Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I've been scrolling through the epic40k reddit lately and I think I've caught the bug again!

I played the OG Epic: Space Marine (the one with the scarface themed cover was my first GW boxed game I bought in fact!) during the first and second editions, but have since lost or displaced my miniatures and everything else I had.. I only had a few guard plastics pieces remaining in my bits box from those times.

Now getting back into it presents a few headscratchers for me in terms of miniatures. The OG stuff is available to buy on ebay easy enough, and some 3rd party vendors make quite decent looking alternatives for the more exotic stuff like xenos / admech etc. But I've seen some really stunning looking stuff in the reddit which seem to have been 3D printed from thingverse files? So I am a bit unsure how to progress with things..

Is there a way to commission some HQ 3D printer person/company if I want to have specific pieces for my army? I'm quite clueless when it comes to the intricacies of 3D printing, all I know is that some prints look nasty with these jagged lines everywhere while some prints look as crisp and detailed as GW products. Getting my own 3D printer isnt an option right now; too much hassle and too many unknowns ATM. If someone does this professionally or semiprofessionally, I'd much rather use them instead of DIY.

I'll attach some pics from Reddit to demonstrate what I mean by the quality of minis I'm looking for.

I'll be certainly collecting an Imperial army as I want to include those gorgeous new Imperial AT titans and knights into my force.

In addition to minis, I am looking for suggestions as on which ruleset to go for. I really remember enjoying the 2nd edition rules, if nothing better has been introduced since, I could even see myself using those again, but ohviously if something current exists, it'll have rules for all the latest AT products GW is releasing as well.

TIA for any thoughts!

Hmm, seems you're looking for 3D printing help. Perhaps check this part of the Dakka forums out. ;-)

 Malika2 wrote:
Hmm, seems you're looking for 3D printing help. Perhaps check this part of the Dakka forums out. ;-)

Ooh! Apologies, had no idea 3D printing had its own sub here.. thanks, I'll take a looksie!

cheers EDIT: hmm, seems like that sub is only about DIY. Didn't find any threads showcasing 3D printing services, only people announcing their availability for creating new models. I'll keep on searching.

That still leaves the rules to suss out.. Suggestions are welcome!

Great to have another Epic player posting in the forum Tauist!

I definitely think the game is having a resurgence in popularity if numbers in the FB groups are anything to go by (and also here actually!) - I think the combination of the new Adeptus Titanicus, getting people looking at the scale again, as well as the amount of Proxy producers (Vanguard, Onslaught etc.) as well as the 3D printed minis you have mentioned are probably part of that. I think it's probably the right age for retro/nostalgia too, as those of us who played first time around remember the games fondly and now are a bit older, a bit wiser perhaps and want to revisit that scale.

It sounds like you already know a fair bit about what's going on, but if you wanted to have a look at a list of some resources I started this thread some time ago
https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/751316.page

Really I need to add a section in this about 3D printing as that's becoming quite a big thing now. I would also love to find a good printing service if you find one! I have contacted a couple of smaller producers but not had any luck so far.
As a chap said in the other thread you made, perhaps trying to find miniatures on eBay is a good idea? You could also contact a seller and ask if they will produce a print of a file that you can provide.
I will let you know if I have any luck.

Otherwise we have this thread where a group of us are posting our 30k Epic projects if that is your thing
https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/791159.page

Look forward to seeing you get involved and what you come up with!

 Pacific wrote:
Great to have another Epic player posting in the forum Tauist!

I definitely think the game is having a resurgence in popularity if numbers in the FB groups are anything to go by (and also here actually!) - I think the combination of the new Adeptus Titanicus, getting people looking at the scale again, as well as the amount of Proxy producers (Vanguard, Onslaught etc.) as well as the 3D printed minis you have mentioned are probably part of that. I think it's probably the right age for retro/nostalgia too, as those of us who played first time around remember the games fondly and now are a bit older, a bit wiser perhaps and want to revisit that scale.

It sounds like you already know a fair bit about what's going on, but if you wanted to have a look at a list of some resources I started this thread some time ago
https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/751316.page

Really I need to add a section in this about 3D printing as that's becoming quite a big thing now. I would also love to find a good printing service if you find one! I have contacted a couple of smaller producers but not had any luck so far.
As a chap said in the other thread you made, perhaps trying to find miniatures on eBay is a good idea? You could also contact a seller and ask if they will produce a print of a file that you can provide.
I will let you know if I have any luck.

Otherwise we have this thread where a group of us are posting our 30k Epic projects if that is your thing
https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/791159.page

Look forward to seeing you get involved and what you come up with!

Hi,
I've actually read both of these threads already hehe! 30K would probably be the way to go for most up to date content but I still like the idea of fighting xenos as well.. I probably have to get two armies to start with as my gaming buddies are only into 28mm 40K, it'd be a bit of a bore to have symmetrical forces on both sides maybe?

