Feb.

27,2016
carlisimo109(TacticalCommandforum)

GettingStartedinEpic

WelcometotheWarhammer40,000universein6mmscale!Itsthebestwaytobringtitans,superheavy
tanks,andmassesofmediumtanksandinfantryontothetabletopwhilemaintainingroomformaneuver
whichleadstoabetter,moretacticalgamewithawidercinematicfeelthanyoucangetin28mm.However,
itcanbetrickytogetintoagamewithoutmanufacturersupport.Wereheretohelp.

TheRules

Thefirstcomplicationisthattherearethreesetsofrulestochoosefrom,asthe2nd,3rd,and4theditionsof
thegamewereeachquitedifferentandhaveafancommunityoftheirown.Fourthedition,akaEpic
Armageddon,isthemostwidelyplayedinopenevents,andisagreatplacetostart.Theyallusethesame
miniaturesandaretypicallyplayedontheusual6x4(180cmx120cm)table.Belowisasummarywiththe
necessaryhistorybehindthem.

NetEPICGold (2ndEd.)
http://www.netepic.org/netepic.html

NetEPICisafanleddevelopmentof2ndeditionGoldreferstothecurrentrelease.

EpicsfirsteditionstartedasatitangamewithAdeptusTitanicus,withtanksandinfantryaddedintheSpace
Marine(SM1)boxset.2ndeditionwasarefinementoftherules,againwithtwoboxsets,SpaceMarine
(SM2)andTitanLegions.It'sthemostdetailedofthethreecurrentrules,withlargenumbersofdicerolls
andlongerplaytimes.Thelevelofdetailmakesitpopularfortitanbattles.

NetEPICshouldnotbeconfusedwithNetEA(seebelow).

Epic40,000 (3rdEd.)
http://www.taccmd.tacticalwargames.net/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=29688

Thirdeditionwasacompleterewriteresultinginastreamlined,highlyabstractedgamewithazoomedout
feel.ItintroducedblastmarkersandthefirepowertablethatwasalsousedinBattlefleetGothic.Its
simplicitymakesiteffectiveforlargergames,butitslistbuildingflexibilitymakesitappropriateforplayers
withsmallcollectionsaswell.

EpicArmageddon (4thEd.)
http://www.tp.netarmageddon.org (seenotebelow)

Thefinaleditionaddedsomedetailback,whileremainingmorestreamlinedthan2ndedition.Theflowof
thegameisdifferentfromEpic40,000duetoalternatingactivationsinsteadoftakingturnsmovingarmies
thenshootingorassaulting,playersmoveandshootorassaultwithonedetachmentatatime.Withmore
opportunitiestoreacttotheopponentsmoves,settingupsupportedassaultsismorechallenging.

ArmylistsaremorerestrictiveandarestructuredmorelikeFlamesofWarliststhanWarhammer40,000
codexes.Eachfaction/racemayhaveseveralarmyliststochoosefrom,eachforcingadifferentplaystyle
throughdetachmentrestrictions.
Theoriginallistshavebeenmodifiedandaddedtobyfancommunities.IntheAnglosphere,themost
prominentarmylistdevelopmentcommunitiesare:
NetEAthelargestandmostvariedset http://www.netarmageddon.org/page/armylists
EpicUKspecificallyfortheUKtournamentscene http://epicuk.co.uk/wp/armylists/
EpicAUHorusHeresyeralists http://epicau.com/mw/index.php/Main_Page
AllusethesameEpicArmageddonrules,theOctober2009v2revisionplustheofficialFAQandErrata.
ThephysicalrulebookthatGamesWorkshopsolddidnotincludethev2changes.BoththeNetEAand
EpicUKwebsiteshostPDFcopiesofthev2rules,buttherulessectionoftheNetEATournamentPack
linkedtoaboveincorporatestheFAQandErrataitsuseisrecommendedevenifyoudonotusetheNetEA
armylists.

Armyforgeisawebappthatletsyouputtogetherandsharearmylists.Itiscontinuouslyupdatedandyou
canreporterrorsandomissionsintheTacticalCommandEpicArmageddonsubforum.
http://traitorlegion.appspot.com/

DuetotheauthorslimitedexperiencewithNetEPICandEpic40,000,thesectionsbelowwillfocusonEpic
Armageddon.

ChoosinganArmy

IfusingEpicUKor approved NetEAarmylists(therearedevelopmentalandexperimentallistsaswell),Epic

Armageddonisgenerallyconsideredtobewellbalancedbetween2,000and5,000pointswhenplayingthe
GrandTournamentscenario.Mostbattlesarefoughtat3,000pointsperside.Therearetwo
commonlyrecommendedwaysofstartingout:2,000pointbattleswithoutwarenginesandaircraft,and
Minigeddon,asetofrulesintendedtomakesmallerbattlesplayable.

