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So, I'm new to IG, and I was wondering... How do I make veterans or special weapon squads? Do they come in separate boxes, or do I make them from normal guard boxes? If so, why don't enough special weapons come in the normal boxes? Thanks in advance!

Because that's what Ebay is for, friend.

I don't play guard - but hardly any box comes with everything you would want/need in it.

 Commisar Annius wrote:
So, I'm new to IG, and I was wondering... How do I make veterans or special weapon squads? Do they come in separate boxes, or do I make them from normal guard boxes? If so, why don't enough special weapons come in the normal boxes? Thanks in advance!

Most people make them from the regular Cadian squad box. I actually used the new Scions box to make mine, but either way works. The Cadian command squad comes with a single plasma gun and a single melta gun. Same thing with the Scions box. So you pretty much have to go to eBay unless you are going to buy multiple boxes of the Scions or Command squad.

Hope that helps.

The Cadian Command Squad box has 1 of each special weapon. Buy some of them for the weapons, and the 5-man box for bodies. It's the cheapest way, I think.
http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Imperial_Guard/Cadian_Shock_Troops/CADIAN_HOSTILE_ENVIRONMENT_TROOPS_MELTA_SQUAD.html
(Forgeworld is official GW, so ignore the comments)

Or, look in the P&M section here for how to make special weapons from lasguns.

The Scions box has lots of heads in it. I think the 5-man box has 7-8 full-face helmet heads, and 7-8 beret heads too. I got 3 boxes of scions, and have used the beret heads for my vets squads. The necks are a bit bigger than normal IG heads, but they fit, sorta.

Or even go 3rd-party, depending where you play.
IG has the widest range of alternative models going. Look at what theme you want to branch into using (if any), and use alt models as vets if you do go for others.
http://victoriaminiatures.highwire.com/products/arcadian-guard?pagesize=12
http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Imperial_Guard
and others.

I would either go 3rd party for weapons or use bits from various boxes, there's a way to make plasmas from just lasguns, optionally using plasma pistols, and you make meltas from lasguns and flamers.

GW also have some webstore exclusive plasmaguns. Not sure about the size, but it's a relatively cheap source: http://www.games-workshop.com/en-SE/Space-Marine-Plasma-Guns

If you have the money go for Forgeworld hostile environments. They look really good!

Make them with normal Cadians boxes and convert a bit for variety if you want. You do have all the stuff to make flamervets, but not plasma or melta vets.

However, I tend to have a flamer and one heavy weapon, usually autocannon or H bolter.

You can buy just bits from various sources so that you can arm your troops with meltas and plasmas.

The Veteran squads just use normal Infantry squads. Whether you choose the standard Cadians, Catachans, or what have you, they are there are a means of filling your troop tax in a minimal way if you choose to.

As to the special weapons squads, save your bits from Cadians and Command squads. That way once you can field a full platoon of infantry, you can start building the Special Weapons Squads.

Or you could just buy these!
http://www.games-workshop.com/en-SE/Imperial-Guard-Cadian-with-Plasma-Gun-and-Meltagun