Good morning my fellow X-Wingers!

I've been scouring the forums using the search function to find a solid answer to my question--Can I spray paint my normal and large bases and use them in a tournament setting?

The Tournament Rules say:

"Ship bases cannot be modified to alter their size or shape. Weight may be added to a ship base if it does not alter the shape of the base. Ship pegs (including the connecting pegs affixed to ship models) may be modified or repalced as desired so long as the alterations are not offensive and do not adversely affect another player's experience."

I don't really see painting a base as modifing the size or shape, but painting is technically a layer, so does the paint modify the size too much?

I've seen certain people say that it should be OK, but has anyone ever used a painted base in a tournament? Was the Tournament Organizer (TO) OK with this? Have you ever not been allowed to use one of your painted bases in a tournament?

Ultimately I want to weigh my bases down with washers...(no silicone or anything to fill gaps) and then spray paint the bases to cover it up. As a side-effect I'm also hoping my washers are just magnetic enough to store on a tournament tray with that sticky peel magnetic stuff found in this article: http://imgur.com/a/zlgTu

Any experience or advice y'all have with painted bases and tournaments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Unless your paint is trowelled on with a shovel I cannot see how paint will affect the size and shape.

Having said that you will provably end up with more bases than you use in any given list, so paint what you like and bring spares in case.

I have seen painted bases in local tournaments. As always, ask your tournament organizer. Locally, you'll probably have no problem. At premier events, it might be an issue.

Speaking as a tournament organizer, I wouldn't have a problem with painted bases. I've seen them painted black, and I've seen them painted neon yellow. Both looked great.

Thank you both for your replies. I'll definitely check with my TO to make sure it is OK.

My bases are spray-painted black. I'm at least one of the people DagobahDave is referring to. Someone in his community has also painted their TIE fighters pink. (That, or Sabine snuck in to the hangar aboard the Star Destroyer.)

I haven't had any problems, but then the tournaments that I've gone to have also been really friendly and low-key.

Don't the rules also say that painting is fine, provided it's not offensive?

*digging*

Ah, here, pg. 1 of the tournament rules:

Ship models may be painted as desired as long as the alterations are not offensive and do not adversely affect another player’s experience. The size and shape of a ship model cannot be modified in any way.

My bases are spray-painted black. I'm at least one of the people DagobahDave is referring to. Someone in his community has also painted their TIE fighters pink. (That, or Sabine snuck in to the hangar aboard the Star Destroyer.)

I haven't had any problems, but then the tournaments that I've gone to have also been really friendly and low-key.

Don't the rules also say that painting is fine, provided it's not offensive?

*digging*

Ah, here, pg. 1 of the tournament rules:

Ship models may be painted as desired as long as the alterations are not offensive and do not adversely affect another player’s experience. The size and shape of a ship model cannot be modified in any way.

Thanks for your input. Yeah I knew it specifically mentioned that painting ships was OK, but nothing specific on painting bases was mentioned. I don't plan to paint any of my ships at this point (not really a skill I have or have time to develop at the moment). For now I'll add washers to the bases, paint them black to cover it up/make it look decent, and see if I can get some magnetic action going on for a tournament tray I'm putting together.

Thanks for your input. Yeah I knew it specifically mentioned that painting ships was OK, but nothing specific on painting bases was mentioned. I don't plan to paint any of my ships at this point (not really a skill I have or have time to develop at the moment). For now I'll add washers to the bases, paint them black to cover it up/make it look decent, and see if I can get some magnetic action going on for a tournament tray I'm putting together.

Other than the magnetic part, that's what I've done. The washers on the bottom have been really great. I used rubber cement to glue them in there as well as to paint a non-slip surface on the bottom of the washers. I do find that I occasionally need to peel off the old and paint on new rubber cement, but that's hardly a hardship.

I decided to cut mouse pad and adhere it to the bottom of my bases - so not painting them per se (though I've considered doing it) but the mouse pad is cut and glued right into the bottom. Allows for the ships to not be so slippery on some surfaces which is great when the game gets to the clustering of ships. Never had any TO's or players complain, but like others have mentioned I do bring spares with me in case someone does want me to switch.

