I've used the search function, and my searches have come up fruitless.  So I ask:

What are the order dice for??  There are more than 6 orders, and only 6 sides!  I don't know what the symbols mean or how the dice are even used.  I've only been into Epic for a few weeks now, so I apologize in advance if this question has an obvious answer (that somehow evades me).

Any insight as to the mysterious little green cubes would be greatly appreciated.

-langsand000

i believe they were used in epic 40k (not EA), since that is the only version i have not played. basically used to keep track of what your formation did that turn (i think)

Well they were for E40K but some of the orders are still useful.

These are how I use mine at least:

The circle bisected with lines can be used to show Overwatch.

The 3 arrows, one behind the other, is to show a formation Marched.

The die with 4 joined arrows can be used to show a Broken formation

The Arrow with an explosion can be used to show a formation has advanced or engaged - I don't think I've ever used that one personally though.

The ! can be used to show an Engage action

The Lightning Bolt on a cog can be used to show a Hold or Marshall action

Really, I only ever use the first 3 though, as the last 3 are sort of redundant.

I can echo Hena in my use of said green cubes...some people also use the "!" merely mark formations that have activated.

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I use em. But I have separate tokens for special effects such as criticals and reloading. Reason being, when I'm scanning the board I don't want to confuse a green cube with 'this formation has activated' when actually it shows critical or reloading or whatever.

So I just use cross-hairs for overwatch, triple chevrons for march and ! for any other activation.

At over £1 each from GW they're an expensive way to mark formations, especially as I only use half the sides. And I have to restock on them every now and then as I keep losing the odd one. Why not just use separate tokens for orders as I do for the special effects? Well as I said before, green cubes are for orders, flat tokens for weird stuff, so it helps with scanning. Secondly when a formation on overwatch fires I don't have to dig out a separate token to mark it as activated - I can just flip the dice over onto !.

I even have separate tokens for void shieldspowerfields and damage on war engines. Why? Many people just use dice to mark these, but, for some reason, I always worry that these can be picked up by accident among the random jumble and scatter of dice thrown when shooting.

Fenickety, ain't I.

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I use them but only because I got a bunch free with eBay purchases.

They're not really nessesary.

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They are more laid down in Battlefleet Gothic, in Epic Armageddon they can be used however you and your opponent wish.

I follow similar sentiments to those above:

Crosshairs circle = Overwatch
Four Arrows moving from same point = Broken
Exclamation Mark (or any other remaining symbol TBH) = Action Done this turn.

They're just a quick and easy method to mark a formation so I don't forget it's activated, or it's broken, or it's on Overwatch.
Distinguishing Marched actions is I suppose important as those formations can't AA or lend Supporting Fire...hmm, I may need to remember that one.

On a slightly related topic I tend to use an Artillery  dice or Scatter dice next to my Supreme Commander unit and remove it once I've used the Re-roll. Forgetting if you've used the Re-roll this turn is a very common thing, and it can be crucial to the game as your often re-rolling that vital Action roll.

I use them as well, but I use the exclamation point for broken. Kind of goes back to a metal gear solid thing where if you surprised a guard he'd get a little exclamation point over his head.

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-Vaaish

I generally use the cross-hairs to indicate a formation on overwatch ant the four arrows diverging from a point to mark a broken formation, and the cog with lightning bolt to mark critical effects on war engines. As everyone else has said, they were originally designed for E40k and re-used for Battlefleet Gothic, but have no prescribed meaning in E:A, so as long as everyone is clear on what they mean, you can use them however you want.

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I use the 'bolt' side for reloading "Slow" weapons.

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just a side note to anyone who doesn't have any of these dice. litko makes great looking tokens for all of these. they are much cheaper and look better also, especially the blast markers.