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Hi Everyone,

Very new to WH40k and I just bought the Honour Guard with Marneus Calgar. I have a few questions about these, hopefully someone can clear these up for me as I am very confused.

1) One of the models carry's a flag and a sword. However, his "Wargear" states he has a boltgun and boltpistol in addition to this powerweapon. I assume he still has these weapons even though they are not represented on the model?
2) The models come pre-assembled (finecast models) with an axe in their right hand, which can't be removed. However, the rules state you can switch this power weapon for a relic blade which is two handed. As you literally can't remove the power weapon I assume you can count this as the relic weapon if you so choose, maybe just don't put a weapon in the right hand (removing the other weapon via magnets etc?)
3) The rules for them refer to a "Thunder Hammer", again I don't see anything in the box to represent this weapon or online. Additionally, as one weapon is literally pre-built into the model how do you go about achieving the "What you see is what you get" rule for addons.

Any clarification on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Noxious wrote:
Hi Everyone,

Very new to WH40k and I just bought the Honour Guard with Marneus Calgar. I have a few questions about these, hopefully someone can clear these up for me as I am very confused.

1) One of the models carry's a flag and a sword. However, his "Wargear" states he has a boltgun and boltpistol in addition to this powerweapon. I assume he still has these weapons even though they are not represented on the model?
2) The models come pre-assembled (finecast models) with an axe in their right hand, which can't be removed. However, the rules state you can switch this power weapon for a relic blade which is two handed. As you literally can't remove the power weapon I assume you can count this as the relic weapon if you so choose, maybe just don't put a weapon in the right hand (removing the other weapon via magnets etc?)
3) The rules for them refer to a "Thunder Hammer", again I don't see anything in the box to represent this weapon or online. Additionally, as one weapon is literally pre-built into the model how do you go about achieving the "What you see is what you get" rule for addons.

Any clarification on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Finecast kits don't always come with all of the options available to a unit normally. Some models don't even have kits that cover all of their gear choices - It's less and less common these days, but it's not unheard of.

The box in question has certain models that follow some, but not all, of the available gear options in the codex. If you want different gear options, you either need to kitbash parts (which is difficult on finecast,) you need to proxy, or you need other models.

For (1), yes, the model still has his default wargear, even if it's not represented on the model.

For any of the other changes, you'd need to do some converting. Not impossible, but rather dependant on practice. Thunder Hammers for power armoured models are available in other kits (i.e. Vanguard Veterans), so should be possible to aquire some.

Space Marines in general are usually easy to get conversion bits for - everything from one Marine kit will (almost) always fit every other. You get two thunder hammers in the Vanguard Veteran Squad box, for example.

The Invictarus Suzerain Squad from Forge World might be a good basis for converted Honour Guard. I don't know if you can use the combat shield arms, but the torsos and heads should give you models with all the required bling.

It's worth pointing out that modeling equipped weapons is a common courtesy, but not (for the most part - power weapons are something of an exception) enforced by any rule.

 AndrewGPaul wrote:
Space Marines in general are usually easy to get conversion bits for - everything from one Marine kit will (almost) always fit every other. You get two thunder hammers in the Vanguard Veteran Squad box, for example.

The Invictarus Suzerain Squad from Forge World might be a good basis for converted Honour Guard. I don't know if you can use the combat shield arms, but the torsos and heads should give you models with all the required bling.

Four hammers, 4 sets of claws, relic blade, power sword and axe. Storm sheilds, chainsowerds, bolt, grav. Plasma pistols in carrying amounts.
Vanguard kit. Also a blinged out power fist.

..

And modelingon a bolt pistol and bolter to honourguard... Maybe choose one to add to make it clear.

Umm id not, but just make it clear they are honour guard as that could look ugly with too much stuff.
A full sqaud of guys with fancy armour, power weapons should id they just fine. Add pistols holstered pr somthibg on there, there's only so much war gear a marine vam carry model wise.

Hi again,

The problem is the honour guard set axe is literally connected to the model. I can't exchange the weapon without destroying the model essentially. yet, the rules state these alternatives. I am just wondering why they would physically connect the weapon to the model if these options are available.

IIRC those models came out in 4th edition. At that time, an axe and a sword were the same, and the 2xCC champ was standard, not swappable, and had rules worth it. Rules change, but often models don’t. At the time they were WYSWYG and represented all the options available to the squad (aka none)

I personally made my HG primarily from sternguard bits, with weapons from a few sources. Hard to pin them all down, I’ve got a deep bits box. The latest addition is a new champion with a TH, built mostly from the new Deathwatch box.

Noxious wrote:
Hi Everyone,

Very new to WH40k and I just bought the Honour Guard with Marneus Calgar. I have a few questions about these, hopefully someone can clear these up for me as I am very confused.

1) One of the models carry's a flag and a sword. However, his "Wargear" states he has a boltgun and boltpistol in addition to this powerweapon. I assume he still has these weapons even though they are not represented on the model?

That's correct, they still have default wargear even if it's not represented on the model.

2) The models come pre-assembled (finecast models) with an axe in their right hand, which can't be removed. However, the rules state you can switch this power weapon for a relic blade which is two handed. As you literally can't remove the power weapon I assume you can count this as the relic weapon if you so choose, maybe just don't put a weapon in the right hand (removing the other weapon via magnets etc?)

Personally, I see no problem with it as long as you told me beforehand. There's no problem with saying the Relic Blade is in this case, in the form of an axe, just make it clear with your opponent beforehand.

3) The rules for them refer to a "Thunder Hammer", again I don't see anything in the box to represent this weapon or online. Additionally, as one weapon is literally pre-built into the model how do you go about achieving the "What you see is what you get" rule for addons.

That's a bit of a tricky one, the easiest thing I can imagine would be to just snip the axe blade off and replace it with a Thunder Hammer head.

Any clarification on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Noxious wrote:
Hi again,

The problem is the honour guard set axe is literally connected to the model. I can't exchange the weapon without destroying the model essentially. yet, the rules state these alternatives. I am just wondering why they would physically connect the weapon to the model if these options are available.

Converting is a major part of the hobby. This includes cutting up models and re-arranging pieces or swapping weapons. Yes, this means if you want a relic blade or Thunder Hammer, cut off his hand with the axe and replace it.

The codex says Power Weapon, this can be a sword or an axe (those are the most common) go to the last page of the codex with all of the weapon stats in and you will find rules for a sword or an axe.