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I'm Just wondering why GW would not make a Plasma cannon Heavy weapons team.

I know you can have a specialist squad with plasmaguns but I feel that it isn't as good as a Plasma Cannon.

The stats for the Plasma gun compared to the Plasma cannon

Plasma Gun

Range Strength AP Type
24" 7 2 Rapid Fire,
Gets Hot!
Plasma Cannon

Range Strength AP Type
36" 7 2 Heavy 1, Blast,Gets Hot!


So while they have the same strength and AP the Plasma Cannon has bette range and uses a blast template.

So whats your thought Dakka Dakka

I would guess because the Imperial Guard has almost no access to Plasma Cannons. Fluff-wise, the stuff is rare, and game-wise, they would be massively costed. You can get them as sponsons on a Leman Russ, and as the main turret for the Executioner, but that's about it.

plasma weaponry is mainly restricted to proximity to the forge worlds that make them, at least in the fluff anyways, since the tech is not understood inmost places.

IG cant take man portable plasma cannons because if they got hot they would take out more than just the operators, it would probably take out half their squad too. SM get away with it cus of power armour and tey are biggerz

.... "Itz minez cuz I'z Biggerer, so therez"

I think they'd be more likely to make a man-portable Multi-Laser first than a Plasma Cannon.

But the if the Plasma cannon cost 20pts (cost that amount to use them on a Sentinal) It cost around the same as a specialist sqaud with Plasma Guns (80pts)

If Plasma Cannons are rare why do Armoured Sentinals have them

I would posit that fluff wise sentinels with plasma cannons are very rare if not amost non existant, I would realy think that most might be jerry rigged from other weapons.... or not, but still very rare in fluff terms. only certain worlds could field them (mostly forge worlds, probably Ryza as it has the most plasma tech).

sentinels can get away with it since they can carry all the extra cooling stuff necisary.

Lord Commander Phyrus wrote:I would posit that fluff wise sentinels with plasma cannons are very rare if not amost non existant, I would realy think that most might be jerry rigged from other weapons.... or not, but still very rare in fluff terms. only certain worlds could field them (mostly forge worlds, probably Ryza as it has the most plasma tech).

sentinels can get away with it since they can carry all the extra cooling stuff necisary.

*Jury rigged

I'll have to agree with you here, you hear very little about Sentinels with plasma weapons. I was thinking about a plasma cannon team myself just today, but i just don't think the fluff would stretch that far enough, considering how disposable guardsman are made out to be.

I dunno, i think it would look cool with guardsmen toting full sized plasma cannons, if you were playing me in a freindly game I'd let you use it if you moded up the models.

actualy, from memory i think the plasma sentinel might actualy be a Ryza pattern Sentinel, like the AC one is Cadian pattern, Hvy Flamer one is Catachan pattern, LC one is Armageddon pattern, multilaser is mars patern ..... apparently rocket launcher one is Elysian pattern but dont quote me on the last one

Primarily its a theme thing. PC's are genreally more of a Space Marine weapon, while IG have far greater access to stuff like Autocannons and Multilasers. SM's have wider access to Plasma Cannons, having them on Devastators, Sternguard squads, Tactical squads, and Dreads whereas IG can only take them on Leman Russ Tanks and Sentinels, but SM's can only take Autocannons on Dreads and Predators IIRC, while IC can take them in Command Squads, Infantry Squads, Veteran Squads, Heavy Weapon Squads, Sentinels, Hydras, and Leman Russ Exterminators.

In fluff terms, for the vast majority of the IG's opponents, they really wouldn't need plasma cannons over mortars, autocannons, missiles and battlecannons, whereas the SM's spend more time fighting foes similar to themselves.

In terms of gameplay, speaking as someone with two IG armies, IG really don't need them, and they wouldn't really be cheap enough to justify taking given their likely cost.