KevinW wrote:
I'd love to read your thoughts on it! I was thinking along the same lines except I feel that Chaos Space Marines should be available as support, much like with IG. The thinking is that they would act as "advisers" to stiffen the ranks.
I am also putting forth that this forum offshoot should put together a compendium of optional rules. I have a couple more I want to post in the coming weeks that I don't feel are game breaking or going against the spirit of simplicity that makes the game so great. There's no reason why Epic 40k should be a dead rule set.
Absolutely, E40k was endlessly tweaked right from day 1, with terrific fan websites (Dropship e-zine, Laitus Prime, Liber Imperialis... Post if you remember these sites!), the legendary Space Marine email list, the Fanatic Press publications (Firepower and Epic 40,000 Magazine) and much more. While I think it is a gorgeous game as written, it lends itself to fun house rules admirably well.
Re: New Chaos Detachments, I think there are millions of directions you could take it and no true "one way." My initial thoughts for one option would be:
HQ
Chaos Space Marine Lord
Tzeentch Sorcerer
Greater Daemon (with options for different types)
Main Force
Chaos Space Marine Terminators (Land Raiders)
Chaos Space Marines (Rhinos, Veterans*, Khorne Berzerkers*, Noise Marines*)
Chaos Space Marine Bikers
Cultists (up to one Demagogue Psyker)
Support Force
Daemons (Rampage*, Cavalry*, Jump Packs*, Psykers*)
Dreadnought
Predator
Land Raider
Daemon Engine
*Choose one
Chaos Lord > Greater Daemon > Sorcerer > Chaos Space Marine Unit > Demagogue > Other Unit
This detachment could either be mobile (using only Chaos Space Marines in the main force, because they have transport options) or be horde-like, with Chaos Marines on foot, cultists, daemons, dreadnoughts and the slower daemon engines. You might notice that I dropped the Thousand Sons options. The reason is that Stubborn really only works if you only pick Thousand Sons stands, which is really boring and plus, they never came out with an updated model for that. I feel that each Chaos power should be represented by a single unit choice... Tzeentch already has the Chaos Sorcerer unit, Khorne has the Berzerkers and Slaanesh has the Noise Marines (essentially, the Devastator heavy weapon unit of the Chaos Space Marines). Nurgle doesn't really have anything in the Epic 40k scale, which is a shame, but I'm not sure what to do about that short of creating an entirely new unit for them.
I would also have a pure Cultist detachment that represented corrupt Imperial Guardsmen and had access to Chimeras, Leman Russ tanks and so on, but also had lesser daemons as a support option.