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

Unlikeinthe28mmgame,SpaceMarines(CodexAstarteslist)arerelativelychallengingtoplayduetotheir
dependenceonwellplanneddropassaultsandlimitedantiwarengineweaponry.SteelLegionImperial
GuardarebeginnerfriendlyavoidtheArtilleryCompanyandlimitthenumberofpointsspentonupgrades
EpicArmageddonrewardshavingalargenumberofactivations(i.e.formations)andthatisparticularly
difficultforImperialGuard.Orks(GhazgkhullThrakasWarhorde)areoftensaidtobebeginnerfriendlyas
well,buthavealowerlevelofinternalbalanceandtheirlistbuildingflexibilitycanbedaunting.Askfor
advice.BielTanEldarare,ofcourse,mobileglasscannonsunlesswraithheavy.

Thosearethedefaultarmylistsfortheirrespectiveracesotherlistsforthesameracesareusuallymore
specialized.Don'tworryaboutthetitleofeachlistforexample,many,ifnotmost,Eldarplayersusethe
BielTanlistregardlessoftheirchosencolors.ItcanbeusedforanyEldararmywithlargeAspectWarrior
formations.ThosewithalargequantityofWraithguardmodelscanusetheIyandenlist,againwithoutthe
expectationthattheirarmywillbepaintedyellow.

Armyselectionisinevitablytiedtomodelavailabilitymoreonthatinthefollowingsection.

MiniaturesandSupplies

EpicArmageddonrequires:
6x4(180cmX120cm)table
metricmeasuringtape
severalD6
ascatterdie(paintarrowsonaD6ifnecessary)
twocircularblasttemplates,7.4cmand12cmdiameterwitha1cmholeinthemiddleofeach
theycanbeprintedfromsection4oftherulebookPDF(nottheNetEATournamentPack)
rulebookPDFisA4donotshrinktofitifusing8.5x11paper
blastmarkers(20+recommended)
Pyrkol:http://www.ebay.com/usr/pyrkol
Litko:http://www.litko.net/products/blastmarkers.html
othermarkers
overwatchandbrokenformationmarkersarethemostimportant
optional:markersforalloftheformationordersandforSupremeCommanderrerolls

GamesWorkshopstoppedsellingEpicminiaturesin2013,buttheplayerbaseiseasygoingaboutusing
proxiesandmixingranges.YouarelikelytoendupwithacombinationofusedGamesWorkshopand3rd
partyminiatures.

Youmayhaveseenphotosoffanmademiniaturesthedistributionofintellectualpropertyinfringingmodels
isillegal,soonlinecommunitiescannotallowpublicdiscussionandrequestsforthem.GamesWorkshop
has issuedceaseanddesistletterstopeoplerecreatingtheirdesignsin6mmscale,hencethelockdown.

Fortunately,thereisalonghistoryofinteresting6mmfigurescompatiblewithEpic,andasyoubecome
recognizedasanactivememberoftheEpiconlinecommunityyouwillfindthatplayersarehappytohelp
youfindrareandobscureminiatures.Onlinecommunitiestypicallyhavetradingpagesorsubforumsask
thereratherthanturningthemainpageintotraderequests.SomeonlinestoressellusedEpicminiatures,
suchasChaosOrcintheUS( www.chaosorc.com ).

eBayisbyfarthelargestmarketplaceofusedminiatures,thoughpricesareoftenhigh.Epic40kisthe
usualsearchtermregardlessofedition.Includeinternationalsellersinyoursearchyou'llbesurprisedby
someoftheavailablemodels,especiallyifyouarelookingforImperialGuardinfantryandvehicles.

Whenshoppingforusedminiatures,notethatvehicledetailandvarietypeakedintheEpic40,000era
(black/blueblisters),thoughSpaceMarinevehiclesoftheerawerestilloftheolderaestheticMk.IRhinos
andMk.IIbLandRaiders.MostEldarvehiclesstartedlookingliketheircurrentWarhammer40,000
counterpartsinthisedition,thoughsuperheavieswereupdatedinEpicArmageddon.
BlistersfromtheEpicArmageddoneraareeitherwhiteorblackandorangetheyaresinglepiece,single
poseandoftenlesswellcast.

Firstandsecondeditionminiaturesarelessdetailedbutmorewidelyavailable.Infantryfromthiseraused
20mmX20mmsquarebasesinsteadofthelater40mmx12mmstripsthat'snotaproblemingameeffects
areminimal.Vehiclesdonotneedtobebasedbutsomeplayerschoosetodoso.