I'll just keep on researching more for the moment. There are quite alot of 3rd parties involved and many of them seem to have at least something I'd be interested in. The trouble is finding a singular good source for everything which I'd find agreeable.. While I understand IP issues prevent 3rd parties from making anything identical to GW's OOP stuff, I'd still like my army to look "proper".

The 3D printing scene is a curious novelty in the 6mm genre. I am very much looking forward to seeing the tech develop. Recent prints are looking much more like professional miniatures compared to what people were printing just a few years ago. I'm expecting the 3D printing tech to undergo a similar technical development cycle as digital cameras did, their resolution and price changed incomprehensibly within the space of roughly a decade (2000-2010).. in the 90s digital cameras cost hundreds of thousands and now a 100$ smartphone camera beats it in performance.. I see the floodgates of 3D printing opening in the next 5-7 years, where the tech will reach affordable, reliable and very high def output status, so I want to postpone getting into it myself for a few more years still.

Completely agree about the symmetrical forces thing (even though it was good enough for 1st ed Space Marine! I'm setting my collection in the later Great Crusade era. This gives you the flavour of Heresy era (especially with the Traitor Legions) and allows you to fight Xenos and even some more wacky alien and human factions that aren't in 40k. It's also a nice little niche that you know isn't going to be wrecked by the timeline updating, Rifts, Primaris, Crawl and Primarchs coming back from the dead etc. which is going to be a thing nowadays for the 40k setting.

There are also a couple of rulesets about that cater to Legion-specific rules. Imperius Dominatus probably has the most marked difference between Legions (with the type of rules lifted from the FW 30k game) so really different character depending on what Legion you play. If you prefer Epic Armageddon as a system, the Epic Heresy AU adds some 30k flavour to the individual Legions (although being Armageddon, it's a lot more streamlined as a system).

Totally agree about the incoming 3D printing stuff, it's super exciting. I love the Vanguard range and I'd say it makes up probably 80% of my current collection, but I'd really like to expand that out with some of the 3D prints (some of the more unusual stuff like Arvus Lighters and jet bikes etc)

I've found two sellers on ebay now, one is located in Spain and another in the USA. The printer from Spain has really attractive prices for his prints but the quality of the USA seller's prints seem to be higher. Decisions decisions!

I think I'd better postpone impulse purchases until I have a better plan, and start off researching the rules. Much easier to plan out the minis shopping once I have an idea how my army lists will be like.

 tauist wrote:
I've found two sellers on ebay now, one is located in Spain and another in the USA. The printer from Spain has really attractive prices for his prints but the quality of the USA seller's prints seem to be higher. Decisions decisions!

I think I'd better postpone impulse purchases until I have a better plan, and start off researching the rules. Much easier to plan out the minis shopping once I have an idea how my army lists will be like.

I'm pretty sure you can find someone more local, as long as you can produce your own files.

Have you thought about buying yourself a resing printer? Usage is pretty easy, all told (there's a learning curve, of course) and you can find an intro one (with pretty much the same resolution as what I do, for example) for about 150 euros.

 Albertorius wrote:

 tauist wrote:
I've found two sellers on ebay now, one is located in Spain and another in the USA. The printer from Spain has really attractive prices for his prints but the quality of the USA seller's prints seem to be higher. Decisions decisions!

I think I'd better postpone impulse purchases until I have a better plan, and start off researching the rules. Much easier to plan out the minis shopping once I have an idea how my army lists will be like.

I'm pretty sure you can find someone more local, as long as you can produce your own files.

Have you thought about buying yourself a resing printer? Usage is pretty easy, all told (there's a learning curve, of course) and you can find an intro one (with pretty much the same resolution as what I do, for example) for about 150 euros.

I did still consider it yesterday, but today I learned of the chemicals involved (ventilation requirements, problem of waste liquid disposals, needing to store flammable solvents) and of the potential technical difficulties I might have to deal with (screens burning out, the need to order spare parts, weird warranty schemes and poor tech support from printer manufcturers), so at least for the time being, getting one is really not an option. Once lockdown ends and I can access my project space again (its a few kilometers from my apartment; I'm a "risk group" patient so need to stay home until vaccine), using such a printer could become possible, but I'd still need to research a lot more into it.

I don't even know if I'd have use for a 3D printer outside of getting access to more better looking minis for Epic tbh.. I'm mostly happy
with GW's and forgeworlds' current model ranges in the 28mil department, and dont play any other systems than 40K derivatives nor collect other miniaturabilia. I dont particularly crave for new tech challenges either, my music and audio engineering hobbies more than occupy that part of my brain already.

By the way, I'm loving your Iron Hands epic army! Which rules system do you use for your games?

Which rules set are people using these days?

I’ve a friend with a 3D Printer, and an enduring love for 2nd Ed Epic Space Marine.

Provided I can find suitably intact copies of the rules (I prefer printed to pdf, part nostalgia, part just....preference) I’d be up for printing an army or four - though from original files, rather than copies of GW’s previous models (again, a preference).

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Which rules set are people using these days?

I’ve a friend with a 3D Printer, and an enduring love for 2nd Ed Epic Space Marine.

