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this is an anomaly I discovered while researching psykers and force weapons. It concerns the Primaris Psyker of the IG codex so I'll use him as the example.

He is equipped with a force weapon and has two pyshic powers at his disposal one of which, the Lightning Arch, is a shooting psychic power. Per the rule book, page 50:

"Psykers can use on psychic power per player turn...Even if a psyker has a special rule allowing him to use more than one psychic power per turn, he can use only one psychic shooting attack."

Then, beneath that section is the listing for the force weapon:

"[force weapons] have the same effects as power weapon, but also confer to the wielder one additional psychic power, used in close combat...the normal rules for using psychic powers apply (rememver that a psyker may normally use only one power per turn)."

The question for me is whether or not The Primaris Psyker can shoot Lightning Arc at the unit he assaults in the subsequent assault phase. The wordage that complicates what should be simple is the force weapon listing, "but also confer to the wielder one additional psychic power."

I'm thinking is that the Primaris may shoot the lightning arc or wield the force weapon in close combat but not both.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

One extra power is not the same as "one extra power use". It's an Extra power, but he is still limited to 1 per Player turn.

In short, he has an Extra power that he can choose to use, but that does not allow him to use multiple powers.

When it says it gives the psyker an extra power, it refers to giving it the ability to ID something. It does not let you use an extra power each turn

the force weapon gives you it's OWN psychic power. as per above. the simple situation is you don't get an extra psychic attack of your choice, you get a specific one.

Also, he is free to wield the Force Weapon in the assault phase as much as he likes. If he has already used the maximum number of psychic powers for that turn (usually 1, force weapons DO NOT add to this), then he MAY NOT use the special ability of the force weapon to cause ID.

Nope. Sorry. Wrong

Using a Force Weapon counts as a Psyckc Power. You have to do a psykic test, so it's a power.

So, if you're a standard psyker, you can use either a shooting/buff attack, or the Force Weapon - not both.

Alex Beisel wrote:"[force weapons] have the same effects as power weapon, but also confer to the wielder one additional psychic power, used in close combat.

It's the Instant Death effect of the FW that is a psychic power. A psyker that spent his power use in shooting can still attack with the FW as normal.

edit: even if he had a power use left nothing requires that he use it... it's optional, not mandatory.

Miraclefish wrote:Nope. Sorry. Wrong

Using a Force Weapon counts as a Psyckc Power. You have to do a psykic test, so it's a power.

So, if you're a standard psyker, you can use either a shooting/buff attack, or the Force Weapon - not both.

this is interesting,. that you have a test.

He's free to swing his force weapon about all he likes, if it's got other powers like it being a power weapon, those are still good.

Can you use the ID ability on your opponents turn? As it says you can only use one per player turn.

If I remember correctly force weapons count as a power weapon so you always get that ability if you use a power or not.

Yes you can use it on the opponents turn.

How does this interact with psychic shooting attacks? Let's say I have a Sorcerer with Warptime, Wind of Chaos, and a force weapon. I can use either Warptime and Wind, or Wind and the FW's ID, but not Warptime, Wind, and the FW ID all in the same turn, right?

It interacts in no way with PSA in any way different to another type of psychic power: a PSA is one psychic power, using the ID of the force weapon is another. If you have the abiltiy to USE 2 powers a turn then you can use both. If you have the ability to use 3 you could use all 3 - etc.

With the Chaos Sorcerer you can give him the Mark of Tzeench which allows him to use two powers each turn, in that case he can use his Force Weapon and also use a second power. However, he can still only use a single shooting power each turn.

If you want more than one shooting power, you need a Tzeench marked Daemon Prince, since Monstrous Creatures are allowed to make more than one shooting attack. There is actually a good bit of explanation about this in Ahriman's FAQ. He gets three powers per turn and all sorts of shenanigans ensue.

just to clear things up a bit here.

the force weapon itself you can always use; it is essentially a power weapon just as you'd find on say, a captain. the ability it confers, to inflict instant death, is a psychic power that you can choose to cast.

so, say if a librarian, for example, casts smite at an enemy and charges on the same turn, he still gets the ignore armor save part of the force weapon. however he cannot choose to cast his instant-death force power.

this is different if he is allowed to use 2 powers per turn, of course.