Heya guys,

I always see pictures of Space Marines with the bolt pistol in one hand and chainsword in the other. I consider the pistol/sword combo Assault Marine to be an iconic Space Marine image. However, the rules seem to make loadout that a very sub-optimal choice for an Assault Marine. Ballistic Skill is just way too expensive, and having to purchase the Two-Weapon Wielder talent twice seems very expensive too.

It seems like every AM character I hear about goes for the double melee weapon option. So out of curiosity, does anyone out there actually play Assault Marines who go pistol/melee weapon? If so, I'd love to hear how it's working for you. Is it as sub-optimal as it seems, or is it actually awesome?

Thanks!

I'm almost more surprised those types don't go dual pistols... since you're almost better off doing that in melee, or at least were in Dark HEresy, by just shooting them at point blank. Then you get some hefty bonuses to hit.

Dulahan said:

There is no bonus for using pistols in melee in Deathwatch (not sure about in DH since I haven't played it in awhile). The +30 for firing at Point Blank range doesn't apply. So shooting someone from a few steps away is great, but not when that enemy is in your face trying to cut your throat. That fact plus the higher damage of melee weapons, not to mention other factors like pistols being limited to one shot at a time in melee, makes melee weapons much deadlier than pistols in melee - as they should be.

@Hehateme

You're saying that like it was mutually exclusive. Space Marines start with a fairly nice BS, so why not simply get a Bolt pistol just in case you encounter stuff you don't particularly care to melee? You've got Quick Draw, so what do you have to lose?

Dulahan said:

Except you do not get the bonus for shooting at point blank while you are in melee even in Dark Heresy. You could close and shoot them at point blank of course, but if your opponents survive they may now melee you and you begin losing that bonus to hit.

A reminder: just because you carry both a sword and a pistol does not mean you use both in the same round. The classic assault marine loadout of pistol and melee weapon works very well for low-level AMs that choose not to take the two-weapon wielder talents right off the bat. You don't have to have two-weapon wielder in order to wield two weapons, you just need it for using both in the same round. So that loadout works because you have your favored melee weapon at the ready while still having a ranged option.

Thanks to Quick Draw you don't need to run around with both weapons drawn.

Alex