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First off, I understand that neither pistols or standard power weapons are the optimal build, however both are iconic enough that I'd like to build an HQ to use them with some success.

That said, what combination of pistols and weapons would work well?

Edit: if it matters, HQ would be in a drop pod.

Power Sword, grav- pistle, melda bombs, or to save on points drop the grave pistle and just use a bolt pistle.

Neither one is worth the 15 points they cost.

But now that’s out of the way…

Grav pistols have concussive. This naturally pairs well with a power axe. Get your shot in before CC, and then everyone strikes at I1, rather then you having to live through their attacks.

For all other power weapons, plasma. One of the perks grav guns have over plasma is ROF. With the pistols all being one shot, I’d rather have the S7 then the wounds on an armor save. Not everything you are going to be shooting at will have a 2+.

If you are talking about specialist weapons, I’d not bother with a pistol at all. If you want some shooting, take a combi weapon. Or more likely, go with a lightning claw to pair with your power fist/thunder hammer.

 Nevelon wrote:
Neither one is worth the 15 points they cost.

But now that’s out of the way…

Grav pistols have concussive. This naturally pairs well with a power axe. Get your shot in before CC, and then everyone strikes at I1, rather then you having to live through their attacks.

For all other power weapons, plasma. One of the perks grav guns have over plasma is ROF. With the pistols all being one shot, I’d rather have the S7 then the wounds on an armor save. Not everything you are going to be shooting at will have a 2+.

If you are talking about specialist weapons, I’d not bother with a pistol at all. If you want some shooting, take a combi weapon. Or more likely, go with a lightning claw to pair with your power fist/thunder hammer.

Agree completely about the fact that the weapons are overpriced.
Also agree that specialist weapons and combi weapons make a better pairing.

As for the pistols, I see the logic of the grav pistol and power axe combination. However I'm concerned that the things you'd want to use those weapons on (like Terminators and MCs) aren't the best targets for a cheap Captain without EW. You're probably better off hunting MEQs or Xenos with either the Sword or Maul.

 minigun762 wrote:

 Nevelon wrote:
Neither one is worth the 15 points they cost.

But now that’s out of the way…

Grav pistols have concussive. This naturally pairs well with a power axe. Get your shot in before CC, and then everyone strikes at I1, rather then you having to live through their attacks.

For all other power weapons, plasma. One of the perks grav guns have over plasma is ROF. With the pistols all being one shot, I’d rather have the S7 then the wounds on an armor save. Not everything you are going to be shooting at will have a 2+.

If you are talking about specialist weapons, I’d not bother with a pistol at all. If you want some shooting, take a combi weapon. Or more likely, go with a lightning claw to pair with your power fist/thunder hammer.

Agree completely about the fact that the weapons are overpriced.
Also agree that specialist weapons and combi weapons make a better pairing.

As for the pistols, I see the logic of the grav pistol and power axe combination. However I'm concerned that the things you'd want to use those weapons on (like Terminators and MCs) aren't the best targets for a cheap Captain without EW. You're probably better off hunting MEQs or Xenos with either the Sword or Maul.

If you are hunting “soft” targets, do you even need the pistol? If your basic principle is “cheep and cheerful” why are you packing a 15 point sidearm?

Speaking of mauls, you might want to run grav/maul for a character with a squad. Hope to get a concussive hit in with one of them, so your squad can get their hits in before retaliation. The grav also has some synergy with the +2S of the maul if you are going after big targets. Perk of this set up is you get to do it at I, rather then at 1 with the fist.

I like that idea, keep them concussed from the start of combat to reduce your own losses.
Might actually make adding a power fist to the squad worthwhile.