ThewhitemetalaircraftmadebyGamesWorkshopareinasmallerscale,asisoftendoneintabletop
wargamingtosimulateasenseofaltitude.Titansandotherlargesuperheavies(e.g.OrdinatusMajoris)are
alsounderscaled.ForgeWorldsresinaircraftaretruescale6mmmodelsandmightnotmixwellwith
GamesWorkshopsequivalentshowever,ForgeWorldsEpicscaleTitansareinthesamesmallerscale
asGamesWorkshops.Alotofrecent3rdpartyminiaturesforlargewalkersarelarger.

3rdPartyProxies

The6mmscifiminiaturesindustryisaliveandwellexploreit!TheeasiestunitstoproxyareImperial
Guardinfantryanyhumanswilldo.Microworld,AngelBarracks,Baccus,Plasmablast,DarkRealm
Miniatures,andAgeofTyrantsarejustafewofthe6mmmanufacturersoutthere.
Basesareoftennotincluded.Round5holebasesfromtheDefeatinDetailrangemaybetheonlyplastic
basescurrentlyinlargescaleproduction,butsomeFlamesofWarbases(orsimilar,e.g.basesbyThe
PlasticSoldierCompany)meettheEpicArmageddonsizerequirements.

Most3rdpartyvehiclemodelsdonotsharethetallandbulkyGamesWorkshopaesthetic,butinthe
aftermathoftheChapterhouseStudioscasetherearesomeminiaturelinesinthesamegeneralstyle.

OnslaughtMiniatures( www.onslaughtmini.com )producesmodelsthatcanfillinforSistersofBattle,cultists,

daemons,Tau,Kroot,Tyranids,Genestealerhybrids,andDarkEldar.NotethattheirSisterhoodlinefits
betterwiththeEpicArmageddonSpaceMarinearmyliststhanwiththeSistersofBattlearmylists,andtheir
vehiclesareverypopularsubstitutionsforRhinobasedAFVseveninarmiesthatuseGamesWorkshopor
otherinfantrymodels.Droppodproxiesarecomingsoon.TheircreatorparticipatesintheTactical
CommandforumunderthenameDeacon.

DefeatinDetailistheothermajorEpiclike6mmline.FormerlysoldbyTroublemakerGames,itisnow
ownedbyVanguardMiniatures( www.vanguardminiatures.co.uk
),whoalsodistributeOnslaughtMinisinthe
UK.TherangeincludesmodelsthatcanstandinforImperialGuard,SpaceMarines,Orks,Adeptus
Mechanicus(includingtitans),and,inacoupleofcases,Eldar.Someoftheirsculptsarenoticeablylarger
thantheirEpicequivalents,andtheStalkers(usableasKnightsandTitanproxies)aretruescaleandmight
appeartoolargeiftakenalongsideGamesWorkshoporForgeWorldTitanmodels.VanguardMiniaturesis
representedintheTacticalCommandforumbymemberMoredakka.

GregstersLabstartedoutasasourceofterrain,buthasexpandedintoawidervarietyofunitsand
weapons.ThereisalinktothecurrentcatalogintheAboutsection:
https://www.facebook.com/gregsters6mm/

BradleyMiniaturesisagrowingsourceofImperialGuardandSpaceMarinevehicleproxies:
https://www.facebook.com/Bradleyminiatures/?nr

ExodusWarsisa6mmrangethatwastobeagameandsettingallitsown.Therangeisundernew
ownership,andallweknowabouttheirplansisthattheyarestartingproductionbackupsotheoutofstock
itemswillbebacksoon.ItsagreatsourceofproxiesforSquat,ImperialGuard,AdeptusMechanicus,
Exodite,andNecronarmies.ThevehiclesaremoremodernstylethanGothic.
http://hlsmodels.com/collections/exoduswars

Terrain

EpicArmageddonusesareacoverandabstractedlineofsight.Hillsandriversarestraightforwardenough,
buttallerterrainisrecommendedifTitansareinvolved.

The1stand2ndeditionboxsetscamewithcompletebuildings.3rdeditioncamewithplasticruinsthatare
fairlyexpensiveontheusedmarket.3rdpartybuildingsarenotdifficulttofindifyouarewillingtodiversify
beyondtheGWaestheticlookfor6mm,1:285,or1:300scale.Battletechisinthesamescale,andiswell
supported.Printedcardbuildingsfrom10mmgaming(e.g.DropzoneCommander)canbereducedto60%
foruseinEpic.

Themodeltrainhobbyisrepletewithterrainkitsandaccessories.ZscaleandZmscaleare1:220,and
manyoftheiraccessorieswillworkwellenoughin6mmgaming.Nscaleislargerat1:160,butismore
popular.SinceEpicisheroic6mm,oversizedobjectsmaybemoreappropriatethanproperlyscaled
items.ZZscaleis1:300butnevertookoff.

