they are variations of play style where a set level of characters is selected (leveling is not part of the game, per se) I believe, but I could be wrong.
It's almost like a level cap. Once characters reach the set level (6 or 8 or whatever was agreed to) they do not gain more levels. Instead, for a certain number of experience points, characters can get additional feats or some other benefit (sometimes duplicating certain things they would have gotten from advancing a level).
High level spellcasting is usually replaced with some sort of ritual magic often requiring multiple casters and increased casting times.
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It is, but only to a point.
It was originally E6 (Epic 6th), where for the most part people level up normally, but capped at 6th level. The point is to focus on the early levels, and to allow a sort of lower magic game where the most powerful people in the world sort of fit into the level 3-8ish range.
Once you hit level 6, instead of getting more levels (ever) you instead get new Feats and occasionally stat boosts. Some monsters then become "epic", as it would literally take almost an entire army to bring down a dragon, and demons are so far beyond the scope of even the most powerful people, that they are truly lethal threats. Because no caster can get to a CL of higher than say 9 (min/maxing) +2 weapons and armor are the best you can ever find, and very rare. Anything that is higher than a 3rd level spell is mostly unavailable (outside of ritual magic involving multiple casters and sacrifice. Another goal is to remove many player options, like specifically the ability to Teleport or travel the Planes. In a lot of ways, E6 extremely favors non-casters over casters (who generally get pretty boned), and is really designed for a low level, low magic setting, DM Fait heavy sort of play.
E8, and other numbers are just additional variants of the same concept, with high level maxes. It is generally agreed that using PF, E8 or E10 are the better options, as 8th is generally when most of the more advanced powers kick in (2nd Domain power for example).
You can find more HERE, and there should be links to download a free PDF and additional options.
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It is, but only to a point.
It was originally E6 (Epic 6th), where for the most part people level up normally, but capped at 6th level. The point is to focus on the early levels, and to allow a sort of lower magic game where the most powerful people in the world sort of fit into the level 3-8ish range.
Once you hit level 6, instead of getting more levels (ever) you instead get new Feats and occasionally stat boosts. Some monsters then become "epic", as it would literally take almost an entire army to bring down a dragon, and demons are so far beyond the scope of even the most powerful people, that they are truly lethal threats. Because no caster can get to a CL of higher than say 9 (min/maxing) +2 weapons and armor are the best you can ever find, and very rare. Anything that is higher than a 3rd level spell is mostly unavailable (outside of ritual magic involving multiple casters and sacrifice. Another goal is to remove many player options, like specifically the ability to Teleport or travel the Planes. In a lot of ways, E6 extremely favors non-casters over casters (who generally get pretty boned), and is really designed for a low level, low magic setting, DM Fait heavy sort of play.
E8, and other numbers are just additional variants of the same concept, with high level maxes. It is generally agreed that using PF, E8 or E10 are the better options, as 8th is generally when most of the more advanced powers kick in (2nd Domain power for example).
You can find more HERE, and there should be links to download a free PDF and additional options.
Thank you that explins so much