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Epic New Direction? A Hard Look

 Post subject: Epic New Direction? A Hard Look
PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 1:21 pm 
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Quote: (Evil and Chaos @ 23 Jun. 2009, 12:57 )

I wrote a game system for it drawing from both Epic & Warhammer 40,000 and played a few games versus Pulsar using Warhammer 40,000 scale miniatures, it was a lot of fun. I sculpted half a 15mm Space Marine.

Why do it yourself for everything? :)

GZG is the place to go surely?
http://www.gtns.co.uk/store1....7.27314

Lots of power armour there as well.


Other cheaper ranges include chaps like this.

30p each.

But then again if you are going 15mm Sci Fi why not use an existing ruleset?

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 Post subject: Epic New Direction? A Hard Look
PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 1:31 pm 
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Quote: (The_Real_Chris @ 23 Jun. 2009, 13:21 )

GZG is the place to go surely?

I'm unimpressed with the quality and the style of those models.

But then again if you are going 15mm Sci Fi why not use an existing ruleset?

Because it's there...

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 Post subject: Epic New Direction? A Hard Look
PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 2:29 pm 
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So yes - Epic should match other common scales - but no, it should not be 15mm.


The arguments against 15mm you guys posted are pretty convincing. Why not then go closer to Warmaster (another good game btw) at around 10mm?

The terrain could be interchangable between systems as well as some models perhaps (orc heroes, wizards as psychers, chaos...).

[
Sounds to me you're focussing on a game with really great infantry figures. Tanks are fine but without amazing infantry it's a problem for you.

Yes. Infantry is half the presentation of the scale.

I believe 6mm is too small to attract new people (especially some of the current range). Lets face facts, if we want to hook people by word of mouth alone then EVERYTHING in the game has to be excellent, not just the rules.

Admit it, Epic is dying. Time for something to change. If GW wants to save this thing they should redo it in around 10mm scale.

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 Post subject: Epic New Direction? A Hard Look
PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 2:29 pm 
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While in my opinion there are numerous problems with the way GW is handling Epic:A, the scale is not it.


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 Post subject: Epic New Direction? A Hard Look
PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 2:35 pm 
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I agree with Cybershadow's post.

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 Post subject: Epic New Direction? A Hard Look
PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 2:48 pm 
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Quote: (vytzka @ 23 Jun. 2009, 09:29 )

While in my opinion there are numerous problems with the way GW is handling Epic:A, the scale is not it.

Agreed. Look how popular SM2 was, with rules that aren't as good as E:A.

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 Post subject: Epic New Direction? A Hard Look
PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 2:53 pm 
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Given the crazy cost of a leman russ company at 6mm, I'd hate to think how expensive the game would become at 15mm. No thanks.

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 Post subject: Epic New Direction? A Hard Look
PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 2:59 pm 
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Quote: (Dwarf Supreme @ 23 Jun. 2009, 14:48 )

Agreed. Look how popular SM2 was, with rules that aren't as good as E:A.

The issue is *purely* advertising.  

If GW had said 6mm was "cool" and supported it in their magazines and updated the models to "current look", EPIC would have sold like hot cakes.

If they'd built an "intergrated" system of games: Battlefleet Gothic --> EPIC --> 40k, so you could "Fight the whole war!", EPIC would've sold like hot cakes.

If they had taken an "adult" approach and gone for a broader appeal with their games instead of the "neo-teen" demographic, EPIC would have sold like hot cakes.

EPIC was once one of the "Big Three", riding along wtih 40k and Fantasy as an "equal".  Relegating it to the back-burner... or even off the stove, is what did it in.  Nothing to do with the scale of the models, purely the marketting of said models.

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 Post subject: Epic New Direction? A Hard Look
PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 3:16 pm 
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I liked FOW- it was nice glossy rulebook with some good follow on supplements with very high production values definitely learnt from the way GW do things. Their model range is impressive and the boxsets are nicely presented. A lot of good photos of painted minatures, both on the Battlefront website and in FOW rulebook/supplements, is a great advertisement and painting guides to encourage you to develop your own painting. 15mm works for FOW in that big enough scale to see infantry as individual figures but small enough to field a lot of tanks.

