When it comes to basing miniatures, we’ve been asked to do quite a few styles. Every client has their own idea of what a base should look like, and we’ve had a lot of fun figuring it out along the way. Some people want the classic, no-frills approach. Others have visions of epic battlefields, lush forests, or even alien landscapes.
So, in the spirit of sharing (and maybe laughing at ourselves a little), here’s a list of the different types of bases we’ve worked on over the years. We’ll start with the basics and slowly work our way up to the fancier stuff.
Scorched Brown Basing with Grass: A Classic
Ah, Scorched Brown basing with a touch of grass—it’s one of those go-to styles that never seems to fail. We wouldn’t call it groundbreaking, but it’s definitely earned its place as a classic in the miniature painting world. We’ve been using it since the days when Scorched Brown was an actual GW color, and it’s still a favorite. It’s simple, effective, and just works with so many different miniatures, whether you’re leading a squad of Ultramarines into battle or sending a horde of Night Goblins charging across a grassy field.
So, what makes Scorched Brown with Grass such a solid choice? The versatility. It gives a nice, earthy base that complements your miniatures without stealing attention away from them. The brown offers a natural contrast to most paint schemes, and adding a few tufts of static grass helps bring the base to life, making it feel a bit more dynamic without being too much. It’s kind of like that reliable pair of shoes you keep going back to—they’re comfortable, and they always get the job done. When people ask us where to start with basing this is usually our recommendation.
We’ve had fun with this style over the years, playing around with the placement and amount of grass to create different effects. Sometimes, a little less grass gives it a dry, almost desert-like look, while other times, we’ll go all in with a lush, grassy field that makes you feel like you’re ready for a round of Blood Bowl. Even with something as straightforward as Scorched Brown with Grass, there’s still room for a bit of creativity.
So, that’s Scorched Brown with Grass—a reliable, timeless option that’s stuck around for a reason. It’s not fancy, but it works, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
Urban Basing: For the Ideal Grimdark Setting
If there’s one thing that screams Warhammer 40k, it’s the gritty, dystopian feel of a war-torn city. Enter Urban Basing—a perfect solution when you want your miniatures to look like they’ve been through the thick of it, fighting on cracked pavement, dodging crumbling concrete, and making their last stand in the shadows of towering ruins. This style of basing captures the essence of the Grimdark future in all its bleak, battle-hardened glory.
Some people may think Urban Basing is as simple as painting a base grey, but it’s much more than that. It’s also about texture. The cracked concrete effect can be achieved with some carefully carved cork or slate pieces, which give the base that uneven, shattered look. Add in some tiny bits of rubble, like small rocks or cut-up sprues, and suddenly, your miniatures look like they’re standing in the ruins of a once-thriving metropolis.
A good urban base typically leans on cool greys, deep charcoals, and the occasional rusty orange for that worn-out, industrial feel. Dry brushing is your best friend here, allowing you to bring out the details in those cracks and crevices without overwhelming the base with too much color. It’s subtle, but when done right, it’s a game-changer. And, because the Grimdark universe is all about a future where hope is but a distant memory, we like to keep things muted—just enough to make the base look realistic without drawing attention away from the miniatures themselves.
Urban basing also gives us a great excuse to have some fun with little details. Want to throw in some discarded weaponry? A rusted pipe peeking through the rubble? Sure, why not? Even adding small tufts of grass or moss growing through the cracks. It’s those small touches that make each base feel like a unique part of your miniature’s story, without going too far over the top.
At the end of the day, Urban Basing is all about creating a sense of place—one where your miniatures are knee-deep in battle, surrounded by the ruins of a lost civilization. It’s the perfect backdrop for that army of Chaos Knights or those fearless Space Marines holding the line. Plus, who doesn’t love a little grit and grime to make things feel more real?
So, whether you're looking to create the ultimate Grimdark setting or just love the aesthetic of cracked pavement and concrete rubble, urban basing will have your miniatures looking right at home in the darkest of futures.
