Do icons replace war gear?

[Trevak Dal]

Say you get the icon of wrath, does it replace a chainsword or bolt pistol? The model has him holding it like a banner so what's the verdict on it?

[Sception]

In the new CSM kit, the icons actually mount on the backpack, leaving the hands free for whatever normal equipment you want to give them.

 

But even if you're going with the older banner/standard style icons, they don't replace any other wargear.  If they did that would have been called out in the rules somewhere.  Theoretically all weapons and wargear should still be represented on the model in some way - perhaps a holstered pistol or a bolter on a shoulder strap or whatever - but in practice nobody worries about the exact armament of icon bearers, and just assumes they're armed like the majority of normal models in the squad.

 

With the exception of cases where you want to put the icon and some other upgrade on the same model, in which case both really should be represented if you can manage it.

[BrassClaw]

I was under the impression that Icons  don't replace anything

[Trevak Dal]

Sception, that's cool!

[Sgt. Blank]

The Khorne Berzerker kits has both sheathed sword and holstered pistol bits, I've used these on my icon bearers to show their armament

[Closet Skeleton]

Those sheathed swords are ritual blades for head hunting, not melee weapons.

[Trevak Dal]

Yeah it's really hard to get a clean cut with a chain weapon. Power weapons would maybe vaporize part of the skull.

 

Having learned how the samurai did things, I'm disappointed I didn't make my Khârn conversion a swordsman.