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Hi everyone! I've been looking around, and I just wanted to know, does it matter what weapon you model onto your mini, or is it just purely aesthetic? Is it a must to model the weapon you want to use or not? Thanks in advance!

Its a mixture of both to be honest. For example in my chapter the sergeants do not have bolt pistols(rarely) but either a boltgun,assault weapon or plasma pistol. It is down to choice mainly but always keep an eye on possible opponent's armies and then look to what weapons will counter it.

WYSIWYG
It's pretty important but if you're opponent knows what's going on then not so much.
In a tournemant setting then yes... very.

I think on models that are built different then the rest of the group they need to stand out for sure. I really dont care. i just like to be aware of what they are using. You dont want a ork to be holding a shoota and really have a powerklaw. If they are IC then it is good to have them close to how you build them. Sometimes there are a few guys that have a special ability that they need to know who the IC or upgraded guy is so they can target just them. IMO

So what you guys are saying is that it is not a rule, but it is usually done that way? What if you wanted to change the weapons in your army list? I'm confused... O.o But thanks for trying to explain.

It's a good idea not only for you but also your opponent.
If you want to change weapons then it is a good idea to magnetise certain models so that is possible.

That is how i see it, I have so many orks but if i wanted to have groups built the same way i would need double what i have. It does not make since to have to have them built perfect. When you get into tournemant play people play with all kids of rules per tournement.

If you are playing with friends then i am sure it will be ok to play the way you guys would like to play. It is not a Rule in the BRB so you are fine on that point.

My main issue with WYSIWYG is the metal models that have weapons built in. Usually plasma pistols, but I just want the laspistol/bolt pistol. I really would rather not chop off the hand of the $18CDN model because of WYSIWIG.

It matters. I prefer my models and my opponents to put the appropriate weapon on their models. I dont mind if a player wants to spam/proxy their weapons as long as its easy to remember (exp: dev sqd with various HW and they are all counts-as lascannons). But ive played against people that have sternguard sqds and they are represented by a scout sqd. To complicate things, each sterguard member has a different combi weapon, some have powerfists, etc....it just gets too confusing sometimes.

Thanks, and yeah I was also thinking about the metal models.... Any tips?

I think WYSIWYG is important but as long as your opponent knows what everything is you're probably ok.

If you can, magnetize them though!

if you're on abotu givign them somethign outlandish and calling it a Thunderhammer for example, then that woudl be a no-no.

ASAIK the basic wargear (bolter, CCW etc) is pretty fluid, it is assumed the model has them down his pants or something. but for more specific guns (specials or heavies) then they must be represented on the model.

If it's just a squad of reqular marines the normal dudes could all have Bolters. you don't have to model their pistols.

but the Heavy and Special weapon guys better be modeled with their weapons.

the Sergeant should have any equipment you are running him with too. a PP counting as a Bolt pistol is fine in a friendly game, but not at a tourny.

The plasma pistol isn't terrible so I don't mind that much. I'll just consider it as part of the cost.

The imperial guard sergeants with power swords for example. They cone with plasma pistols as well, but it's cheaper than getting an extra box just for the swords. Also I wot have robot armed guys any time I want the power sword.

See my question is to what extent do you need to model stuff. Grey Hunters have Bolt pistols, bolt guns, and CCW. If you give them a bolt gun and a chainsword, is that close enough? Or do I need to go out and buy a crap ton of bolt pistols and glue them all to the their hips for WYSIWYG?

If you say they are Grey Hunters people will accept the standard bolter/chainsword or bolter or bolt pistol/chainsword. If they have a special weapon then you need to model that.

No, if it is their basic wargear you model equip them with any mix of bolter, bolt pistol and CCW and it would be legal.

This is how people can model marines with 2 bolt pistols for example. It doens't mean they fire twice as one of the pistols counts as a CCW.

Proxying is fine in my book, if you're on a budget you shouldn't, at least not in friendly games, have to have a model for ever new load out you try. I'm fine with power fists as CCWs. I'm fine with flamers as plasma guns. I'm even fine with ACs as ACs on dreads(but which of them? ACs as ACs, or ACs as ACs? Maybe even the dread has one AC and one AC, but one of them counts as an AC?) As long as everything is clarified and preferably written down, feel free to do it.

Sky57 wrote:See my question is to what extent do you need to model stuff. Grey Hunters have Bolt pistols, bolt guns, and CCW. If you give them a bolt gun and a chainsword, is that close enough? Or do I need to go out and buy a crap ton of bolt pistols and glue them all to the their hips for WYSIWYG?

As long as its the base line for a unit its fine, because all you say is 'these are all standard grey hunters', its when you deviate from the standard wargear that you have to model it.

Say for example you have a sterngard unit with a mixture of wargear, but you try to use standard bolter wielding marines. You could say that marine x has a power fist while marine y has a power sword, but as you go through the game x and y get mixed up so you can't tell which is which and you could use the wrong one, as this could lead to an unfair advantage its not really fair play.

As a whole WYSIWYG is about a level of care for your fellow gamers, basically making the game run smoother. This is taken to the next level in tournements due to the nature of the gaming.

It's much, much better to have your models equipped right!

If you think you'll ever change their weapons then be sure to blue-tac, magnetize, pin-without-glue them on instead of just glueing away like a maniac!

Magnetizing is the best way to avoid WYSIWYG issues because you can easily manage the weapons on models. However, if you have a model like an Ork Nob whose loadout would NEVER change (all Nobz ALWAYS take a PK and BP), then feel free to glue it on.

Sky57 wrote:See my question is to what extent do you need to model stuff. Grey Hunters have Bolt pistols, bolt guns, and CCW. If you give them a bolt gun and a chainsword, is that close enough? Or do I need to go out and buy a crap ton of bolt pistols and glue them all to the their hips for WYSIWYG?

Id say no. Standard tactical marines also have blt pistols, but no one glues additional pistold to their models. Its understood through the rules that they have them. The only thing you need to be concerned about is specifying which one your firing with each turn. Id say what you suggested is good enough. The special/heavy weapons are where most players want it represented clearly on the model.

So I'm guessing the best way to go would be to magnetize the arms and then have a whole array of weapons to change in between? Any alternatives?