October 4, 2016

carlisimo109 (Tactical Command forum)

Getting Started in Epic

Welcome to the Warhammer 40,000 universe in 6mm scale! It’s the best way to bring titans, superheavy
tanks, and masses of medium tanks and infantry onto the tabletop while maintaining room for maneuver -
which leads to a better, more tactical game with a wider cinematic feel than you can get in 28mm.
However, it can be tricky to get into a game without manufacturer support. We’re here to help.

The Rules

The first complication is that there are three sets of rules to choose from, as the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th editions
of the game were each quite different and have a fan community of their own. Fourth edition, aka Epic
Armageddon, is the most widely played in open events, and is a great place to start. They all use the
same miniatures and are typically played on the usual 6’x4’ (180cm x 120cm) table. Below is a summary
with the necessary history behind them.
NetEPIC Gold​ (2nd Ed.) - ​http://www.netepic.org/netepic.html

NetEPIC is a fan-led development of 2nd edition; “Gold” refers to the current release.

Epic’s first edition started as a titan game with Adeptus Titanicus, with tanks and infantry added in the
Space Marine (SM1) box set. 2nd edition was a refinement of the rules, again with two box sets, Space
Marine (SM2) and Titan Legions. It's the most detailed of the three current rules, with large numbers of
dice rolls and longer play times. The level of detail makes it popular for titan battles.

NetEPIC should not be confused with NetEA (see below).

Epic 40,000​ (3rd Ed.) - ​http://www.taccmd.tacticalwargames.net/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=29688

Third edition was a complete rewrite resulting in a streamlined, highly abstracted game with a zoomed-out
feel. It introduced blast markers and the firepower table that was also used in Battlefleet Gothic. Its
simplicity makes it effective for larger games, but its list-building flexibility makes it appropriate for players
with small collections as well.

Epic Armageddon​ (4th Ed.) - ​http://www.tp.net-armageddon.org​ (see note below)

The final edition added some detail back, while remaining more streamlined than 2nd edition. The flow of
the game is different from Epic 40,000 due to alternating activations; instead of taking turns moving
armies then shooting or assaulting, players move and shoot or assault with one detachment at a time.
With more opportunities to react to the opponent’s moves, setting up supported assaults is more
challenging.

Army lists are more restrictive and are structured more like Flames of War lists than Warhammer 40,000
codexes. Each faction/race may have several army lists to choose from, each forcing a different play
style through detachment restrictions.
The original lists have been modified and added to by fan communities. In the Anglosphere, the most
prominent army list development communities are:
- NetEA - the largest and most varied set - ​http://www.net-armageddon.org/page/army-lists
- EpicUK - specifically for the UK tournament scene - ​http://epic-uk.co.uk/wp/army-lists/
- EpicAU - Horus Heresy-era lists - ​http://epicau.com/mw/index.php/Main_Page
All use the same Epic Armageddon rules, the October 2009 “v2” revision plus the official FAQ and Errata.
The physical rulebook that Games Workshop sold did not include the v2 changes. Both the NetEA and
EpicUK websites host PDF copies of the v2 rules, but the rules section of the NetEA Tournament Pack
linked to above incorporates the FAQ and Errata - its use is recommended even if you do not use the
NetEA army lists.

Armyforge is a webapp that lets you put together and share army lists. It is continuously updated and you
can report errors and omissions in the Tactical Command Epic Armageddon subforum.
http://traitor-legion.appspot.com/

Due to the author’s limited experience with NetEPIC and Epic 40,000, the sections below will focus on
Epic Armageddon.
Choosing an Army

If using EpicUK or ​approved​ NetEA army lists (there are developmental and experimental lists as well),
Epic Armageddon is generally considered to be well balanced between 2,000 and 5,000 points when
playing the Grand Tournament scenario. Most battles are fought at 3,000 points per side. There are two
commonly-recommended ways of starting out: 2,000 point battles without war engines and aircraft, and
Minigeddon, a set of rules intended to make smaller battles playable.