Provided I can find suitably intact copies of the rules (I prefer printed to pdf, part nostalgia, part just....preference) I’d be up for printing an army or four - though from original files, rather than copies of GW’s previous models (again, a preference).

I’ll have a dig about once I finish moving next week.
I should have all the books sat here.

Netepic gold is a pretty popular one as it’s free and fixes a lot of the older issues.

Printing is the way forward though, especially for tyranid.
Scalpers on eBay have gone mad with them to the point you can barely find anything for even close to reasonable.
Such a small market that it’s easy to buy up large chunks of epic from eBay and inflate the prices.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Which rules set are people using these days?

I’ve a friend with a 3D Printer, and an enduring love for 2nd Ed Epic Space Marine.

Provided I can find suitably intact copies of the rules (I prefer printed to pdf, part nostalgia, part just....preference) I’d be up for printing an army or four - though from original files, rather than copies of GW’s previous models (again, a preference).

My personal preference is Epic: 40.000 due in part to the more abstracted rules and the way it allows you to create more diverse detachments, but also because I feel that it reflects really, really well the playing style of the armies as depicted in most of the fluff of the setting.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Which rules set are people using these days?

I’ve a friend with a 3D Printer, and an enduring love for 2nd Ed Epic Space Marine.

Provided I can find suitably intact copies of the rules (I prefer printed to pdf, part nostalgia, part just....preference) I’d be up for printing an army or four - though from original files, rather than copies of GW’s previous models (again, a preference).

Welcome MDG!


If you want to do tournaments in the UK at least Armageddon seems to be the most popular. I think it's probably the most 'strategic' version of the game, although has a level of abstraction that some of the other versions don't have (characters are subsumed into other units, Titans and war machines have a hit-point bar etc.).

I like 2nd edition Space Marine for the disconnect of order giving (having to place the hidden order tokens and guess what your opponent it going to do) which gives a great feel for the 'Epic' scale of the game. The rules, expansions, cards etc. are all generally available fairly cheaply too.
If you want the later, community-supported version of these rules look up NetEpic.
The same creators have also created Imperius Dominatus, which has been focussed on 30k so far but I think is about to move onto Xenos and 40k - think there are even plans to do the current 40k releases, Primaris, Primarchs and stuff like that. The game itself is very similar to Space Marine, but with more granularity to the rules (you even have rules for different versions of marine armour, troops can overwatch and stuff like that). I haven't had a chance to play this one yet so couldn't tell you if they have got the detail/flow balance right.

Finally Albertorius is probably the person to ask about Epic 40,000. I didn't ever play it, I believe it's meant to be the smoothest/fasting playing of the editions?

Of course there is nothing to stop you collecting and then trying some different versions of the game.

Do you know what armies you are going to collect yet?

Epic Armageddon is probably the most played, tournament tight system which replicates battalion level modern war of movement pretty well. I prefer about 4000 points at a time, which gives both sides about a dozen moving parts to fiddle with without restricting the lists too much into singular plans.

Imperium Dominatus, a new version built on decades of experience with NetEpic, is another worthy contender to take a look at if one prefers vast forces.

Adeptus Titanicus is of course the best thing since sliced bread in addition to these when you get the itch to play with big stompy robots, that tend to get represented somewhat underwhelmingly abstractly in the massed combined arms games

@tauist: there are reliable sources of garage printers in Finland who can produce you armies for sensible fees, if you ask around a bit. I did that too and here's some examples:

That is such a cool Deathguard force Sherrpie..

That mob of Dreadnoughts! Awesome !

I'm looking forward to giving Imperius Dominatus a go, from reading the brief there is a bit more detail in the way Titans are used (think the rules writers have taken some ideas from AT, with plasma expenditure etc.) - will be interesting they have got the balance of adding some character without slowing the game down too much.
I always really loved the hit charts of Epic Space Marine, of the number of derivations it produced (of sometimes Titans taking tons of damages and fighting on with no weapons, or sometimes going down with one lucky shot) rather than what is essentially an HP bar with Titans and super-heavy vehicles in Armageddon.

 Sherrypie wrote:
Epic Armageddon is probably the most played, tournament tight system which replicates battalion level modern war of movement pretty well. I prefer about 4000 points at a time, which gives both sides about a dozen moving parts to fiddle with without restricting the lists too much into singular plans.

Imperium Dominatus, a new version built on decades of experience with NetEpic, is another worthy contender to take a look at if one prefers vast forces.

Adeptus Titanicus is of course the best thing since sliced bread in addition to these when you get the itch to play with big stompy robots, that tend to get represented somewhat underwhelmingly abstractly in the massed combined arms games

@tauist: there are reliable sources of garage printers in Finland who can produce you armies for sensible fees, if you ask around a bit. I did that too and here's some examples:

Nice! Looks like a lot of your marines are og GW minis?

Where did you find such garage printers, on sotavasara.net perhaps? That new Titan miniature revealed today is droolworthy, I could totally see myself commissioning a nifty SM army to support one with