Full Grass Basing: Known for Blood Bowl, Perfect for everything
When it comes to basing, there’s nothing quite simple yet beautiful like a lush, grassy field to bring your miniatures to life. In the case of Blood Bowl, “Full Grass Basing” gives your that perfect, pitch-ready feel, with enough greenery to make it look like they’re about to kick off at any moment.
This basing style looks simple, but there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. Sure, it’s mostly grass, but getting it right is all in the details. We’ve tried everything from fine static grass to coarser flocking over the years.
Placement is just as important. We take the time to carefully glue down the flocking so it spreads evenly and covers the whole base. Sometimes we’ll even mix in different shades of green to give it a more natural look, adding a bit of depth and avoiding that flat, one-tone feel.
One trick we woul love to do that no one has asked us to yet (hint hint) specifically for Blood Bowl minis would be adding in patches of worn-out turf. Let’s be honest, Blood Bowl isn’t exactly a gentle game, so your miniatures should look like they’ve been tearing up the field. Throwing in some bare earth or muddy patches makes the base look more realistic, giving it that "well-used" sports arena vibe. It’s a small touch, but it helps tell the story—this isn’t a clean, untouched field; it’s a place where orcs, humans, and dwarves have been battling it out for glory.
What’s great about Full Grass Basing is that it’s super-adaptable. While it’s perfect for Blood Bowl, we’ve also seen it work for other sports-themed or nature-based settings. Some clients have used it for fantasy football leagues, or even for armies marching across the plains. There’s something timeless about a grassy field—it’s clean, it’s simple, and it works with a lot of different themes.
The best part? Full Grass Basing really complements the miniatures themselves. Whether you’ve got a hulking orc charging forward or an agile elf weaving through defenders, the vibrant green base helps ground your miniatures in the action, making them feel like they’re part of the game, not just figures on a board.
In the end, Full Grass Basing might not be the most complicated style, but when it’s done well, it creates the perfect backdrop for your team. It’s clean, it’s classic, and it makes your miniatures feel like they’re really in the game. So, if you’re looking to give your team a bit of home-field advantage, you can’t go wrong with a solid grass base.
Lava Basing: Good for Storytelling and for Making Your Minis Pop
When it comes to adding some dramatic flair to your miniatures, lava basing is hard to ignore. The contrast between glowing, molten lava and scorched, cracked earth immediately draws attention. It’s one of those basing styles that doesn’t just sit under your models—it helps them stand out, making each miniature feel like it’s part of a larger, epic scene.
Lava basing is a fantastic choice when you want to tell a story. Whether it’s Chaos Knights marching across a volcanic wasteland or Grey Knights locked in battle against demons at the edge of a molten rift, the lava creates a fierce environment that really pushes the narrative. Instead of being just a background, the base becomes part of the action, making your miniatures feel like they’re navigating through an intense battlefield rather than just standing on a flat surface.
Getting the look right is all about creating contrast, and thereby visual interest —making it feel both realistic and a little bit fantastical, and also, more interesting to look at, altogether. The goal is to make the lava look like it’s glowing from within, which is usually done by layering colors. We like to start with bright tones—reds, oranges, and yellows—working from the center of the cracks outward. Then, as the paint builds up, we darken the edges with deep reds and blacks to mimic the cooling, hardened crust. A bit of dry brushing helps create the illusion of heat radiating from the core of the lava, adding that extra touch of realism.
The finishing details are where it all comes together. We sometimes use a gloss varnish on the lava to give it that shiny, wet look, making it seem like it’s still bubbling away. Around the lava, we paint scorched, blackened earth to really drive home the idea that this terrain has been through some intense heat. The contrast between the bright lava and the dark ground really helps the whole scene pop.
