Space marine honor guard question

[Thomas callahan]

Ok what im about to ask may or may not have been answered and it comes by looking through the 6th ed rule book. If theres been FAQ on any of what im saying please link me where it is.

My main concern is the honor guard wargear and the new AP system for CC weapons.

An honor guard gets
-artificer armorer
-Power weapon
-frag/krak grenades
-boltgun
-bolt pistol

They can be given a relic blade for 15 points each. Yet theres no ruling for a relic blade in 6th edition rule book. The space marine codex says the relic blade is a 2 handed power weapon and does not grant an addition CC attack for 2 weapons. In the Space marine codex showcase of the honor guard, it shows them with relic blades as axes and the champion with power swords. Does this make a relic blade count as a Ax for the +1 str and ap 2?

My other question only considers if the relic blade is infact counted as an ax.
The rules for a relic blade in the space marine codex says it resolves at str 6. How does that work with 6th edition saying axes add +1 str. Does the model strike at str 5, 6 or 7 then?

[Rurouni Benshin]

Tom,

The 6th ed. rule book specifically says that if the model is holding a weapon that represents something specific, then to refer to the weapon chart on page 61.

"If a model's wargear says it has a power weapon which has no further special rules, look at the model to tell which type of power weapon it has: if it's a sword or dagger, it's a power sword; if it's an axe or halberd, it's a power axe; if it's a blunt weapon like a mace or staff, it's a power maul; if its' a spear or lance, it's a power lance."

So to answer your questions:

1.  The showcase Honor Guard that come out of the Marneus Calgar Kit have Power Axes.  They get the +1 to Strength, and the AP 2 benefit, while hitting at Init 1, due to it being Unwieldy.

2.  "A Relic Blade counts as a power weapon whose hits are resolved at Strength 6."  That's exactly how it's worded in the Space Marine codex.  Now while the Honor Guard have the option of upgrading to Relic Blades, going by what the BRB says about "Power Weapons", and how they are referred to in the chart provided, I would say that Honor Guard Relic Blades (for those specific models with axes) are resolved at Str 7, AP 2, Init 1.  Meanwhile, the Chapter Champion with a Relic Blade, who's modeled with a Power Sword and CCW, would strike at Str 6, AP 3, Init 4.

Hope that helps.

[Chris]

2.  "A Relic Blade counts as a power weapon whose hits are resolved at Strength 6."  That's exactly how it's worded in the Space Marine codex.  Now while the Honor Guard have the option of upgrading to Relic Blades, going by what the BRB says about "Power Weapons", and how they are referred to in the chart provided, I would say that Honor Guard Relic Blades (for those specific models with axes) are resolved at Str 7, AP 2, Init 1.  Meanwhile, the Chapter Champion with a Relic Blade, who's modeled with a Power Sword and CCW, would strike at Str 6, AP 3, Init 4.

I believe Relic blades are Unusual Power Weapons so would be str: 6 ap:3 no matter what the model had for a weapon.

[Logan007]

I believe Relic blades are Unusual Power Weapons so would be str: 6 ap:3 no matter what the model had for a weapon.

I agree with you.

[Rurouni Benshin]

Ah... I totally missed the "Unusual Power Weapon" section there...  Good call, guys. 

So yeah, Tom, "Unusual Power Weapons" they are...

[Thomas callahan]

-.- GW really shouldve gotten a look at everything for there new rule book instead of being lazy like that for special weapons

So essencaily it would be better to use honor guard with out relic weapons

[Loranus]

Yes and No. Its how you want to play. Relic Blades are Resolved at Str 6 at Normal Initiative with AP 3 this means if something reduces you to STR 1 your still hitting STR 6. You can take a Power Axe to deal with Armor 2 and still get STR 5 but be at Init 1. So you have something you hit at regular Init with STR 6 and deal with everything outside of 2+ armour.

[Thomas callahan]

Yes and No. Its how you want to play. Relic Blades are Resolved at Str 6 at Normal Initiative with AP 3 this means if something reduces you to STR 1 your still hitting STR 6. You can take a Power Axe to deal with Armor 2 and still get STR 5 but be at Init 1. So you have something you hit at regular Init with STR 6 and deal with everything outside of 2+ armour.

Thank you on that, makes adding a relic blade a worth while option

[Rurouni Benshin]

-.- GW really shouldve gotten a look at everything for there new rule book instead of being lazy like that for special weapons

So essencaily it would be better to use honor guard with out relic weapons

Actually, they were pretty thorough, at least in this case.  I just missed the section labeled "Unusual Power Weapons".  If you read it again, it's actually quite clear what they intended.

And Relic Blades have always been and still are a very viable option.  I may not put them on Honor Guard, but for Captains and Chapter Masters, they're still very viable.

[Thomas callahan]

Well right now I'm working on making. a 10 man unit for next years mega battle and want to know the full facts of them as since the mega battle is wysiwyg if I want relic blades I need to add another weapon to the models