Wade Garrett Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I'm currently trying to cook up an Imperial Fists successor chapter, and one of the things I'd like to do is equip some of them with Entrenching Tools as Close Combat Weapons, I think it would fit nicely with the Dornian attitude of "Hold the line at all costs!". And while you can kill a heretic with both a shovel or a chainsword, you cannot dig a trench or a mass grave with a chainsword. But I have no idea how to represent this rule wise....stick tiny replica entrenching tools in the Marines hands and proclaim they count as Power Fists :) ? http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31Vb...L500_AA300_.jpg An Entrenching tool. I wish I could find the clip from Deadliest Warrior where one of the demo guys decapitates a ballistic dummy with one of these, it certainly makes one respectful of the humble shovel. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/248427-imperial-fists-with-entrenching-tools/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olis Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 What about chain-shovels, hmm? :) Anyhoo, on a slightly more serious note, the shovels would count as close combat weapons. Thats's it. Unless you fancy converting up a power shovel, that is. On the plus side having some tactical and assault marines wielding bolters and shovels sounds awesome. :P Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/248427-imperial-fists-with-entrenching-tools/#findComment-3008355 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Garrett Posted March 6, 2012 Author Share Posted March 6, 2012 Plus it leads to the charming image of the Sergeant extorting his squad: "In the name of the Emperor, LET THE FACE OF THE LAND ALTER! Let us shape it into abyssal caverns and towering bulwarks for THE GLORY OF THE GOLDEN THRONE!" Appreciate the input, friend. Although it is borderline heretical to admit it, I can't think of a justification for a chain shovel (Power shovel might be a possiblity, if you need a lot of dirt moved RIGHT NOW and don't have time to roll up the bulldozers, etc.) But even if it's just a vanilla close combat weapon, having some of my boys with shovels will show that my Marines are not too proud to get a little dirt on their hands (along with the blood of heretics and xenos). Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/248427-imperial-fists-with-entrenching-tools/#findComment-3008390 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultraboy Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 I once asked the same question some months ago for the Iron Warriors. When I wanted to give them a siege warfare look, I read up on World War I trench warfare. I think using techmarine backpacks make good count-as power fists. Or you can fashion a pneumatic spike at the end of their gauntlets. Resembles something powerful enough to puncture solid stone and skulls. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/248427-imperial-fists-with-entrenching-tools/#findComment-3008485 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nomus Sardauk Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31Vb...L500_AA300_.jpg An Entrenching tool. I wish I could find the clip from Deadliest Warrior where one of the demo guys decapitates a ballistic dummy with one of these, it certainly makes one respectful of the humble shovel. I saw that episode, brilliant show, the E-tool tore up that ballistic dummy real bad but IMHO it just can't beat the Ballistic Knife. :) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/248427-imperial-fists-with-entrenching-tools/#findComment-3008558 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Garrett Posted March 6, 2012 Author Share Posted March 6, 2012 Power Trench Knives, eh? Sounds like a plan, Ultraboy. My vision for these guys was inspired more by the Army of Northern Virginia during the War Between the States, a lot of their victories (especially towards the end of the war) came from digging in and holding their ground (Fredericksburg, Cold Harbor, Spotsylvania, etc.) most of which were previews of how World War I trench assaults would play out. Not that anyone else bothered to learn from it. What really got my thinking cap on was a line from an observer, regarding how the soldiers would begin setting up fortifications as soon as they stopped marching, no matter how temporary the halt was supposed to be. "The enlisted men of this army," he noted "seem to believe that a rifle pit is a wonderful thing to have in a family with small children." Truly a philosophy worth of the sons of Dorn (although if you are North of the Mason Dixon line, I suppose you'd think they were sons of Pertuabo.) Now how this would be represented on the tabletop I'm not sure...perhaps by making them as shooty as possible (Devastator squads for everyone!) and have them hug cover at all times? Perhaps give them a Whirlwind set to minelayer configuration, the Warp take effectiveness it fits their theme! Of course I'd want a few Assault Marines to serve as tarpits/speed bumps for enemies trying to get to grips with my shooters. And because if you're playing Marines and not using Chainswords, you're doing it wrong. Sanguinus: Although it pains me to disagree with the Angel Himself, I thought the ballistic knife's "one and done" properties made it inferior to the entrenching tool, which allows you to wind up and take another swing if the first one doesn't succeed. Whereas if you fire the ballistic knife and miss or don't make a disabling strike, you've lost your close quarters weapon. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/248427-imperial-fists-with-entrenching-tools/#findComment-3009030 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.