. Blue and purple can tint a black.
I got FDM 3d printer and have been experimenting with printed base features. I also like the color contrast technique since I'm not a very good painter and the base can really tell a story.
While I admire the standardization aproach to basing I feel like a lot of the theme of the army can get lost that way. I recently did a celtic inspired Darkoath warband for warcry where my theme was that they where a cult dedicated to a Shub-Niggurath-like forest chaos entity. Without theming the bases to be forest-y that would have gotten lost. But I get that if I later want to mix and match models between warbands it will be a bit harder.
Still - Basing to me is where I get to be creative on the model and create the setting and the context where my models exists. Like every mini is also a mini-diorama.
I base my armies in a theme together as well, helps tell a story.
Absolutely agree with you
That's pretty similar to my Forces of Nature army I'm doing for Kings of War. Though since that's an alliance of different peoples, I'm doing the bases based on which nation they're from. So salamanders/reptilians get volcanic/rainforest bases, while naiads from the trident realms get ocean/intertidal bases. It's a lot of work, but I get to be really creative, I don't get bored, and each unit tells a visual story of who they are and where they're from.
I alway smile when the Caddyshack quote gets an airing.
Exactly! 😁
Super nice idea to base in formats. ❤ Thanks for sharing that with us.
Fun topic & thanks! I usually hit the base with PVA glue and sand or often just put the texture paint at the end. If I want I can paint more on the base later. With the bases I've been inconsistent on an army basis so all the minis in the unit/box match (often just shows the time i was out of a particular texture paint).
I'm guessing at some point I'll at least have to repaint the bases to get the colors to match. Also a big fan of the AP battlefield rocks, ive used them a bunch to get around flying stands.
And lastly of course goblins are real, seen plenty of photos of them with Da Gof Rockers at various conventions.
I use Unreal Wargaming Studios resin bases, the detail and quality is insane, there's no way I could make them to that standard for every model. I use the Urban Rubble range for my Tyranids and the Sacred Ruins for Space marines and Sisters of Battle 😁
Great job contrasting the bases with your armies and mats. The Imperials looks sharp on that sand!
My Black Templars are on the urban gray debris type basing. My Thousand Sons are all desert themed.
My fantasy stuff is all over the place
We're happy to watch your master baser video.
I use option one a lot for the majority of my models - especially the ones I buy for multiple games systems.
But for my actual armies I like to theme the base to the faction. Lately I've been using a lot of the Krautcover mixes, they look great especially if you add some extra large rocks or gamer grass/army painter grass tufts
I think my biggest issue is trying to decide on which style and brand of base to stick with for a wide range of figures... I have 2 and 3mm thick MDF... I have mantic round bases... I have lipped wyrd and privateer press bases... I have all the different GW bases.. I have cobalt keep bases... I have modiphius bases, infinity bases... I have a 3d printer and can make my own bases... and so beyond just finding combos of colors and textures, I also just struggle with how uniform to make my choice of bases across different games... basing for something like The Drowned Earth tends to be very specific... then similarly something for like Carnevale is city based...
I think the real issue is i have too many games.. lol...
My approach to basing is the concession that few figures can stand on their own. I don't give bases to large models, (i.e. monsters or vehicles,) because these models are stable enough. Those figures that can fly, get flight stands. All others get an unadorned OD Green painted base. Unadorned because the basing material might clash with the gaming table. An urban theme might look great, but it will clash if the table is a glacier. OD Green because most of the tables I've gamed on were green felt. I know that the hobby is moving away from green felt, so I'm considering on switching to another base color.
How did I never notice the giant Khorne axe in the background? Great video, and I've found myself doing similar lately with bases in terms of keeping a straightforward formula
I definitely use a "general" basing for everything...dirt...some grass...couple big rocky chunks...then some fancy stuff for the specific army...same as you would with tufts or whatever...they're specific within their army...but all sorta similar in general tone and theme
I used to struggle with basing for certain factions. I applied them later after painting the minatures on their bases before deciding what environment they are on? With some of the models, I would give them a texture basing with some debris based on a narrative for the particular faction of the world they are standing on.
Good overview! I don't have trouble exactly but I think I phone it in. You have inspired me to do a bit more especially the complementary color idea.
I've been a victim of analysis paralysis on this topic. I finally settled on having the majority of my sci-fi minis on desert bases while the majority of my fantasy is based on some variety of flocking/static grass. Not a strict rule though. My Mordheim minis are based on cobblestones and I have fishmen on beach sand, for example. Aside from flocking, I always put on texture before priming.