I liked Epic Armageddon- it was nice glossy rulebook but with only one follow up supplement. The model range is OK with a few of the core W40k armies still not complete in 6mm scale. The Specialist Games website used to have an impressive amount of playtest lists and additional scenarios, but much of that content is no longer readily available since change in websites. 6mm works in that it is big enough to have lots and lots of nicely sized tanks but small enough to field Titans.

I like both rulebooks and both model ranges. My slight preference is towards EA but that is probably due to wealth of background detail behind the game (it has it's occasional faults but the W40k/EA/BFG background is probably my favourite fluff ahead of even Battletech).

What has let EA down is the way it was supported and marketed by GW/SG. Following the mixed reception received for Epic 40000 edition of fules, this poor support killed the game. It was barely stocked in the stores, playing EA was discouraged in-store, GW failed to include official rules in first 2 supplements for 2 of the core Epic 40000 armies (Chaos and Nids) not to mention sevral of the core W40k armies (necrons and Tau). Even now the only Chaos figures being sold by GW are the Chaos Horde infantry- what about the mass of metal tanks that was done for Epic 40000?

If you want to play EA at 15mm scale then go ahead- I will stick with my 6mm armies!!

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 Post subject: Epic New Direction? A Hard Look
PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 3:28 pm 
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Have you seen how ugly with a capital U most 10mm Warmaster infantry is? The weapons and certain other parts of the models are so exaggerated in size compared to the rest of the models to the extent it looks silly and cartoony - it put me off wanting to collect and paint them personally. Virtually all of FWs 6mm model ranges are things of beauty and far superior. Even apart from already owning so many and not wanting personally or the community to change, I prefer the good 6mm infantry to most 10mm GW infantry :)

6mm scale also fits nicely with FWs Aeronautica Imperialis and their future Titan Game - all good cross-over uses, while 10mm would be all new and really unnecessary and alienating for all existing players. Epic used to be popular back in the day - a supported 6mm can do well, it's just GW attitudes and strategies that have been the problem since, not the scale. Also even if they did ever re-release epic (which I do not ever see happening unless as an FW add-on to their Titan game) no way would GW just re-release the game with bigger figures, they'd re-do the rules a lot too and in all probability screw them up (see a lot of their recent game and army rule designing).

A lot of the models are old and off-putting and could do with being updated I agree, but great things are possible at 6mm. You saying GW should release a 10mm W40k universe game is just your wish, but I don't think it is a popular or good idea.


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 Post subject: Epic New Direction? A Hard Look
PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 3:36 pm 
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Quote: (Captsin @ 23 Jun. 2009, 14:29 )

So yes - Epic should match other common scales - but no, it should not be 15mm.


The arguments against 15mm you guys posted are pretty convincing. Why not then go closer to Warmaster (another good game btw) at around 10mm?

The terrain could be interchangable between systems as well as some models perhaps (orc heroes, wizards as psychers, chaos...).

[
Sounds to me you're focussing on a game with really great infantry figures. Tanks are fine but without amazing infantry it's a problem for you.


Yes. Infantry is half the presentation of the scale.

I believe 6mm is too small to attract new people (especially some of the current range). Lets face facts, if we want to hook people by word of mouth alone then EVERYTHING in the game has to be excellent, not just the rules.

Admit it, Epic is dying. Time for something to change. If GW wants to save this thing they should redo it in around 10mm scale.
I disagree that the scale is the problem with attraction. SM2 was incredibly popular (and yet it was a pretty poor game). Many of the miniatures you are complaining about are from that era. In the new range, many tanks and some infantry are MUCH better these days.

No, it's GW's lack of support that is the problem. History shows it, Any game they fully back - especially to the kids - is massive. But any such a game will never be as good as EA.

Evil and Chaos, I know, can explain why.

The real problem then is that Epic is with the wrong company. Changing the scale will not help its fortunes.

I would not say that epic is dying. It is in stasis.
Actually, from my observations from the number of people who attend epic tournaments here in the UK, epic players are increasing. Many folk come from 40k backgrounds who can't stand that game any more. They accept the low quality of some of the epic range in order to play what they see as an excellent game.

