Imperial guard and 6th's Power weapons

[gendoikari87]

So who's going to be modeling up power axes for their sergeants and the like to give them str 4 and ap 2 at no additional cost? I think guard blobs just got a lot more powerful, heck even with the extra costs of powerfists the blob will be a force to be reckoned with against terminators.

[Tzeentch's Dark Agent]

A good idea! Guard are low I anyway, so why not give them axes?
That's pretty sweet, wounding Marines on 4s is a blessing for Guard.

[celestialatc]

I think guard is going to be one of the strong allies with the new ally rules. Your sergeant proposal is just one more reason why foot guard is just so awesome now.

[gendoikari87]

I think guard is going to be one of the strong allies with the new ally rules. Your sergeant proposal is just one more reason why foot guard is just so awesome now.

don't discount guard vehicles, templates deal full strength over the whole template now. So those medusa's and especially with bastion breecher shells just became that much more deadly, and the manticore, oh god the manticore.

[plasticaddict]

Why would I use and axe when I can take a power fist?

[celestialatc]

Why would I use and axe when I can take a power fist?

I am guessing cheaper? And maybe the axe is not a specialized weapon so you can get a +1 attack for having to CCW?

[Captainparty]

Why would I use and axe when I can take a power fist?

IG Sergeants cant take power fists if I recall correctly?

Other wise, there is about a 10% better chance of causing one wound on MEQ with a Power Fist, so you're right

[kjolnir]

A good idea! Guard are low I anyway, so why not give them axes?
That's pretty sweet, wounding Marines on 4s is a blessing for Guard.

Wounding Marines and denying them an armor save, to boot.

[kjolnir]

Why would I use and axe when I can take a power fist?

Cause the power fist ain't free. The axe is.

[TSINI]

Guard dont wield axes gadammit, only lumberjack guard (otherwise known a:)s Canadian Shock Troopers)

I wonder what would look cooler as a counts as axe?

[wolflold]

Challange IG sargeant, he strikes last, he has low toughness, he dies! Looks like were back in 3e edition where you could only hope your character strikes first or survives...

[Diagnosis Ninja]

Challange IG sargeant, he strikes last, he has low toughness, he dies! Looks like were back in 3e edition where you could only hope your character strikes first or survives...
So... Take more squad leaders?

[maverick935]

Isnt this thread nonsense? Having reread the rules you cannot choose to just have a power axe. I believe its "power weapon" is listed in the guard codex and not an "power axe" which is specifically stated in the 6E book as different . If guard could take/had power axes it would have been FAQ'd.
Just shell out for that power fist!

[gendoikari87]

Isnt this thread nonsense? Having reread the rules you cannot choose to just have a power axe. I believe its "power weapon" is listed in the guard codex and not an "power axe" which is specifically stated in the 6E book as different . If guard could take/had power axes it would have been FAQ'd.
Just shell out for that power fist!

Yeah they don't have options for power swords either, read the rulebook.

Also, infantry squads can't take fists.

[Tynskel]

Power Weapons are WYSIWYG.

So, if the sgt has an axe, it is a power axe. You can give him a spear!

[gendoikari87]

Power Weapons are WYSIWYG.

So, if the sgt has an axe, it is a power axe. You can give him a spear!

actually you can give him a spear and an axe.

[maverick935]

Yeah they don't have options for power swords either, read the rulebook.

Also, infantry squads can't take fists.

Thats right but i always run vetrans who can, but the point stands.

[dreadnaughtguy]

and the cheesy beardy metagaming begins.

[maverick935]

Power Weapons are WYSIWYG.

So, if the sgt has an axe, it is a power axe. You can give him a spear!

Equiping them with a spear or axe when they have a sword as per the codex or FAQ (or any other way round) is illegal. If you change from the wargear in the codex entry or what the standard model comes with is like swaping a bolter for a heavy bolter without paying points for it . "Power axe", "power lance" and "power sword" are now completely different and that is why on page 61 of the rulebook they have different entries.

[gendoikari87]

Equiping them with a spear or axe when they have a sword as per the codex or FAQ (or any other way round) is illegal. If you change from the wargear in the codex entry or what the standard model comes with is like swaping a bolter for a heavy bolter without paying points for it . "Power axe", "power lance" and "power sword" are now completely different and that is why on page 61 of the rulebook they have different entries.

the codex doesn't say sword it just says power weapon, if you stick with the bog standard models it's a sword but you can model them differently and if you model them with an axe, you have to use the axe rules, you CAN'T use the sword rules.. You go by WYSIWYG. Catachan models especially would be easy to model with axes.

[Wildcard]

"Power axe", "power lance" and "power sword" are now completely different and that is why on page 61 of the rulebook they have different entries.

They are equal in costs. And its a wysiwyg thing as per rulebook. But, it is not stated anywhere that you need to use the stuff that comes with the sprues.

And there are units for armies that contain possiblities for certain different options..

For example, my Imperial Guard sergeants (and few platoon / company commanders) have been using wysiwyg powermauls and -axes for ages now..

Imo there is no point crying if a Imperial Guard Sergeant of Officer chooces to wield a maul of axe (or even spear) instead of sword..

