Mine arrived today and I am absolutely delighted! Your unboxing is very fair and informative and I’m sure beginners will find it very helpful. This will certainly be keeping me busy for some time. Looking forward to seeing how your project develops. All credit to Warlord for launching this version of their Epic range.
I've noticed that the rulebooks they've produced for all the Epic battles sets are really thick and well-fleshed out. Far more substantial than some of the thinner booklet-length books you see in other company's starter sets.
The new rulebooks are better but still pretty dodgy. They are more amalgamations of prior books than new books. For example, the Waterloo book contains many charts and rules contradictions between the second edition BP rulebook and the Waterloo specific stats/lists that are taken from old first edition books. Gun types is inconsistent with different names appearing in different places and generals having command abilities that are holdovers from the first ed rules when they could still issue commands, are two confusing issues that I've had to help people on multiple times. There are several others. It might not be an issue with Pike and Shotte because it's all still one edition, but it is an different set of rules too.
That’s interesting, it’s the kind of thing a fudge through without giving it too much thought, but I appreciate that the Waterloo book would have been a perfect time update those bits. You may well be right with P&S, the single edition will likely mean less of those inconsistencies.
@@MiniatureRealms That should be a new procedure for all channel subscribers...nobody opens their starter boxes until Stuart does the review and makes sure it's safe, lol.
Fantastic review! Must pick up at least the base starter box. It's a wargaming time period I've never explored before, looks like it's going to be a lot of fun!
Great video and I’m sure people will find it very informative and useful, my set arrived yesterday and unboxing today for my birthday present to myself 😁 I think it’s a great set for people wanting to get into the period. Steel fist minis match really well with these. Let’s hope Warlord keep epic going.
Happy Birthday Graham, that is a perfect present for for yourself 😂. I may pick up a few odds and ends from Steel Fist, probably for command stands and extra touches.
Nice unboxing. Will definitely take a look at your Painting Tutorial. 👍 Was quite happy with the rule book at first glance. The Epic basing system has been implemented well and all the rules seem to be in place and a few details of the supplements, too.
That books a lot better quality than I expected. Very much looking forward to my set arriving, my first Warlord Games purchase, and it all looks very promising.
@Miniature Realms I'd maybe not appreciated actually how many figures are coming, but I am looking forward to getting started. Deffo my summer painting project this year. Painting two colossals last summer so should be able to tackle a sizeable chunk of these.
Enjoyed this vid, am on the fence with this period, which I do fancy gaming. However, the pile of shame that is epic napoleonic is still being worked on! Thanks for sharing this, the models look fantastic. Deffo be viewing the painting tutorial if/when I find time for this.
Mine arrived the other week. I've decided to hold off on trying to do it all in a big go - I have yet to finish off my ACW stuff *looks shifty* I don't have too many projects...honestly. Thankfully the eclectic nature of regimental uniforms in this period means I can do one regiment at a time as a side-project I enjoy how well the frames are put together and that it covers so much of what you would need in an army. As the British Civil Wars is my area of historical expertise I am a big fan of this - I can finally have big battles!! I can certainly see a general improvement from ACW to ECW sets and I was pleased enough with the former accepting that there are limitations to plastic sculpting and moulding at this scale. I am not sure they will be rolling out many extra sets for the main forces here - just Battalia boxes of the new frames, because of that I may look to use some other manufacturers such as Steel Fist to add some variation to command stands, front ranks etc. I don't think, although it would be nice if they did, that they will release other factions for the British Civil Wars - Scots or Irish but a bit of green-stuff work should convert some of those relatively quickly. My one tiny tiny gripe is still the musket rests and the armour for the pikemen. But that doesn't counter my enjoyment at all. Now, the big question - what UK terrain manufacturer (resin preferably) do you recommend for a 4x4 and 6x4 epic scale? I've asked this before but I'm curious if you've looked for this range/period
🤔 hmmm that’s a good question. This time round I’ve not bought all the terrain in, I’m trying to keep this as a more sensible sized project myself, I may get a few bits though, and the star fort looks fun. I’ve got some 10mm buildings from Battlescale that look good, might stick to that range, the scale is close enough, they don’t have a huge footprint, and work well for my 10mm projects as well.
Hi Stuart, thanks for doing this video and most informative and looking forward to getting a starter set when I’m back in the UK. Guess part of the evolution of Epic, is listening to what people liked and disliked and the mix does look appealing in this box. I will also start with a small box and attempt to constrain my enthusiasm and end up with a new and somewhat unneeded multi year project. I still have lots of ACW that are unpainted. I’m not a big fan of Black Powder (and hence Pike and Shotte) rules as its so dice centric and somewhat prefer more contemporary rules that include cards. So when you do get someone to talk about rules maybe probe for other useable rule sets and also what mods to make to basing to match the other rules where practical. As you might remember I wished I had used a mix of base frontage for ACW to support Longstreet or other rules. Paul in California
Hi Paul, glad you’ve found the review useful. That’s a good question about alternative rules, I think you might get some replies to this comment, but I’ll ask some other people as well. I’ve got a couple of guests lined up for P&S related chats.
