Assault Bolter

How does the Assault Bolter differ from the Storm Bolter rules wise?

Fluff wise are they a contender to replace Storm Bolters?

>How does the Assault Bolter differ from the Storm Bolter rules wise?
It shoots three shots instead of 2/4 and hits like a heavy bolter.

>Fluff wise are they a contender to replace Storm Bolters?
Probably not. GW will probably think of a reason why all terminators don't just start running around with them standard issue. Probably the same reason Primaris Marines can't fit inside Land Raiders and Space Marines can't fit instead Repulsors: "Stop asking questions, because we said so."

But there's literally no fucking reason for termies to use storm bolters anymore over these things

There's also no reason for regular marines to use bolters over bolt rifles. And no reason for Guard to use lasguns over bolters.

Well, it's single-barrelled for a start user.

>And no reason for Guard to use lasguns over bolters.
Besides being expensive, requiring constant, careful, maintenance and requiring supply lines to replenish ammo; all of which are crippling disadvantages against the lasgun when you're trying to equip an army of trillions.

Guardsmen have a legit excuse though. Lasguns are incredibly easy to produce and support in the field. Small logistics train. Rest of your post is true though.

Storm bolters are already much more prone to jamming than regular bolters and can't be relied to be the backbone of the entire force, there, you have your fluff reason

So why isn't cost and such a reason not to give it to Marines? They already don't give every marine an artificer armour, storm bolter full of specialist ammo, and a power weapon, now do they? Even though they're the Emperor's Angels of Death and all that shit.

But the marines in question are Terminators. The best of the best, they already have the run of the armory short of the named relics.

>the best of the best
>can't take specialist ammo nor power weapons
>max. 2 heavy weapons per squad

Distrust of the new stuff? To this day there are still chapters that refuse to use the razorback as it is still new and untested for them

>Can't take specialist ammo
Only from a TT rules standpoint. Fluffwise, Sternguard vets are Terminators in regular powered armor. Only the Deathwing fights in Terminator armor 100% of the time.

>Terminators can't take power weapons
Nevermind, you're either retarded or don't know anything of the fluff/rules. Or both.

Answer to thread commencing

You are a moron if you are actually paying attention to details like this and expecting anything but trash from New Games Workshop.

they're too heavy for marinelets

To be fair they all get a power fist, or thunder hammer/storm shield, or lightning claws. It's just the sword that is a sarge thing

>Only from a TT rules standpoint.

Have to say, even in fluff I don't remember any terminator blasting specialist rounds from their storm bolters. Let alone their combi-bolters, which they magically are unable carry when in terminator armour, even though sternguard can. And for such a "have the run of the armoury" type dudes, they can't even pick their assault equipment like vanguard can. No storm shield and power sword for you, friend, not in that outfit.

>Nevermind, you're either retarded or don't know anything of the fluff/rules. Or both.

Well, do show me where a standard 1st company terminator with the run of the armoury is using anything other than a storm bolter and a power fist (or claws/TH&SS). Because only the sergeant can have a sword, and nothing else.

Sternguard can't shoot specialty ammo from storm bolters either, maybe they're not compatible.

That's how the codex tells them to equip themselves.

Non-codex chapters like the space wolves can have terminators with combi-plasmas and power axes or storm shields and lightning claws, they don't give a shit.

Storm bolters should use the same ammo as bolters. And if they don't, combi-bolters do, and cataphractii and tartaros terminator units have access to those.

>That's how the codex tells them to equip themselves.

So I guess that's the answer to all "why aren't X using Y?" Because of the codex.

Though seems weird to have vets able to take a wide variety of weapons and then force vets in terminator armour to adhere to a very strict set of weapons and equipment.

It is very easy to imagine an explanation for vets doing whatever they please, and terminator armour being highly regulated. Veterans have more leeway with their weapon choices (they are veterans, after all!), because the enforcement of rules is less strict. Terminator armour is rare and valuable, so there are lots of rules regarding its use. Don't think of the actual value of the piece of equipment, but rather the value the author of the Codex perceived them to have.