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Hi, long (long, long) time reader, first time poster

I was wondering the following:

I have been watching the various debates over whether or not runic weapons are unusual force weapons (fixed stats for all) or are to be treated WYSIWYG (as force swords/axes/staves).
Previously I would lean towards them being unusual (due mostly to wounding daemons on 2+), but with the FAQ clarification of Njals weapon now saying runic weapon (stave) I'm not so sure.
Could one reasonably assume GW has in mind that all runic weapons (not just Njals) should follow the rules for their subtype? This would seem to be in line with their thinking on crozii (croziuses?) and frost weapons.

Furthermore, and on to my actual question, if one follows this logic and assumes runic weapons have different stats according to type, would this also make them different wargear? I'm thinking of this specifically because it may allow SW players to field two rune priests, say one with an axe and one with a staff, without buying one of them the compulsory melta bomb (or free boltgun) to satisfy the requirement for different wargear combinaiton.

Thoughts?

Runic weapons are unusual force weapons, as they have unique CC rules.

Given that Njal's staff is FAQ-ed to be a "Runic Weapon (stave)". It is possible that the intention is to make Runic Weapon having profiles similar to Force Weapons.

Right now, it is safe to play them as Unusual Force Weapon.

I agreed with this initially (and I know there are some threads on this already), but, as stated, the FAQ on Njals weapon made me curious.
I guess it comes down to whether anyone thinks this new information changes things.

For that matter, and for the sake of argument, if anyone thinks runic weapons are not unusual force weapons (regardless of the new FAQ), would you treat them as different wargear?

Again, the question is about them being different wargear, it rests on the premise that one does not consider them unusual (regardless of how one arrives at that conclusion).

RAW anybody other than njal is armed with a unique force weapons.

Since the wargear is listed as a power weapon or runic weapon and doesn't have a different option (not power axe, power maul, power lance etc) unlike frost axe or blade, I think RAW you are not armed differently. If you have a runic weapon modeled as an axe or staff on two models, you must still have a different load out with the rest of the models' wargear options.

Njals staff is nothing like other rune priests because it also negate spells on 3+, the fact that FAQ gives it the status of a Staff has nothing to do with other rune priests, they are not Njal only Njal has a force stave RAW.

SlyasR wrote:
Njals staff is nothing like other rune priests because it also negate spells on 3+, the fact that FAQ gives it the status of a Staff has nothing to do with other rune priests, they are not Njal only Njal has a force stave RAW.

Technically speaking Njals staff is still a unusual force weapon. The FAQ says its a Runic weapon (staff), not a force staff with the runic weapon additional rules. Where are the rules for a Runic staff (ie not a force staff by name)?

Funny but the implication is obvious that they mean that its a Force staff with runic weapons additional rules

Runic staff is on page 62 of the Space Wolf codex. It says to see the runic weapon entry on the rune priest page (page 36).

There it states that runic weapons are force weapons.

Page 60, BRB, has the force weapon entry. There it says they are WYSIWYG. Axes are unwieldy, swords and staves are not.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Additionally, Runic weapons allow a RP to nullify a psychic power if its within 24" of the caster and you roll a 4+. Always wounds a demon on 2+.

So it's a force weapon with those extra rules.

 Kiwi461 wrote:
Runic staff is on page 62 of the Space Wolf codex. It says to see the runic weapon entry on the rune priest page (page 36).

There it states that runic weapons are force weapons.

Page 60, BRB, has the force weapon entry. There it says they are WYSIWYG. Axes are unwieldy, swords and staves are not.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Additionally, Runic weapons allow a RP to nullify a psychic power if its within 24" of the caster and you roll a 4+. Always wounds a demon on 2+.

So it's a force weapon with those extra rules.

BRB also states that Force weapons with one or more additional rules are classed as unusual force wepaons. Runic weapons have 2 additional rules, unusual force weapons no matter what they look like.

The weapon is unusual but only due to the wounding daemons on a 2+ rule. It's cc rules in addition to normal rules that make a weapon unique.

 Bausk wrote:


BRB also states that Force weapons with one or more additional rules are classed as unusual force wepaons. Runic weapons have 2 additional rules, unusual force weapons no matter what they look like.

Concur, which means that no matter the shape it has the rules of a force sword. No strength bonus and AP 3. So my previous statement about WYSIWYG was incorrect.

Call off Scooby and the gang, I think this mystery is solved.