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I am continuing my investigation of the Epic 3rd edition rules and plotting how to convince my friends to play it with me. I am currently perusing the scenarios of the Compendium. However, it seems that the game assumes a rather larger table size than I am accustomed to (and have available).

For example, Gogard's Last Stand! does not directly state a suggested table size, although if the illustration of the deployment it to scale, it hints at a rather unwieldy nearly 2x2 meter board.

Rescue also does not precisely specify a board size, but the mandatory parts of the board layout are 195cm in length, and that is without the deployment zone of the attacker, which I assume is "whatever is left".

However, Breakout suggests that a table over 4" wide is larger than the mission expects (not sure why they switch to Imperial units here), and contains advice on how to mitigate this.

The deployment diagram for Escalating Engagement suggest at least 180cm by 150cm, although this would actually result in deployment zones of zero width, so maybe they actually assume something more like 180cm by 180cm, as in Gogard's Last Stand. Fog of Far has a similar deployment diagram.

These are somewhat unwieldy sizes and I fear they exceed what I can find at my FLGS, let alone my living room. However, are they justified? Looking at the army lists, a Leman Russ Battle Tank has a speed of 25cm and a range of 45cm. This gives a Leman Russ a single-turn threat range of 70cm (on Assault orders it can move another 25 after shooting, but they probably won't be assaulting - any in any case, that would just be an assault threat range of 50cm). Infantry seems to be mostly 10cm. Space Marine tanks are 30cm and land speeders are 35cm. If we add hills, ruins, and other hindrances to sight and motion, a modern 40k board (about 120x180cm) seems like it should work fine.

Does anyone have experience with E40k (or EA, which seems like it has roughly the same unit speeds and ranges) and can explain what board size works best?

Always played on a 6'x4' table for every edition of epic until LI, 8'x4' used to be recommended but noone I played with had the space for that.

Yup. 6x4. Can’t imagine playing on anything smaller.

Further study of the Compendium also revealed this chapter, which states that traditional table sizes are fine, and even gives a formula for relating point count to ideal table size.

One of the things to watch for is reducing table depth.

The closer the forces deploy relative to one another, the less the disadvantage short range has - and the less advantage you gain from stuff like artillery.

That can unfairly skew the game being played.

Of course, if both players are aware of this, they can List appropriately.