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This site has put me under the impression that the general consensus is these are completely useless

Is this the opinion everyone holds?

I feel like I might as well bin my imperial guard because I have vox-casters in all units, a medi-pack, a standard bearer etc.

Voxes are useless because the things you want to give orders to are either LD 9-10 (blob squads with commissars/rune priests, the CCS itself) and reliable enough without wasting a CCS melta/plasma slot, or can't take voxes (HWS, Sabre guns, artillery) and meet the "one in each squad" requirement.

Medi-packs are useless because they cost way too much. Instead of screwing around with FNP on a small squad of T3/no-save models (STR 6+ ignores it, and you still die fast even when you get FNP) just spend those points on buying more units to replace the ones that die. This is especially true of PCS, which you don't even care about protecting.

Standard bearers in CCS are decent if you don't already have morale fixing from commissars/rune priests/etc and are using a static foot list. Standards in PCS, on the other hand, are useless because they're an assault bonus for a unit that always gets wiped out uselessly if it's ever involved in the assault phase.

Hm.. I have to do a lot of fixing things. I have messed up my army by using these options.

I doubt there is any easy way to remove vox casters and vox heads without breaking the models either. *sigh*

I agree that voxes... not so much. If you really need people to pass orders better, take either kell or a lord commissar. They'll cost twice as much than a complete vox net, but they'll give you more than twice comprehensive quality.

Medics are okay, but only in close combat... which is kind of crummy for guard nowadays. If you're already throwing a bunch of points into a choppy CCS or something, then it can be worth a little insurance to protect the squad, but otherwise you're probably not getting a WHOLE lot out of them.

Standards are a definite buy, though. A very cheap upgrade that does everything that a commissar is good for nowadays anyways. I've had plenty of games where I've gotten good use out of it, and some games (including already in 6th ed) where it has comprehensively saved my ass. It's tough to think of anything else in the codex that gives you so much for just such a cheap price.

the things you want to give orders to are either LD 9-10 (blob squads with commissars/rune priests,

Per the FAQ, you cannot use the leadership of allied characters for orders

I personally find they are very situational. The medic, in my opinion, is a waste of points, as you can simply get another special weapon. The flag (on a CCS) is essential in a foot list, but is virtually useless when playing foot, although never take one in a PCS. Finally, vox casters have their moments, but I tend to include them as an afterthought, although they would be handy in a librarin/rune priest led squad.

A commissar attached to an infantry squad is part of the unit surely? Meaning a non lord. Isn't his leadership of 9 used then.

You seem to have contradicted yourself. You said a regimental standard as an essential in a foot army but it's useless in a foot army? *confused*

foxyfennec wrote:
A commissar attached to an infantry squad is part of the unit surely? Meaning a non lord. Isn't his leadership of 9 used then.

This is correct. The FAQ applies to allied characters, not attached characters. IOW, you can use the leadership of a commissar in the unit, but you can not use the leadership of a rune priest attached to the same unit.

Standards are a definite buy, though. A very cheap upgrade that does everything that a commissar is good for nowadays anyways. I've had plenty of games where I've gotten good use out of it, and some games (including already in 6th ed) where it has comprehensively saved my ass. It's tough to think of anything else in the codex that gives you so much for just such a cheap price.

Of course two things to point out:

1) PCS and CCS standards are very different, and only the CCS one is worth having.

and

2) The usefulness depends on your list. A static foot list will love standards. A Vendetta veteran list probably won't get much use out of them.

If you're running a blob-heavy list, you only need 1 vox in the whole blob. 10 points to almost guarantee FRFSRF or some of the other great CCS orders on your blob is really nice. Of course the one vox guy can get sniped out, but that could happen pretty easily anyway.

Don't worry abou havin vox guys and not wanting to use the wargear. I just mix the vox guys in witht he blob and explain to my opponenet that I don't have any vox.

 TheLionOfTheForest wrote:
Don't worry abou havin vox guys and not wanting to use the wargear. I just mix the vox guys in witht he blob and explain to my opponenet that I don't have any vox.

This. People don't tend to care, especially when your PCS/CCS don't have a vox which makes it pretty obvious.

Griddlelol wrote: when your PCS/CCS don't have a vox

Yeah, because what are they being used for?

Oh no, we're fighting #Tyrannid today! #GoGuard! #ForTheEmperor!

@Lictors - NO, stay out of our terrain! #MonstrousCreatures #FML

Stephen Gaius has changed his status to "Being dissolved into a pool of biomatter".

It can get boring sitting around in a gun-line waiting to fire your lasgun. Give them a break man!