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I don't understand the rationale for giving a SM techmarine a power ax. He is automatically outfitted with an unwieldy weapon (the servo-arm), which grants him higherr strength attacks and better quality AP; and, because the servo-harness is a specialist weapon, the addition of the power ax gives no additional attacks.

What am I missing here?

There's no reason to do it. The power axe option is pretty much objectively bad.

doesn't the servo harness give an additional 2 hits along with his own?

zephel wrote:
doesn't the servo harness give an additional 2 hits along with his own?

I believe it gives one additional attacks.

The master of the forge might do it so he can have a power axe and conversion beamer.

Servo Arm doesn't give extra attacks anymore. In fact, it's exactly the same as a power fist now, only it's AP1, instead of AP2.
The Servo Harness is 2 servo arms (so you get the +1 A for having 2 weapons), and special rules that let you shoot more.

-Matt

 HawaiiMatt wrote:

Servo Arm doesn't give extra attacks anymore. In fact, it's exactly the same as a power fist now, only it's AP1, instead of AP2.
The Servo Harness is 2 servo arms (so you get the +1 A for having 2 weapons), and special rules that let you shoot more.

-Matt

Right, you benefit from the second weapon because it is likewise a specialist weapon....

 thunderingjove wrote:
I don't understand the rationale for giving a SM techmarine a power ax. He is automatically outfitted with an unwieldy weapon (the servo-arm), which grants him higherr strength attacks and better quality AP; and, because the servo-harness is a specialist weapon, the addition of the power ax gives no additional attacks.

What am I missing here?

the model comes with an ax, so he comes with an ax.

If it is just a servo arm, then you could have a pistol for +1 attack with the ax.

 Exergy wrote:

 thunderingjove wrote:
I don't understand the rationale for giving a SM techmarine a power ax. He is automatically outfitted with an unwieldy weapon (the servo-arm), which grants him higherr strength attacks and better quality AP; and, because the servo-harness is a specialist weapon, the addition of the power ax gives no additional attacks.

What am I missing here?

the model comes with an ax, so he comes with an ax.

If it is just a servo arm, then you could have a pistol for +1 attack with the ax.

It seems like the axe is a holdover from previous editions. And it doesn't make any sense why he would ever want or even use an unwieldy weapon that is less effective than his servo arm. One cannot apply common sense to the 40k rules any supplements.

It's fluff - the Techmarine is given the axe when he finishes his training on Mars.

I think it's mostly for aesthetic purposes now. Some people might want it purely for how it looks. Believe it or not, not everyone plays competitively and will choose something based on fluff rather than what's the most effective.

A lot of the older models come with power axes- really cool ones at that. Cogwheel blades and whatnot. Really nifty. Not sure of the new techmarines have them, but all three of my older ones do. They might have included the option just so veteran players wouldn't have to chop up their cool techmarines just to make them WYSIWYG.

Give master of the forge teeth of terra and lightning claws for four specialists weapons hence plus 3 attacks

Drakka77 wrote:
Give master of the forge teeth of terra and lightning claws for four specialists weapons hence plus 3 attacks

Yeah, doesn't work that way.
You get +1 attack for having an additional combat weapon, not +1 for each additional.

-Matt


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 TheLionOfTheForest wrote:

It seems like the axe is a holdover from previous editions. And it doesn't make any sense why he would ever want or even use an unwieldy weapon that is less effective than his servo arm. One cannot apply common sense to the 40k rules any supplements.

Which, since it does nothing, it should have been included for free. Paying 15 points on gear you'll never use just to be wysiwyg is silly.

-Matt

So to clear this once and for all,
If i have a Techmarine with servoharnes, how many attacks does he have during each initiative step of an assault?

 HawaiiMatt wrote:

Drakka77 wrote:
Give master of the forge teeth of terra and lightning claws for four specialists weapons hence plus 3 attacks

Yeah, doesn't work that way.
You get +1 attack for having an additional combat weapon, not +1 for each additional.

-Matt


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 TheLionOfTheForest wrote:

It seems like the axe is a holdover from previous editions. And it doesn't make any sense why he would ever want or even use an unwieldy weapon that is less effective than his servo arm. One cannot apply common sense to the 40k rules any supplements.

Which, since it does nothing, it should have been included for free. Paying 15 points on gear you'll never use just to be wysiwyg is silly.

-Matt

I agree wholeheartedly my good sir!

How doesn't it work that way? I read four specialist arms with four weapon could in theory work.

The power axe option certainly does seem terrible, but it does give you a few extra options. You can wield two power weapons (so long as one is a power axe) because of it, otherwise you'd be forced to go power weapon + bolt gun. Power Axe + Bolt Pistol gives you 2 AP2 attacks instead of just 1 with the servo-arm; the melee weapon list would again restrict you to power weapon (axe) + bolt gun. I doubt it'd ever be a good idea to take advantage of those options, but it does allow for it.

I'm sure it's mostly just there for fluff though.

spartiatis wrote:
So to clear this once and for all,
If i have a Techmarine with servoharnes, how many attacks does he have during each initiative step of an assault?

If he's fighting with his servo-arms? He'll get 2 attacks at I1, or 3 if he charges.

Drakka77 wrote:
How doesn't it work that way? I read four specialist arms with four weapon could in theory work.

You choose a weapon to strike with. If it's specialist, you can only gain the +1 attack for having multiple combat weapons if you have another specialist weapon.

If you have a bolt pistol, power axe and servo arm, you get 1 attack, +1 for charging. If you use the servo arm, those attack(s) are at S x2 AP1. If you use the power axe, the bolt pistol gives you +1 attack, letting you make all your attacks at S+1 AP2.

If you upgrade to Servo Harness, you gain a 2nd servo arm. So you get the same number of attack, and choose between Sx2 AP1 or S+1 AP2.

The old tech marines took 1 extra attack with just the Servo. Now you can make all your attacks with the Servo, but no longer gain any free attacks (other than the +1 if you have 2 specialist weapons).
Old Tech Marine with Harness would get 3 attacks at S5 AP2 from the Axe and 2 S8 AP1 from the arm; on the charge.
New Tech Marine with Harness would get 3 attacks at S8 AP1 on the charge.

New tech marine is worse in combat; but lets face it, either tech marine isn't exactly awesome for his cost.

-Matt

Shrugs even without combat ( which is very messed up) it's worth having them in vehicle heavy IH armies. 3 plus repair for harness guys is great.