But lava basing isn’t just about making things look cool—it’s also great for drawing attention to your miniatures. If you’ve got a model that you want to highlight, like a custom Warhammer 40k Model or a centrepiece figure, lava basing can do the trick. The fiery colors naturally pull the eye, giving the miniature a striking backdrop that enhances its overall appearance. This is especially effective with models that have darker armor or muted tones, as the lava adds that dramatic contrast to make them stand out even more.
Lava Basing takes a bit of practice to get the glowing effect right. However, with some patience and layering, it comes together and achieves a base that looks like it’s straight out of an apocalyptic scene.
There’s also plenty of room to get creative—you can play with the shape of the lava flow, add some jagged rocks, or throw in some glowing embers for extra flair.
In the end, lava basing is a great way to add both story and style to your miniatures. It brings depth, drama, and a fiery energy that helps your models stand out on the battlefield. Whether you’re working on a small squad or an entire diorama, a lava base can transform your miniatures into heroes of the Grimdark universe, standing tall in the heat of battle.
Snow Basing: Catching Your Eye with Some Much-Needed Contrast
Few basing styles create such a striking contrast as snow basing. Whether you’re fielding an army of Ultramarines or a group of Stormcast Eternals, adding a layer of snow beneath them can really make your miniatures stand out. The bright white snow provides a crisp contrast to almost any paint scheme, giving your models a visual pop that’s hard to miss.
The white background is clean and minimal, which helps highlight your miniatures without overpowering them. It’s the kind of base that makes your models look like they’re braving a tough, wintry landscape—whether they’re on an alien tundra or a frozen battlefield in Age of Sigmar. The contrast between the bright snow and darker, battle-worn armor really makes your minis stand out, giving them a heroic look without going over the top.
One of the reasons we enjoy snow basing is because it’s incredibly versatile. It works well with both fantasy and sci-fi miniatures, whether you’re setting the scene in the icy realms of Warhammer 40k or the magical worlds of Age of Sigmar.
With snow there are plenty of options. From specialized snow flock to homemade mixtures using baking soda or even crushed glass for an icier finish. Over the years, we’ve tried out different materials, and each one has its own charm. Our usual method involves mixing baking soda with PVA glue, layering it up to create that soft, fluffy snow look. We also add a little bit of white paint to the mixture to help with color. For added realism, we like to apply the snow unevenly, as if it’s settled naturally on the terrain.
A few extra details can take a snow base from good to great. Adding small rocks, patches of dead grass, or even footprints can break up the snow and give it more character. These little touches make the base feel more lived-in, as if your miniatures are really trekking through a harsh, frozen wasteland. And if you want to push the look further, adding icy patches or frost can add another layer of depth.
Snow basing also works wonders for enhancing the overall look of your army. If you’re using darker or more muted colors—like Chaos Knights or Gloomspite Gitz—the bright white snow provides the perfect contrast, making your models stand out in ways a darker base wouldn’t.
And let’s not forget the storytelling aspect of a good snow base. Whether your miniatures are pushing through a frozen wilderness or fighting in the middle of a winter siege, the snow adds an extra layer of narrative to the battlefield. It’s easy to imagine harsh winds sweeping across the terrain as your warriors push forward, determined to complete their mission. A well-executed snow base can tell that story without needing to say a word.
In the end, snow basing is all about adding that contrast while keeping things clean and simple. It’s easy to pull off, but incredibly effective at making your miniatures stand out. Whether you’re going for a subtle, snowy scene or a full-blown arctic battlefield, snow basing is a go-to technique that always makes an impact.
3D Printed Bases: An Endless World of Choices
If there’s one thing that has completely transformed how we think about basing, it’s the arrival of 3D printed bases. Painstakingly sculpting the bases to look how you want it to is no longer the only option.
Now, with a 3D printer and a little creativity, the options are practically limitless. From intricate city ruins to alien landscapes, 3D printed bases have opened up a world of possibilities that allow you to perfectly tailor your miniature bases to your army’s theme—or your wildest imagination.
