Anybody ever wonder about SM Terminators

and how they can carry heavy flamers, missile launchers, and assault cannons, but can't carry Lascannons, multi meltas, or plasma cannons? What's up with that?

I was thinking about this while reading the codex last night....

Bojesphob wrote:

and how they can carry heavy flamers, missile launchers, and assault cannons, but can't carry Lascannons, multi meltas, or plasma cannons? What's up with that?

I was thinking about this while reading the codex last night....

are you really trying to apply "real world" logic to a science fiction
table -top game?

I'm sure I'm not the first person who's ever done that! LOL

Seems like a logical thing, though, right? I mean, why would regular Space Marines be able to carry Multimeltas, and the Terminators be left out in the cold?

There has to be balance, and toting those weapons around without the "Heavy" being applicable, is in my opinion a game balance thing.

Its a points cost v. application issue for game balance (you want more features you pay more points).

If you want those weapons on a Terminator you will have to roll Chaos and pay 75pts for a Obliterator.

That and they have GIANT tactical dreadnought armor. I think you'd be able to carry a bit more with one of those puppies on.

Well, lets consider the purpose of the Terminators:

They are assault units. Both standard and assault equipped terminators are meant to be in the thick of the action, which favors the aforementioned assault weapons.

They're supposed to draw heavy fire. As such, I imagine the aiming required of a las cannon or multi-melta, and the heat issues of the plasma cannon, would be things that would be harder to aim and maintain.

Rules wise, it would be kind of unfair. Enough said. Having them as mobile firing platforms would just be obscene.

Contrarily, I've always wondered why Tac Marines can't take a heavy flamer as a weapons choice. heck, the guard can take a heavy flamer. The Astartes can't?

Perhaps the weapons in question require a certain level of dexterity that the (presumably big and heavy) Terminator armor doesn't allow. It's as good an explanation as any. Imagine trying to fire a sniper rifle with a full football uniform on... any hit would definitely be a lucky shot!

Not to mention the massive energy requirements.Rob

Its the year 41000 why is there no range finding equipment or guidance systems. Today if you fire a shoulder fired stinger missle (dont know what current version of this is called) you keep the sites on your target and the missle hits it. Why is there only a possible 2 out of 6 chance of hitting with a missle launcher in the game? I think it should be a hit 4 out of 6 times. If you have terminator armor on then you would be stronger and be able to lift larger weapons systems and have better targeting systems. The only thing I can think of is if the game was made prior to the current millitary progress in weapons then they didnt write it into the gaming mechanic. But why cant I measure first since a terminator should have a range and targeting system built into his armor?

Terminator Armor origins are more close combat oriented. They were not made originally as heavy weapons platforms.

Yeah you think they should be this or should be that, but really they were made to fight in close quarters on space hulks and bunkers.

Think they later developed into carrying heavy weapons but that was not the main concern of the designers I am thinking.

Terminator armor is supposed to be EXTREMELY rare and the men that wield it are just as rare. If a Commander is wanting heavy weapons on the field of battle he will more likely use a Predator or Devestator Squad, not waste valued Veterans and relics such as Terminator armor.

Again this is just speculation.

Fluff wise yes that works. Hence the reason everyone moves them forward in LR's. And yea I guess you wouldnt want them facing down a tank in the open. Still good to dream. Still think we should be allowed to measure B4 shooting. But that may be another topic.

nah, takes skill to guess measurements.

Has to be some human element to the game besides just movement.

I think the real reason is,it's been that way so long that this is something that is not going to change.Adds a element of uncertainty to the game also.Rob

I remember reading a Battletech fluff that stated that the knowledge of how to make new technology was lost due to the fighting of numerous wars, and thus, the inhabitants of that universe had to make do with the 'Mechs they had, repairing and refitting them.

Also, there is a short story by Isaac Asimov in which people are astounded that a computer technician is able to do math on paper. They check all of his results with a computer, because they didn't know how to do math by hand due to the fact that they'd been spoiled by computers for thousands of years.

This seems to be a recurring theme in science fiction, probably due to its plausibility. It is perfectly logical that certain technologies will die out simply due to lack of use. My current favorite citation of one technology that is currently dying is mechanical backup systems on cars; I work on a parking lot, and I am always amused by the people who press every button on their "key fob" trying to open their trunk, while there is a perfectly good key hole to use. One person said they didn't even know their trunk HAD a key hole!

So, maybe the means to retrofit the armor to use heavy weaponry was lost due to destruction or simply lack of use.

I don't see why regular space marines cant walk around and shoot las cannons. They are super humans on top of having power armor.