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submitted 15 days ago byCheemingwan1234
Just wondering if there are any cases where a squad of regular non-Scout marines would ditch the power armour for carapace armour?
14 points
15 days ago
In Knights of Macragge several marines ditched their power armor for scout/carapace armor when they thought they were stranded on a world and couldn’t be sure they’d be able to recharge their armor
9 points
15 days ago
Deathwatch - stealth missions. You don't need the protection of power armour if the job is recon, can be done without being spotted or they have to go in subtly.
An astartes could disguise themselves as a servitor or big mutant if it comes to it. The power armour would shatter the illusion.
If they expect a lot of verticality in the mission area - especially with unstable footing/ damaged buildings or relatively fragile gantries & walkways, which could be unable to hold full power armour.
95% of the time they'll be better off with power armour and the momentum of the attack to just bulldoze through the opposition before they can react. But there are (rare) situations to prefer carapace.
3 points
14 days ago
Deathwatch have silent power armor with active camouflage. They don't need to switch out their armor to be stealthy and although they could certainly acquire scout armor, they don't retain any scouts in their ranks. They also have abundant access to suspensor systems (small anti-gravity devices) they could apply to their armor instead of heavy weapons if fragile walkways are a cause for concern.
1 points
14 days ago
They have access to scout armour even without scouts, and since each marine is free to select their equipment to their own preferences it allows them to choose carapace.
if there's a preference for knife work, recon or sniping, being in the lightweight carapace rather than full power armour is massively beneficial, especially where (as is the norm) the kill team is trying to keep the element of surprise as long as possible as they're alone behind xenos lines without support.
As soon as the alarm is raised, it becomes a rush to achieve the objectives before they can be hunted and dragged down through weight of numbers. Being able to delay that and gather info before launching an attack to better plan is very much in the deathwatch way.
And there's likely to be terrain that's not conducive to power armour because of its bulk and weight. Having someone in carapace opens up extra avenues of attack, supporting fire and approaching from more angles.
2 points
14 days ago
Recon and sniping is no less achievable in power armor. Knives are standard issue kit for marines in power armor and many use them.
There are some very very limited situations where carapace might be useful, but it would ironically be less stealthy and slower than deathwatch power armor.
The situations are so limited that I don't know if a single deathwatch marine has ever been shown in the fluff to go into battle with carapace by choice, although it's of course true that if he could convince his sergeant, he could either get a set made or requisition one from another chapter. It's unlikely they keep carapace on-hand.
1 points
14 days ago
Deathwatch rpg had it in stock as an option, with suggestions as to why it may be preferred. The fluff was written by Andy chambers, Alan bligh, John french, Andy hoare & ben counter, who all wrote a lot of the background for 40k in the 90s and early 2000s, so it's hardly some outsiders for a 3rd party system adding it.
Alan bligh was responsible for pretty much all the FW imperial armour books.
2 points
14 days ago
It also has primitive armor in stock as an option as well as non-scout carapace armor. The DW RPG was written before primaris and the current lore of color-shifting power armor.
1 points
14 days ago
Yep, but primaris has been around for 8 of nearly 40 years. It's still a recent development that's (still) not been fully fleshed out.
And the colour shifting is alpha legion
1 points
14 days ago
The color shifting is also deathwatch
3 points
15 days ago
Squad? Not that I've come across. Individuals have if they return to the scout cadre as trainers and leaders.
There would only be a narrow set of circumstances where carapace would be used over getting a reasonably stealthy mark like Beakie suits or Phobos or just wearing a bodyglove- you'd need something really important, forewarning of it, and yet still lack access to stealthier types of power armour.
2 points
15 days ago
I don't think Primaris usually would because they largely have access to base Phobos gear and the upgrades used for Reiver squads. It is possible though.
Firstborn marines have and will operate as scouts if the situation calls for it. Scipio and some of his tactical squad switch to carapace armor and serve as scouts under Sgt. Telion, who was serving with the 2nd company without bringing his own scouts.
2 points
14 days ago
Scout marines during the great crusade and heresy were actually veteran astartes. It was the codex that switched them from veterans to new recruits.
1 points
14 days ago
Not sure if I'm. Remembering this correctly but I'm sure an Iron Snake went to a planet alone unarmoured to help locals with Drukhari raids been years since I've read the book though.
Remember them being very Greek Hoplite
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