I'll be picking up the starter set if of no other reason than to encourage Warlord to continue with the line...besides stands of pikeman are going tp look pretty cool painted up and deployed on the table.
I think this is a great product. I have 2 criticisms from my box - 1. there’s not enough cavalry, even for the English civil war. 2. None of the scenarios included in the Rulebook as written can be played out of the box. (Brentford should, but they’ve scaled up the artillery incorrectly so you would need 3x as many guns as were present historically.
Yeah I think I’m going to grab another box of Cavalry at least. I haven’t looked at the scenarios in detail yet, but I wonder if they should have done some kind of basic ‘learn to play booklet’, and witching that a smaller scenario that the box catered for.
Thanks for this Stuart was on the fence with this it was a period I've always had an interest in ECW but still working on my napoleonics so not listening to my wallet saying spend spend ,well not yet😂😂😂
😆 They do take a little longer than you think don’t they. That’s a good start though, keep up the momentum and you’ll be fine (I need to follow that rule myself).
@@MiniatureRealms Great detail on the figures makes me want to paint it all. That said once you step back a pace it all blends. Quick question, any ideas on movement trays?
Not in great detail yet, still need to fully figure out the rules and how I will build my armies. A tray to hold both pike stands (and extend forward to help protect the pikes) is tempting.
Opened my preorder yesterday and all looks fantastic although i may regret ordering the 5 extra boxes of cavalry!! The P&S book included is very different to the original P&S book being focused entirely on ECW & TYW exclusively. I read somewhere (i think it was WI) that units are treated as one, unlike original P&S so shot and pike move together. Either way can't wait to get to this, in about a year or twos time. Have just finished painting the ACW Gettysburg and Blood and Guts boxes in under 2 months, thank you Army Painter shader! Next Mythic Americas, then Deadzone/Firefight and then this. Assuming nothing else gets in the way 😂
Excitedly waiting for mine, and I haven’t ordered the commanders yet either. Have sourced more 3rd party compatibles though for a touch of conversions, not where near as much as I have done with the others. Will post an update on that soon l hope. As you say, this is pretty much one box and your done (though I will probably get coventeers if they bring them out). My only fear is that they do winged hussars and cossacks for 30yw and then I will wish l didn’t go down the ECW route lol! Great review of the booklet, looks like the most changed yet and keen to get a read of it.
Not really got into the swing of it yet fully, and a planned big game isn’t happening so that takes the time pressure off. Some content on the way though, a video out later today in fact.
@@MiniatureRealms good to hear. I got the all in sets for both waves. Prime/basecoat started but hit rain this week. Now if only the Xpress paints would show up in a local shop.
As always a very good review unboxing Stu. I am completely clueless when it comes to this period including ECW but it looks an amazing starter set to learn about the period and play the game. Curious I must admit however I'm still very much embroiled in Napoleonics and ACW...
It is a shame that a historical game named "Pike & Shotte" which is based on a time when the dominant militar power was the Spanish Empire with their "Tercios" is hidden and diluted so much to the point of talking about the "Imperial Army" to hide a faction centered on the Spanish Empire, which was at that time the hegemonic force. However, they didn't hesitate to include less relevant factions in the Thirty Years War. It is as if the Roman Empire was not in a game based of ancient wars in Europe. It is evident that the Spanish Black Legend is present even in a miniature game.
Mine arrived today and I am absolutely delighted! Your unboxing is very fair and informative and I’m sure beginners will find it very helpful. This will certainly be keeping me busy for some time. Looking forward to seeing how your project develops.
All credit to Warlord for launching this version of their Epic range.
I need to sort out a plan for mine now, work out two forces etc.
I've noticed that the rulebooks they've produced for all the Epic battles sets are really thick and well-fleshed out. Far more substantial than some of the thinner booklet-length books you see in other company's starter sets.
The ACW one was a booklet, but Waterloo and now this have been brilliant.
@@MiniatureRealms Oh, that's right the Civil War one was a thinner booklet.
The new rulebooks are better but still pretty dodgy. They are more amalgamations of prior books than new books. For example, the Waterloo book contains many charts and rules contradictions between the second edition BP rulebook and the Waterloo specific stats/lists that are taken from old first edition books. Gun types is inconsistent with different names appearing in different places and generals having command abilities that are holdovers from the first ed rules when they could still issue commands, are two confusing issues that
I've had to help people on multiple times. There are several others.
It might not be an issue with Pike and Shotte because it's all still one edition, but it is an different set of rules too.
