Hi guys, its been awhile since my last update, but we did get in a few more games. Unfortunately, I got pushed into my pool with my iphone in my pocket, and have been waiting for the iphone 6 plus to be available to replace it (I have Verizon and was up for a new upgrade). But then it sold out, and it's finally on its way.
Anyway, we decided to give Titan Legions a try, just playing some of the scenerios from the Titan Legions box set (Fires of Whatver), and then tried out a game of Space Marine and Orks using some of the minis we've played with previously. It had been ages since I played Titan Legions, so it took a bit to learn how to play the Imperator and Mega Gargants all over again.
And with that said, I honestly believe Titan Legions broke Epic.
Now, before I get into why, let me just say that I love the Imperator as much as anyone, and the Mega Gargant... well, the model isn't so hot, but I love the concept. But playing them is a real pain in the ass, and really bogs down the game in many ways. Its really like you are playing two different games in the same space. And another thing I have found which I have suspected, that implementing the newer rule of weapons having to have at least a -1 save modifier to knock down void shields, really meant that a whole host of miniatures which were fine to play with before, were now next to useless, and probably not even worth purchasing when this game was in it's peak. It really turns the game into 'My Super Weapons vs Your Super Weapons'. Even worse, the point values for those units didn't go down as they should for not being as useful as before that rule, nor did the price of Titans that used them go up. I know we talked about this before, but going through I wanted to vent about it. It wasnt often that that situation came up, but it was pretty lame when it did.
Our last game was kind of ambitious in size and with my table, meant we didnt have a lot of room for maneuver, but we used a lot of what I had, and we never got around to finishing the game.
The biggest issue we had besides trying to remember all of the rules for the Imperator and Mega Gargant, was all the space the templates took up. Our games of Space Marine already took up a lot of space for the Army Cards, but we had even less space for an Imperator and 2 Mega Gargant cards. I can see why it wasnt long before GW started releasing games that removed the clutter of counters and things like that, because the gaming table was a real mess. I am amazed that a beer hasn't been knocked over them (knock on wood).
It got me thinking how Titan Legions was so Andy Chambers. Overly complicated rules with lots of BS. Anyone remember his first White Dwarf article? It was introducing Knights to Epic back in AT/SM1. While interesting reading, I remember much of it we casted aside. I just feel that until the later part of his career at GW, he just added to many layers to a gaming system. But then again, he had a hand in some of my favorite GW games. And while I have to be honest I have very little interest in playing the Imperator anytime soon again in SM2/TL, I have to be honest and say (here I go again) how Epic 40k did a great job with war engines. Look at the Imperator's data card... everything you need fits on that card. That is amazing. It may not feel like the massive beast it is in SM2/TL, but its far more playable.
I love owning Titan Legions. While disappointed that it came with counters for infantry, it is no doubt a direction GW needed to take with Space Marine. The only problem is, they released a game that is a pain in the ass to play, and its novelty wears off pretty quickly.
All this made me look back at what I set out to do with my Space Marine (v2) set, which was to only build those Space Marine, Ork, and Eldar armies by (mostly) using what units that were listed in the main rulebook. I have to admit that there is a lot of game in that set, although it might be rather boring to the veteran Epic player. But aside for a few misprints or rule changes to the Eldar units, the set is a pretty complete game. Titan Legions on the otherhand, is nothing but crack. Its basically telling you right up front you will need, want, a whole host of other things.
I don't want to sound too critical of Epic (SM2/TL) here, I do love the games, but I do think Space Marine is a better game than Space Marine + Titan Legions. And I do like the Knights and Tyranids that followed, but just judging the two games themselves, Titan Legions is like the game that had to happen, but minorly screwed things up a bit.
When you think about the units that originally came with Space Marine, the vast majority of the unit cards are infantry. Lots of little guys. The single Warlord is like Godzilla, and the color comes from the variety of infantry that have no save. Titan Legions really changed all that, and by design.
Anyway, we're moving on to Epic 40k next, but it will be awhile. We're starting out playing a couple of the refight battles, which are kind of lame with 3 detachments against 3 detachments, but I think it will be a good place to start. But I wouldn't say our time with Epic Space Marine is over. My friend loves it and I don't think Epic 40k is going to change his mind, so I am sure we'll be back at some point.
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