am i missing something? since the marines get a massive bonus to damage from their enhanced str in melee the melee weapons dont seem too bad at all thats before any special skills or even the nasty weapons such as power fists which x3 str ! okay most ranged are rolling more dice but the melee damage seems much more consistant

Hardrainfalling said:

Range weapons are going to be doing more damage becuase you can squeeze off more shots and need no talents to do so. A storm bolter can score 8 hits on full auto at 2d10+5 x with tearing. Thats why ranged damage is king. The Heavy Bolter aggravates the situation farther. Special Ammunition also throws a monkey wrench in the works as well.

ah thats a lot i suppose the only slight balance is each of those hit is reduced for armour and toughness while a powerfist doing 1D10+20 dam with very high pen is going to hit much harder on its fewer attacks but does put it in perspective , still ranged is more powerful but I suppsoe you can use a heavy bolter in close combat

Hardrainfalling said:

That's not really true either, now you are talking about fewer higher damage hits that are easier to dodge. You can also look at the stalker bolter which due to being accurate can get to 4d10+5? damage for 1 hit. That is still equivalent to the powerfist, except it is just one attack, but you can use hellfire rounds with it to make it better yet (or other kinds of ammo).