Dive Bommas |
Legion 4
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Post subject: Dive Bommas Posted: Mon May 05, 2003 5:56 am |
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Joined: Thu Feb 13, 2003 5:13 pm Posts: 36989 Location: Ohio - USA
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One thing I can also see, is the Ork's initiative. I don't like the rule in general, and would not use it. I've played with rules like that in historical games and there it has it's place. But sometimes the G/W "fluff" makes some armies less than playable. But it's a matter of taste, so as I always say, do what works for you... 
_________________ Legion 4 "Cry Havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War !" ... "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
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pixelgeek
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Post subject: Dive Bommas Posted: Mon May 05, 2003 6:06 am |
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Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 8:10 pm Posts: 2642 Location: Edmonton, Alberta
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Quote (MaksimSmelchak @ 04 2003 May,21:00) | but against an experienced IG or SM player you'll most likely have less luck. | My opponent knows his stuff. :-) I have the scares to prove it :-)
I was thinking though that if I could be moderately successful then an experienced player might be able to do some more damage.
Curious to know what you mean by the Orks being predictable? Feel free to toss me a thread URL if you've gone down that road before.
_________________ Guns don't break formations. Blast Markers break formations.
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nealhunt
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Post subject: Dive Bommas Posted: Mon May 05, 2003 8:30 pm |
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Purestrain |
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Joined: Thu Feb 13, 2003 10:52 pm Posts: 9617 Location: Nashville, TN, USA
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Legion4: It's really not bad. Generally, you want to double move or assault if you're the orks anyway. When you don't want to, all ork armies get a supreme commander, so you get re-rolls on those important initiative rolls.
I really think it's fine.
_________________ Neal
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Legion 4
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Post subject: Dive Bommas Posted: Tue May 06, 2003 5:41 am |
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Joined: Thu Feb 13, 2003 5:13 pm Posts: 36989 Location: Ohio - USA
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Well as I said use what works for you, I just see, based on past games, other ways to make Orks ... more Orky. This rule appears to reflect the Ork's limited command & control capabilities, it's one way to do it ... so go for it ... 
_________________ Legion 4 "Cry Havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War !" ... "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
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I have to admit that this really pisses me off since I think all of us in here probably know Epic better than Jervis does. ?Yes, he sees it from a player's point of view, but twisted in his Game Designer's eyes. ?We've all been playing each form of Epic for a long time now, and I really wish I was involved in NetEpic as I think I would have much more in common with you guys than I do with Jervis's ideas. ?Jervis and I have gone at it a couple of times, which doesn't bother me as I am pretty opinionated with will fight with anyone, but to blow my reasoning off after playing Epic so long blows my mind. ?I think of EpicA as one of Jervis's expirements. ?It's like his way of testing his therotical approach to war. ?I am really thankful for Jervis making some of my favorite games of all time, but I don't think he's really listened to us about this version, which I think in the beginning we were all really excited about.
I think Legion 4 (who's comments have won much of my respect) said what I think is the best way to explain EpicA
G/W rules have a predilection for 18th century sword and bayonet fighting. ?Their rules for indirect fire and CAS are like an after thought.
Exactly. ?You'd think after the war in Iraq a few weeks ago could have influenced the game, yet we are still seem to be designing a game influenced by (very intelligent mind you) authors expert in warfare during WWII and earlier. ?That is why I get so angry at not being able to split fire. ?I feel like my formation is in a square, waiting for the captain to give the order to fire. . . "Company, prepare to fire. . ."
Actually, I've got another one too: Well let's look at Epic and E-A. Epic is a Tactical game, one model = 1 vehicle or a 5 man fire team. ?Let's look at the detail Jervis tried to put in E-A. He says based on his readings of Keegan and Marshal, he developed the "Fire Fight" rules, basically most Infantry battles take place at 300 meters of less. ?The Burst Marker concept, an attempt at the replicating the affects of Suppressive Fire. ?The Cross Fire rule, how flanking fire works on the tactical battlefield. ?So what does any tactical commander always look for - Cover & Concealment. Cover makes a target harder to hit because he's behind something that stop projectiles, like a wall. ?Concealment - it won't stop fire, but he can't hit what he can't see, like hiding in the jungle foliage. ?So does
Hull Down and vehicle cover come into a tactical game - I'd say Yes. ?Not to sound pompus, but Jervis read about tactical warfare. ?I did it as an Infantry Officer trained in both Light and Mech Infantry from '79-'90 in various environments - jungle, winter, desert, urban, etc., etc. So we play cover rules for AFVs, it's a simple fix. ?And I'd also say read Keegan, Marshal, Rommel, etc. ?But that's just my opinion, you should play whatever rules you want, I'm not going to tell the =][= ...
I know whis is available in another thread, but I wanted to be sure everyone reads it. ?It kind of sums up how I feel when Jerivs quotes history to prove one point, then ignores it when making the point that something makes it better game (actually, say skillful and it'll really piss me off).
Sorry if I sound bitter, I am not trying to. ?

