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Why is it that after Marines don power armor it seems they lose the ability to operate sniper weapons?

I just thought it might be cool to have some BS4 snipers out there sometimes and thought it strange that Scouts have a weapon option their seniors do not.

Any thoughts?

Scouts are typically initiates who are still figuring out how to be a space marine. Not all chapters operate that way, but most do, and so they are still trainees. After that, SM have access to weapons that better suite their needs, as it is rare an SM is going to be sniping people.

Imagine the type of military folk who use sniper weaponry. Silent. Quiet. Subtle. Now picture dudes in 8-foot high suits of bright yellow power armor, replete with a superpowered generator, clanking around, making noise, and being generally noticeable. Power armor isn't really conducive to subtle sniper ops, Horus Heresy recon squads notwithstanding.

 Brother SRM wrote:
Now picture dudes in 8-foot high suits of bright yellow power armor, replete with a superpowered generator, clanking around, making noise, and being generally noticeable.

Ha, good point. Though I'd still enjoy the option for backfield objective campers, I guess I'll just manage with my scouts.

 TheAdversary wrote:
Why is it that after Marines don power armor it seems they lose the ability to operate sniper weapons?

I just thought it might be cool to have some BS4 snipers out there sometimes and thought it strange that Scouts have a weapon option their seniors do not.

Any thoughts?

Primarily this is because SM's are shock assault troops, primarily intended for very violent close quarters engagements. One will note they also don't field long range heavy artillery or the like either typically. Also, as apparently noted, it's hard to hide a genetically engineered super soldier who's basically a walking tank in bright chapter livery, and effectively snipe without being quickly spotted.

 Brother SRM wrote:
Imagine the type of military folk who use sniper weaponry. Silent. Quiet. Subtle. Now picture dudes in 8-foot high suits of bright yellow power armor, replete with a superpowered generator, clanking around, making noise, and being generally noticeable. Power armor isn't really conducive to subtle sniper ops, Horus Heresy recon squads notwithstanding.

Raven Guard say hi

In addition, the heraldric tradition from which Space Marines draw their inspiration doesn't generally encourage ranged combat over melee combat.

Scouts ("squires") utilize extreme ranged weaponry in a support capacity, as well as train with assault load-outs while operating in the role as skirmisher. When they finally graduate to power armor, (knights) they are initially kept on long range weapon duty again, (this time as devastators, but operating MUCH heavier weapons than sniper rifles). Then they are taught to focus almost exclusively on melee combat for a time.

 shamikebab wrote:

 Brother SRM wrote:
Imagine the type of military folk who use sniper weaponry. Silent. Quiet. Subtle. Now picture dudes in 8-foot high suits of bright yellow power armor, replete with a superpowered generator, clanking around, making noise, and being generally noticeable. Power armor isn't really conducive to subtle sniper ops, Horus Heresy recon squads notwithstanding.

Raven Guard say hi

NINJAS IN POWER ARMOR, that's what Raven Guard are. They really should be investigated for heresy because there's no way they should be able to be unseen and unheard without warp help

I´m a Space Wolve and don´t know what you are talking about

Snipers?... what do I look like to you, a Vindicare?

Thats because full Marine snipers get better guns to play with



(not my pic, but rather nicely done I thought)

I can't remember whether Wolf Scouts get sniper rifles or not...? Mind you, it still doesn't seem their style...

They do but they are a bit pricey for my likings... Sniper Rifles are not that hot in 40k :/

 Super Ready wrote:
I can't remember whether Wolf Scouts get sniper rifles or not...? Mind you, it still doesn't seem their style...

They can. But who the heck wants that when you can show up behind enemy lines. Plasmas and Meltas, baby!

 shamikebab wrote:

 Brother SRM wrote:
Imagine the type of military folk who use sniper weaponry. Silent. Quiet. Subtle. Now picture dudes in 8-foot high suits of bright yellow power armor, replete with a superpowered generator, clanking around, making noise, and being generally noticeable. Power armor isn't really conducive to subtle sniper ops, Horus Heresy recon squads notwithstanding.

Raven Guard say hi

Raven Guard fluff never was much good.

 Brother SRM wrote:
Raven Guard say hi

As do Dark Angels

40K rules may not support them, but I like the Space marine snipers from Anvil Industries.

 Brother SRM wrote:
Imagine the type of military folk who use sniper weaponry. Silent. Quiet. Subtle. Now picture dudes in 8-foot high suits of bright yellow power armor, replete with a superpowered generator, clanking around, making noise, and being generally noticeable. Power armor isn't really conducive to subtle sniper ops, Horus Heresy recon squads notwithstanding.

