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I recently asked a question about what was contained in the catachan box set for the 10 guys. And buddy pointed out that there are 2 las pistols.

Why would anyone take laspistols. They dont seem very strong, you need to be up close. Why not just take a las rifle? There might be something I'm missing as I don't have my codex right beside me at the moment, but this thought popped into my head and I want to know the answer without doiing any research. K thanks

Because you can't give your sergeant a las gun, which doesn't make any sense. You can give your sergeant a Bolt Pistol, Melta Bombs, and even a Power Weapon of all things, but Robin Cruddace doesn't add the most common place weapon an Infantry Sergeant would have.

cuz you have to? you have the other options of plasma or bolt at +10/+2 pts respectively...

but other than that the sarg is really only there for the Ld 8

I remember the old dex, when you could take storm bolters - those were the days.

dreadfury101 wrote:cuz you have to? you have the other options of plasma or bolt at +10/+2 pts respectively...

but other than that the sarg is really only there for the Ld 8

But it doesn't make any sense. Space Marines come with a Bolter, Close Combat Weapons, and (IIRC) Bolt Pistol and (IIRC) frag grenades, but an Imperial Guard front-line soldier cannot have a las-gun... Insanity...

sergeants are meant to be ringleaders an keep their men in line, rather than shoot the enemy they are more likely to shoot their own troopers
like commissars but ya know... not as scary

You can always house rule

I know quite a few IG players that mention before hand that sergeants are instead armed with lasguns, I see no harm in 3 or more S3 guns

kenshin620 wrote:You can always house rule

I know quite a few IG players that mention before hand that sergeants are instead armed with lasguns, I see no harm in 3 or more S3 guns

True dat. Thats what I usually do anyways with my guys who have pistols. It makes it simpler as well.

dreadfury101 wrote:sergeants are meant to be ringleaders an keep their men in line, rather than shoot the enemy they are more likely to shoot their own troopers
like commissars but ya know... not as scary

Sergeants have never been like this in the fluff. They're there to drive and lead their men, which doesn't include shooting them.

Not including a Lasgun as an option really just seems like a stupid mistake.

A sergeant's role in the IG isn't that of another grunt; he is the leader of his squad, making sure that the men are doing their jobs.

Having a las pistol instead of las gun fits nicely into that role for a couple reasons including: having a pistol means he can easily holster it to use both hands for a map; he isn't encumbered by the extra size of the lasgun, allowing him to get in the same foxhole as the man he is giving orders to and move about more freely.

Having been called 'Sarge' on occasion, I can say that is how I would reason it. A sidearm is a powerful thing for separating the lead from the leading. When I lead soldiers, I rarely fire my rifle, instead focusing on getting the squad to do its thing. A slung rifle and holstered pistol allows me to get up behind my soldiers, grab a shoulder and point at what I want dead. If I am not currently doing that, the side arm is out and work is being done. If the rifle comes out, I am not having a good day.

-cgmckenzie

cgmckenzie wrote:A sergeant's role in the IG isn't that of another grunt; he is the leader of his squad, making sure that the men are doing their jobs.

Having a las pistol instead of las gun fits nicely into that role for a couple reasons including: having a pistol means he can easily holster it to use both hands for a map; he isn't encumbered by the extra size of the lasgun, allowing him to get in the same foxhole as the man he is giving orders to and move about more freely.

Having been called 'Sarge' on occasion, I can say that is how I would reason it. A sidearm is a powerful thing for separating the lead from the leading. When I lead soldiers, I rarely fire my rifle, instead focusing on getting the squad to do its thing. A slung rifle and holstered pistol allows me to get up behind my soldiers, grab a shoulder and point at what I want dead. If I am not currently doing that, the side arm is out and work is being done. If the rifle comes out, I am not having a good day.

-cgmckenzie

You wouldn't ever leave your rifle at home though, would you?

Light my cigar.

cgmckenzie wrote:A sergeant's role in the IG isn't that of another grunt; he is the leader of his squad, making sure that the men are doing their jobs.

Having a las pistol instead of las gun fits nicely into that role for a couple reasons including: having a pistol means he can easily holster it to use both hands for a map; he isn't encumbered by the extra size of the lasgun, allowing him to get in the same foxhole as the man he is giving orders to and move about more freely.

Having been called 'Sarge' on occasion, I can say that is how I would reason it. A sidearm is a powerful thing for separating the lead from the leading. When I lead soldiers, I rarely fire my rifle, instead focusing on getting the squad to do its thing. A slung rifle and holstered pistol allows me to get up behind my soldiers, grab a shoulder and point at what I want dead. If I am not currently doing that, the side arm is out and work is being done. If the rifle comes out, I am not having a good day.