https://sites.google.com/site/epicarmageddonlondon/minigeddon

Unlike in the 28mm game, Space Marines (Codex Astartes list) are relatively challenging to play due to
their dependence on well-planned drop assaults and limited anti-war engine weaponry. Steel Legion
Imperial Guard are beginner friendly; avoid the Artillery Company and limit the number of points spent on
upgrades - Epic Armageddon rewards having a large number of activations (i.e.formations) and that is
particularly difficult for Imperial Guard. Orks (Ghazgkhull Thraka’s Warhorde) are often said to be
beginner friendly as well, but have a lower level of internal balance and their list-building flexibility can be
daunting. Ask for advice. Biel-Tan Eldar are, of course, mobile glass cannons unless wraith-heavy.

Those are the default army lists for their respective races; other lists for the same races are usually more
specialized. Don't worry about the title of each list - for example, many, if not most, Eldar players use the
Biel-Tan list regardless of their chosen colors. It can be used for any Eldar army with large Aspect Warrior
formations. Those with a large quantity of Wraithguard models can use the Iyanden list, again without the
expectation that their army will be painted yellow.

Army selection is inevitably tied to model availability; more on that in the following section.

Miniatures and Supplies

Epic Armageddon requires:

- 6’x4’ (180cm X 120cm) table
- metric measuring tape
- several D6
- a scatter die (paint arrows on a D6 if necessary)
- two circular blast templates, 7.4cm and 12cm diameter with a 1cm hole in the middle of each
- they can be printed from section 4 of the rulebook PDF (not the NetEA Tournament Pack)
- rulebook PDF is A4; do not shrink to fit if using 8.5”x11” paper
- blast markers (20+ recommended)
- Pyrkol: http://www.ebay.com/usr/pyrkol
- Litko: http://www.litko.net/products/blast-markers.html
- other markers
- overwatch and broken formation markers are the most important
- optional: markers for all of the formation orders and for Supreme Commander rerolls

Games Workshop stopped selling Epic miniatures in 2013, but the player base is easygoing about using
proxies and mixing ranges. You are likely to end up with a combination of used Games Workshop and
3rd party miniatures.
You may have seen photos of fanmade miniatures - the distribution of intellectual property-infringing
models is illegal, so online communities cannot allow public discussion and requests for them. Games
Workshop ​has ​issued cease-and-desist letters to people recreating their designs in 6mm scale.

Fortunately, there is a long history of interesting 6mm figures compatible with Epic, and as you become
recognized as an active member of the Epic online community you will find that players are happy to help
you find rare and obscure miniatures. Online communities typically have trading pages or subforums -
ask there rather than turning the main page into trade requests. Some online stores sell used Epic
miniatures, such as ChaosOrc in the US (​www.chaosorc.com​).

eBay is by far the largest marketplace of used miniatures, though prices are often high. “Epic 40k” is the
usual search term regardless of edition. Include international sellers in your search; you'll be surprised by
some of the available models, especially if you are looking for Imperial Guard infantry and vehicles or a
few Necron items.

When shopping for used miniatures, note that vehicle detail and variety peaked in the Epic 40,000 era
(black/blue blisters), though Space Marine vehicles of the era were still of the older aesthetic - Mk. I
Rhinos and Mk. IIb Land Raiders. Most Eldar vehicles started looking like their current Warhammer
40,000 counterparts in this edition, though super-heavies were updated in Epic Armageddon.
Blisters from the Epic Armageddon era are either white or black and orange; they are single-piece, single
“pose” and often less well cast.

First and second edition miniatures are less detailed but more widely available. Infantry from this era
used 20mm X 20mm square bases instead of the later 40mm x 12mm strips; that's not a problem;
in-game effects are minimal. Vehicles do not need to be based but some players choose to do so.

The white metal aircraft made by Games Workshop are in a smaller scale, as is often done in tabletop
wargaming to simulate a sense of altitude. Titans and other large super-heavies (e.g. Ordinatus Majoris)
are also under-scaled. Forge World’s resin aircraft are “true scale” 6mm models and might not mix well
with Games Workshop’s equivalents - however, Forge World’s Epic-scale Titans are in the same smaller
scale as Games Workshop’s. A lot of recent 3rd party miniatures for large walkers are larger.

