[Epic] Comments & observations on Epic 40k.

From: Christian Taylor <kristian_at_...>
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 1997 14:51:33 -0800 (PST)

A few comments on the GW ad...

> Epic Warhammer 40,000 New Releases (!)
> AN EPIC SPIN ON AN OLD FAVORITE
> Many years ago Games Workshop released Adeptus Titanicus, which
> brought the battles between huge Titans to the tabletop. From there it
> grew into full scale armies, and became known as Space Marine. After many
> revisions and add-ons, the game designers became unhappy with the way
> that EPIC had grown and decided to scrap it and start anew.

Phew... I was worried that this was just some GW marketing ploy to make
more money <grin>. But seriously, with the un-official and official
errata piling up, I can see why they were "unhappy".

Anyway, we can refer to this as the "genesis" effect: If you're unhappy
with your creation, destroy it, and start anew.

> Thus was born
> Epic 40,000, courtesy of the killer team of Andy Chambers & Jervis
> Johnson!

Well, couldn't ask for better designers (from GW anyway). <cruel
anti-Gavin rhetoric deleted on account of it being Valentine's Day>

> IT'S WAR ON A WHOLE NEW SCALE!

Umm, err, what was Epic then?

> Epic 40,000 retains the same premise of fielding large armies on a
> smaller
> scale, but that is where the similarities between the old Adeptus
> Titanicus
> and Space Marine end.

I question how different ANY GW games could be from each other. Let alone
two games by most of the same people about the same subject, using (most)
of the same models...

> It has been changed to reflect the way armies work
> in the 41st Millennium, and more importantly changed to reflect the way
> Warhammer 40,000 works.

Oh yeah, 40K "works".

> Now, instead of fielding nameless detachment
> cards you can build an army that reflects the army you play in Warhammer
> 40,000, bringing a whole new aspect to the game.

Maybe I'm just taking this game too seriously, but all of my Companies
and detatchments have a place in the Regimental or Chapter organization,
sometimes in some detail (like for my Knight Division, 55 Knights).

> BRILLIANT NEW MINIATURES

Well, that's certainly better than "CRAPPY NEW MINIATURES". Though, I
suspect "EXPENSIVE NEW MINIATURES" would be more accurate.

> One of the new game's most exciting aspects is the sheer volume of new
> models being released. Each model is replete with detail and looks
> absolutely amazing. You can field three or four tanks of the same type
> without actually fielding the same model,

umm... er... say again? Do two Leman Russes NEED to look different? Well,
I'll take a wait and see attitude here. Maybe it will be cool.

> which not only makes it a more
> interesting game, but more fun to paint!

I'm not sure why this makes the game more interesting.

> Plus, the model designers are
> striving to keep all the models in scale to each other, so now Super
> Heavy
> tanks actually look, well, super heavy.

So now your old Super Heavy Tanks look, well, the wrong size.

> Even the Thunderhawk Gunship
> looks like it could actually transport a detachment of Space Marines!

At $14US each, I should hope so. The damn thing should paint my figures
at that price. PS. Game note: I wish they'd change the T-hawk rules so
that it could also carry Mole mortars, Rapiers, Tarantulas, and Thudd
Guns. Space Marines have an easy way of getting troops down to a planet,
but anything else has to walk (or take the dropship). Don't see why Heavy
Support weapons couldn't softland in T-Hawks.

> (And yes, you can use you old square infantry stands, never fear)

Trust me, if I was going to fear about that, I already did it ages ago.

> IT'S ALL COMING MARCH 31ST!!!

Marketing guys said no dice on releasing it April 1st huh? :)

> That's right, this fantastic game will hit the shelves on March 31st, so
> start
> gearing up!

Are all GW games "fantastic" even before anyone outside the company has
played them. Next their going to start calling it a "classic", a week
after its released.

> The Epic 40,000 boxed game is sure to go quick so make sure
> you move fast; there will also be a ton of supporting releases. And, as
> if
> that wasn't enough, every other month afterwards a new army will be
> released so you won't have to wait long to start conquering the universe
> with your favorite force!

Well, unless your favorite force happens to be Squats. I'm guessing
they'll hold back on them till they do them for 40k, and re-work who they
are. That's the wonderfull thing about GW, their games exist in this
Orwellian 1984-style universe where "history" can be a certain way for
years, then, the Lords of Terra will declare someone an un-person and
they'll disappear, or the history of the Horus Heresy will change
overnight to god-knows-what... Needles to say, the ministry of Truth is
busy in the 40k universe <sorry, the squats are evil mutants now, and our
enemy, the eldar are our friends>. <rant mode off>

> All the rules for each race are in the main
> game box, so there are no supplement boxes needed to buy

About damn time.

> (and anything we
> want to add to the game we'll do via White Dwarf).

Well, at least they'll be more in the damn thing I want to read.

> WHAT YOU GET
> The game itself comes with tons of stuff! You get 2 huge armies of
> Space
> Marines and Orks, complete with a large variety of forces (with Tactical
> Squads, Scouts, Terminators, Bikes, Boarboyz, Nobz, Gretchin,
> Stormboyz, Blood Axe Kommandos) and vehicles (Land Raiders,
> Whirlwinds, Battlewagons, Stompas).

