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Just how necessary are they to have? Is there anything in them that isn't in the rule book?

They are all available in the rulebook.

They are just another attempt by GW to get your money.

Don't buy them. They'll just be a useless pile of paper when the next edition comes out.

No, they're just cards based on the powers in the book. They're fun to have to keep track of psychic powers, but it gets a bit much when you have a bunch of psykers.

I used them for a while until I started running 4+ psykers with my Tyranids, since I end up doubling up powers across squads sometimes. I just remember what each model has, it's not hard.

They're neat though. I'll be grabbing the card decks if they release them for Chaos and Tyranids.

I bought the cards when they came out, and they are a nice convenience. After someone here posted about making a template for the Magic Set Editor to make unit cards, I've actually taken to laying my Farseer's powers underneath his unit card so I have an easy reference. When I fielded 2 farseers in the last tournament, it made life even easier.

However I probably wouldn't buy the cards now since, well, the above card maker means I could just make my own and have them come out fairly nice. In fact, I made a small set of cards for the Warlord Powers as well, that I can keep handy to remind myself that I HAVE a warlord power.

They're not necessary at all, but they're great to have as reference instead of digging through a 500 page rulebook.

 Brother SRM wrote:
They're not necessary at all, but they're great to have as reference instead of digging through a 500 page rulebook.

Pretty much this. Even though we've got a fairly firm grasp on the rules now at my FLGS, there are still times when we need to dig through a rulebook for something. It's a deck of cards that:
A) Looks really nice, with some neat artwork on the backs
B) Allows you to keep track of what powers do, given that there are 35 of them (5 powersets, each with 6 powers and a primaris)
C) Has a handy reference for which armies can take which psychic schools

I mean, honestly, they're less than $15. You pay more for some single models. Why not shell out the 15 bucks if you run psykers on a regular basis?

I might be alone here but I like the cards.

Unless I play my Psychic Choir Nid list, I find it really handy that I have the rules for the powers my models actually posses right in front of me, as opposed to having to log the rulebook around.

They are totally unneeded in the grand scheme of things. the BGB can handle everything that needs to be done. But as far as actual accessories go, I love 'em. I love the tactile feel of having cards in my hand. I love being able to look them over, shuffle them around and just to be able to hold the little guys in my hands. I think it combined the best of 2nd Edition's love of card references without falling in to the trap of not writing any of it down in the main book. So they get to be merely a reference tool, but still retain that feel that immerses you in the game. If GW made cards for Warlord tables, objectives and missions and any other random feature I would snap them up in a heartbeat.

One of my favourite parts of 2nd Edition was the initial set-up. Putting your wargear cards down on the table, drawing psychic powers, randomly grabbing a mission and drawing a strategy card (just be sure to rip up viral outbreak!). By the time the game was set up there was already an epic narrative brewing. 6th does the same thing and tends to make for really characterful games in my experience.

DeffDred wrote:Don't buy them. They'll just be a useless pile of paper when the next edition comes out.

So will the rulebook. In fact your Codex will be a useless pile of paper when it is replaced also. And if the new models look better you may not need your old ones anymore either. Wow, you shouldn't buy anything at all

For the reasons expressed by others, I think they were a great buy. It's easier to reference something on a card you have sitting next to your army list than it is to dig through the BRB. Also, I've been flipping through them, looking at potential psychic powers and deciding which discipline I want to take a chance on each game. You can set aside the powers that are most useful and then compare to see which discipline you'd rather "try your luck" to support your army. This is also easier with the cards than it is with the book.