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In the codex, it says Chaos marines are equipped with bolt pistols and close combat weapons as well as bolters. My question is: Does it matter how I "model" the figures? Or do they always count as having this equipment? I'm not real familiar with the newest edition of rules but I'm assuming the bp/ccw still gives a +1 attack bonus. Am I way off base here?

I'm not sayin....I'm just sayin...

Strictly speaking WYSIWYG still applies to these models but most people won't care if it's base equipment that everyone has by default.

The whole point of WYSIWYG is that there is no confusion as to what units have what. So long as that is in fact the case, you're fine

However, WYSIWYG isn't a "rule" per se. Its a convention to make the game easier to play (and more aesthetically pleasing.

To answer your original question, the models always come equipped with those items. So you could model some CSM with bolters firing, some with BBP/CCW, some with two bolt pistols if you want. They'd all have a bolter, ccw and pistol for game purposes.

And to reinforce both other posters, as long as there is no confusion (and there shouldn't be in this case), you're golden.

WYSIWYG hasn't been a strict rule since 3rd edition. As noted, for the last ~50 months it's been an ideal to aspire to, with the main point being avoiding confusion. As expressed above, people are rarely fussed about default equipment.

The codex only states that you must correctly model upgrades to units - not their base equipment. Your CSM could be modeled with no weapons at all and they would still have their standard loadout.

Though that would look lame, so it's generally better to model guns and swords and stuff.

In general, it's safe to assume that any model has the base loadout of its profile.

Where you do or should need to change their modeling, is if they have something 'special', like a power fist or a meltagun. In general, nobody is going to have a problem with a CSM getting 3 attacks in close combat, or firing a bolt pistol before the assault.

Chaos gets a little more leeway here since they used to not be all equipped with all three options and when you bought your figs you needed to arm them differently. Now that it is all default equipment many veteran players are left with models that are not wysiwig with no easy option but extreme bit hunting or replacing the models entirely.

As long as your models are using the base equipment ie bolter, or pistol + ccw you should be fine. Mix them together and thats even better. If you have any concern about yoru opponent not knowing what they have, you could make a marker to place next to the unit with whichever peice they are missing as a reminder that not all equipment is modelled on each figure. For instance, if you had pistol + ccw marines you could make a base with a bolter or two leaning against a box and tell your opponent that is the representation that they all have bolters as well.

I would check with TO's before a really big official toruney like a GT though. They tend to be a little more strict when you get to that level about everything, and the liklihood of encountering an issue is a little greater.

Also Sourclams above is right on about special equipment. You need to model those appropriatly all the time(except in friendly test games to see if buying new figures will work with your army and playstyle).

Meph

Some of my Chaos Marines have Close combat weapons (chain swords and axe's from Bezerker sprues) and bolt pistols, while others are armed with just the bolter. I've been to plenty of tournaments and I've never been given grief over them.

I don't think you even get enough bits in a box of Chaos Marines to correctly model all the base equipment.

It's actually kind of cool. You now have a little more variety with the poses and conversions and you don't really have to pay attention to who is armed with what (except for the heavy/special weapons of course).

It's the same with standard Space Marines. Technically every tactical marine is armed with a bolt pistol, but not everyone models their marines to have pistols (holstered or not).

Orkimedes,

You've gotten the gist from the previous response so I've nothing to add to be honest. I just wanted to say I had the exact same question when I started my Word Bearer's and as a result I ended up w/ 2 squads of CSM w/ Bolt Pistols and CCW's and 2 squads w/ just Bolters. OFC I did start in 3rd ed and played very little in 4th so I was completely fixated on the WYSIWYG.

To recap, your CSM can shoot w/ Bolters or Pistols regardless of what they are modeled with. Just remember that if you want to assault, use the pistols

The "only need to model upgrades" is significant, really. GW has in the past modelled figures kneeling, checking auspexes, fighting barehanded, etc. and thus all those figures count as having their basic equipment without needing to model it. Gives you a lot of modelling leeway.

Also, a couple of GW's Dark Angels rhinos were built without storm bolters when the new rhino kit came out. Luckily they can still fire!