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OK quick question about wargear.

In all the fluff (read novels) Space Marines seem to all have chainswords as part of their normal gear, yet in the vanilla SM Codex only sergeants or Command Squads are allowed chainswords (unless they're assault marines).

Now before I did my army to codex compliance I had nearly a whole squad with chainswords (and in a case of one model he wielded two!).

Is a chainsword something only sergeants can carry (and if so I've got a bit of remodelling to do...) or do all space marines have them, but only sergeants use them all the time...

in the game only sergeants have them. reason being otherwise SM would be so good that an army would only have like 10 models. a chainsword counts as an extra close combat weopon, meaning the SM would all get 2 cc attacks. but to let the sergeant be the good one only he gets a chainsword or another cc weopon sword thingy. instead all SMs get a bolt pistol, which acts as a standard CC wep

Everyone has a close-combat weapon of some description - since chainswords are mechanically no different from any other CCW I don't see why you can't model your squads with them - but for what it's worth, most of the fluff seems to have marines carrying combat knives of some kind.

dark6spectre wrote:in the game only sergeants have them. reason being otherwise SM would be so good that an army would only have like 10 models. a chainsword counts as an extra close combat weopon, meaning the SM would all get 2 cc attacks. but to let the sergeant be the good one only he gets a chainsword or another cc weopon sword thingy. instead all SMs get a bolt pistol, which acts as a standard CC wep

But Chaos Marines and Space Wolves have a bolter, bolt pistol, and chainsword.

As for the fluff stating they all have chainswords or what have you, it's fluff. Every BL author bends the established fluff in some way, for better or worse. Don't think too much into it.

OK thanks. I'm thinking about changing my models anyway since I need more bolters in my army.

It's only one squad thankfully.

Standard marine should carry these weapons.This is from Imperial Armor Volume 3.

Previous editions have seen the standard tactical marine with a bolt pistol, bolter and chain sword. Maybe the book was based on earlier marines or maybe the writer just likes the idea of arming them with everything they can possibly have. Oh and greandes of course.

Chain Swords also used to have a AP modifier

Anpu42 wrote:Chain Swords also used to have a AP modifier

And, being swords, the ability to parry.

Anpu42 wrote:Chain Swords also used to have a AP modifier

And shuriken catapults used to be better than stormbolters, causing a stronger negative armor modifier. 2nd edition is some wacky stuff. I think it would be cool if chainswords were AP6 though, just for the sake of it. Wouldn't really matter unless you were fighting Ork Boyz or Gaunts.

Well i'm using 5th Edition SM Codex.

Also is it possible to arm an apothecary with a bolt pistol AND Chainsword? technically he should be able to carry a bolt pistol on his narthecium hand......

On a personal note i've never liked the idea or look of chainswords. For one thing you can't really thrust a chainsword into an enemy (the guard means only a tiny percentage of the blades show at the front), and second why take a chainsword when a power sword a) looks cooler b)is more powerful c) goes through armour like paper.

The space wolf pack chain swords don't have a blade guard on the back so they would be more effective. They are also easier to produce. As far as modelling I often put on a chain sword and a holstered pistol.

I've got far too many spare chainswords lying around to start spending money on bits I don't need Ringarin.

No i'm going to have to remodel my second squad to use combat blades.

I remember my dual chainsword sergeant, full beaky armour and repositioned arms to make it look like it was actually using them rather than holding two ice creams. Not to mention lots of blood as they were traitors at the time. Just stick the Bolt Pistol in a holster on his leg and it'll be fine. Also slightly off topic, but Eviscerators are pretty cool

One of my favorite models is a commander that has a power sword in one hand and a combat blade in the other.

Corennus wrote:
On a personal note i've never liked the idea or look of chainswords. For one thing you can't really thrust a chainsword into an enemy (the guard means only a tiny percentage of the blades show at the front), and second why take a chainsword when a power sword a) looks cooler b)is more powerful c) goes through armour like paper.

But they're fething chainsaw swords, can it possibly BE any cooler?

Who cares about the power sword stats when you can make chainsaw noises and imagine the marine's sword tearing into the heretic?

My favourite Death Company would be the one I modeled with two Chainswords, positioned so that it was like he was yelling "Come get some!"

One off the best chain swords I saw was two put back to back and turned into a massive 2 handed sword.

Ringarin wrote:One off the best chain swords I saw was two put back to back and turned into a massive 2 handed sword.

That would looking somewhat similar to a spiky chode.
There's no other word for it, spare me!

I put 6 IG chainswods together once and put it on a WH preist for my IG priest w/ evisorator. 90% of comments I get are "wow, that is a big sword..."
IMHO it kinda sucks and kinda makes sence that SMs only have pistols, especially the codex ones. The codex was written by the man who wasn't fighting in thenheresy. Pistols and Freakish SMG rocket launchers are what our modern soldiers use, right?

To answer the power sword bit: Power Swords are not easy to make and cannot be mass produced. This alone means not everyone can wield one. A combat blade is a mono-edged knife about the length of an astartes forearm, but they do not have the armor-piercing abilities of a chainsword. A chainsword's teeth are mono-edged adamantine and are able to tear through ceramite, while a combat blade must find an opening. This alone is a damned good reason to use a chainsword.

Well I have two sergeants with Power Swords and three with Chainswords. i'll tell you how they fare if I ever get to use them all in combat.

No a chain sword is only good when lauchend from a rocket launcher

Ringarin wrote:One off the best chain swords I saw was two put back to back and turned into a massive 2 handed sword.

That's exactly what I did for my Seraphim Superior's eviscerator.

Great minds, I suppose.

Neither of you would be the first, but it is a very effective conversion. Nothing like a big chainsword to the face to ruin your day, right?

EagleArk wrote:No a chain sword is only good when lauchend from a rocket launcher

THAT my friend, is made of Win.

I wants the precious

Now, if if you can find a way to convert that as a "krak missile"as a model, you'd have my utmost respect as the pioneer of the Chain-missile

And I suppose for anti armour you use a rocket propelled power sword.....

I am now goind to cram a chain sword down the barrel of a rocket launcher....

EagleArk.

good luck with that. Personally I think Power Sword would be far more effective.

Or hell, if the Orks can have a Shokk Attack Gun why can't the space marines fire Rocket Propelled Assault Marines!

Corennus wrote:good luck with that. Personally I think Power Sword would be far more effective.

Or hell, if the Orks can have a Shokk Attack Gun why can't the space marines fire Rocket Propelled Assault Marines!

Nah. The Power Swords are only for the pretty marines. If you don't like the chainsword, you use a Big Bag of Antique Doorknobs OR a COMBAT WRENCH (also known as an ASS TUNER).

Lorgar's_Blessed wrote:

Corennus wrote:good luck with that. Personally I think Power Sword would be far more effective.

Or hell, if the Orks can have a Shokk Attack Gun why can't the space marines fire Rocket Propelled Assault Marines!

Nah. The Power Swords are only for the pretty marines. If you don't like the chainsword, you use a Big Bag of Antique Doorknobs OR a COMBAT WRENCH (also known as an ASS TUNER).

This.

EagleArk.