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Hey Everyone,

I have about 7 extra plasma pistols left over from the DKoK extra weapons kit and was wondering if there were any models that could benefit by having them?

My commissars already have them, as well as the officer in my CCS.

As well, I have an extra grenadier model....for fun, what do you think about giving him double plasma pistols? He does have a 4+ save because of the carapace armor in case it gets hot.

He would be a part of an assault squad of vets, so he wpuld get an extra attack from having the same weapons. That might be cool no?

Platoon commanders should get them. Are you you running mech vet or foot guard? If your running mech vet you should just stick a plasma pistol with every veteran sarge. If you run foot guard you can put them with sargeants as well, but since they have bs 3 and the pistol only has a twleve inch range you might find it better just to get a plasma gun instead. Unless you have an assualt based foot guard.

I put them in everything I can. Why not trying that? I freaking love Plasma Pistols, even if they do get hot once in a while.

In all honesty, they're usually a waste of points on almost anything in an IG army unless you just want them for cool factor. Considering how rarely they get to be used (especially getting off more than one shot, quite frequently only at BS3) and how quickly they add up, you'll find that after just sprinkling them a few around you could have gotten another tank instead.

If you run a CCS with 4 plasma, might as well toss in a plasma pistol for good measure

Platoon and company commanders, since they have BS4. If you want to give them to veteran sergeants, that's fun too. I wouldn't give them to anything BS3 though.

DakkaDakka wrote:

Drop the plasma pistols and, with a bit luck, you save enough points to buy somthing actualy useful, like an extra squad or a Chimera.

Thanks for the replies everyone....if I'm hearing you all correctly the best thing to do is to not put plasmas on anyone, but at the same time put plasmas on some guys.

I admit that part of the reason for wanting to put the plasma pistols on someone is that they look pretty sweet and I have so many extra.

I agree with many of you that for the points I'm not sure they're that much of a benefit. Especially on BS3 models.

I suppose the only real two models I am considering (and the last 4 guys I have to build to complete my troops), are the Veteran Sergeant, and the Platoon Commander.

And of those two, the Platoon Commander is the one I'm really concerned about because the Vet Sergeant is really an extra model (I already have a Vet sergeant leading one of my squads with a shotgun).

So, based on all your advice, it comes down to.

Should I put a plasma pistol on my Platoon Commander (he has a power sword as well)?

Should I put one (or two) on the extra vet sergeant for fun / to try it out?

Vet sarges with plasma, in a plasma squad, can really help. Now you have 7 BS4 plasma shots which, against a 5 man termie unit or Dreadknight can really put the hurt on.

Hmmm, that vet sarge is part of a squad with, Shotguns, two flamers and a missile launcher.

I'd only put them on the Company Commander, since he is BS4 and has the wounds to survive it overheating, and then only if you are running them as a special weapons squad.

Putting them on Sgts is a horrible, horrible idea, especially in power blobs. Way to throw away points (not only 15 points for a 50/50 plasma shot that you may get to fire once a game, but also the points and leadership you give up when they inevitably overheat and blow up in your flak-armored face). Putting them on a Commissar is even worse. Yay, I overheat and lose stubborn and a 60-point model... d'oh!

I wouldn't put them on platoon commanders either, since I don't want to lose the leadership or source of orders, but I guess if you think plasma pistols are super awesome and don't mind throwing away points, why not. Personally, though, I wouldn't bother, and I'd convert that power sword to a regular sword, as well.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

crazylegsmurphy wrote:Hmmm, that vet sarge is part of a squad with, Shotguns, two flamers and a missile launcher.

This is a terrible unit. Why a missile launcher for a squad otherwise armed to be up-close and personal? Why flamers on models you're paying extra to have BS4? Why?

Brother SRM wrote:Platoon and company commanders, since they have BS4. If you want to give them to veteran sergeants, that's fun too. I wouldn't give them to anything BS3 though.

This, essentially.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Omegus wrote:Why flamers on models you're paying extra to have BS4?

If he had taken two flamers and a heavy flamer, the answer would be that the squad is giving lots of special weapon wounds in one package.

But with a missile launcher?

What.

