Entrenchment Tool

By Dulahan, in Game Mechanics

In the rules for Comrades in Combat, specifically the aid in melee, it mentions they might use their trusty entrenchment tool for a weapon to help give you the flanking bonus in melee.

Which made me curious about what the stats are for said Entrenchment Tool (especially since I know they're used by the modern military quite effectively, essentially a hand ax, and more potential trauma than the knife!), because if my comrade is using it, I probably am too!

But when I went to the weapon stats, no sign of it. Not in equipment either. Not even a mention of it in Improvised weapons.

So this might be a pretty easy fix, but it would be good to see some stats for or even just a 'counts as' line in one of the other weapons.

I'd use the BC stats for axes, as an entrenching tool handles pretty much like one, maybe adding Ogryn Proof to it.

Well they have the rules for a "Sharpend Entrenchment tool" in BC's hand of corruption book

MorioMortis said:

I'd use the BC stats for axes, as an entrenching tool handles pretty much like one, maybe adding Ogryn Proof to it.

That's all well and good if you have the other games, but let's not assume. Some folks will be coming to Only War as their first even 40K roleplay game. It should have what they need to play.

The 9-fething-70 apppeared in the Inquisitor handbook for DH. They mentioned it was a pretty effective improvised melee weapon.

In the melee weapon table there's a Improvised weapon line that might be used, but I would like to see some more detailed rules too.

Yeah, while I don't think it should be just an improvised - mainly from how said tools are considered preferable to knives by real world militaries - even if it is just a throwaway line in the Improvised Weapons writeup "…such as the entrenchment tool" - then it's covered. That's all that matters here. Making sure it's covered since there's an example elsewhere in the book that mentions it being used in combat.

A "counts-as a primitive 1h axe" after the ET line would also suffice. Probably a blurb about not adding any upgrades would be smart; mono-edged shovels, while amusing, are not likely to be approved by regimental command.

Darklordofbunnies said:

A "counts-as a primitive 1h axe" after the ET line would also suffice. Probably a blurb about not adding any upgrades would be smart; mono-edged shovels, while amusing, are not likely to be approved by regimental command.

Yeah. There's a lot of easy solutions to this. Just so long as one is done it shouldn't take more than that! Just so it's there!

Darklordofbunnies said:

A "counts-as a primitive 1h axe" after the ET line would also suffice. Probably a blurb about not adding any upgrades would be smart; mono-edged shovels, while amusing, are not likely to be approved by regimental command.

The idea of a commando unit of trench warfare infantry using their high-tech, monomolecular edged entrenchment tool in melee (WW1 style) is simply too WH40k-esque not to be permitted. Also, regimental command doesn't have to know; it's not like it's the most outlandish weaponry seen in IG regiments.

Having dug out my copy of the Infantrymn's Uplifting Primer (yes I own a print copy from BL) and have come to the conclusion that the Imperium if full of BS gran_risa.gif But on a more serious note, the mono upgrade is sensible given that someone might take the advice seriously and have combat doctrine for the use of the shovel.

When you think of it, Monomolecular Edged shovels WOULD make digging a lot easier and more efficient, especially in difficult and rocky terrain. Combine with mandatory close combat training including a unit on your entrenchment tool being your best friend…