I really don't need a "huge army" of Space Marines, thanks. (My space
Marine Chapter is more than I'll ever get to use at once).

Plastic Whirlwinds, <yet> more plastic Land Raiders, stompas, oh my.

> You also get 3 big books
> (Rulebook, Battle Book, & Armies Book),

Good, I like big books -- I hope they meet the high mark set by 5th ed
Warhammer. Graphically, GW is miles ahead of a lot of companies.

> lots of really neat new building
> ruins (no more hotels anymore - this is Stalingrad in WWII!),

Ok. I have to look at this form a positive viewpoint -- I have 4 sets of
Space Marine (bought them for a steal, used) so I have PLENTY of "hotels".
Just hope their not just cardboard (the Titan Legion ones looked good, but
kinda sucked in that regard.)

> 3-D Blast
> Markers, Range Rulers (in metric, of course), special dice, templates,
> Detachment sheets,

I don't look forward to plotting an (old) 6000 point army stand by stand,
vehicle by vehicle... But I'll withhold my opinion till we have a better
idea of how the unit organization will work (in detail, that is).

> and more!

Yeah, some ads...

> 0350 EPIC 40,000 $69.99

Standard price now.

> (Big Boxed Game)
>
> AND EVEN MORE!
> All new models are coming the same time to support the launch of Epic
> 40,000! All have been redesigned from the ground up by the Epic Design
> Team (Tim Adcock, Jes Goodwin, Dave Andrews, Mike & Alan Perry,
> and more) and ya simply gotta see them to believe them. Nuff said!
> 3101 GREAT GARGANT $29.99
> (Boxed set of 1 model)
> 7101 WARLORD TITAN $29.99
> (Boxed set of 1 model)
> 4001 ELDAR WAR HOST $9.99
> (Plastic boxed set)

Ok. $9.99US for the new plastic troop sets... Gee, that's funny, thought
those were going for $15 bucks or so. Well, multiple choice test time:

        A: These boxes will include the same number of sprues (GW slashes
            prices)?

        B: These boxes will include fewer sprues?





Answer: C: These boxes will include fewer SMALLER sprues.


> 1001 SPACE MARINE BATTLE GROUP $9.99
> (Plastic boxed set)
> 1002 SPACE MARINE TANKS $9.99
> (Plastic boxed set)
> 3001 ORK BATTLE WAGONS $9.99
> (Plastic boxed set)

The anti-plastic people may disagree (and I know you're out there), but I
LOVE the idea of boxed plastic vehicle sets, and have been hoping for ages
that they'd do them. Therefor, my wishes are granted. Yeah!

> 3002 ORK MOB $9.99
> (Plastic boxed set)
> 6001 TYRANID SWARM $9.99
> (Plastic boxed set)

I didn't think they were re-doing this one, maybe its just less sprues
(gosh, I'm glad I stocked up).

> 8705A IMPERIAL LEMAN RUSS BATTLE TANKS $8.99
> (Three tanks per blister)

"In three exciting poses!"

> 8705B IMPERIAL HELLHOUND FLAME TANKS $8.99
> (Three tanks per blister)

Based on the new model no doubt.

> 8705C IMPERIAL BANEBLADE SUPER HEAVY TANK $11.99
> (One tank per blister)

It better be super, for $12.

> 8705D IMPERIAL BASILISK ASSAULT GUNS $8.99
> (Two tanks per blister)

Self-Propelled artillary would be more accurate. This thing is too poorly
armoured to engage the enemy in sight to sight.

> 8701A SPACE MARINE VINDACATOR ASSAULT TANKS $8.99
> (Three tanks per blister)
> 8701B SPACE MARINE THUNDERHAWK GUNSHIP $13.99
> (One Gunship per blister)

It better be r-e-a-l-l-y big.

> 8703A ORK WAR BUGGIES $8.99
> (Four models per blister)
> 8703B ORK BIG GUNZ $8.99
> (Five models per blister)
> 8704A ELDAR FALCON GRAV TANKS $8.99
> (Three models per blister)

I don't care how cool the model looks, I do NOT need any more falcons.

> 8704B ELDAR WAVE SERPENT TANKS $8.99
> (Three models per blister)
> 8706A TYRANID DOMINATRIX $13.99
> (One model per blister)
> 8706B TYRANID HIVE TYRANTS $8.99
> (3 models per blister)

This one's a puzzler. The old one was a single model for $6.50, I'm
venturing a guess these will be a tad smaller. Will make my old one's
look REALLY mean though.


Well, that's it. Like I've said before here, my opinion is that EPIC40K
is just a new game (that happens to share a background and models with
Epic SM). And I'll treat it as such, letting it stand on its own
strengths and weaknesses. I know I'll continue playing Space Marine, but
I hope that EPIC40K will grab my interest with the same intensity, because
its fun. And that's what its about.

Christian

It was the year of fire. The year of destruction.
It was a new age. It was the end of history.
It was the year *everything* changed.
Received on Fri Feb 14 1997 - 22:51:33 UTC

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