[Exarch Thomo]

Originally Posted by ssgtdanclay

Thanks for the posts, and thanks to those of you who read it. To explain some of my reasoning:

First, I really love Abhumans, but I removed them in hopes that we could see an Abhumans codex sometime in the future; that would be fun. My idea behind the changed Ogryns was to compare them to Guardsmen as termies are compared to space marines…except termies use layers of Armor, and Ogryns would be using layers of…well, meat. Plus, Ogryns suck for their points, they needed a change, so I had some fun with it.

Secondly, I know it may seem like I dumbed down the Guard, but it is actually the opposite. I opened up extra options which were not there before. Commissars can now have 5WS and 5BS in my codex. That isn’t an option in the current one. They can also get more attacks than the current one; it all depends on how you equip them. Plus, advisors can be placed where ever they are needed, which seemed like an important change.

Sorry, but I can't see how you have done the opposite of 'dumbing down' the list. The list as you have it is bland, with only minimal optimisation available for the individual player. If I wanted something like that I would play more chess. The things that you have changed (like advisors) are good, but they don't counteract the significant reductions to the rest of the list and also the identity of guard.

Originally Posted by ssgtdanclay

As for Thomo’s questions, I understand giving everyone a single wound goes against everything in every codex. However, it seems to fit with the Guard (and only the Guard). Space Marines, Orks and ‘Nids get stronger as they age…normal humans get weaker. A 90 year old Space Marine can thump quite a few skulls, a 90 year old human is lucky to be still breathing. It just seems to be more realistic and emphasizes squad level tactics (which should be the primary focus in the Guard)…but you know, it’s just a game…

Not really - eldar don't get tougher, yet they have multi-wound models. Having everything at one wound goes against every game mechanic in every edition of the game, and were this to happen for real their would be a lot of disenchanted and angry gamers. The multi-wounds/attacks represent heroic individuals - people who don't say die, who have an inordinate amount of luck, sixth sense for danger etc. The W characteristic isn't just a representation of how many hits a guy can take before going down. And a headshot will kill a marine just as easily as it will a guardsmen. A 90 year old, unaided won't do much. A 90-year old sucking down juve drugs and cybernetically enhanced can still crack skulls with the best of them. Look at Inquisitors.

Originally Posted by ssgtdanclay

As far as removing bolters, rarity had nothing to do with that decision. It was done for two reasons. The first was realism. If you were to take the 7.62mm minigun from the bed of any one of the attack helicopters currently used in the military, and then give it to a man to fire from the hip…well, he’d be wielding a weapon with 270lbs. of recoil; and after one burst, he’d have to go to the hospital to have all his broken bones set and then be put into a body-cast. But a bolter has 350lbs. of recoil…so…it would probably kill him… Secondly, as a Guard player, it just doesn’t seem right to win a game using Str 4 infantry weapons. Every Guard player’s favorite weapon ought to be the lasgun. Why would you even WANT bolters in the codex? And if you want some REAL firepower, we’ve got hellguns! What more could any good Guard player ask for?

I would beg to differ - your post in the SM forums indicates taht you think rarity does have something to do with it. Out of curiosity, how long have you been playing?
The bolter is the staple weapon of the Imperium, just as much as the lasgun. The lasguns advantage lies in the ease with which it is produced, maintaned and supplied (ammo etc). The bolter takes a little more effort to correctly maintain. The bolters of the astartes are probably unusable by the majority of average citizens - but that is only one kind. The bolters of the Adepta Sororitas are certainly suitable for human use - as the sisters themselves are unaltered humans.
And besides the way you keep going on about it is like you think that hordes of guardsmen are armed with bolters, whole platoons mowing down enemy troops with the bolter. A smattering of bolters across the army is hardly gamebreaking nor even unfluffy. Why would you go against 10,000 years (game time) and 4 (5 now) editions of established practice. Just because you don't like bolters doesn't mean that the vast majority don't. However, they are fluffy and undisputedly so. Read a bit more fluff. If underhive gangs in necromunda can get their hands on bolt pistols and numerous bolters then a military organisation as vast as the Imperial Guard, with whole forge worlds dedicated to producing them, doesn't have any issues with requisitioning some for the officers.

Originally Posted by ssgtdanclay

As far as heavy bolters are concerned, they don’t have to deal with recoil, but they do have a weight problem: how do the troopers carry all that bolter ammo? The .50cal HMG (= heavy stubber) requires a 4 man team just to carry ammo. Certainly a heavy bolter’s ammo would be even heavier; therefore, it just doesn’t make much sense for the Guard to use a heavy bolter in the offense… but then again, this is just a game played by kids who’ve never shot a real gun, so I should probably just keep my trap shut.

I think what you are trying to do is a good idea, but the way you have gone about doing it is somewhat lacking - leaving the whole effect as somewhat dismal.
But leave the condescension at home. Any member of this forum who has served time in the forces could take a great deal of offence at that last comment. Just because something doesn't make sense to you, doesn't mean that it doesn't make sense to everyone.
Also, take into consideration advances in technology and materials - they aren't using the same weapons, tech and materials that are prevelant today.