Apocalypse

Epic epicness of epic

A system for running massively huge games of Warhammer 40,000 in 28mm scale, an alternative to Epic. Some of the primary changes include the lack of a Force Organization Chart, Apocalypse Datasheets with extra rules to represent formations, special Apocalypse-only super-heavy units (like much of what Forge World puts out), and "strategic assets," which are various factors used to balance out the two sides (including one that, hilariously, prevents team-members from communicating while setting up their forces if they have a numerical advantage).

The Warhammer Fantasy Battle variant of this game is Storm of Magic, with a heavy empathis on magic, monsters and high-point battles.

How Did This Happen?

One day, the Games Workshop CEO cast his eyes downward from his golden throne in Lenton, noticing with dismay that people still had money to buy things other than tiny plastic figures. An emergency staff meeting was called to rectify the situation. "How did this happen?" shrieked one board member. "When did they slip through our fingers?" gnashed another. "SILENCE!" bellowed the hallowed CEO. "JUST MAKE IT BIGGER." The designers looked at one another uncomfortably. Finally, the lead designer hesitantly stepped forward and asked, "Sir, we should make what, exactly, bigger?" "EVERYTHING! RESIN MODELS! SIX BY EIGHT TABLE! FIVE THOUSAND POINTS STANDARD!" boomed the CEO. "But won't that be impossible to balance? The game was never designed to accommodate such large forces..." said the designer, with a look of utter horror. "We'll just release new books that add special rules if you own enough models!" the first board member tittered, as the full extent of the CEO's glorious plan dawned on him. "And then we'll add expensive units from the fluff that are even more overpowered!" cackled the second, as he too realized the genius of Games Workshop's fearless leader. "A Reaver Titan will cost eight hundred dollars!" howled a third triumphantly. "I don't think that's even remotely close to the actual value..." began a Forge World modeler, before the frenzied CFO tore his throat out.

And so it was that amid much feasting and sacrifices to their dark gods, Games Workshop laid the foundations for what would become Apocalypse.

No but really...

Alright alright. Apocalypse is basically the result of people already owning a metric fuck ton of models and who started thinking that maybe there was more in life than that. You can only play with one army at a time really, so what's the point? Well NO MORE. Now you can play with as many minis as you can fit on the table and the other three tables you set up next to it. Winning largely revolves around spending the most on bullshit broken stuff. Your opponents have too many vehicles? Go buy yourself shit with destroyer weapons on it. They bring a titan? You go buy a Manta. So yeah. This is what happens when you have too much money and have nothing in your life except 40k. Fuck, at least Magic players go meet new people.

Escalation

GW realized that no one plays Apocalypse scale battles due to there size and time, thus don't buy there models, this got the ideal of Escalation. A new book that's just up for preorder that allows you to use a Lord of War(Super-Heavies and Gargantuan Creatures). So now you can have a baneblade in your 1500 points game, like an asshole. So far its just one or two models per race not the entire apocalypse range.

How Can I Run an Apocalypse Game?

1. Sell your belongings, body, and any siblings or children you may have on the street in order to acquire the Imperial Armor books and Forge World models (unless you play Orks and can model, or have a powerful internet connection and know how to pirate the Imperial Armor series)
2. Find a place big enough to play. Abandoned warehouses work well.
3. Find some people to play with, preferably people you're OK not being friends with anymore.
4. Deploy forces and experience the undiluted bullshit that is Apocalypse "balance".
5. Weep.