One interesting thing I read in the Warhammer Fantasy Battle 3rd edition book was the reason they gave all their mini bases green rims was that they blended in with the greatest variety of terrain types.
I have 5 spare bases with my different basing pastes and a very cheap smashed slate one then I place the test model on each one then choose colours it's also a good idea to put the smallest amount of superglue on the model place in on the raw base prime the model then break the model off and then you won't get paste and superglue on the legs and it won't look like the model is floating
As a kid, I used to keep my Fantasy army bases black, often tidying up overpaint with Chaos Black. Honestly when I got back into the hoby as a adult, I didn't try properly basing models other then ones with pre sculpted bases until recently when making the gnome bloodbowl team, and the huge bases and tiny gnomes really stood out.
I am totally your way… glue the model, make the base, prime black, white zenethal and start painting… superb video, thank you 👍🏻🙌🏻 and i got different Bases for each project… well i should have gone your route… a couple of years ago 😂
I'm a "Themed Army" baser. My Warriors of Chaos army was "Winter wastes" themed. My Chaos Marines were "Ash Wastes" Themes. My IG were Jungles, then Urban (Built old Catachans that eventually got redone as Cityfight gangers.) My fallout stuff is all going to be unified, as that's the game, as well as my MCP stuff (which is easy, as the bases come pre-textured.)
The place where this becomes a problem is painting for D&D. Unless a monster is tied to a location, deciding on a base can be tough.
My wife still hasn't caught me using her spice grinder to shred pieces of cork board into basing material. Thanks for another great video, Uncle Atom!
For me each army has it's own style. Usually either sand, texture paste, or baking soda with rocks/static grass/skulls as appropriate or wood filler epoxy and a texture roller. For Blood Bowl I've been using clear bases but I am going to make lava bases for my Chaos Dwarves (now that I have nearly finished the models and new rules are coming making me need new models).
Funny thing how you build and paint your bases. I started doing that about 15-20 years ago. It didn’t become a conscious effort until 2020. The rationale is exactly the same idea.
So my historical models tend to get warm brownish sand with deep green flocking. My fantasy models tend to get dull, grey slates (sometimes just painted bases with various bricks and rough stone). My sci-fi models are done in the old, GW, city-fight style, where it looks as if they are climbing through concrete rubble. Finally, my modern era models run around on sidewalks (more concrete colors but square slabs) or right on the asphalt (very dark greys and blacks with the occasional street markings).
Ultimately there isn’t any “bad” choice, so long as it looks like the models is standing somewhere other than on a plastic base. 😊
I like to make bases for the origin of that army or squad. So... my orks are in a desert world to play modulorka. My intercession killteam of space wolves have a snow base while my guardsmen are in piles of rubble fighting in Armageddon.
I like to tell stories with the bases.
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Another one I see from time to time is clear bases. I'm not personally a fan but i can understand the versatility of being able to see the ground beneath you.
Nice video.👍
I saw a video where Vallejo Ground Texture was used on the bases. It looked easy and effective, I want to give it try.
I've got a whole bunch of Imperial Knights to paint, and I think this asphalt technique will work great. Maybe a bit of Valhallan blizzard since I want them to be allied with my Space Wolves. I feel like I could crank out all the bases pretty quickly after the umpteen weeks it'll take to actually paint the armor and hit the random hoses and cables on the frame of a half dozen of the buggers. Still, a plan makes it feel like a conquerable challenge
I really enjoy printing my bases. Some creators specialize in only making bases and greebles and I think it's a solid investment. Most of the bases even have magnet slots.
Painting mainly historical minis for games like saga, bolt action and baron's war. I do basing as last step because usually the models have these pudle bases.
As for the idea, it is usually some texture paste, base ready material and a few Tufts.
Colour scheme i decide based on where this army would be operating in my mind. But the techniques are the same for most models.
I still use PVA and Sand. Same way did it back in 1995.
As god intended.
Am planning on basing my LOTR fellowship with some mud, rocks, A little bit of gray dust, and lastly topped with mostly grassy turf stuff. Then I will be making some ringwraiths with the same scheme except I’ll do only a little bit of green and cover with mostly gray dust. Small difference between the good and the bad
Been wanting to figure out a AP scheme to get away from citadel dawnstone and agrax. Been using monument coarse texture and the rocks. Looking forward to merging these two recipes. Thank you!
