The Committee has made its Decison!

For the past few years I have been conducting a series of tests to find the optimum size of grid squares for my table and gaming style along with the related question of the best choice of basing and organization for my needs. One might think that a thorough analysis of the facts could have provided the correct answer but I have found that  intellectual analysis of emotional/aesthetic questions based on untested assumptions rarely reach satisfying conclusions. So the testing and experimenting began.

A quick revised Tin Army takes the field with 1 Company per 3" square.

The real trigger was that I needed to reduce the size of my table from its original 6'x8' to something smaller, without reducing the size of my figures or the quality of the games. So far I have tried 6", 5", 4" and 6" squares subdivided into 3" quadrants. They all have an advantage and a fault.  (Note: I have also tried 4" hexes but there are non-gaming issues which means that they are not a feasible option in the foreseeable future.)

Small grid squares mean not just smaller units but also smaller terrain items or possibly multi-square terrain features and that proved to be the decisive issue as I found that the rules and my preferences were trending in a direction where the number of figures in a unit became irrelevant with a slight bias towards small is better.

Large grid squares mean fewer squares per table essentially making the small table even smaller and requiring me to be ever more clever to design a satisfying game but terrain features become easier to design.

Inbetween sizes provide a typical compromise. They provide the easiest acceptable solution but one which is never quite satisfying

I have had some really good quick games on the big squares but have not been clever enough to successfully design a longer, more complex game and scenario on the small number of large squares. However,  a review of past experiemental games played using smaller grid squares convinced me that that was the way to go IF I could resolve the issue of fitting in buildings, woods and vehicles.  The answer to that would require a mix of getting creative and letting go of some old favorite terrain items and accessories.

A shot from a favourite 2015 Tin Army game on sub-divided 6" squares.

I'm not big on letting go of things but I've been training myself and have reached the point where I am willing to let go of some things that won't fit even as multi square pieces and retire some others for use in the occasional non-gridded game which they are appropriate for.  Multi square boats and train cars are another issue but I can work the rules around that. The getting creative bit has been a mix of some experimentation with lots of looking at pictures of other peoples' wonderful creativity.  Having tackled making a handful of non-scale buildings that fit a 4" grid last fall,  I'm now satisfied that I can not only meet this challenge but enjoy doing it.

So, I took a few minutes on Friday  and once again subdivided each of my 6" squares into 4x3" ones and now the Tin Army is partying like it was 2015 again. What the results of my terrain labours are will be shown here when there are results!