What size movement trays would you make? (if you were going to....)

[pw]

Hi All,

I'm building myself some WM movement trays and wonder what sort of sizes of brigades tend to come up in people's games most often.

For infantry I'll build one that's four units wide (160mm  x 60mm) and one that's three wide/four deep (120 x 80mm) as that will likely cover the two main infantry brigade formations I tend to go with. I'm not sure on cavalry though, four wide perhaps?

I'm not sure if they'll prove useful at all but if they speed things along at all then for me they'll have done their job. Anyone on here use them (I spotted some in a battle report the other day so I know I'm not the only one)?

[David Wasilewski]

I use moveemnt trays when I'm playing with 28mm figs but haven't bothered with trays for warmaster. Not sure that it would save a lot of time unless you were playing a really enormous game?

Dave

[pw]

You're quite possibly right. I'm not really expecting to save time but I'm wondering if it might make things run a little smoother. Time will tell and if it makes things worse I'll only be a few pounds down.

The essential question isn't 'would you do it' but, 'if you were doing it what sizes/shapes'. If it makes a difference, I'm looking at Empire and Chaos as the prime beneficiaries.

[Lex]

lets see

infantry in column, 2 units
infantry in line, 4 units, in a 2 by 2 block

those trays should cater for most needs. when creating a tray, try to make one that has a "grip"  (or rather a lip) on the back, for ease of use

[Stomm]

I wouldn't use one personally. But were I to do so, I would make it out of sheet steel to precicely match the dimensions of the brigade in question and then use magnetic sheeting on the underside of my bases. Of course as soon as combat is joined a movement tray is more hasstle than not, getting in the way and making pursuit combat difficuilt to accurately follow, never mind being completely useless for units actually charging.

[pw]

Thanks Lex, the 2x2 one is a very good call. I'm looking forward to seeing how these go. While in theory I can see lots of places where they won't work I can see others where they might.

@Stomm, putting the various reasons why it likely won't work aside, what 'shape' brigades do you normally field?

[BlackEd]

I used movement trays when I played against Carrington's Undead back in Sept of '10.  Carrington had sheets of metal that were 120mmx40mm.  That worked well for 2-3 units on infantry in line abreast.

He also had some for cavalry that was 60mmx40mm, so that a one unit of cavalry could be on one stand.  That also worked well.

I'm not sure it made the game faster but it was easier to move the brigades about.  

Edit:  I forgot to mention that we both have sheet magnets on the bottom of the WM bases, so the magenets held the stands onto the movement trays.

[azrael71]

Let us know how you get on.

[wmchaos2000]

A friend of mine has, for his 28mm figs, made trays that are the exact LxW as the unit he is using it for. No extra tray "bounderies" or so.
He then flocked the entire surface, in the same way as he did his model bases.
1. the models dont slide of at all.
2. it looks very neat after some models have been removed due to casualtys, the tray shows grass and cobble instead of the ordinary black/gray/plaingreen plastic surface.
Maybe a way to try with WM-trays for brigades.

[Stomm]

@Stomm, putting the various reasons why it likely won't work aside, what 'shape' brigades do you normally field?

I field 120mm wide x 80mm deep infantry brigades generally. I sometimes also field 240x40 brigades, but usually a kind appears mid-way, when facing another army with cannons this is my favoured infantry formation as it minimises bounce damage.

Cavalry, well I usually start them off as a large blob, but then send them off into brigades of two, three and four in all sorts of formation. So movement trays really are of little use to cavalry as they hardly ever adopt a straight line or block formation after turn one.


As an aside, Og Games sell both magnetic sheeting and metalised sheeting. If you wanted a super-quick movement tray solution, cut the metalised sheeting down to size without taking the backing off, apply magnetic sheeting to your bases and there you have an instant flexible movement tray. Stick to plasticard for more rigidity if you so wish.


A much better solution is to flock your boards with iron filings, magnetise your bases and there you go, the ski slope problem solved...