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Casualty markers SBS: the final result
Posted by Martin on May 31, 2008
I thought I’d start here by dealing with the question several people have asked: how are you planning to use these casualty markers? I think the best way to explain is to quote what David Brown wrote in the General de Brigade ruleset:
“For my games I use a collection of ‘dead and wounded’ figures mounted on 25mm square card as Casualty Markers. Half of the markers are numbered 1234 around the four sides, the other half 4567 around the sides. The marker is then placed next to a unit once it takes casualties, with the appropriate casualty marker number actually in physical contact with the unit. As casualties mount the marker is turned round to show the current casualty state. Once the casualties reach the number of figures on a base, a base is removed.”
Now I’ve slightly adapted this idea – I’ve gone for a larger 40mm base (DB usually games with 15mm miniatures) and I’ve used octagons instead to reduce the number of casualty markers I’ll need to make.
So, how does a finished casualty marker look? To answer that, here’s the one I’ve made to go with the second battalion of the Kurmark landwehr infantry regiment I’m painting up at present. The idea is that I’ll eventually give each unit I paint its own distinctive casualty marker.
Befreiungskriege 1813-14 
Robert said
Very nice work, and much more attractive than cardboard markers.
He has the same expression on his face that I do when surrounded by numbers- I was never very good at math.
Phil said
Perfect!
Frank Catinella said
Very impressed. I am certain that these markers have a place in my army. Also purchased today the ‘dark’ filler from Wilko’s. It does what it says. This will save many hours on basing. Thanks v. much
Frank
Alan said
I like the idea very much. Beats hanging curtain rings on the figures anytime! Now I know what to do with all those casulty figures I have had tucked away for the last 10 years..
Alan
Giles said
Very effective, Martin. I might do something similar for my AWI, although doing one marker for each regiment in my collection will take a while….Another method, which I use for recorded “disruption points”, is to make little stone cairns out of chips of cork. DPs never exceed 3 in number, so these are always fairly unobtrusive.
Giles
Martin said
Thanks Giles. I can see how daunting it would be for you to make a casualty base for each unit in your already extensive AWI collection. I think I have two advantages over you here. Firstly, I’m building in painting casualty markers for each unit as I go, so I don’t have the legacy collection issue. Secondly, Napoleonic units are that much larger than AWI ones so painting one extra casualty figure and basing it is less of an overhead in percentage terms for each unit.
That said, I’d encourage you to gradually produce casualty markers and start with generic ones. You probably won’t need one per unit to get started.
As for DPs – isn’t that a British Grenadier ruleset concept? Luckily, I don’t have to worry about it for GdeB.
El Mercenario said
Terrific! Very inspiring!
J
Rob H. (Canada) said
Martin,
This is an awesome concept! I’ve painted four Calpe Silesian Landwehr casualty figures and was wondering what to do with them next. I’m going to feel guilty for stealing your idea, but it’s brilliant. Thanks for sharing!
Rob