Here's a situation for you guys. Would you allow a Marine to take a Heavy Weapon AND a Jump pack provided that the Marine kept the backpack supply at base? The Marine I made has both Signature Wargear (Heavy Bolter) and Pilot (Personal). I was considering on taking a jump pack for a sort of "Standard Loadout". A quick way of speeding up the game by having a selection of gear already determined at certain Req levels. The Heavy bolter IS NOT a primary weapon for the Tactical by any means so I have already thought about leaving an item behind just in case.

Heavy weapons are heavy, perhaps limit the maneuverability of the pack, or the time until it needs to cool off because of higher strain, other than that, i dont see any issues, as long as normal ammo clips instead of backpack supply are used.

You can take them together as long as (like you said) you don't also try to carry the backpack ammo supply. I'd have my doubts that Bulging Biceps would be enough to keep you braced while in flight, but the rules don't really offer any such penalty. Beyond that, so long as your landing before firing, it's a moot point.

I would allow it. As has been said, the backpack ammo supply wouldn't go well with a jump pack.

As far as any kind of penalties to piloting rolls or whatever, you might eventually consider suspensors. Cut the weight of the gun in half.

Baron Throatpunch said:

Not sure if compatible with jump pack.

Alex

ak-73 said:

Ah the old "those cables running from the backpack are suspensor power feed cables" i have almost forgotten about that

ak-73 said:

Yeah, there isn't exactly a great deal of art around the suspensor, but something says no. Nothing I see in the RAW, just a GM's 'wait, what?'

For reference:

The thing on the back should be the suspensors, I think.

Alex

ak-73 said:

Then what are the blue bits on the front?

is there anything physically stopping an assault marine from acquiring a heavy bolter or a devastator from getting a jump pack and carrying both in one mission? nope, nothing in the rules. you're on the right track by disallowing the backpack ammo supply as it takes up the same physical space as does the jump pack. a space marine firing a heavy bolter standing still (but wearing a jump pack) shouldn't incur any additional penalties compared with firing it with a regular back pack ammo supply. i'd also count the deathwatch suspensor as taking up space on the back and not allowing that to be used in conjunction with a jump pack.

if a player really wants to combine the two even with the above restrictions... if they choose to fire it while actively USING the jump pack (for instance if they have death from afar as an armor ability letting them fire heavy weapons on the move), i would apply a penalty to the pilot check (-20% sounds about right for a heavy bolter/heavy flamer/ missle launcher, maybe a -10 for energy based heavy weapons). even if they don't have the armor ability to fire on the move, they could *feasibly* fire the weapon while hovering and i'd apply the penalty to pilot there too (with a failed pilot check to hover counting them as moving enough to interfere with firing as per the normal rules).

ItsUncertainWho said:

Lol, possibly the suspensor. :-) Good observation, btw.

So what is the thing at the back? The back ammo supply?

Alex

Typically, suspensors take the form of small studs and plates on the underside of a weapon, not unlike the bottom surface of a Land Speeder. They don't seem to require any significant power supply, either. That said, I'm of the 'Backpack options: Choose One' considering that both the ammo pack and the jump pack go in the same place. Same deal with a Techmarine's harness.

Anyway I have been digging out another pic, from Space Crusade allegedly:

So: compatible with jump pack.

Alex

ak-73 said:

The cables may be to power the feeder belt, maybe...?

ak-73 said:

It certainly is. It's present on the normal Devastator Heavy Bolter model, and as most Devastators don't get Suspensors, and the backpack is hooked up to the cables and ammo belt, it's a safe bet that it's the ammo supply.

ak-73 said:

I won't bother getting into how negating weight alone, especailly for a marine, wouldn't have much to do with recoil and walking while shooting, I will just thank you for the artwork to back up the wargear

I wouldn't allow it because it's cheeseball, and has never been depicted as occurring in 40K tabletop or canon fiction (to the best of my knowledge). Eldar (and maybe Tau?) are the only race that fields highly mobile heavy weapons.

Edit: Necron Destroyers, too.

I'd say I'd allow it, but under reservations. You'd hae to take the heavy weapon, with the ammo clip. also, because now you're wearing a jump pack, you dont get to tak other things, such as chainsword or a bolter, as they would be too bulky. so all you can have is your normal devices. Also a constant penality to pilot self. Atleast -10 to -20