Big multiplayer games, use the multiplayer rules (can't remember which page of the rulebook they are on(?). Lots of people miss them. Here's the rules as a reminder. We've used the simultaneous rules many times, they really speed things up and are a lot of fun. Give them a go if you haven't already.
Hierarchical Team Game:
In team games, the players are split into two sides. All of the formations on the same side treat each other as friendly formations as far as the rules are concerned, and all formations on the opposing side are treated as enemy formations. In team games, formations belonging to different players on the same side may lend each other supporting fire if assaulted. Team games may either be hierarchical or simultaneous (see below for simultaneous team play). In hierarchical games, one player is placed ‘in supreme command’ and decides which of the players on his side may take an action when it is their side’s turn to do so. This aside, the normal game rules apply in full. Hierarchical games work well for small and medium sized games, but can slow things down a lot if you are running a really large monster session. It is an excellent way of introducing new players to the Epic rules, as they can be teamed up with an experienced player who is the supreme commander for their side, and because almost of the normal game rules are used unchanged.
Simultaneous Team Game:
In a simultaneous game, players are split into two teams as described for Hierarchal team play above. However, all of the players with an eligible formation get to take actions when it is their side’s turn to do so, rather than just one player doing so. Once all the players have completed their action then play passes to the other side. If any of the players on a side wants to retain initiative then they may attempt to do so; other players on the same side may choose to retain the initiative or not as they see fit. Once all the players have completed the actions they wish to carry out, play passes to the other side and that side gets to carry out actions, and so on. When playing a simultaneous game, it is possible for an enemy formation to be attacked by two or more attacking formations. For example, two players on the same side might both want to shoot at the same enemy formation, or one player might shoot at an enemy formation while another player wants to assault it, or two players both want to assault the same enemy formation. If this happens then combined shooting or assaults are allowed to take place. Treat the two (or more) formations taking part as a single force when working out the results of the shooting or assault, following the guidelines for coordinated assault in the core rules. On the other hand, if one player wants to assault an enemy formation then formations belonging to other players on the same side may not shoot at the target of the assault, as the assaulting troops get in the way! Simultaneous play is the best option for very large games, as doing anything else can slow the game down to a snail’s pace. However, it can throw up some strange situations that will require common sense or the roll of a dice to sort out. For this reason, it works best when used by experienced players from a regular gaming group that have the experience and maturity to deal with any rules problems that may arise, or if the scenario is run by a non-player ‘umpire’ who can resolve any disputes.
|
Alternatively give everyone a free automatic retain.