Re: [Epic] Epic 40k _at_$%!

From: Alan Brain <aebrain_at_...>
Date: Sat, 08 Feb 1997 17:15:59 -0800

Peter Ramos wrote:
> but for those who did comment
> and regarding was is known about epic 40k-does it even remotely look
> like they were taken into account, I am just curious on peoples opinions
> on this.

Here's my comments, so you can make up your own mind:

> 1. KEEP IT SIMPLE. The simplifications from SM 1st edition worked well.
> Many criticisms re ranges, movement of vehicles, initiative were as the
> result of the simplification. Maybe it was overdone. But in terms of
> overall complexity, make it about 80% SM2 to 20% SM1, no higher.
>
> 2. Army Cards. Keep them.
>
> 3. Don't be afraid to make all the supplements obsolete. Do not be
> constrained by Hive War, Renegades, Warlords, AoI or anything else.
> People like myself who've stopped spending the $200 or so per year
> they used to on GW stuff due to commercial rapaciousness would not
> mind too much shelling out the dough for the new supplements - and
> newbies won't know the old ones even exist.

> 4. I am in a minority of 1 as regards liking the Psychic Phase
>
> 5. Don't add lots of special Psi cards, or wargear.
>
> 6. Make Pop-ups more logical. Adjust Eldar Pt values accordingly.
>
> 7. Please de-grossify existing characters. Ghazza is cheesy for his
> points
> cost. Suggest that all future characters be basically *slightly*
> modified
> existing units - thus Ghazza is a Warlord+, Yarrick a Commissar+, etc
> etc
> with Abaddon a Chaos Champ+, Phoenix Lords either Exarchs or Aspects+
> and so
> on. One possibility is to give rules for "creating your own character".
> Thus Grossitus, the Yellow Cheesers chapter Librarian, is a Librarian
> who
> once per game gives a +D6 CAF to any one squad within 10cm. This ability
> costs
> an additional 50 pts in the current values (so his cost is 200 vice
> 150).
> Abilities which affect more than one squad cost proportionately more, as
> do abilities repeatedly useable. ACTIVELY DISCOURAGE characters by
> making
> them cost heaps. This way those of us who want a smidgin of flavour
> won't
> be able to go overboard.
>
> 8. Dive into 40K Rogue Trader, Ere We Go etc for inspiration.
>
> 9. Don't make obsolete any existing minis. Feel free to up the cost in
> pts
> due to rarity - eg SM Bullocks cost more than Eldar bikes that are
> identical,
> because they're uncommon, and you want to discourage SM armies from
> being
> Eldar-in-disguise. Make the flavours distinct not by wholesale
> prohibition,
> but encouraging use of more typical forces by making them more
> cost-effective.
> "Existing Minis" includes ones from SM-1 BTW. You could re-start
> production,
> get many sales, and both customers and GW bean-counters will be happy.
>
> 10. CONSISTENCY. At the moment we have how many different types of
> shield?
> Simplify this.
>
> 11. Very few units need surgery - and they mainly on points values.
> Thunderhawks - underpriced, even if converted to normal flyer rules.
> Hellebores - overpriced unbelievably. Make this more like SM1 please!
>
> 12. Points values - 25pt or even 10 pt increments. One suggestion is to
> devalue currency by a factor of 5. Thus a 100 pt unit becomes a 20 pt
> unit,
> worth 20 VPs. VPs become revalued, so an objective is worth 100 pts and
> so
> on. That way the rare stuff is worth more to lose as well.
>
> 13. Daemons and Chaos Cards: Make C.Cards like Mekboy cards are now -
> assigned to a unit, and permanent. BUT - only one CC to a unit. This
> makes
> them less, not more, powerful, as it's the combos in a crucial place
> that
> do the damage - one unit with 4 temporary +1 CAF cards put on at the
> Chaos
> player's pleasure is more effective than 4 units with a permanent +1
> CAF,
> who may well be in a quiet sector. GDs then get a 3+ unmodified save vs
> everything, WHICH MAKES THEM CONSISTENT WITH DOMINATRICES USING THEIR
> PSI
> DEFENCE, and has about the same effect as the current "burn cards to
> save the
> GD". Simplicity + Consistency. Since GDs have 3-5 minions, just say
> exactly
> 3 of the minions get a Chaos Card each. Adjust points values or card
> effects
> accordingly.
>
> 14. Make all vehicles that can carry troops faster than walking (10cm)
> pace.
> The Capitol Imperialis is not used, because infantry can walk faster (20
> cm
> on charge vs 10cm).
>
> 15. Integrate SM Battles rules for Forts into the one package.
>
> 16. EPICodices for Squats, Orks, Titan Legions etc should be weightless
> on
> the "special rules" section ie NO NEW RULES! They should be light on the
> Data section, ie NO NEW VEHICLE TYPES, but heavy on both Cards for new
> units
> using existing vehicles/troop types, campaigns, painting guides, etc.
> And
> especially 40K History and background, which is IMHO more important to
> EPIC
> players than the 40K ones.
>
> 17. Look at the models for the miniatures, then deduce the stats, and
> adjust
> points values accordingly. As an example, the Gobsmasher is described in
> the
> flavour text as more heavily armoured than a battlewagon, and with more
> guns.
> Yet it's stats are for a cheap battlewagon (5 vs 3 for 100 pts) with no
> ability
> to carry troops. It has 3 gun barrles, one big and 2 little, yet has
> only 1
> attack. Bowelburners and Flametracks have identical stats for quite
> different models, and IMHO they should be different. Maybe give the
> Bowelburna
> a template, and up its cost from 50 pts for 3 to 300 pts for 3? As for
> Ork
> Shokk attack guns, make them project a stand of snotlings - who have to
> be
> bought and represented by models - then follow normal CC rules, thereby
> ridding the game of an exceptional rule that's caused troubles, and
> adding
> a few new miniatures we will buy at exorbitant prices, which should keep
> your bosses happy. Summary: let the Flavour text be your guide, not
> current stats
> or abilities.
>
> 18. I like the idea of Titans weapons suites costing points. If you use
> the
> "cost to buy = yield in VPs" idea this should actually simpify things.
> This way
> weapons, battle honours etc can be treated identically.
>


So.... apart from not keeping the army cards, I'd say yes they did
listen
to many of the comments.
 
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Received on Sun Feb 09 1997 - 01:15:59 UTC