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Why do high ranking squad leaders not wear helmets. All the sergeant miniatures have no helmets. I know it helps them stand out, but they're leaving their head wide open. Not only that, but they give up the visor HUD that lets them target, and observe other squad members positions. And don't even get me started on not being able to withstand toxic fumes . Is there any sort of explanation for this?

In the case of Astartes...

They don't really need the helmets for anything besides ballistic protection. Their body can filter out most toxic fumes, it takes alot of toxicity to put down an Astartes that way.

If they've got an augmetic eye or opt to have some modifications done, they can essentially get an "optical HUD" installed directly in their eye--so they don't really need that.

With Guard, they give up the ballistic protection and in return get an enhanced field of view and they also present a far more "inspiring" figure to the rest of the squad/platoon simply by losing the helmet.

Kanluwen wrote:In the case of Astartes...

They don't really need the helmets for anything besides ballistic protection. Their body can filter out most toxic fumes, it takes alot of toxicity to put down an Astartes that way.

If they've got an augmetic eye or opt to have some modifications done, they can essentially get an "optical HUD" installed directly in their eye--so they don't really need that.

With Guard, they give up the ballistic protection and in return get an enhanced field of view and they also present a far more "inspiring" figure to the rest of the squad/platoon simply by losing the helmet.

Okay, seems fair.

So that the model is much more dynamic and unique than the rank and file models around it.

Having the helmet off makes the model stand out on the table.

IMHO i dont think there is any fluff logic behind it i just think GW thinks its cooler that way.

Formae wrote:Why do high ranking squad leaders not wear helmets. All the sergeant miniatures have no helmets. I know it helps them stand out, but they're leaving their head wide open. Not only that, but they give up the visor HUD that lets them target, and observe other squad members positions. And don't even get me started on not being able to withstand toxic fumes . Is there any sort of explanation for this?

I know what you mean. A number of the BL books have described the kind of information filtered through the helmet, depending on the author it ranges from basic optics advantages over the standard eye, through to status readouts of squad members, communications etc. There is even an example in Purging of Kallidus of a Chaplain shutting down power to his suit.
So, you could say a variety of different vision modes, the ability to see through smog and smoke etc., magnification, communications and of course providing a closed atmospheric seal - you imagine if Marines were taking part in any kind of adverse atmospheric condition (or perhaps in a boarding action, where pressure could suddenly change) and of course they would wear helmets.

I think really, especially as far as Astartes are concerned, it's more of a modelling issue. Easy recognition of the sergeants (and remember this goes back to RT days, when often the only distinguishing mark of an officer was the fact you had used a helmetless head on the model). But I think practically pretty much every BL writer has described them as wearing helmets during combat.

There is one amusing scene in ADB's Soul Hunter (small spoiler below)



I couldn't help but feel that the scene in the book was a little in-joke for those who play the game; this is what happens when you go into a combat situation without the most vital part of your anatomy protected

Kanluwen wrote:They don't really need the helmets for anything besides ballistic protection.

Exactly, and even then, helmets provide very poor ballistic protection. Helmets have never been designed to stop lethal blows to the head, whether it be at the end of a sword, or by the impact of a bullet.

The only thing helmets have ever been good against is glancing blows, and space marine heads are covered on three sides by their power armor anyway, and are tough enough to handle a bit of debris or shrapnel to their face.

..Although to concede on my last point, looking at the pic on the cover of WD, the marines head is so small that it's pretty much an impossible target anyway.

It's for visual interest and distinction, mostly. A guy with a recognizable face is going to have a hell of a lot more character than a guy wearing a face-obscuring helmet, most of the time.

Mostly just to give the models more distinction. Though I've seen a lot of regular Chaos Space Marines without helmets.

Because it looks heroic. Why do you need another reason? They're static minatures, dramatically posed. If you start to read that kind of detail into it, and demand that kind of realism, 40K probably isn't for you.

You can always give the sergeant a helmet...

In the case of my Marines Exemplar force, the fluff is they help protect the eye of Terror, and in a lot of literature i've read, marines have a greater ability to sense/see/smell deamons without the helmets on as opposed to having them secured, soooo a few my sergeants will be helmet less to represent them searching for the vile warp spawned entities. but yeah it also looks cooler for the game!

My SM sergeants have helmets. So do some of my IG sergeants. The ones who aren't wearing them have them hanging from their belts.

It's dangerous out there.

See I hate the notion of soldiers not wearing helmets. Granted the Astartes probably don't NEED them, but anyone with half a brain is going to want the protection, however small it provides. Additionally, SM helmets seem very rounded, so they would be able to glance rounds off fairly effectively.

As such, no one in my Space marine army is without their helmet. The sole exception is my AoBR sarge, just cause I don't feel like doing the conversion. I make my sargeants stand out in other ways, by painting their helmet a different color, or giving them a special bit on their armor. Plus I usually give them a chainsword, which is a dead give away.

The other reason is that I can't paint eyes to save my life. So I just avoid the whole thing

Because it looks cool, any fluff explanation is simply to rationalize this fact.

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

seejay wrote:Because it looks heroic. Why do you need another reason? They're static minatures, dramatically posed. If you start to read that kind of detail into it, and demand that kind of realism, 40K probably isn't for you.

This.

Daft question, it's like asking, "Why is this marine standing with his bolter resting on his belt with the muzzle pointing into the air? He can't shoot anything like that!" - it's a model.

but anyone with half a brain is going to want the protection

For anyone with half a brain...
It's already too late to tell them that they shoulda worn their helmet!

Well in the old medieval times etc, higher ranking officers wore less armour so as to provide morale for their troops and so the enemy could say: "There's their leader, let's see if we can fight him/her," then he/she beasts them all!! Or something along those lines...

Dunno bout that, but they would often remove their helmets to show their troops that they were still alive.

Troops in full plate mail prefered not to wear the helmet, as it was stifling, restricting and uncomfortable. In some cases it worsened protection as you couldn't actually see what was going on around you.

Assumedly SM helmets don't have these issues anyway, but still.

To be honest most guns in the galaxy will go through your armour,a helmet won't be much help at times.

Woah, didn't expect this to get 20 replies. Anyways, I wasn't really complaining or nit picking about it. I was just wondering if there was any reason as to why they wouldn't wear helmets. I personally thought that the helmets gave good protection from firearms, but apparently not.

funnily enough in my space wolves, its almost the other way around. the guys with helmets are usually the commanders/sgts.
but I'd say its a morale thing. 'I'm still alive, see? its not some dude pretending to be me. ATTACK!'