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In a mob of Ork boyz, its leader is a Nob (assuming you upgrade a boy to be one anyway).
That Nob counts as a character so precision attack are possible by him.
That model is a Nob, not a boy, but it is still an Ork.

Codex wrote:For every ten Orks in the mob, one Ork may exchange his slugga or shoota for [special weapon]...

I see no reason why I cannot equip the the BS/Rokkit on the Nob, but I'm not as familiar with the Core Rule book as I would like.
I have the codex, my friend has the rulebook.

- Can my Nob equip the special weapon?

If no, why?


If yes, I intend to equip Mob Nob(z) that are expected to be close to the enemy, with Rokkits.

My reasoning:

I realize Ork shooting is about volume, not one shot wonders. Yet when I look at it, given Ork BS, half their hits are 6s. So a precision Big Shoota shot or Rokkit would be advantageous - rare, yes, but advantageous. Given the various saves out there, killing a targeted model is sufficiently unlikely I will not base a strategy on it, but it could be an unexpected boon in a game. This make me wonder: should I put a Rokkit launcha on the Nob?

Cons:
- It costs extra
- 1/3 as many shots as a Big Shoota
- only a 50/50 of the 'hit' actually being precision
- lower range then the BS

However (aka Pro):
- the Rokkit`s AP means the most common army out there -MEQ- will be relying on cover saves rather then their armour, making a rokkit hit ~2x as effective as a single BS hit
- the higher S means a better wound %.against T4+ -such as the common MEQ- and ID against T4- multi wound creatures (except EW..)
Those two positives almost balances out the lesser number of shots. A 'balance' that diminishes greatly against non-MEQ armies/targets.

- The Rokkit on the Nob, with his 'look out sir' and extra wounds, is more likely to survive assassination.

- In the event the Nob roles a precise shot (50/50), a Special weapons trooper or unwounded mutli-Wound model can be sniped out.
This, I think, is the big one. Precision against a special weapon that is otherwise protected by multiple meat shields or taking the chance to ID an unwounded Wraith or a character also have their value.



Thoughts?


[Edit #3]: Typo. Had 'DA' when I should have wrote precision/precise shot

Unless it was removed, the FAQ says that Nobz leading a unit of Boyz can take the special weapons that any Ork can have (ie Big Shoota or Rokkit Launcha).

If you are playing mostly MEQ armies the Rokkit Launcha is probably better for the reasons stated. However, I don't play orks, nor do I play competitively, so I can't help much with tactics.

Some language codexes require you to exchange "choppa and slugga" for a heavy weapon which means when you upgrade to a NOB you no longer have a choppa to turn into a PK.

At least in 5th, it was not worth dumping the PK for the weapon for countries with codexes which exchanged the choppa too.

Personally, it is a dubious thing at best... Most trukk boyz will be going too fast to shoot reliably and footsloggers may either be running or pumping shootas into something where the rokkit will be an afterthought. Way too many other things do rokkits better as well within the ork army.

So yes, it is possible... and if you think you can build a tactic around it... Go for it.

For the occasional doubters who think this is an easter egg, it's worth noting that Boyz mob Nobs have always been able to take special weapons... The difference was simply that in the last codex they had to select them separately from the armoury rather than taking one from the squad's pool. The current codex removed the armoury, changed the wording from 'boy' to 'ork' and upped the number of them that the squad could take by one... so same net effect.

I prefer having my rokkits not on my nob so that I am at less of a loss when the Nob dies, but I see no reason why you couldn't do this.

I play Warboss on Bike, and Wazdakka, and LOVE it that their bike mounted dakka hits are 50% precise shots. This is especially wonderful since Wazdakka's S8 AP 4 Hvy 4 dakkacannon and his S8 AP2 Ass1 Blasta cause instant death on T4 targets

Yes, your Nob can take a special weapon and a PK. I like giving my Boyz Mob Nob a Big Shoota since it has 3 times the likelihood of making a Precise Shot.

Accipiter, I think your logic is sound considering precision and ID. I might kit one Nob wit a rokit an have a go next time.