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I play Chaos Space Marines btw, but they are similar enough to Librarians so the basic question would be the same;
Which Force Weapon is better?

I usually model a Sword since I have so many of them left over and its pretty basic but what about Axes or the Staff? better Init, or Str? Most Psykers don't want to be in CC anyway and would be better off staying out to do what they are supposed to do which is cast Support Powers for other units. But all the same, I have to model them somehow. I already accept a Bike as a Must Take for the Toughness bonus for ID. Now what should be in his hand?

I was actually just contemplating this. I think it would really come down to what you plan to do with the aforementioned Psyker.

Force Swords seem like a good way to deal with Marines and other things with *good* armor saves. It's a good baseline as far as I can ascertain... a good place to start. However if you're planning on picking fights with other Psykers, particularly HQ-tier psykers... the ones that can usually get slapped around a little before collapsing in a puddle of their own spinal fluid... you're going to need something bit more backbone.

Axes are good because they can crack armor, which is great if you find yourself staring down the uglier end of a carnifex. But the Initiative penalty can hurt... unless you've got some kind of power or other means of immaterial trickery up your sleeve. The staff/ donkin' stick on the other hand will make it easier to wound but you're not going to win any competitions when it comes to penetration. But if they've got a lot of toughness... like if you plan on your Psyker getting stuck in a tarpit or something.

So you need to think about what you plan to do with the guy.

Either staff for MC or sword IMO.

I wouldn't discount the sword, my PA librarian killed a Tervigon by himself.

Although if you get TDA&SS or definitely have an invulnerable Save by some other route (psychic power or PFG for example), you'll want the force axe for AP2.

Swords vs MEQ, Staff vs Xenos.
Rules to live by. Enough Init buffs out there that are rendered useless by Unwieldy, and sometimes you really REALLY don't want to go after the big smash you got stuck in combat with. Especially since you usually only need to get 1 wound through.

Well, it depends. I've found that if you have 3++ than force axe is a way to go. It's best vs mc hunting - that's for sure. It'll make even the toughest guyz think twice before fighting a sorc. If you think that your sorc/librarian is going to inevitably be challenged out and killed in mellee - roll for biomancy. Iron arm or fnp will be super-helpful.
I don't find a sword to be really good. usually, t4 3+ models don't need extra effort to be killed.
Power maul is the best vs bikerbosses and crones And sure better than a sword vs 2+. And not much worse vs 3+.
Don't know bout a force lance. Relies on a charge too much.

All in all, i'd take a force axe or a force mace/stave

A psyker is probably going to go in a unit and chances are, that unit is going to have a unit-leader character (i.e. a sergeant or champion).

That means that you should probably optimise your two characters to handle different threats. Sergeants and champions have access to some excellent AP 3 options, like Lightning Claws, so you probably don't want to take a Force Sword because the other guy can do that better.

Psykers are usually squishy enough that you can't risk them waiting for Initiative step 1 to use a Force Axe, so that means the Force Staff is the way to go.

Really though, it's close enough that you should probably decide on the basis of what looks good rather than what is slightly more effective.

 koooaei wrote:
Don't know bout a force lance. Relies on a charge too much.

Also has the slight issue of not actually existing.

 Perfect Organism wrote:

 koooaei wrote:
Don't know bout a force lance. Relies on a charge too much.

Also has the slight issue of not actually existing.

I often run my BA assault squads with the following: sarge either naked or with ps and mbs to take challenges. Priest with fist. Libby with axe. I1 Isnt a big deal if sombody else takes your challenges. Then both the libby and priest can deal with non character mcs.

For me the best one is the axe, specially if he is riding a bike, and is a lvl 3 sorc who can roll in biomancy for iron arm/enfeeble/endurance if there are many IC MCs around, if they aren't telepathy all the way. Being last to hit with T5 sv 3+/4++ isn't really that bad even bike sorcs are big boys and can last to I1 where is a lot easier to wound with AP2 and +1 S.

In terms of Chaos Space Marines, a Sorcerer with a Palanquin, a Force Axe, and a Sigil of Corruption is a very interesting choice. With toughness 5 from the Mark, and 4 wounds from the Palanquin, you've got the durability to survive to swing the axe and go for the instant death. A Sorcerer built this way who manages to roll Iron Arm is capable of standing up to almost anything in the game, and coming out on top.

Otherwise against enemy MCs the Force Staff and the Force Sword are about equal. The Force Staff will let you put wounds on things more easily, but the Sword will bypass most Monster's armour saves. It should also be noted that the Sword benefits more from strength increasing psychic powers, especially since there is no way for a model to increase the amour penetration of their weapon, and Force Weapons tend not to worry about instant death thresholds for obvious reasons.

 akaean wrote:
In terms of Chaos Space Marines, a Sorcerer with a Palanquin, a Force Axe, and a Sigil of Corruption is a very interesting choice. With toughness 5 from the Mark, and 4 wounds from the Palanquin, you've got the durability to survive to swing the axe and go for the instant death. A Sorcerer built this way who manages to roll Iron Arm is capable of standing up to almost anything in the game, and coming out on top.

I've done this a couple of times to good effect. Another option is MoT and Disc of Tzeentch. Still T5 but trading the +2W 4++ for a 3++ and greater manuverability (3++ is great if you have comunity support in challenges). Both have thier uses but I think on balance I prefer a jugger lord or PF+LC nurgle biker lord.