-cgmckenzie

But your rifle is still within arms reach is it not?

As the ordinary man versus the most hated and haneous evils of the Imperium (not to mention a certain 666 Chapter that intends to kill you after the work is done), the likely hood of a basic sergeant not having a good day is practically garaunteed. So he leans on his weapon as well as his squad to best combat these menacing evils.

What would you shoot a Chaos Terminator with:

Your las pistol or your las gun?

StormForged wrote:

dreadfury101 wrote:cuz you have to? you have the other options of plasma or bolt at +10/+2 pts respectively...

but other than that the sarg is really only there for the Ld 8

But it doesn't make any sense. Space Marines come with a Bolter, Close Combat Weapons, and (IIRC) Bolt Pistol and (IIRC) frag grenades, but an Imperial Guard front-line soldier cannot have a las-gun... Insanity...

Basic tac marines come with a boltgun, bolt pistol and both frag and krak nades. No CCW.

But back on topic this is something I've been wondering too. Instead of pointing and shouting "shoot there" I see it far more sensible for the sarge to shoot at the target and the squad following his example. Where is my sergeant's lasgun when I need it? Then again, fine, if they want to limit the equipment of sergeants very well then... BUT veteran sergeants at least. Give them a lasgun... or a bolter.

well, the vet sgt can take a shotgun if that makes you feel better. it's just the weaker guard-sized one. plus, giving up the lasgun rarely makes a big difference. I give all my sgts bolt pistols. I'd rather have one bolt pistol over a lasgun any day.

but, on a similiar track... you have the option to outfit the entire company command squad with laspistol and ccw should you choose to do so. i know it seems a bit crazy, but if you throw in Straken and some bodyguards it seems kind of fun. still doesn't make those pistols any better though.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Plus, add in a Medi-pak and you've spent a crazy amount on a psycho, Fearless, Furious Charge, and FNP guard assault squad.

Through in some Penal legions and have some fun with that.

Don't las-pistols give your character an extra cc attack? So your sergeant gets two due to having chain sword and laspistol?

Also, dont you get two shots at 12" even if you move with pistols?

The idea of the Sergeant carrying the same weapon as the line grunts doesn't mesh with the Napoleonic tactics that the IG were originally based around. In these times, the leader of a squad didn't carry a main battle-rifle, he carried a pistol and an infantry saber. If he were a lieutenant or higher-ranking officer, he would carry his saber on a knotted sash that identified his rank.

This style of command existed up to the American Civil War, at least, possibly into the very early 20th century. It wasn't really until the first World War that the rank of sergeant became slightly less managerial and slightly more supervisory, and infantry units would equip their ranking NCOs with rifles.

It grants an extra cc attack.

The multi-shot pistols went out years ago.

Lol stupid amazon gave me a 3rd edition rule book instead of 5th. Luckily it only cost $7.

Keep it for the fluff and retro art

Miles better than some of the current stuff in some ways

StormForged wrote:

cgmckenzie wrote:A sergeant's role in the IG isn't that of another grunt; he is the leader of his squad, making sure that the men are doing their jobs.

Having a las pistol instead of las gun fits nicely into that role for a couple reasons including: having a pistol means he can easily holster it to use both hands for a map; he isn't encumbered by the extra size of the lasgun, allowing him to get in the same foxhole as the man he is giving orders to and move about more freely.

Having been called 'Sarge' on occasion, I can say that is how I would reason it. A sidearm is a powerful thing for separating the lead from the leading. When I lead soldiers, I rarely fire my rifle, instead focusing on getting the squad to do its thing. A slung rifle and holstered pistol allows me to get up behind my soldiers, grab a shoulder and point at what I want dead. If I am not currently doing that, the side arm is out and work is being done. If the rifle comes out, I am not having a good day.

-cgmckenzie

But your rifle is still within arms reach is it not?

As the ordinary man versus the most hated and haneous evils of the Imperium (not to mention a certain 666 Chapter that intends to kill you after the work is done), the likely hood of a basic sergeant not having a good day is practically garaunteed. So he leans on his weapon as well as his squad to best combat these menacing evils.

What would you shoot a Chaos Terminator with:

Your las pistol or your las gun?

I'd just tell the nearest plasma gunner to shoot it in the face, or do it myself if the guy who wrote my list was smart enough to give me a plasma pistol.

