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For your consideration: A rough draft proposal for inclusion of IG Combat engineers (CE's) in the 40K universe

IG Combat engineers(CE's) can perform the following tasks:

. Clear paths in difficult, dangerous terrain.
. Clear man-made obstacles, traps & deactivate enemy mines for a upcoming offensive
. Bridge rivers, chasms.
. Lay mines, wire, roadblocks, and anti-tank traps.
. Construct fortified bunkers.
. Destroy fortified bunkers with shape charges.
. Perform demolition of bridges, buildings, to advancing enemy.
. Extract/Tow a vehicle if they posses a Chimera or a Taurus (http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/353744.page)

(I need to come up with the number of turns and DR's to accomplish the above tasks, with modifiers for unit causalities and morale failures in the course of combat.)

A IG Combat engineers squad consists up to six troops, including a Sargent. Only one CE squad is permitted in a IG Company (I may make it a rule that if a CE squad is chosen, the player cannot have a special weapons squad also)

CE's have the same stats/costs as IG Veterans, with the following exceptions:

They may not take heavy weapons, sniper rifles, or grenade launchers. They may however take up to three normal and/or heavy flamethrowers.

IG combat engineers may use demo charges as often as once per turn, without depleting them.

CE's can have a single Ogryn in their unit, above six max squad member limit, to serve as a heavy lifter for laying bridges, and to clear obstacles with a chainsaw/ big axe/shovel/crowbar/wrench. The Ogryn may not use demo or shape charges, or flamethrowers.

IG combat engineers have access to shape charges that can be placed on objects. Need to make some rules for this. I want shape charges to be more powerful than demo charges, with a very high AP value but little or no blast radius. One CE model may move independently from the squad to place the shape charge to the object.

I foresee missions based on the CE's needing to accomplishing an objective, like building a bridge under fire, clearing a path for advancing army, or retrieving a friendly disabled vehicle--or destroying it to deny it to the enemy. I see the potential of CE's laying wire and mines to help protect an objective in a take and hold mission.

What do you guys think?

Instead of their shape charges, Melta Bombs would be just as sufficient. I would also give them a rule along the lines of this:

Fortifications: If tasked with defending an area, the Engineers can quickly fortify any area, setting mines, booby-traps as well as barricades. Before deployment, you may place D6+1 pieces of terrain from the list below on the battlefield:

Mines: a 6"x2" area which counts as difficult and dangerous terrain.

Booby-traps: You may rig a single piece of terrain to explode. When the first enemy unit enters the terrain, roll a D6, on a 1, it is a dud and nothing happens. On a 2+, the unit suffers a number of S7 hits equal to the number of members in the unit. The booby-trap marker is then removed.

Razorwire: 12"x1" area, counts as difficult terrain.

Tank Traps: 6"x1" area, counts as impassible to vehicles, but can be removed by dozer/siege shields.

Bunkers: Counts as an AV12 building on all sides, can hold 10 models, armed with a single Heavy Bolter.

Infrared-Auspex: Any unit may not Infiltrate within 12" of the marker, and when using Night-Fighting, any hostile unit within 12" may be shot at without checking for range beforehand.

I like the idea of Combat engineers, and suggestions of Valkyrie. I would see them as a better SWS rather than veterans.
0-1 for each Infantry platoon
DRAFT
pts. 80
6 guardsmen
Wargear: Carapace armour, lasgun, close-combat weapon, melta bombs
1 has a demolition charge
Special Rules: Combat engineers
Combat engineers can use their skills to fortify imperial defenses or create obstacles for enemy forces.
CE squad may place d3+1 terrain features from the following list before deployment, outside your opponents deployment zone:
Tank traps 6"x1" impassable to non-skimmer vehicles, cleared by siege shields or dozer blades.
Razor wire: two 6"x1" areas, difficult terrain, cleared by vehicle movement
Mine field: 2"x6" area, roll as for dangerous terrain, mines inflict a S4 Ap- hit on 1 or 2 (Vehicles hit on rear armour, skimmers only trigger mines on a roll of 1)
Fortify terrain: add +1 to cover save given by terrain (can apply to area terrain as well, as these will have trenches etc.) This stacks with stealth USR.

Maybe something else, options from SWS or a transport?

Excellent suggestions. Yes, the melta bomb makes the shaped charge unnecessary--I've been thinking too much along modern military lines

I particularity like the DR for terrain defensive features. See, that's the extra dimension I wanted to add to the game, the ability to transform terrain dynamically during a mission.CE's can potentially upset the opponents battle plan after the board terrain has been established.

For the Fortifications rule, D6+1 seems like overkill. D3+1 should be fine.

Overall I like the idea.

Let them clear a path through rough terrain by moving through it by difficult terrain rolls, no running.