Basically, that vet squad is the squad I use for flushing guys out of buildings and such. I don't want to be running my infantry around, so these guys are nice for shooting, flaming, and assaulting if needed.

I have actually killed more units with this squad than my other two vet squads with plasma and melta.

Melissia wrote:

Omegus wrote:Why flamers on models you're paying extra to have BS4?

If he had taken two flamers and a heavy flamer, the answer would be that the squad is giving lots of special weapon wounds in one package.

But with a missile launcher?

What.

Heavy flamers on infantry is also terrible. Four times the cost just for +1S and -1AP? Pass.

These are my three vet squads.

Squad A.

Sergeant - power sword
X2 plasma
Heavy Flamer
Lasguns

Squad B.

Sergeant - power sword
X2 Melta
Heavy Flamer
Lasguns

Squad C.

Sergeant
X2 flamers
Missile launcher
Shotguns.

I basically keep it like this, but will swap em around depending on who I'm fighting.

I personally put plasma pistols on all squads with plasma guns. An extra 10 points for an additional STR7 AP2 shot is not a bad deal, and the extra firepower really comes in handy when one of your plasma guns kills its user, dropping you down to 5 shots instead of only 4 in a veteran squad. I'd agree on not using them on BS3 though, they shine on BS4 models.

Also to everyone advocating taking them out to find space for other tanks or other squads... you guys realize that's like 5 or 6 plasma pistols right?

5 plasma pistols buys you a Hydra
4 plasma pistols buys you a Chimera and 5 points left over
3 plasma pistols buys you a commissar with a power weapon
2 plasma pistols buys you a veteran doctrine or an advisor
1 plasma pistol buys you three flamers

And for the record, those squads made me die on the inside a little more each time.

Creeping, that's kinda what I'm saying. I have pretty much all the other units I need, I'm really just talking about two or three pistols at the most.

I'm kinda sitting here saying, I have the guns, why not use them if they'll do some good? However, if they're going to be worse with them on, then it doesn't make sense.

Omegus wrote:5 plasma pistols buys you a Hydra
4 plasma pistols buys you a Chimera and 5 points left over
3 plasma pistols buys you a commissar with a power weapon
2 plasma pistols buys you a veteran doctrine or an advisor
1 plasma pistol buys you three flamers

And for the record, those squads made me die on the inside a little more each time.

5 plasma pistols isn't even enough to get you a Chimera, nevermind a Hydra. You seem to be confusing the cost of a plasma pistol with the cost of a plasma gun.

If you wanna use plasma pistols bud go right ahead, they're really handy for the extra firepower and are totally worth it. Your sergeants/officers definitely won't be worse off with them on, though that kinda depends on your rolling and how much you love plasma. I'm pretty much known in my gaming group for making plasma work. It's riskier than melta guns but when you want something dead, they can really deliver.

Ok Omegus,

You seem to have it all figured out judging by your sarcastic attitude, so why not tell me what you think the perfect squads are for my playing style?

I mean come on sir, is it really neccessary to talk to me like I'm an idiot? There are thousands of posts on here with a thousand ideas about what makes up a perfect squad. This post is not titled, "sarcastically blast my unit choices please"

I'm asking about Plasma pistols and I'm getting some good advice. I just need to consider what is not only good to do, but what will be fun. I don't honestly care if it blows up and kills a guy every now and then, that's part of the fun, just like when my grenades drift onto my own squad, or I deep strike off the table.

I'm looking to build a fun and interesting army, not the stock standard tank heavy IG army that seems to dominate the community.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Creeping, did you happen to catch the idea about double plasma pistols on the vet sarge? Thoughts?

I put one on my Company Commander. The squad with him has four Plasma guns, and they are insanely good for backfield rapid response i.e. run the chimera over to the threat and unload plasma death from the back hatch.

Since you can shoot five guys out the hatch, giving the CC a Plasma Pistol just adds to the shooty death.

Green Git,

I use the death korps model for the company commander so I just say he has a plasma pistol in his holster if I need to. I'm thinking of trying three plasmas and a medic in my CCS.

Right now I have my second platoon commander with a power sword and no arm as I try to decide, and my extra vet sergeant with no arms as I try to decide on these pistols.