I really like Jervis and have had a blast playing many of his games. ?I really feel like most veteran players prefer 40k 2nd ed of the 3rd and AT/SM or SM/TL over Epic 40k. ?I do think Epic40k is a pretty cool game for veteran players, but definately not for newbies. ?I just feel like the games are losing character over time in this attempt be more 'elegant', which makes me laugh. ?I hate the use of that word. ?A beautiful woman is elegant, not a freakin wargame.
I think Epic A will be hot for a short time as newbies get interested in it, and are blown away by the new models, but I am sure it will die off. ?I expect the new Epic Mag to suck, as they all have (Firepower was great). I can't see us older players getting into it, and new players seem really fickle in my experience. ?Too much competition from Xbox and Tony Hawk. ?Hell, when Doom III and Halo 2 comes out, I sure as hell won't be playing Epic or 40k.
See ya.
_________________
Please check out my website:
http://www.system17.com
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primarch
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Post subject: Dive Bommas Posted: Tue May 06, 2003 6:20 pm |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 12:46 am Posts: 27069 Location: Edmond, Oklahoma USA
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Hi!
Gandalf, you are NOT alone, not by a long shot. Remember that many of us just dont care to post on "official" GW forums, nor would we last long if we did.}
You have to understand that GW is not used to direct input from players. Their design process has been always closed to the "average gamer". Not that this is a bad thing, its just a different philosophy. Remember that they are a rather large company and it is IMPOSSIBLE for them to design "by popular vote". Also remember the rules GW produces are a means to a goal, that of selling more minitures. This is, of course not bad, they are a business first, but it does affect the rules design. Therefore, input is used more as a marketting guage for their current ideas, designs and philosophies rather than a true influence on changing the design. Remeber that its "jervis's" vision of what he wants epic to be, after all he's working on it in a virtual vacuum (ever wonder why people like chambers, gav and others are conspicously absent? Food for thought), so I understand he has a very large burden on his shoulders and I sympathize with him. In the end the game will reflect his views along with ideas and input that reflect his philosophy.
Having said this, it doesn't mean you or anyone else has to like it. In the end it all comes to what YOU, as an individual want out of the game. I made that desicion long ago and I am extremely content to coordinate and help out with netepic. Which by the way you can participate in by simply by joining the mailing list and posting your views on any subject. It depends a lot of what kind of gamer/person you are. Some are content to let others design a game for them and others want a direct hand in that process. Both have their merits, all you need to decide is to which you belong to.
As for Epic's A long term persepctive, I wont bore you with my usual rants on the subject, they are on these forums and a whole host of others, suffice to say I agree your forecast.
Primarch
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Gandalf the Grey
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Post subject: Dive Bommas Posted: Tue May 06, 2003 7:16 pm |
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Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2003 4:23 pm Posts: 789 Location: Tampa, Florida
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Hey primarch, I wanted to respond to some of your comments and I forgot! I had too much to say!
1. Jervis may SAY he understands why epic40k failed, but he REALLY doesn't. From things he has posted on those forums he puts all the blame on marketing when thats only PART of the problem that game had. |
Exactly. ?If Epic40k was as great as he thought, it would have marketed itself. ?Remember by this time every GW player knew what Epic was, as SM/TL was very successful. ?I remember looking at the Epic40k box set when it came out and I couldn't believe the direction the game was going in. ?I rejected it like everyone else. ?It wasn't until later did I appreciate Epic 40k, but I do believe it got what it deserved. ?It was just a radical change to a system everyone liked.
2. His refusal to admit of analyze the GOOD points older games had and why people like them and perhaps use them. |
I agree. ?AT/SM had some really cool rules, and while it was clumbersome and almost impossible to play out large games (ours lasted 3-5 nights). ?I felt it was rich in detail and was great for 2,000 points or so games. ?Building custom Titans was a lot of fun, and it was interesting to see what others did with theirs. ?I do agree SM/TL was a step in the right direction in order to play larger games, but it didn't feel like the wargame AT/SM did.
3. His constant attempts to ignore epics past. Thus the infamous "Section 8" rules and no points for older models. If he had any chance of getting a significant number of "old hands" on board for this game, this point wont win them any friends.
My protests against not posting points are pretty well documented in the forum, but I'll say again that his decision is pretty lame for us older players. ?As a side note, one of the cool things about Epic 40k is that it is pretty much immortal, and since it doesn't require specific rules or stats for most vehicles, units like the Defiler will fit nicely into a 'Khorne' chaos engine, if that is what it is. . .
4. No REAL feedback. Admittedly this one is baised by my experiences with net epic. But why ask for feedback if you are going to ignore everything that doesn't fit Jervis's "vision" for the game? I have seen Maksim and others repeat "ad-naseum" that deathstrikes are unbalanced or orks are underpowered and yet no real resolution. You can now understand why myself and many others on the net epic list never bothered to fully participate with EpicA. I suspected, that in the end, it would be Jervis's game, not the communities game. So be it.
That is how I began to feel too. ?It was like 'here' then we reject it, then he argues for it, and then it's a rule. ?I know this is Jervis's baby, but still. ?I think he's alienating some of Epic's hardcore fans believing he can win over newer players.
I wish you guys complained harder in the forum. ?Maybe a riot is just what EpicA needed. ?