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 Post subject: Epic New Direction? A Hard Look
PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 3:45 pm 
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Quote: (GlynG @ 23 Jun. 2009, 15:28 )

Have you seen how ugly with a capital U most 10mm Warmaster infantry is? The weapons and certain other parts of the models are so exaggerated in size compared to the rest of the models to the extent it looks silly and cartoony - it put me off wanting to collect and paint them personally. Virtually all of FWs 6mm model ranges are things of beauty and far superior. Even apart from already owning so many and not wanting personally or the community to change, I prefer the good 6mm infantry to most 10mm GW infantry :)

6mm scale also fits nicely with FWs Aeronautica Imperialis and their future Titan Game - all good cross-over uses, while 10mm would be all new and really unnecessary and alienating for all existing players. Epic used to be popular back in the day - a supported 6mm can do well, it's just GW attitudes and strategies that have been the problem since, not the scale. Also even if they did ever re-release epic (which I do not ever see happening unless as an FW add-on to their Titan game) no way would GW just re-release the game with bigger figures, they'd re-do the rules a lot too and in all probability screw them up (see a lot of their recent game and army rule designing).

A lot of the models are old and off-putting and could do with being updated I agree, but great things are possible at 6mm. You saying GW should release a 10mm W40k universe game is just your wish, but I don't think it is a popular or good idea.

And Games Workshop will NEVER develop another 40k based wargame in any other scales than what they have currently. Neither will they license it to any other company. Without a massive change in policy and business model it ain't happening.




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 Post subject: Epic New Direction? A Hard Look
PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 3:49 pm 
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Actually, from my observations from the number of people who attend epic tournaments here in the UK, epic players are increasing.Many folk come from 40k backgrounds who can't stand that game any more. They accept the low quality of some of the epic range in order to play what they see as an excellent game.


I agree with that... just in the last few weeks two WFB tournament players I know have started dabbling in Epic, and I confidently expect them to attend Epic tournies in the future, probably more than myself as they enjoy the tournament style experience in the first place anyway.

So at least in my experience, Epic is (very slowly) growing.

Of course, the financials probably tell another story, because many Epic players go to eBay for their miniatures, not GW/FW.

Evil and Chaos, I know, can explain why.

In simple terms, any game GW puts their weight behind has to appeal to the widest possible audience.

If GW made Epic a core game again, they'd have to 'dumb it down' to Warhammer 40,000 levels in order to appeal to the core demographic.

If the options are between Epic in stasis as a Specialist Game, and Epic as a Core Game, I prefer to have Epic semi-dead.




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 Post subject: Epic New Direction? A Hard Look
PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 4:13 pm 
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I would agree with much that has already been said. Wargaming consists of four elements:- Period, Models, rules and marketing. Games can survive without one element but will not usually flourish, while the loss of two elements spells doom for the game.

EPIC just about continues to survive the lack of marketing because there are still sufficient numbers of models available to support the game. However, you could not reasonably expect to start from scratch without significant marketing and manufacturing support. Model availablilty in an appropriate scale is also important, but perhaps not as vital as a good set of playable rules.




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 Post subject: Epic New Direction? A Hard Look
PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 4:25 pm 
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You beat me to it Alansa -  SM2 had the poorest rules and lower detailed models, but yet was the biggest seller ...  IMO, SM2 was the worse Epic iteration ... The wonderfully detailed E40K(Epic Mk.3) models didn't really effect the Epic market as SM2 fans were entrenched with that system ... Some even found the E40K models hard to paint becuase of the detail. So at any rate I don't think 15mm Epic is viable for a lot of reason mentioned here and others. Nor do I think that there is anything wrong with the 6mm(to 8mm) scale. It's perfect for Wargames.  And, TRC was correct, 1/300th/              1/285th scale is used by the US Army and NATO.  Our Bde Cdr wanted our Bde and a USSR MRR & Tank Rgt in 6mm/1/285 to wargame our tactics, before we went to the desert. I remember taking to the GHQ President on the phone about it.  And we used these on a sand table to "wargame" our strategy & tactics.  So anyway I'm wedded to the 6mm scale. And I believe, as time goes on Epic + other 6mm SF models & rules will all be part of this site ... more so then it already is ...  We'll keep Epic/6mm SF(E/W, DRM, etc.)  wargaming alive and going as this site continues to "morph" into the place for all 6mm SF ...




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