Afewusefullinks:
BrigadeModels:
http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/6mmSF/
WastelandGameStudio:
http://www.wastelandgamestudio.com/
GregstersLab:
https://www.facebook.com/gregsters6mm
BattlesceneDesigns:
http://www.battlescenedesigns.co.uk
AngelBarracks:
http://angelbarracks.co.uk/scenery.html
Daemonscape:
http://www.daemonscape.com/contents/enuk/d4.html
FantasyArc:
http://www.fantasyarc.com

Shapewaysisalsoworthexploring,evenif6mmmostlybringsuphistoricalaircraft.

BasicSelectionTips

TheEpicArmageddonsubforumatTacticalCommandisthebestplacetoseekadvice,butsomebasic
adviceisincludedherebecauseyoushouldstartoutwithanideaofwhatyourarmywilllooklike.

MostEpicbattlesusetheGrandTournamentscenarioinwhicheachplayerplacesthreeobjectivemarkers
onthetable.Whethertheyreplacedasclosetogetherorasfarapartastherulesallowisatacticaldecision
basedonthespeedoftheplayersarmiesthinkabouthowmanyofyourcore(i.e.mostsurvivable)
formationsneedmobility.Rereadthescenariorulesforgarrisons.Checkyourbalanceofantipersonnelvs.
antitankfirepower.Canyouhandlehordes?Titans?

Don'tbeafraidofformationsthatdon'thaverangedshootingassaultstendtocausemoredecisivedamage.
Inadditiontothedetachmentthatwillbedirectlyengagingtheenemy,youwillwanttogetotherformations
intoasupportpositionaheadoftimefastformationsandotherstolayblastmarkersontheenemyduring
prioractivations.Thelatteristhereasontotakeupgradesthatgiveaformationasingleunitwithranged
shooting.

Theblastmarkerrulesmeanthatonekillcanbreakaunitofthree(oneblastmarkerforcomingunderfire,a
secondforlosingaunit,andthereareonlytwounitsleft).Bewaryabouttakingsmallunitsunlessyouthink
youcankeepthemfromtakingfire.

UnitswithScoutcanbeusedtoshieldfriendlydetachmentsfromsomeassaultsorredirectenemy
movement,thankstotheirlargerZoneofControl.Theyareofteninexpensive,whichhelpsyouractivation
count.

Bestingywithupgradesifyouhaveasmallnumberoflargeformations,youropponentmayhaveafew
consecutiveactivationsattheendofeachturn.Beingabletomakeunansweredmovesisgreatforsetting
upawellpreparedandwellsupportedassault(i.e.addingblastmarkersbeforehand,andhavingfriendly
unitswithin15cmofthetarget).Therightnumberofactivationswilldependonyourlocalmeta,butan
averageformationcostof250300isagoodtarget.ImperialGuardwilltypicallyhavefeweractivations,and
Titanarmiesevenfewer.

At3,000points,armiesshouldincludeatleastonedetachmentof Fighter
aircraftfordefensivepurposesor
anumbrellaofantiairvehiclesdistributedinvariousdetachments.

TheHorusHeresy

TheAustralianEpiccommunityisleadingthecreationofarmylistsbasedonForgeWorlds28mmHorus
HeresybooksseetheRulessectionabovefortherelevantlink.Thetypicalarmysizeislargerat4,000
points,usuallywithlargerformationsinsteadofmoreofthem.Legion,ImperialArmy,militia,and
Mechanicumarmiesareallpossible.Thelistsarestillindevelopmentandmaynotbeasbalancedasthe
NetEAandEpicUK41stmillenniumlistsbalancemaybeinherentlydifficulttoachieveduetothelarger,
moredestructiveformations.Nevertheless,thesettinghasalotofmomentum.

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

TheFuture

InthegrimfutureofEpic,thereareonlyrumorsofaTitangame.Itcouldbeafewyearsawaythough,andit
wouldonlyexpandintoinfantryandvehiclesifitissuccessfulaswasthecasefortheoriginalAdeptus
Titanicus.Epiccouldyetcomefullcircle.

Inthemeantime,thereare6mmmanufacturersandanonlinecommunitywillingtogetyoustarted.Feel
freetoaskforadviceat:

TacticalCommandForum(EpicArmageddonsubforum):
http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewforum.php?f=4

MiniWarsPlayerFinder:
http://miniwars.co.uk/players

EpicArmageddon,SpaceMarine,Epic40,000stuffFacebookgroup:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/300383749973062/

Epic30kFacebookclosedgroup:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/480267155499674/