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O.k, so the codex says that a space marine is armed with a bolter, a bolt pistol and a combat knife. But in many novels the space marines also carry short power swords (ultramarine gladius) and chainswords. Can anyone clear this up by giving me a standard marine armament list. It would help my mind and my army. Thanks

Another case of the rules not matching the background. Just go with the rules.

For background purposes, all Imperial Marines carry an Astartes combat blade with a monomolecular edge, a bolt pistol, a boltgun, and plenty of grenades of both types.

Some carry chainswords instead of knives but they are mostly Assault Marines and Sergeants.

For rule purposes normal Tactical Marines lack close combat weapons.

Dependent on chapter, company, squad and personal preference.
Really, no set gear.

Thank you very much for your clarification Ashiraya.

And Farseer Anath'lan, so technically it would be possible to field a whole chapter with power swords if they had the resources?

While a theoretical possibility, no chapter has ever equipped such rare weapons to every member except for the Grey Knights themselves.

 Cursed Founding wrote:
Thank you very much for your clarification Ashiraya.

And Farseer Anath'lan, so technically it would be possible to field a whole chapter with power swords if they had the resources?

Going by what the Grey Knights are equipped with, they totally would.
Powered weapons are pretty rare and pricy though; one of the reasons why the GK can do it is due to their ties with the inquisition and their role as demon hunters.

I know but it's a nice thought. BTW didn't chainswords have that 1 advantage over powerswords?

Chainswords has no advantage of powerswords, neither in fluff nor in the game.

Unless you count availability and simplicity.

What, that they are cheaper? Yeah.
Anyone can have a chainsword in the Imperium. Even guardsmen.

oh, my bad. All my friends say they are way more cooler than the power swords and way more modern. They say power swords make an SM look like an ancient knight (I agree). That is why I like the Iron Hands power swords. They have way more wires and a lot of tech stuff which make them look cool


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Wait. Why did Gabriel Seth go for a chainblade then. Maybe it's a chainsword with power sword teeth which is possible considering that the salemanders have a chainsword upgrade which gives the blade a flaming surrounding. (so cool)

Well,Gabriel Seth doesn't have a chainsword,he has an Eviscarator which is waaaay bigger,other than that is the fact that it was a Chapter Relic.
Flesh Tearers are known for their very bloody fighting style,as such,it's only normal that the chapter master has a sword that causes the enemy to turn into a bloody fountain rather than a sword which cuts clean through his enemies.

That's also another advantage of the chainsword,causing morale to go down the drain.
What would most likely cause somebody to retreat,when their commander's head was cut from his neck or when his brains are flying through the air accompanied by various other body parts?

Ha, agreed. So that's the chain swords advantage

I still find the salamander upgrade awesome. Do they have benefiting rules in real fielding or is it just fluff. Then I might consider a salamander army

You mean the salamander chapter in game? They have a rule called "Chapter Tactics: Salamanders"

IIRC, it gives them free master crafted weapons and some buffs to their flame based weapons and well as against them.

Chain swords are also easier to maintain, yes need new teeth every so often or such and fixing but not as complex in any sense to a power sword, far less demanding to field than powerswords.

Power-swords are actually light-years ahead of chainswords in technical complexity. The chainsword is a chainsaw on a stick. The power-sword wraps its blade in a matter-destabilizing energy field.

The Eviscerator, being a truly brutal, impractical weapon, is a six-foot-long, two-handed chainsaw wrapped in a powerfield for S&G. If you accidentally hit yourself or an ally with this thing... you're fethed.

 Ashiraya wrote:
While a theoretical possibility, no chapter has ever equipped such rare weapons to every member except for the Grey Knights themselves.

Rare and because of whole technical forgetting stuff, very few know how to build them even on the most advanced and skilled forge worlds. + most of the greatest of them are very old relics unsurpassed by later produced designs.

 Cursed Founding wrote:
Thank you very much for your clarification Ashiraya.

And Farseer Anath'lan, so technically it would be possible to field a whole chapter with power swords if they had the resources?

Doesnt make sense tactically. Power swords are heavy, while a marine can carry a ton of stuff(literally a 200lbs of gear) most of that is all the ammo they need to dakka orks and nids. What purpose would giving a devistator a power sword, if it meant he could carry 15 less missiles or 30 seconds less heavy bolter ammo? Even if they had the excess capacity. less weight means faster, and marines value mobility and speed.

So even in some world where the IoM had infinite resources, they wouldnt all carry powerswords

A Chapter like the Minotaurs, who are supplied by the HLOT thanks for being their Hitmen, could very well be all equipped with power weapons and it being believable. They're the same guys who all have special terminator armor and have an unsual amount of Battle Barges.

Really, being the executioners of the HLOT ain't that half bad for what they pay.

But monomolecular swords more or less get the same job done, just requiring more effort, but they weigh less than power swords.