Net Epic Special Announcement: Changing of the guard
After 20 years of guiding net epic you learn quite a few things on how to manage and push forward such a project.
The one thing I look out for the most is what is in the best interest of net epic. Make sure it gets the love it deserves.
There is one thing I keep in the back of my mind though. Whether or not "I" am the best thing for net epic. I have come to the conclusion that, at least currently, that I am not the best person to guide the net epic project forth.
The simple truth is I have not even played a game of epic by the actual rules in over a decade. Nowadays I play a whole bunch of "weird stuff" I come up with, tinker with, change and discard all the time.
If you've followed net epic long enough, you know I am always the guy who advocates for change. If I had been permitted to, I'd have "blown up" the rules quite some time ago and made something not very recognizable as "net epic".
I realize it is an odd perspective to have for someone who has guided the project for 20 years. I confess that the mantra "it is not broke, don't fix it!" has chaffed me quite a few times over the two decades.
However I DO understand why this game is liked. WHY people like the base mechanics as they are and WHY most are not interested in anything more than some mild tuning, adding some units here and there and overall preserving the game the net epic fans like.
There IS a lot to like about net epic. The sweeping feeling of commanding an actual army, not just a group of units. All the "quirks" of the rules that make games memorable (some I remember still after all these years). These ease of army construction and setting up a game.
I know (perhaps more than most) what the fans love about it. It is proper, fair and beneficial for someone with the enthusiasm for the system as it is, warts and all to guide it forth.
I am not longer that person. My tastes and desires have diverged to much and too far for me to be the steward Net Epic deserves.
Instead of fighting the system and introducing change that is not wanted or needed, its best for someone to guide the current system and make it better, not to make it different for difference sake.
For these reasons I am stepping down from leading the project and handing it to more capable individuals that have net epic's interests and betterment at heart.
The individual I have selected for this is Robert Owen Becker. There are many good things I could say about him, but what mattered to me in passing the baton to him was his enthusiasm for the system. As he told me in a conversation that net epic might be "old" to me, but for him it was "new". Doesn't sound like much, but its a big deal. Enthusiasm is what leading this project is all about. He's convinced me he has that in excess.
Robert has the knowledge of the rules. I can't tell you how many times I have deferred to his interpretation. There is no contest in this regard. He knows more about the net epic rules that I do. As you can imagine its good for whomever guides net epic to have a strong grasp of them.
Additionally, Robert has solid "math skills". I have depended on others to do this for me for the last 20 years. It was high time the net epic leader had these skills himself, since it just makes unit construction easier.
For these and many other reasons, he IS the right man for the job. I thank him for accepting it and remind him he has my help and support whenever he requires it.
Robert, in time will set his agenda of what projects to tackle and decide what is the best format going forward (like this group (facebook) if Derek agrees of course!) or our old net epic mailing list which believe it or not still have around 500 members with a valid e-mail address.
I believe it will be an exciting time. It feels like the "old days" of the net epic group can come again with an enthusiastic new team guiding it.
As for me, I'll still be around, as always, to help in whatever net epic fans need. All materials including the original proofs for the net epic books and cards will be made available to Robert for use and modification and of course the Epicenter will still be there to upload what is made.
I'll always be there if you need me.
..and for the last time as net epic coordinator...
LONG LIVE NET EPIC!
Primarch