Most people generally are interested in whats on the bottom and have an "ah-ha" kind of moment.

I painted the underside of my bases different colors so I could use painted tokens to distinguish between ships without using numbers.

While we are on the subject of tournament rules concerning models, I am the only one that find the rules too harsh and constrictive? The actual models are quite frankly not necessary for the game so why the regulations on how they look? I can understand that they want people to use the models as a kind of 'proof of purchase' but not even being allowed to convert them? How the hell am I going to cheat with a converted model? This is an area that other miniature games do much better.

While we are on the subject of tournament rules concerning models, I am the only one that find the rules too harsh and constrictive? The actual models are quite frankly not necessary for the game so why the regulations on how they look? I can understand that they want people to use the models as a kind of 'proof of purchase' but not even being allowed to convert them? How the hell am I going to cheat with a converted model? This is an area that other miniature games do much better.

For the same reason that Warhammer tourneys require all models assembled and painted.

Having nice looking models on the board helps promote the game to walk-ins at local tourneys, and provides a nicer experience for all players at bigger events.

While we are on the subject of tournament rules concerning models, I am the only one that find the rules too harsh and constrictive? The actual models are quite frankly not necessary for the game so why the regulations on how they look? I can understand that they want people to use the models as a kind of 'proof of purchase' but not even being allowed to convert them? How the hell am I going to cheat with a converted model? This is an area that other miniature games do much better.

For the same reason that Warhammer tourneys require all models assembled and painted.

Having nice looking models on the board helps promote the game to walk-ins at local tourneys, and provides a nicer experience for all players at bigger events.

Well yes but if it is promotion they want converted models can only help!

If I take the radar dish off a YT-1300 and move the cockpit, no one is going to confuse it for a YT-2400. But if I close the wings on an X-Wing, someone might confuse it with a Z-95. And rather than having long, intricate rules on which modifications are okay and which aren't, it's simpler just to say no modifications at all.

I think you'd be okay painting your bases it alter their size any nor interfere with drawing line of sight.

@johnson111 - I've seen some of those threads around with the mouse pad base mod...really awesome idea! I wasn't really worried about by bases sliding around...I usually try to play on custom felt game mats or mats with mouse pad type material. I really wanted to both weigh mine down and also be magnetic for storage or at least tournament use.

I was looking at a really nice magnetic method using metal base plates and then a thin magnetic adhesive material...but the washer idea seemed a lot cheaper and also like it would work if I used some stick and peel magnetic material in my tournament tray or storage compartment. I'm just not sure how magnetic the washer is at this point, but now that I've gotten the green light to paint my bases I will try it soon.

I painted the underside of my bases different colors so I could use painted tokens to distinguish between ships without using numbers.

Those look really great! I never thought of painting the underside...I'll definitely have to try that first. I like how you can tell there is still some 'clear' from the original base, but it has a definitive color to each base. For the purposes of hiding my washers underneath, this also fits the bill. I also might do different colors for different factions or something in between...like identifying like ships.

It looks like you also used the maneuver dial centers as the colored tokens. Or maybe the center pieces of the pilot cards? Either way, it looks awesome.

Its wierd there is a rule in there about paint schemes 'affecting someones play experience'

some people do some very 'real world' repaints. While i totally get that 'my hobby' is not 'their hobby' i'd hate to play against someone with a fleet painted up like wwii sovier tanks with red stars and cyrillic writing on them

Its just not star wars.

equally while the pink 'hello kitty' TIE is funny i think i'd probably ask my opponent if he had a regular TIE model to substitute for a game against me as it would ruin my 'immersion' in the game. Its a little off putting and almost a distraction.

I'm a narrative player, i like to create a story in my head, i like to think my 'game' is a section from 'star wars universe' dogfights.

Hence comedy repaints would really change the game from a star wars battle to a plastic and card maths exercise if i was playing against lets say a squadron of xwings painted to look like WWI fokker tri planes, marvel superheros, school buses, hello kitty or space orks.

