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These are just a few questions I want to ask about the 40k universe

1: What actually classifies a rifle as a "carbine"?

2: What actually gives a pulse carbine the pinning effect?

3: Where does a Space Marine keep his ammo, rations etc? In all media, I've seen that the only ammo Marines have is the single clip already in their bolters, and they possibly cant keep all their gear in the pathetically small pouches that come with the model.

4: How powerful is a lasgun, as in Nightbringer, Uriel is hit by a las bolt that manages to melt away the Aquilla of his armour. Surely something that melts through ceramite must be a bit stronger than how powerful lasguns are in the game?

Thanks for your replies,

Valkyrie

Valkyrie wrote:These are just a few questions I want to ask about the 40k universe

1: What actually classifies a rifle as a "carbine"?

2: What actually gives a pulse carbine the pinning effect?

3: Where does a Space Marine keep his ammo, rations etc? In all media, I've seen that the only ammo Marines have is the single clip already in their bolters, and they possibly cant keep all their gear in the pathetically small pouches that come with the model.

4: How powerful is a lasgun, as in Nightbringer, Uriel is hit by a las bolt that manages to melt away the Aquilla of his armour. Surely something that melts through ceramite must be a bit stronger than how powerful lasguns are in the game?

Thanks for your replies,

Valkyrie

1. I believe it's a rifle that's been shortened?

2. As it's shorter; it's easier to handle (this is all just a guess); so I assume they get their shots off easier... it'd also be less accurate, so maybe they throw aiming to the wind?

3. Space Marine squads come with bolter-ammo sized pouches (they are on the same sprue as the boltgons; just above them, there are two pouches the size of the mags next to one another) ...But I never bother sticking them on

4. I would imagine the Aquila and other decorative motifs are not made from Ceramite... HOWEVER, there is a large disparity between Lasguns in the fluff and their actual effectiveness on the tabletop; simply for balance reasons; one could say Space Marine armour isn't effective enough going by the fluff! But lasguns are still weak; for example they can't take out Necrons very easily (The Hellgun on the other hand...)

If youre not happy with answer 3) :

watch "phantom commando", a fine example why no-one needs to reload, ever.

Carbine: Its a short and light version of a weapon, often they have an uprated fire speed aswell.
A good example of this is the M4 carbine as its a standard issue weapon now.

Its accuracy is barely altered by this, all in all, its alot more mobile and easy to carry around, hence why special forces tend to move towards either these, or guns like the MP5, G3 SAS or even on a rare occasion the mac-10.


No idea where marines keep ammo


Lasguns are about as strong as a halogen bulb, so not very.

The reason pulse carbines are pinning is the under-barrel photon grenade launcher.

Well, as to your fourth question, while I agree that fluff would indicate the lasgun being more effective than it is on the table, I would also point out that reality has been sacrificed for playability and army balance in a number of areas. (Except where the Tyranids are concerned. That army is about as well balanced as John Wayne Gacy with a bellyful of 'shrooms)

For example, a human (guardsmen) can 'run' 12 inches (at best) and a Land Speeder can move 30 inches (assuming it goes full out on a road for the full length) Now...do the math...the fastest human ever clocked was like 18 mph. Let's be generous and say 20mph. 2.5x that would be 50mph. 50mph for the fastest vehicle in the game? I hardly think so. We have armored transports TODAY that can blow that number away.

It's just a game balance issue. But good questions. I didnt know the first two answers at all.

1 & 2 have been said...

3. A space marine doesnt have to eat\drink\sleep for days if not weeks on end, so they will always return to their cruiser to rest and refuel. They keep spare ammunition on them in pouches around the waist from what im aware.

4. It does vary, the book Grey Knights a Justicar is incapasitated as his armor is penetrated by over charged cuiltists las guns. OTOH in one of the Gaunts Ghosts books their las guns are completely innefective against some Chaos Space Marines.

Carbine's are shortened rifles with a smaller ammo size, usually used by tank crews and other jobs where a rifle is too big and unweildy.

1. A carbine is a shortened version of a rifle that fires with a lower muzzle velocity due to the shorter barrel.
2. Underslung grenade launcher.
3. The backpacks have storage room under the powerplant. SM "belts" are also magnetic.
4. Maybe it was a hot-shot round?

Iron_Chaos_Brute wrote:
4. Maybe it was a hot-shot round?

Good point, I had completly forgotten about hot-shots.

Something else I don't get: Why does a Drop Pod carry 12 people when there are only 10 seats? Do the other 2 unlucky Marines have to cling onto the sides as it re-enters the atmosphere, or something like that lol?