What makes 3D printed bases so exciting is the sheer variety of designs available. No matter what kind of setting or narrative you have in mind, there’s probably a 3D printed base for it. Want a gothic cathedral floor for your Grey Knights? Done. How about an ancient, cracked temple for your Stormcast Eternals? Easy. Whether you need a highly detailed scenic base or something simple to build upon, the sky's the limit. The endless customization potential of 3D printed bases means you’re not restricted by stock designs; you can find or create bases that match your exact vision for your army.
One of the biggest advantages of 3D printing is how accessible it has become. There are countless online repositories where artists share intricate, high-quality base designs, and you can download and print them yourself or have them printed by a service. This means you’re no longer stuck with the same standard designs everyone else is using—your miniatures can now stand on something entirely unique, whether that’s a lava flow, an icy wasteland, or the deck of a starship. You can even print bases with specific textures like cobblestones, cracked earth, or detailed metallic grids.
The level of detail that 3D printed bases can achieve is remarkable, too. You’re not just limited to basic shapes—3D printers can handle intricate patterns, complex layering, and even tiny elements like skulls, runes, or debris scattered across the surface. This allows you to create incredibly immersive and dynamic scenes beneath your miniatures, adding depth and storytelling right on the base. And the best part? It saves you time. Instead of having to build up every detail by hand, you can simply print the design, prime it, and get right to painting.
Speaking of painting, 3D printed bases can be a real game-changer when it comes to showcasing your minis. The enhanced detail means you can play around with shading, highlights, and washes in a way that standard flat bases don’t allow. Complex textures like cobblestones or jagged rocks take to dry brushing beautifully, allowing the base to complement the colors of your miniatures and bring out details you might not otherwise have noticed.
Another great aspect of 3D printed bases is the ability to scale them to fit exactly what you need. Whether you’re working on a squad of infantry or a massive diorama for a centrepiece, you can adjust the size, shape, and complexity of the base to suit your project. Anything ranging from elaborate, multi-layered scenes for a 40k character, to a simple sci-fi tile for a standard infantry model can be done.
The flexibility in sizing means you can tailor each base to match your specific needs, down to the last detail.
Ultimately, 3D printed bases offer a level of customization that was previously impossible, giving you the freedom to create whatever you can imagine. Whether you’re looking for something minimal or aiming for an epic diorama, these bases allow you to create a truly unique, cohesive look for your army. With so many choices available, it’s no wonder that 3D printed bases have become a favorite for hobbyists who want their miniatures to stand on something as unique and detailed as the minis themselves.
Basing has been one of those things that’s always given us a good laugh here at PaintedFigs. Not because it’s easy, mind you, but because the possibilities are endless, and somehow, we’re still kept on our toes with new and interesting requests. Whether it’s the reliable charm of Scorched Brown with Grass or the drama of a Lava Base, we’ve had a lot of fun experimenting with different styles over the years—and even more fun watching our clients’ miniatures come to life on top of them.
We started with the basics. A clean, classic Scorched Brown base has its place in the world. It’s quick, effective, and gets the job done without too much fuss. But as we started venturing into more creative basing, from Urban to Snow, we realized just how much a base could elevate a miniature. Suddenly, the base wasn’t just a way to hold a model up—it became part of the story, part of the scene. And whether we were adding footprints in the snow or cracks in the pavement, each base felt like it had its own personality.
The flexibility of 3D printing has made it easier than ever to craft bases that fit any theme, and we’ve been loving the creativity that comes with that.
In the end, though, the most important thing we’ve learned is that there’s no wrong way to base your miniatures. Whether you go for something simple or dive headfirst into the world of advanced basing techniques, it’s all about finding what works for you and your miniatures. Over time, we’ve learned that a little creativity (and maybe some snow flocking) can go a long way. So don’t worry too much about getting it “right”—just have fun with it. After all, that’s what we’ve been doing this whole time.
