The flavor text for the Prelate-at-Arms describes him as being a Ministorum Priest that excels at melee combat and eschews ranged combat. That's great! What does this mean in game stats? Um...
The guy doesn't get anything that's related to hand-to-hand fighting. In fact, he gets Ballistic Skill aptitude and a shiny boltgun or bolt pistol. WTF happened here?
The flavor text for the Prelate-at-Arms describes him as being a Ministorum Priest that excels at melee combat and eschews ranged combat. That's great! What does this mean in game stats? Um...
The guy doesn't get anything that's related to hand-to-hand fighting. In fact, he gets Ballistic Skill aptitude and a shiny boltgun or bolt pistol. WTF happened here?
Glad to see I wasn't the only one to notice. I've been wondering if his little black box got swapped for one of the other ones.
Clearly there's an error there.
Assuredly an error here. Hopefully we'll get an official correction, preferably soon, but I won't wait. In the meantime, the Specialty is workable with some changes. Replace Ballistic Skill with the Weapon Skill Aptitude. The remaining aptitudes work quite well for a melee-y priest. No, he's not a Brawler, but neither is he supposed to be, as he's a no-nonsense leader with a big stick. As for the talents, I'd zap Weapon Training (Bolt) and replace with Weapon Training (Power) to get the option back in line with its melee-oriented favour. Keep the gear with the exception of the bolter and instead provide a Best Craftsmanship power maul or the Good Craftsmanship power sword and Best Craftmanship bolt pistol and yer good to go. This works as the bolt pistol/chainsword combo IS the iconic assault melee thing for 40k. Granted, the immediate lack of Weapon Training (Bolt) and Two-Weapon Wielder talents do not permit you to be the most efficient with these means of attack, but it does provide room for character growth. Anyone else figure an alternative in light of this erred specialty?
Bolt Pistol I can understand, as Hiro Protagonist mentioned it being the Iconic Dual-wield combo.
I would propably change Bolter for Best Craftmanship Power Flail* (HotE p.117) as it is Two-handed weapon and the Prelate-at-Arms seem to me he would use either Two-handed weapon or Dual-wield weapons.
For this build I would change the
Ballistic skill -> Weapon Skill
and
Talent: Weapon Training (Bolt or Power )
Off-topic: Anyone understanding how Praecentor of Penance gets Explosive Slugs for his Shotgun as in my understanding those are Longshot Ammunition or is this again FFG's own "breaking the rules" approach.
*as I could not find Thunder Hammer (My most loved Power weapon
) Both would make nice Crunch sound when they connect with Heretics and Mutants
Na, I also stumbled upon the explosive Slug thing. I was rather exited to see another Shotgun special ammo for it is a favorite weapon of one of my characters but it does not seem to really exist.
If it is just the same as the Longshot it seems to be quire odd for the grenade launchers are doing a fairly better job at delivering frag grenades.