Not unless it is explicitly stated in a faq that you cannot choose to glue weapons for models other than the ones that come in with the sprues with the said unit.

[Jwolf]

Wow, I'm shocked that people would complain that give IG Sarges axes would be anything other than logical and fair. Maybe shocked is too strong a word (complaining is one of the "inalienable rights" that people seem to feel they have), but any claim that this is somehow not legal or kosher is absurd and unsupported by any rule anywhere in any edition of 40K, and runs strongly against the grain of all modelling conversation generated by GW for decades.

[The AKH]

Guard dont wield axes gadammit, only lumberjack guard (otherwise known a:)s Canadian Shock Troopers)

I wonder what would look cooler as a counts as axe?

Rulebook says that a halberd counts as an axe. So you could give your sergeants polearm weapons.


Isnt this thread nonsense? Having reread the rules you cannot choose to just have a power axe. I believe its "power weapon" is listed in the guard codex and not an "power axe" which is specifically stated in the 6E book as different . If guard could take/had power axes it would have been FAQ'd.
Just shell out for that power fist!

The Guard codex does use the generic "power weapon" terminology, which is explained in the BRB to mean "whatever the model is armed with" which may be a sword, maul, axe, or spear.

Also, in at least one of the 6th Edition FAQs, GW changed Codex listings of "power swords" into generic "power weapons", allowing for diversity of modelling.

[EnglishInquisition]

and the cheesy beardy metagaming begins.
Really? It's only just begun? What was all that crap that was going on before called then?!

Seriously though, I play Guard and won't be hacking models to pieces. If others want to do it let them. I think they're allowed to in the new rules and I don't think it particularly breaks them or gives them an undue advantage. Conversions and theme are a huge part of the hobby for me, so if you have a Guard Army whose Ceremonial/Honorific weapon is a spear then go for it, I'm sure it would look cool. BUT, please use the same weapon throughout your entire army, not mix and match so you have all combos possible- that just takes the p**s!

[Crevab]

Why not? Anytime the "power weapon" option comes up, you're allowed to choose any of the varieties. This guy is modeled with an axe... that one has a maul... it's all kosher

[EnglishInquisition]

I'm not saying it isn't, what I'm saying is that people shouldn't claim theme or fluff if they're just doing it to gain an advantage in the game. I can't see it making a lot of difference as those that can take them will probably get called out in a challenge!

[Wildcard]

I'm not saying it isn't, what I'm saying is that people shouldn't claim theme or fluff if they're just doing it to gain an advantage in the game. I can't see it making a lot of difference as those that can take them will probably get called out in a challenge!

Imperial guard platoon:

- 45 basic guardsmen with either lasgun or special weapon
- 5 sergeants, each with the ability to take up to two power weapons (like axe + spear combo as mentioned before)
- 5 Commissars with same options as sergeants.

Thats total of 10 characters with 2x power weapons each (of any kind - to any situation)

So, to the actual point: Challenge one, and you still got 9 to go against the rest of the enemy.

[EnglishInquisition]

Oh man, if you want to sink that many points into a single unit then do it. Any player worth their salt will then
A) blast and template you to death
B)look at where your characters are and assault you from the opposite side, nullifying most of your Power Weapons
Take out your characters one by one in challenges as the rest of them pile in 3" per phase. Chances are you're going to lose combat initially, possibly fail the morale check and lose another character to Commissar execution. Then when the characters with PW's get close, you throw another unit at them to spread them out again! I you're a SM player and you do get bogged down and lose a combat, you choose to fail your morale check and hit them with templates and blast again. Job done! (and I'm a guard player too)

[DarkLink]

A) blast and template you to death

And get counter-charged by the other sixty guardsmen that the flamers didn't kill.



B)look at where your characters are and assault you from the opposite side, nullifying most of your Power Weapons

Any guard player with a brain can counter this. It's much easier to shuffle around models in the unit than it is to plan multiple turns in advance in order to outflank and assault a unit from an unusual angle.



Take out your characters one by one in challenges as the rest of them pile in 3" per phase.

One challenge per turn means it takes five or six turns to kill all the characters. That still gives the guard player a lot of attacks over multiple turns with power weapons.



Chances are you're going to lose combat initially, possibly fail the morale check and lose another character to Commissar execution.


At stubborn ld 10? A smart player will take those odds.



Not saying that blob squads are unbeatable, but they are a nasty unit for most armies.

[EnglishInquisition]

Most armies get some kind of large blast template now. Normally high strength (well higher than T3)!with suitably mid range AP. Sit back a drop templates on a 50 man squad- 6 or 7 dead per template? Spread out? Great- now you can't manoeuvre, block all your other units. Dropping template after template on large units is fun, Sgt's and Commissars will die just as quickly as other Guardsmen as casualties are removed closest to the firer. Clump up your characters- fine, that allows me to avoid them easier! Guard blobs look scary but have huge drawbacks. Yes I understand they have their uses, but sink a whole load of points into them if you want- they're not unbeatable by any means.

This edition I think you'll find that we're all going to have to start thinking a couple of turns ahead.