I've got a bit of an issue with my GM. Upon creating my Explorator character, he ruled that my starting weapons were too powerful and so, instead of getting a Hellgun, I got a Hellpistol. I thought, "Well, okay, some pistols are pretty powerful, so it's not all bad." I also wasn't sure if I saw my character as the rifle-slinging type in any case. But the thing is, one of my starting skills is Basic Weapons. The GM, who's fairly new at this, believes that Basic Weapons also covers laspistols and the like, but I'm not so sure. Surely what I really need is the Pistol Weapons skill?

1. You are correct, Basic Weapons Training does not cover pistols.

2. Your GM doesn't seem to understand what this game is about.

Fabian Grax said:

Get a new GM. Alternately, spend your initial acquisition on a Melta-Gun and see if he craps his pants with rage.

The starting gear for all characters is fairly weak in comparison to what they can expect to pick up even fairly early on. Even fairly exotic personal gear should not put to much of a dent in a RTs budget.

As has already been said you would need a pistol talent for the hellpistol.

Unless the GM has some very definite ideas on the campaign that would require the players to start off destitute or if he has revamped the combat system in some way there is no reason for his action. Talk to him a bit, complete guess here but is he a former DH player or GM where starting with a RT hellgun would be super powerful? If so see if you cant get him to come around on the scope and power level of RT.

Not sure if he's played DH (probably not) but he probably just assumed that a hellgun is a pretty powerful weapon by RT standards. He screwed up, but he's a first-time GM and he's learning the system as much as I am.

Fortinbras said:

A Common Quality Storm Bolter is obtainable with the starting acquisition.

Lets face it. The characters starting gear is usually less than what you can get from the starting acquisition, and you will have a hard time finding a starting acquisition that you won't want to replace later with a higher quality version of the same item, or a different item that is simply better.

Also, a hellpistol isn't much of a downgrade from a hellgun if you have training for both. All you lose is one of the SA shots* and a lot of range. Sounds like your gm hasn't read the rules, which is always a worry.

*To hit will 3 shots on a SA burst, you will need to roll 30 under your current BS (+10 for SA, -40 for 4 DOS). So the third shot won't hit that often.

Did your GM complain about the Rogue Traders plasma pistol ?

Any of the Arch-militants gun options ?

Seneschals Inferno pistol, BQ hellgun or boltgun ?

If not, and the players went for them, it sounds like your GM is being harsher on you than the other players.

Don't recall him restricting any other options. He just lacks perspective, but I think I can straighten him out.

There's actually just two players aside from the GM, too, my Explorator and the Rogue Trader. The other roles are NPCs.

I would recommend just making sure your GM understands that the Hellpistol isn't something you can even use for a rank or two.

Additionally, try to explain that the Hellgun isn't really that amazing. It's great against high-armor targets, but otherwise it's about the same as a regular old Lasgun.

Zero Jeeves said:

Likely answer: "Fine, you lose Basic Weapons [universal] talent and gain Pistol Weapons [universal] talent"