25mm – Fantasy wargames and Dungeons and Dragons.1/285 – Modern combat miniatures (WWI & Onward).Here are a few common sizes for some of the more popular hobbies that use miniatures: The size listed, for instance, 28 mm, simply means that this is the size of the miniature from the base to the reference point, which I’ll explain shortly. Metric scales are more unified and are simple to measure. If a miniature is listed as being a 1/600, it simply means that the miniature is made to be 1/600th the size of whatever it represents. Scales listed as fractions tend to be on a relative scale, while scales listed in millimeters tend to be on an absolute scale.įractional scales work as normal fractions do. Often, these have a theoretical equivalent in the other form, but it is best to just use what’s given most of the time. Scales are listed either as fractions or in millimeters. Luckily, with a quick explanation of the differences and the use of a ruler, people can get a grasp on reading scales quickly. When looking at the dozens and dozens of different scales that exist, it can be overwhelming and difficult to understand the differences. To this end, the base of miniatures (what they stand upon while in use) is generally uniform while there is more variation in the sculpted miniature itself. ![]() ![]() Games that use absolute scales are much more focused on how the pieces interact with the game board rather than each other, at least in terms of size. Whether your human miniature is dressed in bulky plate armor or simply in normal clothes, they will be the same size. This can create a much more unified look across a table, allowing gameplay to flow more easily using these scales. The important thing in an absolute scale is that the average miniature size is the same across all of them. In a fantasy game, a dwarf miniature will still be shorter than that of a dragon. Of course, there is a necessary variation in these scales as well. This means that each miniature should be that height. A typical size is chosen, and then other miniatures are made to match that height.įor instance, the size chosen could be 25 mm. Here, the method differs slightly from the relative scale. Absolute ScaleĪbsolute scale miniatures are much more common for games and are measured in millimeters. You should know that relative scales are not very common among games that use miniatures due to the large discrepancies that could happen between two units or characters that do much of the same thing.Ī unit on a horse compared to a unit standing on its feet is going to look very different using a relative scale but could be very similarly sized using others.Įxamples of hobbies where relative scale is most common include war reenactment scenes, railroad or locomotive scenes, and expansive town setups. įor instance, a mini may be listed as 1/35, meaning that the mini is 1/35th the size of the actual, real-life object. Miniatures at a relative scale compare the size of the miniature to the size of a real-life object. Miniatures crafted using a relative scale are highly prevalent, especially in historical miniatures or other hobbies where accuracy is an important aspect. While vehicles or mounts may play a critical role in a specific hobby, manufacturers tend to stretch those proportions separately. In general, it is essential to remember that all figure scales are based on the average human figure. In general, games with a lot of minis on the table will use smaller miniatures while games with less minis tend toward a larger size.įor figuring out which scale best suits your hobby needs, it’s helpful to learn in which type of scale the leading manufacturer produced the miniature. There is an abundance of miniature scales for the large variety of hobbies that utilize them. Miniature scales fall into quite a few more categories than just relative and absolute scale, though.Ī large variety of hobbies use them, and the size of miniatures will change heavily depending on what the intended use is. Popular games such as Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) and Warhammer use miniatures that have their own scale. ![]() They fall into two categories: relative scales and absolute scales. What are miniature scales? M iniature scales are used to describe the sizing of miniatures made for different purposes. If you’re trying to find a gift for a friend who is into miniature collecting or are looking for one for yourself, here are a few things to know about miniature scales. Navigating the hobby’s terminology as a first-time buyer can be confusing, but luckily many miniatures follow scales. Miniature models come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
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