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Deathwatch here. This is allowed in BattleScribe but I understand the software often makes mistakes. I cannot find anything in the rules of the codex that allows for a sergeant to carry both SS and Plasma guns. So is this a mistake? In the codex sergeants are actually exactly the same as normal vets in terms of all their loadouts rules that I can see. But in battlescribe, it claims the sergeant gets to choose two weapons from the “Sgt. List” which I do not know what that is.

GameDadZ wrote:
Deathwatch here. This is allowed in BattleScribe but I understand the software often makes mistakes. I cannot find anything in the rules of the codex that allows for a sergeant to carry both SS and Plasma guns. So is this a mistake? In the codex sergeants are actually exactly the same as normal vets in terms of all their loadouts rules that I can see. But in battlescribe, it claims the sergeant gets to choose two weapons from the “Sgt. List” which I do not know what that is.

Exactly which Sergeants do you mean? If you mean Veterans Watch Sergeant, then they can only take one of Storm Bolter or Plasma Gun since they are on the part of the Deathwatch Equipment list that states "One weapon can be chosen from the following list:"

They can, however, take a Storm Shield and Plasma Gun.

This is indeed a bug in the 40k data files. Feel free to report it if you can be bothered.

Which Sergeant are you referring to?


Inceptor Sergeant, Aggressor Sergeant, Reiver Sergeant, etc?

Just in case. From the Main Rulebook FAQ:

Q: Can a model take the same wargear option more than once? For example, can a Space Marine Terminator replace his storm bolter with a cyclone missile launcher and another storm bolter, and then replace its ‘new’ storm bolter with a heavy flamer?

A: No. Each bullet-pointed wargear option on a unit’s datasheet can only be used once each time you include that unit in your army.

Sorry I did mean the sgt from the Veteran Squads. Seems like a mistake in battlescribe. It was confusing because they listed it as being from the sgt. list. I thought there was a separate list for sgts.

Follow up question because I may now be making another mistake. Ive been giving my Vanguard Veterans dual plasma pistols. Is this also a problem?

GameDadZ wrote:
Sorry I did mean the sgt from the Veteran Squads. Seems like a mistake in battlescribe. It was confusing because they listed it as being from the sgt. list. I thought there was a separate list for sgts.

Follow up question because I may now be making another mistake. Ive been giving my Vanguard Veterans dual plasma pistols. Is this also a problem?

the Veterans unit on P.72 in the codex?

The Watch Sergeant is that what you are talking about?

 DeathReaper wrote:

GameDadZ wrote:
Sorry I did mean the sgt from the Veteran Squads. Seems like a mistake in battlescribe. It was confusing because they listed it as being from the sgt. list. I thought there was a separate list for sgts.

Follow up question because I may now be making another mistake. Ive been giving my Vanguard Veterans dual plasma pistols. Is this also a problem?

the Veterans unit on P.72 in the codex?

The Watch Sergeant is that what you are talking about?

Yes I am talking about that squad. Ive been using dual plasma pistols for the veteran vanguards, assuming dual pistols are allowed since they can wield dual bolt pistols.

GameDadZ wrote:

 DeathReaper wrote:

GameDadZ wrote:
Sorry I did mean the sgt from the Veteran Squads. Seems like a mistake in battlescribe. It was confusing because they listed it as being from the sgt. list. I thought there was a separate list for sgts.

Follow up question because I may now be making another mistake. Ive been giving my Vanguard Veterans dual plasma pistols. Is this also a problem?

the Veterans unit on P.72 in the codex?

The Watch Sergeant is that what you are talking about?

Yes I am talking about that squad. Ive been using dual plasma pistols for the veteran vanguards, assuming dual pistols are allowed since they can wield dual bolt pistols.

The Watch Sergeant can take 2 plasma pistols, as " Any Veteran, Watch Sergeant or Black Shield may replace their boltgun with two items from the Deathwatch Equipment list." P. 72 Deathwatch Codex).

But the Watch Sergeant can not have both a Storm Bolter and a Plasma Gun, because those are both on the list under "One weapon can be chosen from the following list:" (P. 65 Deathwatch Codex).

Dual plasma pistols for the veteran vanguards is also okay for that unit.

Awesome, thanks for the clarification. That just halved the plasma weapons in my vet squads though.

Out of curiosity, why dual Plas pistols? You are essentially limiting the range of an inherently Ranged army. Just go P.Rifle or Combi-plas. Is dual plas pistols even cost effective? They are 8 per right?

 FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:
Out of curiosity, why dual Plas pistols? You are essentially limiting the range of an inherently Ranged army. Just go P.Rifle or Combi-plas. Is dual plas pistols even cost effective? They are 8 per right?

VanVets can't take guns. Only pistols.

 FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:
Out of curiosity, why dual Plas pistols? You are essentially limiting the range of an inherently Ranged army. Just go P.Rifle or Combi-plas. Is dual plas pistols even cost effective? They are 8 per right?

Plasma pistols are 5 points. Deathwatch combi-plas are 12 points.

Right, but he wasn't talking VanVets, he was talking reg Vet SGT.

So to save 2 points, you loose 12" range. I say give the SGT a big ol' combi-plas, it gets SIA, and a high strength weapon for Elite popping. And be done with it.

As no one appears to have actually raised this issue so it can be fixed in Battlescribe, I have done so for you. https://github.com/BSData/wh40k/issues/5189

I actually tried to report it on BattleScribe but could not figure out how to submit in their format.

@feezik

I deep strike within 12 inches generally. Bolt pistol is for the non DS group.

Combinplasma is a confusing choice. It is a lot more points for almost the same damage to infantry. The accuracy of both weapons firing is quite annoying and when you deal with armor you will not want to fire the bolter at all. Plasma pistols literally replace two bolter shots with two plasma shots for 10 points. If I was to take a plasma gun for anti armor, I would only be increasing costs by 7 points but lose two bolter shots in the process which is half a marine worth of shots.