Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So, abhuman regiments technically exist in 40k canon, but most I ever see are infantry regiments used as cannon fodder and whatnot. Essentially meatgrinder material. I know ratlings and ogryns exist, but they're placed in specialist detachments pretty much exclusively.

Using that logic, I figure an abhuman infantry regiment is probably gonna get the general basic training other IG/AM troops get, though probably a more harsh one because abhuman. That said, would they just be purely infantry with no support, special, or heavy weapons (i.e. 100 troopers with only lasguns, laspistols, and chainswords) or would they be allowed more specialized weaponry like missile launchers, flamers, bolt pistols, etc.

Also, would they be allowed training to operate machinery at all? For example, would they allow abhumans to train on sentinels or Leman Russ tanks? Earthshakers and Hellhounds? Would they be allowed Chimeras to get place to place at all? Or would these vehicles and the like be loaned to them from other regiments? Either? Both?

Once upon a time, all this was in the Imperial Guard army list.

But summarized version,
Ratlings lack haven't been anything but snipers. They don't have the strength or training for much else (yes, they're lugging sniper rifles, its 40k logic).

Ogryns and Beastmen are too stupid for complex training, and basically are manipulate through food, threats and praise (The given examples are beastmen have to atone to the emperor for being corrupted and must fight, and ogryn please the emperor when they fight)

Beastmen (as well as penal squads and human bombs) in particular could only be given specific orders- move into range and shoot, charge or take and hold a position. They also required a human command section.

Beastmen could manage melee weapons, shotguns and flamers, and packmasters could have power weapons and plasma pistols. They could also have frenzon dispensers.


By the old fluff (and rules for intelligence for operating wargear), no, complex gear and presumably vehicles weren't an option. Today's 40k? Knock yourself out. There isn't any particular reason they have to be stupid, but it would be very frowned upon (ie, execution worthy) to train mutants and most abhumans like pdf or guard.

Abhuman regiments have been used as single formation occasionally as required. I think in Armageddon 3 they unleashed a whole Ogryn regiment on the Ork main airfield.

Ab-human regiments are rarely fielded together in the lore, it's only in very rare occasions you see that (like the above). Typically you'll see a ab-human regiment sent to a campaign and then have their units split between the traditional Guard forces.