Hi all, another rules questions:

The rulebook states (p161) that the Guardsmen's squad begins with a Logistics rating of 10.

However, on the next page there is a table 6-1: Logistics Rating that lists a variety of ratings per rank. For example, a "Low Rank Non-Commissioned Officer" has a Logistics rating of 15, a "Squad Rank Non-Commissioned Officer" has 20, and a "Senior Officer or Commissariat" has 50.

I don't see any of the rules that specifically reference to table 6-1. But does this mean that a Commissar Player Character starts with a Logistics Rating of 50? And what about a Sergeant PC? Is he considered a "low rank NCO" or a "squad rank NCO"?

It makes perfect sense to me that it's easier for a Commisar or a Sergeant to make requisitions, but I wonder if that's really the intent of this table. Having a Commissar PC will make quite a difference for a squad.

Those are for NPCs, giving an idea of how your characters stack up in comparison, and for purposes of influencing NPCs (if OW has this mechanic, as other 40K games do -- I can't remember if it does).

In any case, they do not apply to PCs.

I've come across the same. Does it say somewhere explicitly that the rule does not apply to PCs?

Nope, your Logistics is PURELY a result of your playing, and planning. If there was some nifty way to get someone else, who maybe owes you a favor, or something, to make a Logistics check for you, but that's unlikely. You get what you start with, and build as you go, increasing with missions achievements, buying the Mun. Influence talent, and getting someone to focus on the Commerce skill, to make those checks easier. While some characters can do those things better/more easily, no one gets to start with more via rank, or what have you.

Also as was said, if you use Logistics opposed to get stuff out of specific people, like Inquisitor's Influence, Rogue Trader's Profit Factor, or DW's Logistics, it's good to know what they should have vs you, but I'm not sure OW does that yet, based on the differences of the groups in question.

The book DOES specifically say how to calculate starting Logistics rating, and doesn't reference if you have a cheesy Commissar, you ALSO get this advantage, in addition to the others already heaped onto that choice. That way, the game isn't punishing you for not picking specific character types.

You are probably right that they don't apply to PCs. Although fluff-wise, who would deny a commissar if he walked up to the armoury and requested a case of bolter rounds? You know where the first bolter round is going if you refuse him.

Anybody in the armoury who has mors de facto authority than the commissar, which could rage from no one to all of them, depending on the situation.

Yeah, he's no better qualified; if you have some, he might get them, but you aren't being insubordinate, so he'd better not cap you, unless he also knows how to quartermaster and maintain a regiment. He's lucky that, for the most part, few Guardsmen use bolters/bolt pistols, so keeping enough ammo for their few officers/commissars, even so rare an ammo, isn't inordinately hard; like everyone else, he just needs to not be stupid with his allotment. I can think of a few other, more widespread weapons where getting more ammo COULD be harder.

A Commissar who starts treating the armoury as his personal playground is likely to get shot himself.

Maybe the commissar in the PC sguad is just a junior commissar or commissar cadet with less influence than the more experienced ones.

Or maybe it is just a gameplay and story segregation for balance reasons.

He is absolutely a junior commissar. He's not a capital C commissar any more than the sergeant is a General.

Look, the actual real-world model for the Commissariat is the NKVD's military arm. Look what they did.

Commissars have legal authority, but in most cases very little actual 'political' pull. I'd wager that a Commissar is often hampered by his title more often than it helps him, depending on the situation.

A Commissar exists to enforce the rules and regulations of the Imperium and the Imperial Guard/Navy hierarchy. If they don't do that and start acting like senior officers or starts acting high-and-mighty outside of the chain of command, they're more likely to get shot in secret and dumped in a ditch than anything else - or maybe even jailed by regimental command, awaiting trial by the Commissariat (I doubt that local/regional regiments have the authority to sentence a Commissar themselves).

At the end of the day, even a lowly Quartermaster can ruin a Commissars day for sure, even if another Quartermaster is shaking in his boots.