My Blood Bowl teams just have a solid black base. If your minis are not too dark, it makes the model pop. Your eye just ignores the base.
I used to paint the bases for champions and single characters. Weird patterns or a color that complimented the mini. No rocks or texture, just paint. A riot of color for a Tzeentch champion. A dark blue with silver streaks for a dark elf.
I have only recently got into "traditional" basing. Sometimes I like the look, sometimes I want to go back to my old heretical ways.
I'm a big fan of using color schemes for my bases that are the opposite of paint scheme of the models. For example, my Warmachine/Hordes Trollkin, who are very blue and tartan heavy, got a darker brown and orange fall themed base complete with fall leaf litter. Or my Dark Green Dark Angels who are on a rusty orange mars type basing scheme. My imperial fists are on dark grey bases with purplish mud and broken ruins of marble and steel. You get the idea.
Excellent video! Bases make a difference- really- takes your miniature to 9.5!
What was the recipe for the bases on your fantasy miniatures at 3:22? I love the mix of earth and rubble.
Looking forward to Adams go-to fantasy bases!
I love Epic Basing bits. Cool stuff.
A good perspective as always, thanks. I have always just kept my bases very basic.
Excited for the prospect of Necromunda videos
Started Basing my orks by type of unit. Burna boys, red, shootas, grey etc. That way, if they were run in a mob ( past editions were allowed) I could pick out the unit types. My Nids started as winter because the local store ran a painting contest and that particular event was winter wonderland. My new Death guard has been saved the trouble after finding a swampish paint, one colour for all (whew). Now that these "newer" army look that much more finished, my6k plus ork army will slowly be united. Slowly, painfully...
Did almost the same with my Orks going with trying out a different texture paint or basing color per unit/box & might have to fix them all to have the same color eventually.
At the moment I'm sticking with a pretty basic and easy basing scheme - just paint the base a nice flat black. It's easy, it's fast, it goes equally well (or poorly) with anything, and it acts like a nice halo around the miniature, kind of like a selection halo in an RTS computer game.
Lol - "Alien planets can be whatever color you want if you believe in yourself"
Thanks Atom, totally made my morning with that one :)
Great timing! I was just dealing with how to base models that would work across a couple of model-agnostic games.
I love your sci-fi scheme. Would you share your fantasy one, either here or a future video?
I used to go all out on bases when I played competitive 40k. Painting and basing points made a big difference in scoring. Since I've been playing at home a lot more now, I just slap a neutral brown, grey or muted green color on it with a few puddles of washes to abstract the model's most common environment. Most of my minis are played in dungeon crawls and urban skirmish so there's a lot of grey.
For Warhammer I buy Underwords warbands with premade bases and then basically craft similar bases for Warcry and AoS models of the same faction. Goblins in a cave, ghosts in a cemetery, rats in a sewer and humans in a city.
Painting my bases and adding basing bits, such as 3d printed bits and cork, has serviously helped me base model. I hated basing before moving to this method.
You liked a comment I made before the announcement of new kt edition. I’ve always liked limiting the number of special operatives for a game.
I find joy at sculpting my bases with epoxy putty. Every base is unique and fits the character lore ❤
I spent way too long making sea stars, plantain and bromeliads to put on my Forces of Nature army bases, so I can totally see why you'd do that. I bet your armies look amazing.
@@minisarefuntopaint that sounds pretty beautiful both for eye and your soul as creator of this minj world 🏖️
@@EdwardCullenij I hope so. I'm really pleased with how the salamander bases are coming out, and pretty pleased with the naiad's bases. They do add to the time required, though!
The last year I have been painting/repainting old metal D&D figures I got in the 80’s. I have been putting them on larger bases and creating unique scenes for each figure. Basing was never done on the figures originally and most are still metal. Basing is now a huge part of my enjoyment in the hobby. But to your point the figures are not going to be used in a game format
I'm a collector more than a player, Carnevale and Necromunda being the main two. For Carnevale you can buy cobblestone/ruined cobblestone and wooden/ruined wooden which match the various areas you can play in. For Necromunda, as you say you get the Zone Mortalis bases included however with, the Ash Wastes set this made no sense and the recent Hive Secundus set they have stuck tactical rocks (admittedly bits of ruins) to some of the figures and it looks a bit out of place. Another great video.
I have been needing this video without even knowing it. 😅