Special weapons... how many?

[Colonel Scipio]

This was brought to my attention in a recent game of 40K and, unable to procure a satisfactory answer by myself I've decided to kick it around here.

How many special weapons can you take in a single squad? Now at first glance the wording in the codex seems to mean one. But technicaly it's ambiguous; ie so long as a guardsman isn't in a HW team you can have one assault weapon. Also, the GW kits all come pictured with a squad with grenade launcher AND flamers, and many sample army lists floating round WD also have multiple special weapons.

I've modeled a meltagun and grenade launcher into each squad, not realising the problem and wondered if that made my army technicaly illegal.

[mardaddy]

OK, multiple Q's, so multiple answers.

Assuming you are referring to a standard Guardsman squad of 10, you can have one heavy weapon (lascannon, ML, Autocannon or Heavy Bolter) and/or one assault weapon (Flamer, GL, Meltagun or Plasmagun.)

That is actually abundantly clear in the codex, 2nd paragraph down under the Options section: "One Guardsman not acting as a heavy weapon crew may be armed with one... (etc.)"

Those IG army lists you refer to with multiple special weapons - you'd have to list them for anyone here to verify the legality.

It is most likely either a veteran squad (allowed multiple special weapons but an Elite not a Troop Choice), or part of some special rules list (Last Chancers, etc.) NOT standard Imperial Guard.

Regarding the sprues - they come with Flamer and Grenade Launcher so you can choose which to use in your squad. AND to allow for multiples of special weapons for the HQ platoon, or the Veteran Squad, etc.

So, yea, sorry, if you are using two special weapons in your normal Troop Choice IG squads, it is illegal according to the codex.

[Turtleboy(AWOL)]

seconded.

[lordcastellenjon]

*nods* thats right only the hardend vets can have multiply weapons they can have 3 spc weapons AND a heavy wep

[Turtleboy(AWOL)]

special weapon squads get 3 too... just reference the codex entry for the unit you want info on. it's pretty self explanatory, but if you miss a key word here or there we're happy to point it out and set you back on track

[lordcastellenjon]

LOL How could I forget about the specail weapon squads they pretty much form all of my sniping force I own 4 4sniper squads and 1 full rattling squad so tyhats the BEAutiful total of 22 sniper shots at there pride and joy weapons

[Colonel Scipio]

Bugger. *Mental Note: Make Army Lists BEFORE Building Models*

Well, a house rule has been implemented at the local saying I can have two now I've built them (In exchange for a certain Space Marine opponent being allowed to use his extra Chaplain... we've fluffed it as being an administrative error in the reserves subjugation of the Adeptus Astartes).

In the meantime for tournament games, to allow myself to use both weapons I've just redone the two Infantry Platoons as three squads of Stormtroopers as Troops with the Grenadiers Doctrine, and one extra as an Elites slot to accomodate my fourth and final squad. My platoon command squad models (which are royally tarted up with capes and medals etc) are now hardened veterans.

(The offending supply clerk who originaly supplied the unit with extra special weapons above its entitlement has been demoted and dispatched to the Imperial Guard Zoological Garden Emporium as a dung-shoveler)

[lordcastellenjon]

LOL no he should be sent to cadia to fight on the front lines over there punsh the bugger for his error