by Benjaymun
Okay, I've carefully re-read Mission Dreadnaught and the Space Crusade rulebook regarding the way Mission Dreadnaught marines can be armed.It hinges on the following two statements:
To man the Tarantula, the Marines' ranks have also been increased by the addition of two more Marines to act as Gunners.
- Mission Dreadnaught, page 4.
The four Marines may choose from the available weapons. One of the four Marines must carry a heavy weapon, and one other must carry a bolter. The remaining two may choose between carrying a Bolter or a heavy weapon.
- Space Crusade Rulebook, page 5.
So the Space Crusade Rulebook accounts for the armaments of the four "original, non-commander Marines", but not the two "to act as Gunners" Marines added by Mission Dreadnaught.
Note that the extra-heavy weapons are implied to be heavy weapons for purposes of arming the four "original, non-commander Marines" because Mission Dreadnaught states that:
As with the original Heavy Weapons, each Extra-Heavy weapon has a special way of firing...
- Mission Dreadnaught, page 4.
There is also a potential for misunderstanding how the extra-heavy weapons interact with orders, unless you read the entire book carefully. This statement is misleading:
Order and equipment cards for Heavy Weapons may not be used for Extra-Heavy Weapons.
- Mission Dreadnaught, page 4.
The ambiguity of this statement is only clarified when you read the rules for the Tarantula, where it is stated that:
Unlike other pieces, the Tarantula may not move and fire during the same Marine player turn, unless certain Order cards are played. Order and equipment cards for Heavy Weapons may not be used for the Tarantula.
- Mission Dreadnaught, page 8.
Note the near-identical wording of the second sentence. It then goes on to say that "By Sections!", "Move It!" and "Fire!" can be used with the Tarantula. This means that the statement about order and equipment cards for heavy weapons being unable to be used with extra-heavy weapons _really_ only means that you can't use them with the Imperial Fists order "Heavy Weapon!" or the Imperial Fists equipment card "Suspensors". You _can_ still use them with "By Sections!", "Move It!" and "Fire!" orders. (And of course you can't use them with targeters, as they're not on the Marine player's scanner.)
I think the implied intention here is to stop the Imperial Fists from getting a significant boost which the other chapters don't get, with the introduction of more powerful heavy weapons.
Returning to the original question, though - how are the marines armed under Mission Dreadnaught? Space Crusade answers the question of how the Commander and the "original four non-commander Marines" are armed, and Mission Dreadnaught increases their weapon options because it implies that extra-heavy weapons are considered heavy weapons for purposes of arming marines. But what about the two "to act as Gunners" marines added by Mission Dreadnaught?
Mission Dreadnaught is silent about specifics of how these marines are armed, so we're left with implication. "Gunner", for purposes of scoring, is a status a Marine assumes when they're behind the Tarantula, equipped with the control box. Only one of these marines can be "the Gunner" at any one time. Note the implication of "to act as Gunners" - it implies that you're taking the Tarantula, it is non-optional. The chapter's armoury has put it in the docking claw with the squad, and two marines have been assigned to "act as Gunners" for it. Of course, this doesn't stop the commander telling the "Gunner" to leave it there and load his bolter instead...
Note also what happens when we arm one or both of the "to act as Gunners" marines with heavy weapons or extra-heavy weapons - if they're expected to operate the Tarantula, they'd have to put the (extra) heavy weapon down inside a space hulk, meaning that it is most likely lost. If they are intended to "act as Gunners", they're unlikely to be issued with heavy weapons for this reason - I get the impression that space marine chapters are not so wasteful with their equipment. Also, technically both "to act as Gunners" marines have already been issued with an extra-heavy weapon each - one lascannon each, attached to the Tarantula.
Another argument, based on fluff (and admittedly weak) is that the pictures show that this is a tactical squad. With five heavy weapons, one bolter and a sergeant, not even a 40K devastator squad can take that ratio of heavy weapons to bolters. You'd have to be Space Wolves Long Fangs to get that (although admittedly, common sense has already taken a holiday when the Tarantula and Conversion Beamer get issued for such close quarters fighting).
The final argument I'd make for the two "to act as Gunners" marines being only armed with the control box or bolters is one of gameplay variety. When five heavy weapons marines are available, everyone will take that, and not bother with the Tarantula or bolters. With either two bolter marines and a Tarantula gunner, or three bolter marines as the "non-heavies", all sorts of tactical options open up. Which heavy weapons or extra-heavy weapons will you take in the three slots? Will you leave the Tarantula behind? Will you take a targeter on bolters and five bolter marines, a single heavy and a combi-weapon heavy bolter commander? Will you take the Tarantula and the full complement of heavy weapons?
Anyway, this has turned into a sort of Mission Dreadnaught FAQ, but I've now got answers to the questions so far as I'm concerned. Feel free to add your 2 cents if you disagree.
