Hey everyone,
Was getting back into Epic again, and was using the handbook with the two other guys I play against for the last 4 games or so. This was purely because
a. we thought it was 'official'
b. we thought it had great ease of use, with everything in one document
None of us have played in a tournament before, though as that may be the plan in the future we will now change to the official rules plus errata. I have recently found a couple of other local guys who play epic though I have no idea what ruleset they use.
I didn't realise there were so many versions of the rules knocking about. I am getting confused as to what exactly is is available in what document and version. If Hojyn and Markconz finish their compendiums and handbooks, and they both include recommendations, what exactly will be the difference in the two documents? Are you both repeating each others work?
Would it be possible to push for one versions of rules, and one recommendations supplement:
1. A single, official, up to date tournament handbook, including all errata in document, and all playable races attached as appendices, or officially released supplements such as Raiders. This would form the basis for all tournaments. The tournament organisers could then specify races to be included in their tournament in the intro-pack, such as 'allowed races can be found in Appendices A, B, D, G...' whatever.
This would be agreed by all tournament organisers/army champs etc to be the 'International Standardised Official Ruleset for Tournaments' (long name
, I like them ÂÂ
). If everyone would agree to a regular timeline, and Jervis could be pinned to volunteer a little regular time each year, then something like this could work:
November each year, submit to Jervis to read:
ERC and net ERC people submit any suggested core rules changes
All army champs submit the most recent army lists
Any game test statistics, etc. also submitted
February following year:
Jervis replies on changes, discuss with committee members
April each year:
Release that years version of official complete handbook, for use in that years tournament season. If allowed have this as the 'official download' on the specialist games site, updated once a year.
Obviously this is very broad, and would require Jervis volunteering some spare time during, say, three months each year.
2. A regularly updated single supplementary report of netERC recommendations for core rules and each race, for playtesting. This report would use the handbook as the basis, and would be uploaded regularly, say every 4 months, with observations.
I believe we are making a rod for our own backs by apparently having different rules at each tournament, errata as separate documents, different versions of races, different recommendations, etc. I feel it makes the game look less professional, and the coordinated work to develop the game look less coordinated and more chaotic (and I'm an Eldar player ÂÂ
).
As I haven't played against these two recently found guys yet I have no idea what rules they use, and this would be alleviated by a constant rulebook. Also, I intend emigrating to various countries in the next two years (China for about five years, before ending up in hopefully Canada). Again, I have no idea what rulesets are used in these countries (or even if Epic is played in China, oh please, oh please ...)
I will volunteer myself to produce any reports required for Jervis if the data is sent to me, or update the version of the handbook or netERC reports, if required. My thesis will be submitted by the end of June so I will have more free time to use my well-honed report writing skills.
Do we need a Supreme Commander to decide who (or team of people) will do what, rather than work being repeated in several countries? Everyone on the board is so helpful that multiple individuals are producing clouds of documents. Who is the current head of the ERC?
My 2p, sorry about the long post. Just trying to express the complete problem as I understand it.
Lookatmybiglongname