3rd Party Proxies

The 6mm sci-fi miniatures industry is alive and well - explore it! The easiest units to proxy are Imperial
Guard infantry - any humans will do. Microworld, Angel Barracks, Baccus, Plasmablast, Dark Realm
Miniatures, and Age of Tyrants are just a few of the 6mm manufacturers out there.
Bases are often not included. Round 5-hole bases from the Defeat in Detail range may be the only plastic
bases currently in large-scale production, but some Flames of War bases (or similar, e.g. bases by The
Plastic Soldier Company) meet the Epic Armageddon size requirements.

Most 3rd party vehicle models do not share the tall and bulky Games Workshop aesthetic, but in the
aftermath of the Chapterhouse Studios case there are some miniature lines in the same general style.

Onslaught Miniatures (​www.onslaughtmini.com​) produces models that can fill in for Sisters of Battle,
cultists, daemons, Tau, Kroot, Tyranids, Genestealer hybrids, and Dark Eldar. Note that their Sisterhood
line fits better with the Epic Armageddon Space Marine army lists than with the Sisters of Battle army
lists, and their vehicles are very popular substitutions for Rhino-based AFVs even in armies that use
Games Workshop or other infantry models. Drop pod proxies are coming soon. Their creator participates
in the Tactical Command forum under the name Deacon.

Defeat in Detail is the other major Epic-like 6mm line. Formerly sold by Troublemaker Games, it is now
owned by Vanguard Miniatures (​www.vanguardminiatures.co.uk​), who also distribute Onslaught Minis in
the UK. The range includes models that can stand in for Imperial Guard, Space Marines, Orks, Adeptus
Mechanicus (including titans), and, in a couple of cases, Eldar. Some of their sculpts are noticeably
larger than their Epic equivalents, and the Stalkers (usable as Knights and Titan proxies) are “true scale”
and might appear too large if taken alongside Games Workshop or Forge World Titan models. Vanguard
Miniatures is represented in the Tactical Command forum by member Moredakka.

Gregster’s Lab started out as a source of terrain, but has expanded into a wider variety of units and
weapons. There is a link to the current catalog in the “About” section:
https://www.facebook.com/gregsters6mm/

Bradley Miniatures is a growing source of Imperial Guard and Space Marine vehicle proxies:
https://www.facebook.com/Bradleyminiatures/?nr

Exodus Wars is a 6mm range that was to be a game and setting all its own. The range is under new
ownership, and all we know about their plans is that they are starting production back up so the
out-of-stock items will be back soon. It’s a great source of proxies for Squat, Imperial Guard, Adeptus
Mechanicus, Exodite, and Necron armies. The vehicles are more modern-style than Gothic.
http://hlsmodels.com/collections/exodus-wars

Winter’s Bioforge is a great source for Epic and Battlefleet Gothic Tyranid proxies:
http://wintersforge.weebly.com/ground-bugs.html

Terrain

Epic Armageddon uses area cover and abstracted line of sight. Hills and rivers are straightforward
enough, but taller terrain is recommended if Titans are involved.

The 1st and 2nd edition box sets came with complete buildings. 3rd edition came with plastic ruins that
are fairly expensive on the used market. 3rd party buildings are not difficult to find if you are willing to
diversify beyond the GW aesthetic - look for 6mm, 1:285, or 1:300 scale. Battletech is in the same scale,
and is well supported. Printed card buildings from 10mm gaming (e.g. Dropzone Commander) can be
reduced to 60% for use in Epic.

The model train hobby is replete with terrain kits and accessories. Z-scale and Zm-scale are 1:220, and
many of their accessories will work well enough in 6mm gaming. N-scale is larger at 1:160, but is more
popular. Since Epic is “heroic” 6mm, oversized objects may be more appropriate than properly-scaled
items. ZZ-scale is 1:300 but never took off.

