Nor having played Epic:A yet I've been looking through the EA handbook 2008 and I just got more and more questions =)
its just so not Epic:SM2 =D

in the battlereports it seems like firefights breakout all the time that AP/AT values seems less relevant then the FF value. I've been trying to make an Eldar 3k list for a tournament but Im totally lost as to how to make a viable one!

so... HELP! =D
could use some example list with comments on what each detachment should do and what its good / bad at..

Firefights only 'breakout' generally if your within 30cm and initiate an Engage Action.

There are many downsides to doing so, most importantly that your opponent gets to shoot/fight back in your activations, and could possible break your formation into the bargain.

Eldar especially can avoid the enemy causing a Firefight by jumping in (moving close), shooting, then jumping back. And can initiate engagements due to the same high speed.

Trust me, get a few games in and you'll see Engagements are very useful, but not obligatory, and have downsides

In practice, there's a lot of long ranged shooting. It's pretty tough to get units in position to assault (unless you drop them onto them with an aircraft!) so you aren't likely to see any assaults until turn 2. So assaults are comparatively rare and you certainly do use those AP/AT weapons.

That said, assaults can be devastating and pivotal to the game, which is why they are important things to note in batreps.

Of course, different armies tend to vary in how much they use assaults. Eldar tend to avoid them for the most part while orks love 'em!

Actually, Eldar can be made to *LOVE* assaults... because, if they win, they get a free full move... to support other formations' assaults!

_________________
"EPIC: Total War" Lead Developer

Now living in Boston... any EPIC players want to meet up?

EA handbook 2008

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Honda

"Remember Taros? We do"

- 23rd Elysian Drop Regiment

Where is this located? I'm not sure I have a copy of it.

_________________
"EPIC: Total War" Lead Developer

Now living in Boston... any EPIC players want to meet up?

It's here.

Incidentally, be aware that the Handbook contains all of the proposed changes that were considered for the 2008 rules review, including many that weren't accepted and did not appear in the final 2008 errata. Obviously people are free to use whatever set of rules they like, but the 2008 Handbook does contain several things that aren't and will probably never be 'official'.

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"Good ale, the true and proper drink of Englishmen. He is not deserving of the name of Englishman who speaketh against ale, that is good ale."
- George Borrow

Well, all I am interested in using is what everyone is playing. So, how do I ensure I'm playing what the majority of our community is playing?

What errata or whatever and where is it?

Thanx in advance!

_________________
Honda

"Remember Taros? We do"

- 23rd Elysian Drop Regiment

Agreed. The handbook is out of date, the official rules + errata is the new standard.

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http://www.troublemakergames.co.uk/
Epic: Hive Development Thread

That's probably good for 3000 points... which is probably the most common point value, but the armylists are, generally, balanced for 2000-5000 points... though you can go much higher, so oddities might start cropping up.

_________________
"EPIC: Total War" Lead Developer

Now living in Boston... any EPIC players want to meet up?

And yet the Handbook 2008 is more balanced. For that reason, our local game group has adopted the Handbook over the original rulebook plus errata. Thus far, we've found this to be the better solution. Just my 2 cents...

The differences are minimal, and the Handbook is not known to everyone, nor official, and contains several rules which were never intended to become standard.

Using it for your own gaming group is of course fine, but for pick-up games against other opponents the Errata should become the standard rules set for now.

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http://www.troublemakergames.co.uk/
Epic: Hive Development Thread

Um...I think the my point is being missed. I'm not looking at how to play, what I am trying to ensure is that I am using the same rules that everyone else is. Several times the handbook (Original rules?) and errata (where is it?) are the most common.

Perfect. I have the downloaded rules, but where exactly is the errata?

Thanx!

_________________
Honda

"Remember Taros? We do"

- 23rd Elysian Drop Regiment