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Okay, so a guy at my local game store likes to field Mephiston. He typically uses the Psychic power Mephiston has to bump his Strength up to a 10. Now, he claims that since the power does not specify a duration, then it lasts until the end of the game. That didnt seem right to me, but I cannot find a rule anywhere to counter what he is saying. Can anyone help me out? Is his interpretation correct, or am I wise to be skeptical?

Can I get a location for this power? If we can classify it as a blessing then it has the rule "unless otherwise stated, last[s] until the end of the following turn" (BRB:58)

I checked the rules in the BRB, the codex and the FAQ and nothing anywhere specifies a duration. However seeing as it effectively causes a friendly stat boost, it would be considered a blessing and hence applicable until the end of the following turn.

To my knowledge it has always been played as psychic powers only last for the turn they were activated in. There is no precedent for any power acting as a permanent buff before or in any codex.

However in the new codex there is no specific limitation on the duration of powers or effects in general. I suppose his argument is somewhat valid, but reeks heavily of cheese. I don't think anyone else has ever tried to play it that way though.

Inform him that you can only do what is expressly allowed.

Since no duration is listed, there is no permission for it being anything beyond an instantaneous duration. Too bad for him.

Perhaps you can be nice and be willing to allow it to last for his entire turn.

coredump wrote:Inform him that you can only do what is expressly allowed.

Since no duration is listed, there is no permission for it being anything beyond an instantaneous duration. Too bad for him.

Perhaps you can be nice and be willing to allow it to last for his entire turn.

I agree with this interpretation, everyone loves to quote the fact that 40k is a permissive rule set, if there is no specified duration, technically the power ends right after it's cast.

The power is the Sanguine Sword and it says that it is used at the beginning of either player's assault phase and the Librarian's attacks are resolved at S10. The wording implies those attacks made in the same turn as the power being used are S10. It may not explicitly say it but to interpret it any other way is asinine.

Captain Antivas wrote:The power is the Sanguine Sword and it says that it is used at the beginning of either player's assault phase and the Librarian's attacks are resolved at S10. The wording implies those attacks made in the same turn as the power being used are S10. It may not explicitly say it but to interpret it any other way is asinine.

+1 To this answer!

I agree with that answer also, but I am betting that if that player has not reached that conclusion for himself, and is trying to insist that his power last 'forever', he is going to be a bit difficult to convince.

On that note, why should he have to cast it at all? There is no duration, and he cast it last game... why not still in effect??

coredump wrote:On that note, why should he have to cast it at all? There is no duration, and he cast it last game... why not still in effect??

Because that is not how a game works. You do not hold over wounds or any other effects from the last game. Unless you are suggesting anything that was removed or wrecked last game still is removed and wrecked next game.

Technically no listed duration means you cast it, and it has its effect until something says it goes away.

I would play it as a blessing though, that makes it gel perfectly with the current rules.

The problem is that I see him claiming that since the book was written in 5th edition, it is not bound by the rules of Blessings, since it doesn't say it is one. Does it say somewhere that I missed that all older psychic powers now fall under one of the new types, or is he going to have ground to stand on still?

It does not say that all older psychic powers now fall under one of the new types that I saw, unless I missed it.

It does say that some powers have no listed type and they will have their rules explained in the respective entry (page 68)

DeathReaper wrote:It does not say that all older psychic powers now fall under one of the new types that I saw, unless I missed it.

What Happyjew said. But he still doesn't have a leg to stand on.

no I don't have a leg to stand on

But you have shiny hubcaps! No wait, did Ben or Alex steal those?

Coredump wrote:Inform him that you can only do what is expressly allowed.

Since no duration is listed, there is no permission for it being anything beyond an instantaneous duration. Too bad for him.

Perhaps you can be nice and be willing to allow it to last for his entire turn.

I like this one. Or treating it as a Blessing.

The problem is that I anticipate him giving me a response along the lines of "the rules dont say to treat it as a blessing, ergo it isn't one." Since he is also the co-leader of our gaming group, I have no real authority to suggest my interpretation is better than mine, unless I can find something within the rules. As such I cannot find anything, but I was hoping more knowledgeable minds than mine could prevail.

There really should be a line in the BRB saying "unless stated in their specific entry psychic powers last until end of phase/turn"

Sounds like this one will have to come down to a die roll. I can't find anything, How do you stand playing with someone like that.

Captain Antivas wrote:Sounds like this one will have to come down to a die roll. I can't find anything, How do you stand playing with someone like that.

Simple. You don't. Anyone trying to take such ridiculous advantage of currently poor wording is probably not that much fun to play. I should point out that being co-leader of your gaming group does not mean he is automatically right in terms of rules. One of the temporary managers at my nearest GW once accused one of the beginners of cheating at 40k because he declared his assaults after the Shooting Phase. The current manager threw out one of the veteran gamers for arguing that you could move and fire 24" with a rapid fire weapon in 6th edition. While he had the new book open in front of him. At the Rapid Fire page. Just because someone is in a position of seniority, that doesn't mean they actually know what they're doing.

Jim where in IL are you at?