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Looking at the DA and CSM codices, it says for ranged weapons that a model can replace his bolt pistol and/or close combat weapon with one of the listed items. I'm trying to figure out does "close combat weapon" mean generic CCW (such as a combat blade or chainsword) or does it mean any CCW such as power weapons or force weapons?

It refers to any CCW as far asi know if the model already has a power sword he can replace it for a ranged weapons and have that + the bolter

Based on the ruling for the Plague Champion's blight knife, Close Combat Weapon specifically means the one with absolutely no stats at all.

 GreyHamster wrote:
Based on the ruling for the Plague Champion's blight knife, Close Combat Weapon specifically means the one with absolutely no stats at all.

uh? you mean...

"Note that, for the purposes of the Plague Champion purchasing items
from the Melee Weapons section of the wargear list, his Plague Knife
can be exchanged in the same fashion as a close combat weapon."

That sounds to me that any CCW could be exchanged in the same fashion as a close combat weapon

OOC, why would you trade out a power weapon (most likely purchased as an upgrade) for a bolter?

 SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
OOC, why would you trade out a power weapon (most likely purchased as an upgrade) for a bolter?

Not saying it is a good idea, just looking for clarification.

 Lord Yayula wrote:

 GreyHamster wrote:
Based on the ruling for the Plague Champion's blight knife, Close Combat Weapon specifically means the one with absolutely no stats at all.

uh? you mean...

"Note that, for the purposes of the Plague Champion purchasing items
from the Melee Weapons section of the wargear list, his Plague Knife
can be exchanged in the same fashion as a close combat weapon."

That sounds to me that any CCW could be exchanged in the same fashion as a close combat weapon

The ruling is an acknowledgement that a blight knife cannot be exchanged without a rule telling you it can. Other melee weapons lack such a rule and thus cannot be exchanged in such a manner.

That's a bit of a leap. There isn't a single unit in the DA codex that comes equipped with a "close combat weapon". They could've written "chainsword", but they didn't. So why use the term "close combat weapon" unless you're talking about any melee weapon?

Chainswords are close combat weapons.

Close Combat Weapon is a weapon profile in the main rulebook, of a weapon which basically does nothing except having the Melee type. Page 51 gives us the definition and profile.

Be careful not to confuse a Close Combat Weapon as being any weapon that has the Melee type.

The Dark Angels codex has profiles listed for Chainsword and for CCW, which is a bit funny, but probably intended just for completeness, as those profiles are identical. I suggest treating them as synonymous, as the only place in the codex where I can see any possible (implied) distinction is in the Ranged Weapons section of the wargear list, which says you can swap your bolt pistol or your CCW.

Where exactly does one draw the line between CCW and Melee? Even chainswords, which have the exact same profile, are listed in a different section in the BRB. At the least, I'd say if the codex tells you to look at the melee weapons in the BRB for rules, then it's a CCW.

Nivek5150 wrote:
Where exactly does one draw the line between CCW and Melee? Even chainswords, which have the exact same profile, are listed in a different section in the BRB. At the least, I'd say if the codex tells you to look at the melee weapons in the BRB for rules, then it's a CCW.

As Mannahnin mentioned, if you look on page 51 of the rulebook it defines CC weapons as those melee weapons which have no Strength, AP and provide no special abilities.

Given that a Chainsword ticks all those boxes, I think it is safe to assume THAT is where you draw the line (if the melee weapon has no S, AP or special abilities).

The rule for "Close Combat Weapon" states that the weapon will simply be referred to as "close combat weapon" in the model's wargear. This does not apply to a chainsword. Not only is it specifically called a chainsword in the wargear, it also receives its own profile in the BRB and armory.

You can also gain a "close combat weapon" if you have no other melee weapon specified in your wargear, because otherwise you couldn't use your attacks characteristic in the assault phase.

So either a chainsword is not a CCW because it's specifically separated from the generic CCW on pg 60 of the BRB, or all of those weapons on p 60-61 are CCW.