Stormtroopers have it rather bad when it comes to dual-aptitudes. As a support specialty they also get less starting XP, and I figured the starting kit was the reason for this.

As it is with the changes, the average stormtrooper would be just right [although at his limit more or less] with a total SB+TB of 7.

By the table, modern day soldiers wearing full kit and body armor are looking at around 38kg as well.

Overall, I'm thinking the table is just a tiny bit too harsh: if you modify the table a little so that total 6 gives you that 45kg maximum, then the hellgun and armor plus normal kit oughta come out just right.

Once again though, with Storm Troopers, they share 3 of the 4 aptitudes that could come bonus with a regiment. Until the regiment creation rules are fixed, there is an extremely high chance that a group of players with a bit of sense will create a regiment with at least one of those aptitudes. If allowed to take Finesse or Defence, a Storm Trooper will actually become quite a competent class (Finesse for an excellent ranged combatant, Defence for a character that will be able to survive most anything).

Cifer said:

I've studied 4 languages, reading and writing is the first thing I was taught every time, even for Japanese which uses 3 different alphabets.For roman alphabet languages it's no more than an hour or two to get the basic differences down, then it's all grammar and vocabulary. Once someone is literate they will usually stay literate as they pick up new languages, with the possible exception of truly horrific writing systems like Chinese or Ancient Egyptian symbolic character sets. For a mere phonetic or syllabic alphabet the barrier to entry is too low and the reward too high for someone not to learn it..

More to the point Low Gothic isn't a foreign language, it's the language 99% of the Imperium uses. It's also the language every road sign, datapad and menu uses. If the Highborn want to read the graffiti on their manufactorum walls, they need Low Gothic. Also newspapers, books, manuals and warning signs.

On the other hand this is 40k, and if I can ignore the horrific abuses committed to the laws of physics, I can live with this too.

On an unrelated point: I'd like to see a line to the effect that "Any additional specialist or favored weapons come loaded and with two full magazines as part of the PCs standard kit."

@Andor

Speaking several languages myself, I know how they're taught. Specifically, I know how they are taught in our world, which is both big on writing and on being connected. The world of 40k on the other hand is largely segregated. A nobleborn may simply not be interested in reading a low-gothic newspaper - he's got a fine selection of high-gothic ones that deal with less plebeian issues, thankyouverymuch.

I see your point, but I'd say it's a decision that can go both ways.

Whats funny is realizing that Highborn squads will probably start to need specialists who know Low Gothic, if only to be able to read the warning labels when sent into other imperial facilities.

I found Higborns not able to read Low Gothic absolutely hilarious because that is so Imperial nobility. It's like them saying "I could learn to read your crass and backwards lingo, but who cares what you have to say? You're poor !".

JuankiMan said:

Penal Legionairre glances at the sign behind him that reads "Mine field" and replies "As you say sir. After you."

JuankiMan said:

Actually it reads out that it more or less depends on the character class; the Heavy Weapons Guy can get the Regiment Heavy Weapon, while the Weapon Specialist (which if I‘m reading right ‘is’ the common soldier) gets the Regiment Base Weapon …which can be anything from Autoguns to Sniper Rifles or Triplex Pattern Lasguns to things like crossbows and grenade launchers. After all these are called ‘Regiment Weapons’, they’re meant to be common sights in those groups otherwise what would be special about Regiment Weapons.

A better question would be if you can take Pistol Weapons as Regiment Weapons, or if can upgrade the quality of the Regiment Weapons (I figure you can since you also purchase more Regiment Weapons from the same chart). I’m seeing someone with a regiment called ‘The Dirty Harrys” with “Best Quality Hand Cannons” as their Regiment non-Heavy Weapon and with the specialized equipment “Man-Stopper Rounds” and “Recoil Gloves” as part of their standard gear…and with the remaining 5 points get a “Chrono” and a “Survival Suite” that’s stylish!

…Of course if the original question was “Do units that receive Regiment Heavy/Basic Weapons get both at Character Creation if the Regiment has 2 in one category?”

In that case I’d say: “No, its one or the other and is meant to only expand your options, though it doesn’t stop anyone from getting both anyways via LOGISTICS.”

I’m also throwing my Rosette into the “Why ’Light’ Carapace armour for Storm Troopers?”

The item is called ‘Storm Trooper Carapace Armour’ and therefore should be the ‘default’ item for all Storm Troopers, after all anyone can acquire it via Logistics and the whole point of the Storm Trooper is that they that they don’t have to buy it themselves, they are the elite.

A problem I’m a bit surprised that no one has said anything about is that that the Storm Trooper now has the same problem that every Class had before: Proficiency Problems that is.

A Storm Trooper that take Solid Projection Proficiency instead of Las Proficiency now has a -20 penalty to using his only weapon: the Hot-Shot Lasgun. Instead of going through lore and any unimportant material I’ll skip to the chase.

There are two ways to fix this problem:
A. Give Storm Troopers proficiency with BOTH Las and SP weapons.
B. Add a useful SP equivalent for the Storm Trooper to have instead of the Hellgun.

“A” is the simplest as it doesn’t require any major changes, the Storm Troopers get the Hellguns by default but can use just about every kind of Las or SP weapon available. This option broadens their weapon usage but unlike other talents Proficiencies don’t make characters more powerful by default and fits with their theme of ‘Elite Soldiers’.

“B” is bit more difficult because there are no SP Weapons of the Hellguns equivalent that isn’t a Heavy Weapon. Best I can tell the simplest alterative would be an autogun (of the same quality as the Hellguns: Good Quality) with either free Amputator Shells or Expander Rounds. I think this option is more of a problem than “A” so I don’t favor it.

@Andor

As with many cultures with poor literacy quotas, I'd imagine that the Imperium provides most of its warning signs with easily understood icons in addition to the writing.

According to HMBC's (sic) original post about the favoured weapons in the equipment section, it was 1 per squad.

That would be… odd. Firstly, all other items are added to standard kit, making these the only items that are added to only one player's effects. Secondly, the Weapon Specialist and Heavy Gunner already have the option to add favoured weapons to their kit. And thirdly, there's a good chance that the weapon you choose won't be useable without an additional weapon training which only the Specialist and the Gunner get.

Well, the most a weapon training is going to cost anyone is 300xp. Therefore, anyone could make themselves proficient in its use (given that its not a heavy weapon that requires above and beyond what they could start with, for example trying to get the priest to wield a heavy bolter).

Magus Black said:

Here's s omething DH taught me

autogun+fire selector+silencer+manstopper round+ scope or red dot

Adding one more request to throw in at least an option for Common Craftsmanship Storm Trooper Carapace as armor for the Stormie. It just makes more sense that way.