40K AM/IG Question: That powersword on the command squad sprue.

[kiranamida 5791xp 0]

So, I am putting together the Defence of Cadia box as the start of my first army and I noticed something that I cannot make add up.

On the Commander/Command Squad sprue has an option on it that is a mechanical arm holding a powersword:
Image courtesy of letthedicedecide.co.uk as I’m lazy

As I’ve been pouring over the various unit rules in putting together my first models I noticed that the veterans in a Company Command do not have the option for the powersword, only the Venteran/Infantry Squad Sergeant and the Platoon/Company Commander. Seemed odd to me at first but then I figured it was holding to the idea what powerswords are for officers (COs and NCOs) and company command troops are still just the enlisted guard. So the fluff backs it up and I moved on.
Then I saw this when poking around the Codices 40K app and the GW webstore for references:

That on the right is blatantly a Command Squad Veteran using the aforementioned powersword arm option.

So, to the more experienced 40K/AM players: have I missed something that would grant a Command Squad Veteran the option to take a powersword directly or “an item from the Melee Weapons list”? Or is this GW taking artistic license with their promotional material here?

Needless to say: it has had me scratching my head for the last two days and have a rummage on the old google hasn’t presented anything conclusive so far.

[avernos 34963xp 1]

you have to remember that GW constantly ret-con and change their minds, that command squad box is probably close to a decade old now, and when it was released in the old Imp Guard Codex the upgrade could be taken for command, vets and a host of others. (it’s always handy to have a bionic upgrade and a power sword more so).

I’m not sure how the current codex stands, because I’ve got the Indexes and given up on new GW books, but the part is there courtesy of older rules. Remember you can always use power level and just use it as a power sword regardless of whether the book says yes or no. A more civilised weapon, for a more civilised age.

[kiranamida 5791xp 0]

Well I’ve been planning to magnetise a bunch of the pistol arms so I can play around with different things without having to make 5 variants of the same model so maybe I’ll just do the same for the sword arm as well. That way I can change it out if I ever play a game serious enough to not just say “Sure, you’re Sergeant Major in the Company Command can take a power sword and just pay the five points for it”.

But thank you for the context. Encouraging to know I haven’t missed something obvious.

[avernos 34963xp 0]

the alternative is just counting it as a melee weapon, but I’m not sure how they pan out themselves at the moment.

 

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