I went and playtested HOTT for Epic Space Marine. I pitted an Orc Army vs a Space Marine one. Curiously I left the figure mounting unchanged from its original form. It didn't seem to affect anything overtly.

The Space Marine Army was:

Space Marine Infantry 6 stds Blades @ 2 pts each. 12 points = A
Space Marine General 1 std Blade @ 2 pts. 2 pts.= B
Space Marine Bikers 3 stds Riders @ 2 pts each. 6 pts= C
Support Tanks 2 stds Knights @ 2pts each. 4 pts.= D
24 Army points total.

My wife commanded this army and deployed as follows.

Terrain was totally flat and clear as I really just wanted to try out the rules.

I took the Orcs which consisted of:

Orc Mob Boyz 7 stands Hordes @ 1pt each. 7 pts= G
Orc Bike Boyz 4 stands Riders @ 2 pts each. 8 pts=H
Orc Nobz 1 stand Warband General @ 2pts each.2 pts=I
Orc Pulsa Rokkit 1 stand Arty @ 3 pts each. 3pts=J
Orc Battlewagons 2 stands Knights @ 2 pts each. 4 pts=K
24 Army Points total

Set up:

HHHH JIGGGGGGG KK

The Space Marine went first. Their bikers went hurtling forwards as did the rest of the army. The Orcs could only get their Battlewagons and bikers motivated enough to speed off towards the approaching humans. Throughout the battle the Orc Mob Boyz seemed reluctant to advance forward. They didn't have to wait long though. Each sides armored vehicles engaged their opponents infantry. The bikers meet in the middle of the battlefield in a swirling cloud of dust. This part of the battle swayed back and forth for several turns with no clear cut winner. However events were rapidly unfolding in the middle of the Orc army's line. They tried to swarm the approaching tanks but were cut down in great bunches. Gaps appeared in the midst of the Orcs battle line causing great consternation to their general. He launched the Pulsa Rokkit at one of the armored beasts destroying it completely. At this moment the Orc Tanks were engaging the Space Marine ground pounders. The result of this attack was two brilliant explosions erupting from within the bowels of their Battlewagons. The only real bright spot for Orcdom this day was on the Orc left flank. Their Bike Boyz finally succeeded in destroying their opposite numbers. It was too little too late though as the remaining Space Marine Tank elimanated all the Orc foot troops including their general.

I think that the only hard part of the game was trying to keep clear which troops were which type. I think that a 48 AP game with terrain and morale rules would make for a pretty interesting game.

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