?Who cares it you got kicked out? You could just get back in under a new name anyway.
PS: Why is Andy and Gav not more directly involved? Not that I think they are needed, as I find Andy a little too detailed on rules sometimes, and have never found much of Gav's stuff really pivotal. ? ?

primarch
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Post subject: Dive Bommas Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 12:55 am |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 12:46 am Posts: 27069 Location: Edmond, Oklahoma USA
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Hi!
Hey primarch, I wanted to respond to some of your comments and I forgot! I had too much to say!
No problem Gandalf, lots of stuff gets thrown around in these forums, its hard to keep track of it all.
Exactly. If Epic40k was as great as he thought, it would have marketed itself. Remember by this time every GW player knew what Epic was, as SM/TL was very successful. I remember looking at the Epic40k box set when it came out and I couldn't believe the direction the game was going in. I rejected it like everyone else. It wasn't until later did I appreciate Epic 40k, but I do believe it got what it deserved. It was just a radical change to a system everyone liked.
No question. If they decided to do such a move it would have been prudent to ask feedback AT THAT JUNCTURE. After the fact is too late. Some things dont get "fixed" once you break it no matter how hard you try. I can understand their updating of the 40k rules, all in all its the same stats and familiar mechanics, but epic40k was such a radical departure from the previous edition that it caught people by surprise. Surprise usually creates two reactions: happiness or anger. You know which response turned out to be more common.
I agree. AT/SM had some really cool rules, and while it was clumbersome and almost impossible to play out large games (ours lasted 3-5 nights). I felt it was rich in detail and was great for 2,000 points or so games. Building custom Titans was a lot of fun, and it was interesting to see what others did with theirs. I do agree SM/TL was a step in the right direction in order to play larger games, but it didn't feel like the wargame AT/SM did.
True, the orignal epic game AT has a charm which none of its later children can ever capture. It had a dark, gothic, gritty feel to the rules which many still enjoy. The greatest hinderance to those rules was that they did not mesh well with the rules that came later for infantry and vehicles. It was a great game as long as you didn't combine titans and non-titans in the same game, the mechanics were somewhat cumbersome in that regard. It is akin to the same problem ATII expereinced with its integration with epic40k.
Customization is key. If there is one thing people bemoan, again and again was the lake of all the choices you had in earlier versions to arm titans. For some the emphasis is not the titans, but for many others thats what brought them into epic, so not having them is a concession many are NOT willing to make.
My protests against not posting points are pretty well documented in the forum, but I'll say again that his decision is pretty lame for us older players. As a side note, one of the cool things about Epic 40k is that it is pretty much immortal, and since it doesn't require specific rules or stats for most vehicles, units like the Defiler will fit nicely into a 'Khorne' chaos engine, if that is what it is. . .
This sort of presses home the point that they really DONT care about the older loyal fan base. I do not need to remind everyone that GW's policies geared towards "new blood" at expense of older gamers. Its a pity I never saved the retailer newsletters where GW explicitly tells its retailers that "old hands" were detrimental to sales and their impact at the store should be lessened. So "section 8" is not all that surprising.
That is how I began to feel too. It was like 'here' then we reject it, then he argues for it, and then it's a rule. I know this is Jervis's baby, but still. I think he's alienating some of Epic's hardcore fans believing he can win over newer players.
New gamers are the lifeblood of any miniatures company. I do not begrudge them wanting to attract new players, its what they should do. What I think is NOT a good move it to do it in EXCLUSION of older gamers. There is no need to do things this way.
I wish you guys complained harder in the forum. Maybe a riot is just what EpicA needed. Who cares it you got kicked out? You could just get back in under a new name anyway.
Actually Gandalf, I have been asked this quite a few times. The short answer is: "why waste my time on something I have no interest in?". I cannot justify the expedenture in time that it would require to "rock the boat". That time is better spent taking netepic to the goals it has yet to reach. Simply put I dont care enough for any "GW venture" in epic to dedicate my ever decreasing free time to it. For me netepic is where "epic" is at, it has been for more than 6 years, along with hundreds of other "netepic nuts". Why pester GW for something I and many others have done for ourselves? For us, GW, has long been out of the "epic equation" as far as the rules go, we just dont need them. The only reason anyone on our list hopes Epic A will do well is for the miniatures. Its a pessimistic/cynical stance, but GW's actions with epic over the years deserves no better.
PS: Why is Andy and Gav not more directly involved? Not that I think they are needed, as I find Andy a little too detailed on rules sometimes, and have never found much of Gav's stuff really pivotal.
The comment was more to point out that even amongst GW's "bigwigs" only Jervis seems to beleive the game has a chance. The others have politely "distanced" themselves from the Epic A project. Even Robin Dews, whose pathetic editorial in WD after epic40k's obvious flop is still remembered, is not to be seen or heard regarding epic. If even their staff cannot conjure up enthusiasm, do you really expect it from the gaming community in any amount that matters?
To be frank, I dont spend much time thinking about if and how Epic A will not do well, but on what EXCUSES they'll give when it does.
They'll probably blame it one me.......
Primarch
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