A Beginners Guide To 3-2-1 Basing

The 1, 2, 3 basing system (3-2-1 basing) is a basing technique that improves the speed and ease of skirmish-style wargames. Michael Leck developed the system for the game Lion Rampant from Osprey Books.

Since its inception in 2017, 3-2-1 basing has grown in popularity. Players are using it in a growing number of skirmish-style games. They are expanding its use to different wargaming scales.

Skirmish Games

Skirmish games are tabletop wargames that use small-unit or squad-level tactics. With its emphasis on individual fighters, skirmish games do well as narrative games. There is nothing like a heroic fighter whose last-minute desperate action snatches victory from the jaws of defeat.

Sometimes called ‘wargames for dads,’ skirmish games are great for gamers who don’t have time to go to competitive tournaments. Each player usually fields between 5 and 20 figures. So, you are ready to play with just a box or two of miniatures and some scenery. You don’t have to buy and paint 2000 points of Space Marines.

3-2-1 Basing Speeds Play

Skirmish games traditionally place a single figure on one base because each represents a single combatant. But you may want to deploy several figures as a unit. It becomes tiresome moving each separate rather than the team. It also slows and complicates play.

Perhaps you could use movement trays which allow you to group figures together for easy movement. The problem arises when there are casualties. Typically you will remove the casualty from the tray. At first, this leaves gaps finally, trays with only one or two figures. All of which detracts from play.

It makes sense to have a single figure on a base to remove casualties easily. Also, it makes sense to have several pieces sharing a single base to ease movement.  

Given the smaller number of pieces used in skirmish games, a combination of one, two, or three figures on a single base works well.   

Fewer bases speed play. 3-2-1 basing gives you good-looking units while retaining the feel of skirmish games. Plus, it is easy to remove casualties.

It Helps More Realistic Play 

Perhaps you have noticed that players, especially new players, tend to line up their pieces in nice neat formations. Unit-level deployment and maneuver tend to be less formal.

Using 3-2-1 basing compels the player to deploy units more realistically. It adds to the feel and realism of the game. And it helps break the implied large-unit thinking.

3-2-1 Basing Basics

Let’s lay out the basic approach using the 28 mm figures usually seen in skirmish games. You use round bases for the figures.

(note) Artillery bases need to be large enough to hold the gun and the gunner models. You base them like infantry units. 

How To Handle Bulky Figures

If you have bulky figures, you might need to add 5-10 mm to the base for a proper fit.

For example, English Civil War(ECW) figures from Bicorne tend to be large figures. So you may want to step up the basic sizes.

(note) Artillery bases need to be large enough to hold the gun and the gunner models. You base them like infantry units. 

Making An Entire Unit With 3-2-1 Basing

Now it is time to put together an entire unit using the figures on their new bases.

Let’s take an example from another Osprey Publishing game, The Pikeman’s Lament. It is also a skirmish game. 

So a 6-figure unit comprised of a horse, dragoons, forlorn hope, and commanded shot uses three bases: a 3-piece base, a 2-piece base, and a 1-piece base (3,2,1).

Similarly, a 12-figure unit comprised of pikemen, shot, and clansmen uses six bases: two 3-piece bases, two 2-piece bases, and two 1-piece bases (3,3,2,2,1,1).

If you have large 18-figure groups as you do in Rebels and Patriots, then you could compose the unit with (3,3,3,2,2,2,1,1,1) bases.

But I Play Lots Of Games 

Suppose you are one of many players who enjoy several games. It would be best if you had single-based figures for small skirmish games. Also, it would help if you had formed units of six for games like  Sharp Practice. Then again, when you play Muskets and Tomahawks, you need ranks of 12 or skirmishers in groups of six or eight.

Because you occasionally change games, you have to have duplicate sets of figures. So you have to spend additional time and expense acquiring, finishing, and basing all of those figures. Plus, you have to store them. 3-2-1 basing sounds like an unnecessary complication.

Fortunately, the sabot eliminates the problems by providing a flexible basing option.

Having It Your Way With Sabots

Sabots are similar to movement trays. 

A movement tray is what its name implies. It is a simple tray that carries several pieces as a group so that they can move as a unit. All of the figures stand side by side.

Sabots are also a tray that expedites movement. Unlike the movement tray, sabots have individual spaces into which each figure fits. The figures are not bunched together.  

They allow more flexibility in arranging individual pieces while improving the speed of play. Plus, you don’t pay the penalty of needing duplicate figures to play multiple games.

Making An Entire Unit With Sabots

Setting up sabots for small skirmish games is easy. 

First, place every single figure on its own base, just as you have always done. You will need some two and three-place sabots. These take the place of the two and three-place bases from the original 3-2-1 basing technique. You create the skirmishing teams by placing the figures in their spaces.  

It is equally easy to deploy large groups of skirmishes or even close order play. Sabots can arrange 12 pieces in rank and file for close order play. Plus, six or eight-place sabots create larger skirmishing groups.  

Final Thoughts On 3-2-1 Basing  

3-2-1 basing started as one player’s solution to improve skirmish gameplay. Since that time, it has gained traction with large skirmish games from the black powder era.

While it improves the speed and ease of play, it may limit players who enjoy several different games. Fortunately, sabots offer a flexible basing answer to the limitation while preserving the benefits of 3-2-1 basing.

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