[NetEpic ML] Space Marine Dreadnoughts

From: Brian Evans <brian.a.evans_at_...>
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 1999 12:07:21 -0800

I took a quick look at the Space Marine Army List. I have a question
concerning the seven different kinds of Dreads available. Why?

Is it really necessary to have seven different kinds of Dreadnoughts?
The
Epic system is supposed to be a large scale (Epic) battle system, not a
skirmish game. A battle conducted at this large of a scale doesn't
really
need to be concerned with the small differences between dreadnought
weapons
combinations. Epic should be big, simple, sweeping in its handling of
combat. I don't think it helps to get tripped up over minor changes in
armament.

I think that having a single Dreadnought type could better represent
dreadnoughts in an Epic battle. The basic Space Marine Dreadnought has
a big
gun and a big close combat weapon. This is similar to how Tactical,
Devastator and Scout squads are handled; they each have only one
variant.

Is there a reason for having this many different Dreadnought variants?
Are we
gaining something by having this level of detail for Dreadnoughts?
Infantry
squads and vehicles, generally, do not go down to this level of detail
for
minor changes in their weapon configurations. Usually only the most
common
variant is represented in Epic. (i.e. the standard variant)

If we want to see the level of detail represented by the seven
different
Dreadnought types, shouldn't we also provide multiple versions of the
Tactical
squad, depending on what weapons they are equipped with? I can think
of 16
different variants of a tactical squad just dealing with Heavy and
Special
weapon combinations.

One final note; there is even a Detachment that combines individual
Dreadnought
variants into a single squad. Is it really necessary to have a squad
made up
of 4 models, each representing a different variant of the Dreadnought?
Even
Imperial Super Heavy Tanks don't do this, you either buy a single
ShadowSword
or a whole Company of ShadowSwords, no mixing and matching. Super
Heavy Tanks
also cost 4 to 8 times as much as a single Dreadnought.

I am not trying to rant or tear apart your gaming system. I am just
trying to
determine what were the motivating factors for some of changes I see
from Epic
Space Marines to NetEpic.

Thanks,
Brian A. Evans
Received on Fri Nov 19 1999 - 20:07:21 UTC