Imperial Guard Medics

[Deleted]

So, I've been thinking about the medics in my Imperial Guard army, and I've come across a few ideas, I guess.

1. The current medic models seem to be...over done. From what I've seen of Combat Medics in the army, they don't carry around blood donor bags or giant needles. It seems most of them only carried around a pouch of morphine and bandages, something to sterilize wounds and such.

2. From 1, I came to the following conclusion. If I simply use the the one accessory on the Imperial Guardsman sprue (the one with the big pouch and canteen) it should be fairly easy to simulate a proper medic. Perhaps paint a red cross on their helmet or shoulder pad (though I imagine the Gothic Imperium would probably use the twin serpents to mark their medics).

3. Every squad should be able to get a Medic, that's logical but the rules don't have that. Still, I'm thinking I'll throw a medic in each of my squads, even if he doesn't actually do anything rules wise.

4. What do you guys think? If you saw a normal guardsmen with a large pouch on his belt and a cross on his shoulder pad/helmet, would you let it pass as a medic in your game? What would a GW employee think of it?

5. If you have any good pictures or information regarding modern combat medics and/or making your own medics for the Imperial Guard, link it if you will.

[twerd]

it would be cool if every squad could get a medic it makes sense and adds flavour.

[Turtleboy(AWOL)]

I like the medic models personally, I see what you're saying though about them having too much kit on them however but it's still not horribly overdone in my opinion.

modelling a medic in every squad would be confusing for an opponent who was trying to snipe off a command squad with the only medic in your army when all your squads had medic look-alikes in them - that'd bug me personally but I could deal with it, I'd just have to ask you and really remember where the actual medic was.

[Deleted]

The only time that would really cause a problem would be if my full squads were whittled down to be the same size as the command squads though, as it's still easy to differentiate between an infantry squad and a command squad due to size and number of special weapons (not to mention my command squads drop from the sky).

So in reality, the ones in the squads aren't actual medics, as they don't really do anything. Just the ones in the actual command squads remain real medics who actually have effect on the game.

[Deleted]

I was a medic when i was in the army. We didnt run around with blood packs but we did actually carry salt water infusion packs. And all soldiers carry their own bandages so we didnt have to carry that around... I dont think the IG medics are tooled up too much. It is actually 38.000 years into the future you know

[Deleted]

Sorry, this is also part of a plot to save me money, as I'm a poor university student too

I don't think the medic models are bad, at all, but I just think there is a better alternative to the metal models that only come in the command section box set. A cheaper alternative...

[twerd]

well your idea to save money is still valid i think and it will look more realistic or "old Fasion" depending on your point of vieww though variety is a good thing

[Turtleboy(AWOL)]

steel said:

Sorry, this is also part of a plot to save me money, as I'm a poor university student too

oh..well hell yeah. it's a great idea then!

heh

getting back to the medic in every squad appearance thing - alot of times I'll have multiple squads all close together and the only thing there is that allows me to tell them apart is the decal on the top of their helmet with their squad number. for my opponents who are often across the table from me, it's really hard for them to tell what troops belong to what squad and my army just blends into a big mass of dirty green and tan infantry models. in this kind of scenario, it'd be difficult for an opponent to tell what medic was the real medic and which other ones weren't.

in the end, it's your money, your time, your paints, and your choice what you want for your army

[Commissar]

I think it could work, it might look iffy...at least i would think so, I mean its 38.000 years into the future and things will be fancy...the things being the wounds and the fancy being the gruesome.

[Mabus]

I guess in theory it's a cool idea, but if you think a bit about the imperial guard backround it doesn't really work. The Imperium doesn't care about the lives of it's guardsmen. There are literally Billions of guardsmen to take they're place. I doubt if the Minitorium would actually see the point in training and equipping medics. The only reason the medic is in the command squad is to try and protect the officer. It's up to you though.

