So what can you build with the various releases in Epic Warpath and how do the armies compare with the types and numbers of units you can build? Based on the demo videos that have been show so far, infantry units are based on six units with the exception of Striders and tanks that are based on units of three. The transports currently appear to hold two units each.
As units are revealed in the Kickstarter and Mantic releases stats for the vehicles and troops in the game I will be updating this article with better information.
Enforcers
The Enforcer Core box contains enough stands to create three Operative units, one Missile Launcher unit, two Assault Enforcer units, one Enforcer Peacekeeper unit and one Jetbike unit. The Panther models can be configured into one unit of Punishers, six units of AFVs and enough APCs to transport six infantry units with the exception of the Enforcer Peacekeepers. It would be at the expense of any AFVs or light tanks though.
The Reinforcements box will bring one unit of Defenders, one unit of Victor MKII tanks, potentially one unit of Pathfinders and one or two units of Striders depending on the number included. If you assume that there will be six, to match the number of Plague Striders, then there will be two units. The Kickstarter graphics were updated to show that there will be three Striders included in the Reinforcement box.
The Enforcers have a nice balance between ranged fire and assault units.
Plague
The Plague Core box contains a significant amount of infantry units. It can make four units of Ghouls, one unit of HMG Ghouls, three units of Zombies and one each of Leapers and Bursters. That is a total of ten infantry units compared to seven for the Enforcers. There are twelve Mules in the box which will transport four units. This leaves six units of Plague infantry that will have to hoof it in a game. There are two units of Striders and a single unit of artillery to round it out.
The Plague Reinforcement box seems as if it will contain one Ghoul mortar unit, one unit of light tanks and several Hornet variants. Depending on the number of Hornets and their type that would make it possible to to transport more of the Plague force.
The Plague army appears as if it will be spending a lot more time with infantry units moving into position on foot and will also have to use its infantry in an anti-tank roll as it doesn’t have many dedicated armour units. Luckily tanks typically don’t have a lot of assault firepower so even assaulting tanks with Ghouls should be efficient.
Forge Fathers
The Forge Father Core box will make three Steel Warriors units, one Thorgarim unit, one Rekkyrs unit, one Forge Guard unit and one Stormrage Veterans unit. It contains the same number of infantry units as the Enforcer Core box. The Forge Father Core box has a wider variety of units giving them a few more specialist units. The box will also build two Iron Ancestor units, one unit of Hultr half-tracks and the Sturmhammer hulls can build enough APCs for four infantry units or four Hata Sturmhammer units.
The Reinforcement box will build one Juggernaught unit, one unit of weapon platforms, one unit of Bikers and potentially one unit each of Bokkor and Hammerfist Drop Squads. Those units haven’t been revealed yet so I am guessing as to what they will be. I have no idea how the drop ships will be utilized in the game but if they have the same troop capacity as the Hornet then they can carry a combined 12 stands of models.
As a side-note, I hope that the Magna Destroyer has a transport capacity as it would be great to have that beast slowly grind across the field and then unleash Forge Guard into an opponent.
The Forge Fathers appear to have more transport capability than the Plague but not as much as the Enforcers. They also appear to have more specialist units than either force.
Asterians
The Asterian Core box will allow you to assemble three Marionette units, one Philogister unit, one Cypher Warden unit, one Cypher Missile unit and two units of Sky Razors. This is the lowest base number of infantry units of the four factions currently available. The Core box will also build two units of Wraith tanks and a total of six Chira or Chroma vehicles. This means that the Asterian Core box will only have enough APCs to transport two units of infantry. This is based on the Chira having the same Transport() stat in Firefight as the other APCs in the game.
The Reinforcement box brings one Kalyshi unit, one Matsudan unit, a unit of Blade Masters and potentially a unit of Black Talons. It will take a few days to find out what the other Asterian aircraft are in the Reinforcement box are and what capabilities they will bring to the army.
In Firefight only the Black Talons have the Aerial Deployment ability and the Chiras are typically mentioned transporting Marionettes. The Cypher Wardens don’t appear to have any special deployment rules so I expect to see some of the hidden Asterian aircraft to come with transport capabilities. As it stands the Asterians can transport the Marionettes but don’t have options for some of their specialist troops.
It will be interesting to see if and how many Asterian units will get an ability similar to Shield() from Firefight.
Summary
So it seems as if each force, so far, has some slight differences in them that may lead to some significant play differences. The Plague have a horde of troops that they need to push across the table and will probably lean on their artillery to keep enemy armour units away. The Enforcers look as if they can produce an army that is entirely mobile but lacking in a lot of dedicated assault troops. The Forge Fathers aren’t as mobile as the Enforcers and contain quite a few specialist units that they will need to move into the correct positions to allow them to field their weapons. And the Asterians currently look as if they will be quite fragile but able to bring some incredible vehicles to bear on critical points of the battlefield.
I am excited to see what else we are going to learn about these armies as well as the Veer-Myn.
Pile of dice 
You must be logged in to post a comment.