Hello all, I didn't see an introduction thread so I'll speak up here. I found a link to your awesome site over at Dakka Dakka in the Specialist Games thread. I have recently decided to get into Epic and I have a multifaceted question...

1. What version do I play? I noticed there are 3 main versions that have community support, Epic 40K (which is the box set I got in the 90s and never did anything with), Epic Armageddon (Current GW SG version), and NetEpic (revamped 2nd Ed rules?). What are the main differences between the systems and what makes people choose one over the other?

A couple of things about me that may be factors in steering me in the right direction...

A. I live in California, about half way between LA and SF. Not allot of Epic going on in these parts....I heard through the grape vine a few guys in Santa Barbara play...so I'd likely have to make two forces (one OpFor) to get games in with my local games group. Not sure which version they play, likely EA.

B. I have the plastic stuff that came with the Epic 40K box, a metal thunderhawk, a few Epic 40K era predators, a couple of metal Land Raider command tanks, a metal baneblade, a metal Reaver, 3 or 4 Titan Legions plastic Warlords, an Imperator, about one each of about half the Tau units that Forgeworld sold. (Unfortunately never got any crisis suits, stealth suits, or kroot )...and I have 2 each of the Forgeworld Aeronautica Imperialis aircraft for both Imperial Navy and Tau (including an Orca dropship and a Manta ). Oh, and a few extras my buddy Noah threw my way when he left for Chico a few years back (a few SM and Orks tanks and infantry). Are there any units that just dont work well in any of the versions?

C. I play Dark Angels, Tau, Dark Eldar, and Orks in 40k...and Dark Angels, Imperial, Forgeworld Tau, Chaos, and Orks in BFG, and Ive always wanted to to be able to play campaigns with linked games that span all 3 scale games. so I'd likely be doing Dark Angels, Tau...Orks maybe as a side project since I have the plastic stuff from the box set...and maybe if I'm really nuts, Dark Eldar (im sure id have to scratch build and convert just about everything).

D. I have a co-worker who has a gargantuan collection of Epic models and plays NetEpic...but he only plays once a year (like a weekend long massive game) with his old highschool buddies...he has turned down (or deflected) my 2 offers to get in a casual game with me.

E. Dropship Commander looks very intriguing to me, and I may be swayed to just go this direction...The Post-Humans faction looks like a cool Tau/Half-Life Combine/Starcraft Terran aesthetic that really appeals to me, and I love the aspect of being able to rapidly deploy and redeploy units like that...I'm hoping one of the Epic games has a mechanic like that (IE Thunderhawks, Orcas, Mantas, etc).

Thanks in advance guys!

It depends on what you're looking for.

Epic 40K was a very abstract version of the game, whereby a lot of units lost their individuality through streamlining the rules. A number of players, myself included, found this too extreme, so didn't want to play it.

EA has a much better balance between streamlined rules, and individuality for units, but I have found it difficult to get a grip on the rules for War Engines and Flyers, and I also don't like the lack of rules stability caused by people constantly campaigning to change things which, in my view, don't need to be changed. It's a good game though, so if you don't mind this, it's worth looking into.

NetEpic is something that I've thought about getting into, but I've only recently taken the plunge. I've read through the core rules without many problems, and I've also finished reading the Eldar supplement in just a few hours. Having played Space Marine for years, I find it easy to follow, and the rules straightforward, but if you've never played Space Marine, you find it a bit more tricky. It's a tidied up version of Space Marine, but there is more complexity to certain units, but I'd recommend it if you enjoy characteful gaming, and the older era of GW's Epic models.

You can use current or older models for all of the games, it doesn't really matter, so don't that influence you. Base types (i.e. square infantry bases or rectangular infantry bases) can also be mixed in your army lists.

I hope that helps.

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Welcome to the forum Fango!

I haven't played EA so can't give you any advice as to which system you should play, it's NetEpic all the way for me! I take it that since you posted in the NetEpic section that you'll have noticed the NetEpic Gold thread? It has links to the newly released - and beautifully put together - rules and army lists. Best of all, all it will cost you is your time to read through them!

Here's the link if you hadn't spotted it; viewtopic.php?f=14&t=16938

Cheers!

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Clickable links for more Epic goodness:

Life of Die Channel including Epic Podcasts and Battle Reports

Epic 40K Players Page on Facebook
Net Epic Evolution Rules
Net Epic War! Campaign Rules