That’s interesting, it’s the kind of thing a fudge through without giving it too much thought, but I appreciate that the Waterloo book would have been a perfect time update those bits. You may well be right with P&S, the single edition will likely mean less of those inconsistencies.
I am enjoying the rules seems very intuitive from the videos I have watched .
Got my copy today. It says something about your content that I’ve chosen to watch your unboxing before getting stuck into my own! 😂
🤣 Just checking yours is safe to open.
@@MiniatureRealms That should be a new procedure for all channel subscribers...nobody opens their starter boxes until Stuart does the review and makes sure it's safe, lol.
😂
Great to see the boxes arriving and nice unboxing vid 👍. Very tempted still. We will see what happens when I’m at Salute on Saturday 😆.
I’m sure a box could ‘accidentally’ make its way home with you 😂
Fantastic review! Must pick up at least the base starter box. It's a wargaming time period I've never explored before, looks like it's going to be a lot of fun!
Thank you Mike, definitely a neat way to try the period out.
Great video and I’m sure people will find it very informative and useful, my set arrived yesterday and unboxing today for my birthday present to myself 😁 I think it’s a great set for people wanting to get into the period. Steel fist minis match really well with these. Let’s hope Warlord keep epic going.
Happy Birthday Graham, that is a perfect present for for yourself 😂. I may pick up a few odds and ends from Steel Fist, probably for command stands and extra touches.
Nice unboxing. Will definitely take a look at your Painting Tutorial. 👍
Was quite happy with the rule book at first glance. The Epic basing system has been implemented well and all the rules seem to be in place and a few details of the supplements, too.
Thank you. 🙂 That was pretty much my first impression of the book as well, need to find some time to sit down and have a good read now.
That books a lot better quality than I expected.
Very much looking forward to my set arriving, my first Warlord Games purchase, and it all looks very promising.
I think you will love it, just hope you like painting it 😅😆
@Miniature Realms I'd maybe not appreciated actually how many figures are coming, but I am looking forward to getting started. Deffo my summer painting project this year. Painting two colossals last summer so should be able to tackle a sizeable chunk of these.
You almost couldn’t get a more polar opposite hobby project for this summer 😂
Enjoyed this vid, am on the fence with this period, which I do fancy gaming. However, the pile of shame that is epic napoleonic is still being worked on! Thanks for sharing this, the models look fantastic. Deffo be viewing the painting tutorial if/when I find time for this.
I really shouldn’t be adding to my pile of shame either, but I’ve just given up and accepted my willpower is low.
Mine arrived the other week. I've decided to hold off on trying to do it all in a big go - I have yet to finish off my ACW stuff *looks shifty* I don't have too many projects...honestly. Thankfully the eclectic nature of regimental uniforms in this period means I can do one regiment at a time as a side-project
I enjoy how well the frames are put together and that it covers so much of what you would need in an army. As the British Civil Wars is my area of historical expertise I am a big fan of this - I can finally have big battles!!
I can certainly see a general improvement from ACW to ECW sets and I was pleased enough with the former accepting that there are limitations to plastic sculpting and moulding at this scale. I am not sure they will be rolling out many extra sets for the main forces here - just Battalia boxes of the new frames, because of that I may look to use some other manufacturers such as Steel Fist to add some variation to command stands, front ranks etc.
I don't think, although it would be nice if they did, that they will release other factions for the British Civil Wars - Scots or Irish but a bit of green-stuff work should convert some of those relatively quickly. My one tiny tiny gripe is still the musket rests and the armour for the pikemen. But that doesn't counter my enjoyment at all.
Now, the big question - what UK terrain manufacturer (resin preferably) do you recommend for a 4x4 and 6x4 epic scale? I've asked this before but I'm curious if you've looked for this range/period
🤔 hmmm that’s a good question. This time round I’ve not bought all the terrain in, I’m trying to keep this as a more sensible sized project myself, I may get a few bits though, and the star fort looks fun.
I’ve got some 10mm buildings from Battlescale that look good, might stick to that range, the scale is close enough, they don’t have a huge footprint, and work well for my 10mm projects as well.
Good stuff! That's a lot of sprues!
Yeah, and I’m sure many will stay unpainted for too long 😅
Hi Stuart, thanks for doing this video and most informative and looking forward to getting a starter set when I’m back in the UK. Guess part of the evolution of Epic, is listening to what people liked and disliked and the mix does look appealing in this box. I will also start with a small box and attempt to constrain my enthusiasm and end up with a new and somewhat unneeded multi year project. I still have lots of ACW that are unpainted. I’m not a big fan of Black Powder (and hence Pike and Shotte) rules as its so dice centric and somewhat prefer more contemporary rules that include cards. So when you do get someone to talk about rules maybe probe for other useable rule sets and also what mods to make to basing to match the other rules where practical. As you might remember I wished I had used a mix of base frontage for ACW to support Longstreet or other rules. Paul in California
Hi Paul, glad you’ve found the review useful. That’s a good question about alternative rules, I think you might get some replies to this comment, but I’ll ask some other people as well. I’ve got a couple of guests lined up for P&S related chats.
