You can find a quick explanation of the rules here : https://www.myth-weavers.com/wiki/index.php/Epic_6
I must nevertheless say that I have the feeling that Epic 8 fits better in Pathfinder.
E8 works the same as E6, but the Pcs will have 8 levels instead of 6 at the maximum.
It'ss better in Pathfindere as many classes get a nice classs ability at level 7 or 8.
Is E8 just E6 with the extra Feats and abilities for level 8? That was the one I was thinking about using. I wanted to keep third level spells but also allow 7th and 8th level class abilities while keeping hitpoints at 6 level.
I sounds like you want E6/P6. E6 stops all normal advancement at 6th level, including spell progression. Then, with the "epic" feats acquired after 6th, you can build toward those 7th and 8th level abilities, as "epic" achievements.
E8 would stop normal advancement at 8th level, integrating 4th level spells. And allow the stretch to 9th and 10th level "capstones". I personally think that is a better place to stop, leaving things like teleport and raise dead in the game, but only for the mightiest heroes.
But, if you want more of a Middle-Earth feel, classic E6 is right for you.
Here is an excellent write-up for Pathfinderized E6. Unfortunately, the writer never completed the main work, but the "abridged" version will get you a long way.
Is E8 just E6 with the extra Feats and abilities for level 8? That was the one I was thinking about using. I wanted to keep third level spells but also allow 7th and 8th level class abilities while keeping hitpoints at 6 level.I sounds like you want E6/P6. E6 stops all normal advancement at 6th level, including spell progression. Then, with the "epic" feats acquired after 6th, you can build toward those 7th and 8th level abilities, as "epic" achievements.
E8 would stop normal advancement at 8th level, integrating 4th level spells. And allow the stretch to 9th and 10th level "capstones". I personally think that is a better place to stop, leaving things like teleport and raise dead in the game, but only for the mightiest heroes.
But, if you want more of a Middle-Earth feel, classic E6 is right for you.
Here is an excellent write-up for Pathfinderized E6. Unfortunately, the writer never completed the main work, but the "abridged" version will get you a long way.
Personally, I think that, since max level is the one you'll spend most of your time playing at, raise dead becomes way too easy to get access to under E8 rules.
But then again, I use E6 mainly to be able to avoid long-distance teleportation myself, so I guess YMMV.
True, if you took P6 Codex and translated it directly to E8, that would be the spell to get for the Cleric. However, it would be very easy to alter the way one acquires those 5th level spells, or to add special requirements for casting things like raise dead, teleport, etc.
The point is there is a wide range of levels one could tune to. Everyone has a different point at which it all becomes "just too much."
I have played a lot of high-level; my main PC was 20th level when 3.0 was released. We fell off of it after a few years, until recently. After two AP campaigns reached 18th level, we got the bug to trudge out our big guns in the Forgotten Realms.
It has been fun, but as we play these beast PCs from 15th to 20th, and beyond, I keep imagining playing the same characters at E8 or E10. That is high level for the typical E6 enthusiast, but not by comparison to our E20 games...
I can also see this relatively gritty E8+ game, where some PCs might 'Beric Dondarrion' a few times, but eventually someone is gonna lose an eye...or an arm, or a head, or be burned to ash. Then the only way to come back is an epic quest. Great!