I totally get they are 'fun' and i totally get that some people want that unique spin buti'd not want to play those forces... i'd find them far more damaging to my game eperience than someone changing the s foils on a B or A wing.

Like *technically* my B wing repositions are not tourny legal but a pink tie fighter would be... cant help feeling there is

somethinga bit off with that.

Note im not having a dig at those of you that have done marvel/hello kitty/40k repaints... just saying it isnt *my* thing.

Its wierd there is a rule in there about paint schemes 'affecting someones play experience'

some people do some very 'real world' repaints. While i totally get that 'my hobby' is not 'their hobby' i'd hate to play against someone with a fleet painted up like wwii sovier tanks with red stars and cyrillic writing on them

Its just not star wars.

equally while the pink 'hello kitty' TIE is funny i think i'd probably ask my opponent if he had a regular TIE model to substitute for a game against me as it would ruin my 'immersion' in the game. Its a little off putting and almost a distraction.

I'm a narrative player, i like to create a story in my head, i like to think my 'game' is a section from 'star wars universe' dogfights.

Hence comedy repaints would really change the game from a star wars battle to a plastic and card maths exercise if i was playing against lets say a squadron of xwings painted to look like WWI fokker tri planes, marvel superheros, school buses, hello kitty or space orks.

I totally get they are 'fun' and i totally get that some people want that unique spin buti'd not want to play those forces... i'd find them far more damaging to my game eperience than someone changing the s foils on a B or A wing.

Like *technically* my B wing repositions are not tourny legal but a pink tie fighter would be... cant help feeling there is

somethinga bit off with that.

Note im not having a dig at those of you that have done marvel/hello kitty/40k repaints... just saying it isnt *my* thing.

It's not pink....it's lightish red.

Its wierd there is a rule in there about paint schemes 'affecting someones play experience'

some people do some very 'real world' repaints. While i totally get that 'my hobby' is not 'their hobby' i'd hate to play against someone with a fleet painted up like wwii sovier tanks with red stars and cyrillic writing on them

Its just not star wars.

equally while the pink 'hello kitty' TIE is funny i think i'd probably ask my opponent if he had a regular TIE model to substitute for a game against me as it would ruin my 'immersion' in the game. Its a little off putting and almost a distraction.

I'm a narrative player, i like to create a story in my head, i like to think my 'game' is a section from 'star wars universe' dogfights.

Hence comedy repaints would really change the game from a star wars battle to a plastic and card maths exercise if i was playing against lets say a squadron of xwings painted to look like WWI fokker tri planes, marvel superheros, school buses, hello kitty or space orks.

I totally get they are 'fun' and i totally get that some people want that unique spin buti'd not want to play those forces... i'd find them far more damaging to my game eperience than someone changing the s foils on a B or A wing.

Like *technically* my B wing repositions are not tourny legal but a pink tie fighter would be... cant help feeling there is

somethinga bit off with that.

Note im not having a dig at those of you that have done marvel/hello kitty/40k repaints... just saying it isnt *my* thing.

It's not pink....it's lightish red.

Guess what? They already have a color for lightish red. You know what it's called?

Pink.

...

Like *technically* my B wing repositions are not tourny legal but a pink tie fighter would be... cant help feeling there is

somethinga bit off with that.

Note im not having a dig at those of you that have done marvel/hello kitty/40k repaints... just saying it isnt *my* thing.

I think your B-Wing mods are legal...at least after reading the modification section of the tournament again...

"...Ship pegs (including the connecting pegs affixed to ship models) may be modified or replaced as desired so long as the alterations are not offensive and do not adversely affect another player's experience."

So it seems that they would be just fine. Although now that I'm looking at your pictures again, I think you also modified the cockpit to 'swivel' as the B-Wing turns... so please disregard.

I really do appreciate the feedback given here though. It makes me more excited to do some modifications that are tournament legal and should be nearly 100% casual friendly. Most of what I play is casual anyway, I'd just had to be excluded from the occasional tournament because I was trying to increase my play experience. Maybe way down the road I'll look into repainting the ships, but I do agree with you Gadge that I'd want to keep it in line with Star Wars to maintain immersion.