For Pete's Sake, It's called Flock

I have been fortunate enough in my life to meet some fellow gamers who fully embrace the wargaming hobby as a whole. I am talking about guys who research the period, paint their miniatures to A+ quality standards, and make beautiful terrain befitting the scenario or campaigns they are going to play. These fellas elevate gaming to a feast for the eyes and spirit.

People can and do say that painting miniatures does not matter. These lazy bums try to convince others that painting should not be a requirement in this hobby. Yet, what tables do these guys flock to at conventions? Like the rest of us, they are drawn to tables with beautifully painted miniatures and the right terrain to get you in the setting. All of us, from the enthusiatic modeller to the mere plastic pusher, are drawn to the awe factor that each miniature game has potential to be.

Last weekend, I was invited to a 15mm Seven Years War game at my local game store. It's a war that I am often inspired to build for, but the inspiration never surpasess my first batch of newly painted minis for the period. I will be first to admit that the uniforms for certain periods, particuarly this one and the American War for Independence, can be trying to even the most devout modeler. The young man hosting the Seven Years War game had painted up two sizable forces. The figures themselves were wargaming quality, no highlights or washes to add depth, but the sheer number of painted minis on the table, particulalry for this period, was impressive.

There's just one problem. The basing for each stand was one coat of forest green craft paint. No grassing, no highlights, no dirt, just a dark whir of uneven paint. The young man had started painting miniatures about two years ago, so I did not want to be too judgemental. Nevertheless, he asked me what I thought about the minis. He seemed rather proud of them. He was grinning from ear to ear at his accomplishment, and who could blame him. I told him that his painting had vastly improved, which is the truth, compared to other figures he had painted sloppily in the past. But I also noted that the bases were distracting. He was taken aback by this, and, dare I say a little offended. This generation can get offended by the weather, after all. I told him I meant no offense, but that the forest green bases clashed with the standard issue Army blanket he was using for his college-budget terrain.

I took him over to the hobby supplies and proceeded to show him the different grasses he could use for his bases, something that would blend in with Army blanket a little better. What I thought he would take as helpful advice from a seasoned mentor actually ticked him off. He told me that grassing bases "sounded hard". I told him, short of priming and sealing your minis, it was the easiest part of the process. I kindly reminded him that by painting the miniatures and doing a pretty good job on them, that he had done the hardest part. I also told him that grassed bases would really makes his figures pop. I tried my best to be complimentary, but this kid was not having it. "As far as I am concerned, the bases are done," he huffed.

I let it go. We played the game, both of us a little irked, and I went on my way saying nothing more to him about the miniatures as he started packing his pretty minis away. I have seen beautiful figures enhanced by equally beautiful basing, and I have seen, like the miniatures in this Seven Years War game, beautifully painted minis ruined by ugly bases. All the while, I am shaking my head internally, wondering why. If you are going to go through the trouble of painting miniatures, why leave the bases simply painted brown or green? Grass your figures, for Pete's sake! It's cheap and easy to do, and it gives your figures the true look of completion.