Something that has become incredibly important to me over the years is that I get as much out of my models as I possibly can. How many games can I use my miniatures for? How should I base my miniatures so that I can use them to their maximum potential?
The rise of this concern for me personally is due to the following:
- Increased competition for hobby budget (starting a family will do this to you)
- Game systems disappearing or being abandoned (I'm looking at you Games Workshop)
- Investment of time assembling/painting miniatures
I'm sure that all of you can at least relate to one of those points. But who cares? If you want to play a different game, you might as well just throw out all of your current miniatures and buy miniatures for that new games.
Right?
Well, I'm telling you that you really don't have to. If you have models that are suitable for multiple game systems, there really is no need to purchase new miniatures. In fact, my advice would be to purchase miniatures that can easily translate into multiple game systems.
For example, here is a brief list of games that I can use a few of my miniatures for:
Fireforge Miniatures Foot Sergeants: Warhammer Fantasy (Bretonnians), Age of Sigmar (Bretonnians), Lion Rampant, Warhammer Ancient Battles, Kings of War, really...any game set in the medieval period, so a countless number of games.
Games Workshop Dwarf Warriors: Warhammer Fantasy, Age of Sigmar, Kings of War, Dragon Rampant, Frostgrave, and any other game that has a typical fantasy trope race such as dwarves. Ultimately dwarf miniatures are more limited than Fireforge Miniatures Foot Sergeants.
Dropzone Commander PHR Ares Walker: Dropzone Commander
For example, here is a brief list of games that I can use a few of my miniatures for:
Fireforge Miniatures Foot Sergeants: Warhammer Fantasy (Bretonnians), Age of Sigmar (Bretonnians), Lion Rampant, Warhammer Ancient Battles, Kings of War, really...any game set in the medieval period, so a countless number of games.
Games Workshop Dwarf Warriors: Warhammer Fantasy, Age of Sigmar, Kings of War, Dragon Rampant, Frostgrave, and any other game that has a typical fantasy trope race such as dwarves. Ultimately dwarf miniatures are more limited than Fireforge Miniatures Foot Sergeants.
Dropzone Commander PHR Ares Walker: Dropzone Commander
Essentially when I purchase more historical medieval miniatures I can use them for a lot more games than if I purchased miniatures that are specific to a certain game. My investment into purchasing that miniature is safer.
Basing also plays a part, but not as significant as the miniature itself. The reason why it's not as important is because you can always rebase a miniature. It's just a matter of time investment and perhaps some resources if you need to buy new bases...but it can be done, it's just really annoying. If your miniature is based in such a way that it can be used for multiple games, then it's just that much more flexible.
The reason why I will NEVER rebase any of my fantasy miniatures for Age of Sigmar is because if I retain them on squares I can play older versions of Warhammer Fantasy, Kings of War, and any other skirmish game (since in most, if not all, skirmish games the base really does not matter). As soon as I rebase them on circle bases I lose that ability to easily use them in ranked up games. True, you can just put them on a special movement base, but that requires specialized movement bases which goes against the guiding principle of this article.
So after that wall of text, why should you care about miniature versatility? It's something that will save you money, save you time, and thus give you more money and time to enjoy this hobby! It's something to keep in the back of your mind when you're looking at getting into a new miniatures game, or even when looking to purchase miniatures for a game you already play.
Basing also plays a part, but not as significant as the miniature itself. The reason why it's not as important is because you can always rebase a miniature. It's just a matter of time investment and perhaps some resources if you need to buy new bases...but it can be done, it's just really annoying. If your miniature is based in such a way that it can be used for multiple games, then it's just that much more flexible.
The reason why I will NEVER rebase any of my fantasy miniatures for Age of Sigmar is because if I retain them on squares I can play older versions of Warhammer Fantasy, Kings of War, and any other skirmish game (since in most, if not all, skirmish games the base really does not matter). As soon as I rebase them on circle bases I lose that ability to easily use them in ranked up games. True, you can just put them on a special movement base, but that requires specialized movement bases which goes against the guiding principle of this article.
So after that wall of text, why should you care about miniature versatility? It's something that will save you money, save you time, and thus give you more money and time to enjoy this hobby! It's something to keep in the back of your mind when you're looking at getting into a new miniatures game, or even when looking to purchase miniatures for a game you already play.
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