I'll be picking up the starter set if of no other reason than to encourage Warlord to continue with the line...besides stands of pikeman are going tp look pretty cool painted up and deployed on the table.
There’s something about those pikes that look so good en mass.
I think this is a great product. I have 2 criticisms from my box - 1. there’s not enough cavalry, even for the English civil war. 2. None of the scenarios included in the Rulebook as written can be played out of the box. (Brentford should, but they’ve scaled up the artillery incorrectly so you would need 3x as many guns as were present historically.
Yeah I think I’m going to grab another box of Cavalry at least. I haven’t looked at the scenarios in detail yet, but I wonder if they should have done some kind of basic ‘learn to play booklet’, and witching that a smaller scenario that the box catered for.
@@MiniatureRealmsand here I am buying two extra regiments of shot & pike 😬 I’m gonna be really low on cav
Thanks for this Stuart was on the fence with this it was a period I've always had an interest in ECW but still working on my napoleonics so not listening to my wallet saying spend spend ,well not yet😂😂😂
😂 You’re a stronger man than me then.
Got my "All in " set last Saturday afternoon! Already painted up 2 pike and shotte units, only 12 more to go plus cav etc... May God have mercy on me.
😆 They do take a little longer than you think don’t they. That’s a good start though, keep up the momentum and you’ll be fine (I need to follow that rule myself).
@@MiniatureRealms Great detail on the figures makes me want to paint it all. That said once you step back a pace it all blends.
Quick question, any ideas on movement trays?
Not in great detail yet, still need to fully figure out the rules and how I will build my armies. A tray to hold both pike stands (and extend forward to help protect the pikes) is tempting.
Opened my preorder yesterday and all looks fantastic although i may regret ordering the 5 extra boxes of cavalry!! The P&S book included is very different to the original P&S book being focused entirely on ECW & TYW exclusively. I read somewhere (i think it was WI) that units are treated as one, unlike original P&S so shot and pike move together. Either way can't wait to get to this, in about a year or twos time. Have just finished painting the ACW Gettysburg and Blood and Guts boxes in under 2 months, thank you Army Painter shader! Next Mythic Americas, then Deadzone/Firefight and then this. Assuming nothing else gets in the way 😂
Wow that’s a lot of Cavalry 😅, though if you’ve painted both those ACW sets so quickly I think you’ll be fine.
I actually care about the paint job on these though 😂
I’m sure you’ll do an awesome job then, and enjoy spending a bit more time.
Oooooo man I love small scale its just better xD
They’re quite pretty seen they.
Excitedly waiting for mine, and I haven’t ordered the commanders yet either. Have sourced more 3rd party compatibles though for a touch of conversions, not where near as much as I have done with the others. Will post an update on that soon l hope. As you say, this is pretty much one box and your done (though I will probably get coventeers if they bring them out). My only fear is that they do winged hussars and cossacks for 30yw and then I will wish l didn’t go down the ECW route lol! Great review of the booklet, looks like the most changed yet and keen to get a read of it.
I’m going to try and be good and not order too many extras, though I’m sure there will be some things I’m tempted by.
@@MiniatureRealms tell me about it. I am still hoping for this to be a neat little project and be done by autumnish.
The are a sprue of sword-n-buckler infantry away from a cracking Tercio.
Will be interesting to see what they add to the range.
So how's this project going?
Not really got into the swing of it yet fully, and a planned big game isn’t happening so that takes the time pressure off. Some content on the way though, a video out later today in fact.
@@MiniatureRealms good to hear. I got the all in sets for both waves. Prime/basecoat started but hit rain this week. Now if only the Xpress paints would show up in a local shop.
As always a very good review unboxing Stu. I am completely clueless when it comes to this period including ECW but it looks an amazing starter set to learn about the period and play the game. Curious I must admit however I'm still very much embroiled in Napoleonics and ACW...
Thank you 🙂
I’m still very much a novice in the period myself, always fun learning as part of a wargaming project.
It is a shame that a historical game named "Pike & Shotte" which is based on a time when the dominant militar power was the Spanish Empire with their "Tercios" is hidden and diluted so much to the point of talking about the "Imperial Army" to hide a faction centered on the Spanish Empire, which was at that time the hegemonic force. However, they didn't hesitate to include less relevant factions in the Thirty Years War. It is as if the Roman Empire was not in a game based of ancient wars in Europe. It is evident that the Spanish Black Legend is present even in a miniature game.
I imagine it’s marketed towards conflicts that are most popular to the majority their customer base.