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Earlier there was a discussion somewhere about the CSM's equipment, as they have close-combat weapons, bolt pistols and bolters, all at the same time.

So, when modeling the CSM, does one have to give them all three weapons? A bolter, a pistol and a cc weapon? Or can one just give them a Bolter and play them as if they have 2 cc weapons in close-combat (unless they fired their bolter in that same turn, of course.)?

I find the Codices nowdays to be less clear than the old ones, in which they had a Bolter, and could change that for pistol and cc weapon for free and gain an extra attack...

A classic!

A quick use of the Search function will reveal several older threads on this subject.


A quick and dirty conclusion is that most people won't mind if you just stick to WYSIWYG when it comes to upgrades, and not bother too much about the basic equipment that a unit comes with.
Most people don't make sure that their Tactical Marines all have holsters to represent Bolt Pistols either.

Don't let the fact that I have given you the answer keep you from using the Search function another time.
It would have been a lot easier for me to just write "Use the Search function" and left it at that.

Well, Dakka's search function feels wierd. If I search for something with two or more words, I'll get every post that has one of those words in it. =s

I agree. It isn't a very good app, but it is the one we have.

It is further compounded by the fact that a lot of people are imbeciles when it comes to naming their threads. The amount of threads stupidly named along the lines of "Will this work?" and "Question about Eldar" is staggering.

In the case of Chaos Space Marines, the sprue comes with a Pistol holster, Bolter and Knife for each marine so it's pretty easy.

Ah, they do? I haven't bought any boxes yet as I'm still trying to decide if I should go for the Night Lords or not.. Those heads and stuffs are so darn expensive =s

Its super simple. Just model with with pistol and CCW or bolter.... or Bolter and CCW.


the rulebook shows what they got and SW now hace that too and yet if you added all in 1 it would be kind of messy all over the unit. Some of my models have the pistols on side ect ect and some have a sword on the side but it is usually either just bolter with a knife at the end, Bolter and CCW or CCW while also wielding a pistol

Yeah they have everything the wargear section says is standard really no matter what the model shows. You have a bolter, a pistol and CCW no matter the case unless you replace it then you have to show it. Like if you get a plasma gun. Same thing as space wolves.

IIRC, The WYSIWYG rule as per the rulebook only applies to characters. There is no mention of it applying to rank and file.

Still, it's good form to have actually modelled upgrades, although youll never have enough melta bombs to equip a unit with them...

It's not just good form to model upgrades on regular units. Each individual codex is going to have one version or another of a statement requiring that models with upgrades actually have the upgrades.

For CSM, it's on page 89, in the paragraph USING THE ARMY LIST, "Look in the relevant section of the army list and decide what unit want to have in your army, how many models there will be in it, and which upgrades you want (if any). Any upgrades that are taken must be shown on the model."

So if you have a Chosen squad with four guys with meltaguns, there need to be four guys with meltaguns according to the codex.

You'll note that the codex doesn't say anything about requiring that a regular Chaos Space Marine model depict it having a bolter, bolt pistol, close combat weapon and grenades.

solkan wrote:
You'll note that the codex doesn't say anything about requiring that a regular Chaos Space Marine model depict it having a bolter, bolt pistol, close combat weapon and grenades.

It also doesn't say anything about requiring a Chaos Marine to be represented by a Chaos Marine model, but we generally accept it as true.

Nitros14 wrote:

solkan wrote:
You'll note that the codex doesn't say anything about requiring that a regular Chaos Space Marine model depict it having a bolter, bolt pistol, close combat weapon and grenades.

It also doesn't say anything about requiring a Chaos Marine to be represented by a Chaos Marine model, but we generally accept it as true.

Who's "We", pale face? Lots of us use Counts As armies :-P

Also, stating that "Any upgrades that are taken must be shown on the model." implies that things that are not upgrades don't have to be shown. Most people I have ever gamed with (a non-statisitcally relevant ssample to be sure) don't require you to show every BP and CCW a model might have in addition to the "main" weapon, even in tournaments. Only the upgrades.

However, to the OP's question, it isn't a bad idea to remind your opponent before the game that "these squads are regular CSM guys, with bolters, bolt pistols and CCW. Those two fella's have meltas instead of bolters" etc.

Shatter.proof wrote:Yeah they have everything the wargear section says is standard really no matter what the model shows. You have a bolter, a pistol and CCW no matter the case unless you replace it then you have to show it. Like if you get a plasma gun. Same thing as space wolves.

I agree with this, I play chaos (night lords specifically) and nobody at my FLGS cares about WSIWYG when it comes to default equipment. the sprues do include a pistol holster and knife bit, not to mention you can use all sorts of other bits to represent a CCW (some of my marines have those machette swords from the old catachan sets). However when you replace one of those default options with a plasma weapon/power weapon, it should always be shown on the model.

It's just so easy though. The Chaos Marine sprue comes with a pistol holster with grenades modelled on it. Glue that to his side. It comes with a knife, glue that to his other side. Show a bolter in his hands. Done. No conversion work neccesary.

That gets boring fast.

Bookwrack wrote:That gets boring fast.

And looks horrible.

whitedragon wrote:

Bookwrack wrote:That gets boring fast.

And looks horrible.

Annnnd thats why I say switch it up!

say some have Pistol and CCW
Say some have bolter, maybe a knife and pistol on side
or if you really wanna be a badass and i've dont this a few times is dual bolters but put a spike thru one like its just a CCW, or a CCW in one hand and a bolter with the other; he is so badass and old he can fire and use a bolter like a pistol!

I have some of my Grey Hunters with Bolter and Bolt Pistol with a knife on their side.

the kit comes with little holsters with pistols for their belts... nfi how many come with them though