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For a shooty SM Commander, would it be better to go with a Combi-Plasma or a Plasma Pistol? His five Command Squad Marines have four plasma guns as well (the Apothecary doesn't.)

Thank you for your input.

Well...
My question is, why does the SM Commander have to be with the Command Squad?
He really should be built for combat.

Else, if you are maximizing shooting and know they will only need to commit once to be meaningful, then the combi-plasma.

Give him hellfire rounds. They're the same points and lets him hit and wound on 2+ each which isn't bad and it wont wound you. The down side is that he cant shoot and assault with that. I take hell fire rounds on my captains sometimes but I always run captains on bikes so they are relentless.

Seriously though upgrade your captains shooting ability only if you literally upgraded EVERYTHING else in your army and are looking to spend that last 10 points since he is better in CC especially with artificer armor and a relic blade which cant get the extra CC weapon bonus anyway.

If you have a shooty army the librarian is better anyway since nullzone will buff your heavy weapons. Shooty armies can use MOTF too to fix vehicles, fortify ruins and take extra dreadnoughts. I find captain is only worth it to unlock bikes as troops.

The Pistol seems better to me since you are not limited to a single shot. Like Crom and Sanct said, the Captain is good for close combat. Denying him that just because you want an extra 12 inches on one shot doesnt seem like you're getting the most out of your points.

If you're using a Relic Blade, LC, TH, or PF, the combi-plasma or bolter with hellfire rounds is a better complement.
If you're using a power weapon, though, go with the pistol for extra attacks.
On the other hand, if you just want to get him into CC as soon as possible, don't bother with either and instead just leave the bolt pistol for the extra attack.
If you've got the points, of course, you could also go with a second special CCW or a storm shield.

Combi-plasma really does you no good.

Take the plasma pistol; you get +1 attack if you have a CCW, and you can shoot it every turn, albeit at less range

normally I'd say the plasma pistol so you can shoot and charge but if he he's running around with a squad that's rapid firing its kind of a moot point, go with the combi plasma. on his own though the plasma pistol is better since an extra attack with a ws5 relic blade etc can really make a difference.

You can't get +1 Attack with the relic blade with a plasma pistol.
You only get a shot in before assaulting...then you holster the plasma pistol and take the relic blade double handed.

Wow abbadon, way to show your lack of knowledge on the subject.

1) You can never get an additional attack for 2 weapons with a relic blade.
2)Captains are WS 6

oh thats right. power weapon. w/e

If you're putting the Captain with the squad then the Combi-plasma is a better compliment to the squads weaponry.

Captain, Combi plas, Relic blade. Maybe SM Bike or termie armor(obviously no relic for termie armor).

the CombiPlas is less points than the pistol and gets to fire
exactly the same number of time(but if you are close enough gets 2X the shots). I find you very rarely get to fire a Plasma pistol more than once per game.

It also took me a very long time to come to this realization(I have 3 models in my Assault squad that need to have their PPs replaced); looking back on it the outcome for points/shot/game has had me wasting enough points on Plasma pistols in most army lists to have gotten a whole 'nother squad of marines.

sure but unless the captain is on a bike he has to stand still to shoot the thing; he'll be receiving the charge instead of doing the charging. normally Id agree about combi weapons but close combat specialists like space marine heroes are another ball of wax. imo get the best of both and take a combi melta.

Plasma guns are rapid fire, not heavy. Sure you need the termie armor or the Bike to assault after firing, but if he is in a squad(any squad) receiving the charge should not be as bad.

Thank you all for the detailed discussion. I appreciate what everyone has provided. I must now go ponder...