Just finished reading my first Necromunda novel and must say that while there seems to be an over abundance of Plasma Pistols in this setting, they seem way to weak to be true plasma pistols. Perhaps what the gangers use is a modified version of the Hell Guns?

Is that what most of the Necromunda weapons really are? Not real power weapons, but lesser power weapons (more mono like then power?)

I'm guessing that the era in which Necromunda first came out impacted alot on what sort of stuff gangers could get. "Difference in fluff" and all that. If you want to explain it without resorting to such, though, you could say that they're poor quality weapons, scavenged from the forgotten depths, sold or from disreputable sorts and so on. Alternatively Necromunda might just be higher tech than other Imperial worlds, with all the bionics, fancy gear and flash guns kicking around being a result of many Mechanicus secrets having been leaked and half-learned by the general population.

Peacekeeper_b said:

Weapons in Necromunda are based on the 2nd edition 40k stats; indeed, save for a few minor differences (such as the addition of the ammo roll), they are the 2nd edition 40k weapon stats. In most cases, little has changed, but there is one very significant difference not accounted for in the Dark Heresy rules.

Back in 2nd edition, and thus copied in Necromunda, the Heavy Plasma Gun (as it was known at the time - Epic was still on the shelves, and Plasma Cannons were the name for one of an array of Titan plasma weapons, more powerful than the Blastgun found on Warhounds, but less potent than the Plasma Destructor, or the Imperator Titan's Plasma Annihilator) could, as it can in Dark Heresy, fire on two settings - low power, and full power.

Necromunda took the idea and ran with it. Plasma Guns and Plasma Pistols were both given a low-power setting which could be used every turn, while the full power shot required a turn to recharge after each shot/burst.

The low power for a Plasma Pistol was about the same as a bolt pistol or hotshot laspistol in potency (Str 4, -1 save), while Plasma Guns were a little more potent on low power (Str 5, -1 save) but still significantly less than their lethality on full power.

Originally, we had a number of direct references to Necromunda in Dark Heresy. GW regards each property as a seperate license though, and for a number of strange legalistic references, we had to remove all direct references from DH...

'Course, some of the names of Talents and various Traits may be a little familiar to old Necromunda fans.

I still think a Hive sourcebook for ganger campaigns would be one of the best support products FFG could do.

TS Luikart said:

I took a glimpse of the old Necromunda rulebook to get fluff info for potential Underhive encounters and society (which actually explained a great deal I didn't know about) but after looking at equipment I realize that bolt guns, plasma guns etc. seems alot more common and less dangerous there than in DH where they are rare and expensive. IIRC Lasguns had almost the same status as Boltguns back then, while in DH Lasguns are cheap and have fairly low damage.

So in my games the Underhiver gangs will not be as powerful and will often use melee weapons (non-powered non-chain), poor quality pistols and autoguns and even primitive firearms. Only leaders might get access to the tough guns and only the most powerful gangs will have access to heavy weapons such as Heavy stubbers. Gangs with Lascannons and heavy bolters will be unheard of except if they have taken over a Hive or world completely.

Peacekeeper_b said:

I had a House Van Saar gang in Necromunda, who supposedly had access to the best equipment of all the gangers. The gang leader had a chainsword and a plasma pistol if memory serves.

Everyone else had shotguns, autoguns, heavy stubbers, and two of my juves carried stub pistols and knives.

Even then, everything jammed far, far more likely than in an normal 40k game. Part of the theme of the game was the low, low quality of weapons.

In other words, I imagine that gang leaders might get their hands on more exotic equipment, and might actually be able to keep it well enough to shoot it most of the time. Otherwise it's pretty low tech. I can only imagine what liberties the Necromunda author(s) took with the setting. If you're really curious, look up the necromunda rule book on Games Workshop's website. It's still free in their specialty section I believe.

In fact, here's the web site:

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?catId=cat200210&categoryId=1100011&section=&aId=5300010