Also, handguns are supposed to be more reliable than combat rifles in certain situations. They're lighter, smaller, give you more maneuverability and they can be easily fired at close range, which is the reason they give you that +1 attack.

Psienesis wrote:The idea of the Sergeant carrying the same weapon as the line grunts doesn't mesh with the Napoleonic tactics that the IG were originally based around. In these times, the leader of a squad didn't carry a main battle-rifle, he carried a pistol and an infantry saber. If he were a lieutenant or higher-ranking officer, he would carry his saber on a knotted sash that identified his rank.

Depends on the army, the Regiment (Line, Light, Rifle, Guards, Grenadier) and the type of Sergeant. If you took an average British Line Regiment, the primary weapon for a Sergeant in a Line company would be his musket & bayonet. He might carry a sword & sash, as a mark of rank, but having spent years with a musket & bayonet in their hands as a private soldier I can't see them prefering to use the sword over the bayonet with which they've trained & fought for so many years. Scabbarded swords can also be a nuisance and have a nasty habit of tangling the legs when running around which is not ideal on the battlefield.

On the other hand if we take a Sergeant assigned to guard the Regimental Colours then in a British Regiment he'd most likely carry his sword and a spontoon - similar to the partisan polearms - which he'd use to protect the colours should the enemy get close to them.

Within Rifle & Light Infantry Regiments (such as the 52nd Foot) Sergeants would, without fail, carry a long-arm as their Regiments primary role was to skirmish & harass, providing close-range fast firing musketry to cover the slower loading Baker rifles should the French Voltiguers &Tirallieurs get too close, negating the rifles long range accuracy.

Anyway, as to why Imperial Guard Sergeants don't have a Lasgun option? I don't know, it's one of those silly things like Rough Riders only being allowed to take a pistol or a CCW with their Hunting Lance, which strikes me as odd seeing as the Hunting Lance is one use only (first assault too!). If I'm honest I think it's an oversight on the team who wrote the Codex, who must have either missed it out or thought "Naaah everyone will want their Sergeants to have a pistol & chainsword - it's so cool!". Personally I'll be using laspistol & chainsword for my Krieg squads

cgmckenzie wrote: If the rifle comes out, I am not having a good day.

-cgmckenzie

In the 41th Millienium there are only bad days.

In soviet Russia the 41st day only has a bad millennium

CpatTom wrote:

cgmckenzie wrote:A sergeant's role in the IG isn't that of another grunt; he is the leader of his squad, making sure that the men are doing their jobs.

Having a las pistol instead of las gun fits nicely into that role for a couple reasons including: having a pistol means he can easily holster it to use both hands for a map; he isn't encumbered by the extra size of the lasgun, allowing him to get in the same foxhole as the man he is giving orders to and move about more freely.

Having been called 'Sarge' on occasion, I can say that is how I would reason it. A sidearm is a powerful thing for separating the lead from the leading. When I lead soldiers, I rarely fire my rifle, instead focusing on getting the squad to do its thing. A slung rifle and holstered pistol allows me to get up behind my soldiers, grab a shoulder and point at what I want dead. If I am not currently doing that, the side arm is out and work is being done. If the rifle comes out, I am not having a good day.

-cgmckenzie

You wouldn't ever leave your rifle at home though, would you?

Dude I'm A Canadian and even I wouldn't,................. and I don't have to fight 9' Space Monsters and Daemons and stuff!

The pistol is vital because the Sergeant needs to be stabby. That's why he carries around that powerweapon.

If anything, I wish I could give my entire squads pistols.

daedalus wrote:The pistol is vital because the Sergeant needs to be stabby. That's why he carries around that powerweapon.

If anything, I wish I could give my entire squads pistols.

me too i think they should release an add on to the codex so you could make an assualt squad like you can make a special weapon squad.

If they did that you would need to be able to take a sergeant and I think they should bump up the initiative but it would be pretty sweet to assualt an enemy with 6-7 guards men all with 2 CC attacks. I suppose you could run penal legions and just hope you role for pyschopaths.

if people prefer laspistols then it's cool.
But there really should be an option for a lasgun. Extra 12" range and rapid fire, if you have 4/5 squads it can make a difference.

yep,
the old 'dex allows this option, where sarge can swap laspistol+CCW with lasrifle for free. (at that time, grenades and CCWs are separate wargear and grunts never use it..).

is IG Sarge works the same way as 17th century Line Infantry ones? (where he dressed like his fellas but armed with a spear and sword and don't have access to a firearm, not even pistol!)

As noted above, the pistol+ccw equipment for a squad leader is meant to be reminiscent of older-style real world military forces.