They could easily make a new set of power armour with a smaller profile and sleeker design.

I think space marine snipers is a cool idea. instead we will probably get some big robot walmart toy looking thing instead.

Man, a squad full full of lascannons does not care if it's in plain sight. They'd rather have a good clean shot and let the enemy return fire bounce off their super heavy armor Devastators, or in my case Havocs, are freaking beautiful. Thinner power armor would be pointless, btw. The entire point is to be able to withstand shots from a tank while you carve your way through your enemy. If you want a good sniper, give IG a chance. Ratlings have ruined my day a couple of times, while being so small that it's hard to get a clean shot on em.

Munga wrote:
Man, a squad full full of lascannons does not care if it's in plain sight. They'd rather have a good clean shot and let the enemy return fire bounce off their super heavy armor Devastators, or in my case Havocs, are freaking beautiful. Thinner power armor would be pointless, btw. The entire point is to be able to withstand shots from a tank while you carve your way through your enemy. If you want a good sniper, give IG a chance. Ratlings have ruined my day a couple of times, while being so small that it's hard to get a clean shot on em.

Devastators are scary - what else can send five marines running before they get into bolter range?

and actually lascannons are technically SM sniper rifles - "Rending? Who needs rending with this?"

In my first game my TEN noble assault marines got wiped off the board in three turns by four lascannon toting devastators.

 Flinty wrote:
Thats because full Marine snipers get better guns to play with



(not my pic, but rather nicely done I thought)

This. Of course they get sniper rifles, they just aren't called sniper rifles. Instead of a rifle they carry cannons.

Munga wrote:
Man, a squad full full of lascannons does not care if it's in plain sight. They'd rather have a good clean shot and let the enemy return fire bounce off their super heavy armor Devastators, or in my case Havocs, are freaking beautiful. Thinner power armor would be pointless, btw. The entire point is to be able to withstand shots from a tank while you carve your way through your enemy. If you want a good sniper, give IG a chance. Ratlings have ruined my day a couple of times, while being so small that it's hard to get a clean shot on em.

hardly, tons of weapons, even eldar small arms fire make power armour look like a joke.

 AegisGrimm wrote:
40K rules may not support them, but I like the Space marine snipers from Anvil Industries.

Those are actually pretty nice, but I really like the ones from Forgeworld

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/The_Horus_Heresy/Legiones_Astartes/Space_Marine_Legion_Army_List/Legion_Troops/Legion_Reconnaisance_Squad/LEGION_MKIV_RECON_SQUAD.html
They're for Horus Heresy, which is a slightly different iteration of the rules and army balance, but they're lovely models.

I thought that Lascannons already looked enough like enough like sniper rifles.

Arent they treated like sniper rifles in the Space Marine game?

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Arent they treated like sniper rifles in the Space Marine game?

Yes. Yes they are.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Arent they treated like sniper rifles in the Space Marine game?

Yep, with Stalker-pattern bolters as a middleground/battle rifle sort of weapon.

kb305 wrote:

Munga wrote:
Man, a squad full full of lascannons does not care if it's in plain sight. They'd rather have a good clean shot and let the enemy return fire bounce off their super heavy armor Devastators, or in my case Havocs, are freaking beautiful. Thinner power armor would be pointless, btw. The entire point is to be able to withstand shots from a tank while you carve your way through your enemy. If you want a good sniper, give IG a chance. Ratlings have ruined my day a couple of times, while being so small that it's hard to get a clean shot on em.

hardly, tons of weapons, even eldar small arms fire make power armour look like a joke.

There isn't many things batter that power armor.

 Insane Smile wrote:

kb305 wrote:

Munga wrote:
Man, a squad full full of lascannons does not care if it's in plain sight. They'd rather have a good clean shot and let the enemy return fire bounce off their super heavy armor Devastators, or in my case Havocs, are freaking beautiful. Thinner power armor would be pointless, btw. The entire point is to be able to withstand shots from a tank while you carve your way through your enemy. If you want a good sniper, give IG a chance. Ratlings have ruined my day a couple of times, while being so small that it's hard to get a clean shot on em.

hardly, tons of weapons, even eldar small arms fire make power armour look like a joke.

There isn't many things batter that power armor.

Are you talking fluff or game-wise? Because game-wise, a LOT of things are better than power armor.

For infantry models its only Terminator Armour, MANz and a few unique field types... anything else? Artificier Armour doesn't count becasue it is power armour... Actually having said that terminators and MANZ are also power armour, just not standard issue Power Armour