[Commissar]

Well, I can see why they would be careless with the lives of guardsmen, but why not?
I mean, think of it, what if they are a troop of grenadiers?
Certainly then there would be a medic, right?
Grenadiers are precious!

[Mabus]

Not in my army. The only infantry in my army are storm troopers! well DK Grenadiers to be precise.

[Deleted]

Well, it makes tactical sense to spare a few resources per squad (which, admitedly, amounts up to many resources in the big picture) in order to allow squads to last for extended periods of time. Even if a guardsmen has a million waiting to take his place, imagination how much longer each squad may last given the ability to save the lives of that one. Stave off one more death before the next one has to step up and take their place.

There are also times when waiting for reinforcements wouldn't work either. If you're fighting off a tyranid or daemonic infestation, there are no second chances. The next fleet that gets there will be facing a barren wasteland one way or another, a planet no longer worth fighting for.

Which of course leads to an Exterminatus.

I still haven't unpacked my IG since moving since there's so much to do and roommates to tame. I get what you're saying though and it does make sense.

[Deleted]

I would pay for a medic in every squad. The marines can do it with their chapter things in the back. It would make sense that the basic troopers would have people to do it to. This was something that really bugged me about the IG codex. Hell I would be happy if a squad within 6" of a command squad with a medic could ignor a wound because he was there. Lets face it... the guard NEEDS medics.

As for moding up a mini. Look at 1/35 scale miniatures. They sell packs of back packs, ammo cans, jeffy cans, fuel drums, and (my fav) sand bags all for under $5. Buy a gear pack and you get about a dozen old style WW2 canvas flat packs that fit perfectly onto the standard guardsmen (the straps even line up). Glue one onto a mini, put a cross on the pack and you vio-la (spelling is off I am sure) you have a very distinguishable mini that looks cool, and is simple. (Simple + Cool = simply cool)

And of course you would have a score of duffle bags, sacks, bed rolls, sleeping bags, and various lengths of rolled up canvas to boot. Great for vehicle accessories or terrain goodies.

The company that makes them is called Tamiya.

[Commissar]

Even try using greenstuff if you cant do that!

[Deleted]

hmmm...all this stuff about medics have made me want to change a few guys into guardsmen saving medics!...hmm mebe an idea for possible diorama

[Commissar]

Hmm, mebe!
Guardsmen saving medics, lol.

I thought of doing one with a heavily wounded officer or commissar getting medical attention while still firing at the oncoming nids.

[syphon]

How about stretchers? Bodybags?

[Mabus]

Medics do give you a lot of modeling and conversion options but in gaming terms they are absolute crap.

[Sappmer]

well, with my last squad I made all my men as normal but i put on a satchel onto a random man and gave it a red cross design, so if he isn't a medic he is a shooty

[Commissar]

Yeah, good plan!
Then again, the metal model is pretty cool, I figured its what a medic in the 41st millenium might look like, gruesome wounds call for desperate measures.
Erm, so I think.

[ssgtdude (M.I.A)]

For my army considering they are all female to begin with. I took a model and added some greenstuff and made her the command squads nurse. Complete with nurses hat, and cute thigh high heels, and mini dress.

The red cross on her nurses hat and the bag she carries leaves no doubt as to what her role is. Considering she carries a plasma pistol I can only imagine seeing her on the battle field.

('Sound of a plasma pistol being fired. Stay away from my patient and don't worry I'll get to you as soon as the bleeding stops.')

Just remember all guard know one thing. Bleeding stops eventually.


"Nurse hand me my staple gun this bandage is loose."

[Colonel Grammissar Azalar]

Well acctully, in 40K, Platoons aren't organised into fireteams to start with, they are just one big platoon of 55 troopers, lead by a Sergeant, and then when needed they are split down into squads. then have 5 medicae officers each platoon.

[Commissar]

Dont you mean a lieutenant?
Not a sarge.

[Mabus]

Where do you get this stuff Azalar?