A few useful links:

Brigade Models:​ ​http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/6mmSF/
Wasteland Game Studio:​ ​http://www.wastelandgamestudio.com/
Gregster’s Lab:​ ​https://www.facebook.com/gregsters6mm
Battlescene Designs:​ ​http://www.battlescenedesigns.co.uk
Angel Barracks:​ ​http://angelbarracks.co.uk/scenery.html
Daemonscape:​ ​http://www.daemonscape.com/contents/en-uk/d4.html
Fantasy Arc:​ ​http://www.fantasyarc.com

Shapeways is also worth exploring, even if “6mm” mostly brings up historical aircraft.

Basic Selection Tips

The Epic Armageddon subforum at Tactical Command is the best place to seek advice, but some basic
advice is included here because you should start out with an idea of what your army will look like.

Most Epic battles use the Grand Tournament scenario in which each player places three objective
markers on the table. Whether they’re placed as close together or as far apart as the rules allow is a
tactical decision based on the speed of the players’ armies - think about how many of your core (i.e. most
survivable) formations need mobility. Reread the scenario rules for garrisons. Check your balance of
anti-personnel vs. anti-tank firepower. Can you handle hordes? Titans?

Don't be afraid of formations that don't have ranged shooting; assaults tend to cause more decisive
damage. In addition to the detachment that will be directly engaging the enemy, you will want to get other
formations into a support position ahead of time - fast formations - and others to lay blast markers on the
enemy during prior activations. The latter is the reason to take upgrades that give a formation a single
unit with ranged shooting.

The blast marker rules mean that one kill can break a unit of three (one blast marker for coming under
fire, a second for losing a unit, and there are only two units left). Be wary about taking small units unless
you think you can keep them from taking fire.

Units with ​Scout​ can be used to shield friendly detachments from some assaults or redirect enemy
movement, thanks to their larger Zone of Control. They are often inexpensive, which helps your
activation count.

Be stingy with upgrades; if you have a small number of large formations, your opponent may have a few
consecutive activations at the end of each turn. Being able to make unanswered moves is great for
setting up a well-prepared and well-supported assault (i.e. adding blast markers beforehand, and having
friendly units within 15cm of the target). The right number of activations will depend on your local meta,
but an average formation cost of 250-300 is a good target. Imperial Guard will typically have fewer
activations, and Titan armies even fewer.

At 3,000 points, armies should include at least one detachment of ​Fighter​ aircraft for defensive purposes
or an umbrella of anti-air vehicles distributed in various detachments.

The Horus Heresy

The Australian Epic community is leading the creation of army lists based on Forge World’s 28mm Horus
Heresy books; see the Rules section above for the relevant link. The typical army size is larger at 4,000
points, usually with larger formations instead of more of them. Legion, Imperial Army, militia, and
Mechanicum armies are all possible. The lists are still in development and may not be as balanced as the
NetEA and EpicUK 41st millennium lists - balance may be inherently difficult to achieve due to the larger,
more destructive formations. Nevertheless, the setting has a lot of momentum.

EpicAU’s Horus Heresy starter guide:

http://epicau.com/mw/index.php/Building_a_Heresy_Force

The Future

At time of writing, rumor says Games Workshop/Forge World will release an 8mm titan game that could
potentially be expanded into full miniature ranges. If it takes off and gets fully expanded, getting into 6mm
gaming now may look like a bad decision. However, there’s no guarantee of that happening and certainly
no timeline. 6mm figures with 8mm titans could look fine. Some of the larger 6mm ranges, such as
Defeat in Detail, might look acceptable next to 8mm minis. There’s always been some flexibility with
scale in Epic; the original 6mm Space Marines and Rhinos are quite a bit smaller than the later 6mm
Space Marines and Rhinos. 6mm figures will almost certainly remain more affordable, as well.

In the meantime, there are 6mm manufacturers and an online community willing to get you started. Feel
free to ask for advice at:

Tactical Command Forum (Epic Armageddon subforum):

http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewforum.php?f=4

Mini Wars Player Finder:

http://miniwars.co.uk/players

“Epic Armageddon, Space Marine , Epic 40,000 stuff” Facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/300383749973062/

“Epic 30k” Facebook closed group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/480267155499674/