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In the psychic phase it says that novas are treated like a shooting attack that hits everyone within max range. Including units in locked in combat, and regardless of line of sight. I believe this means that casters themselves cannot use novas if they are locked in combat. My friend disagrees.

Also, you can cast blessings and maledictions while in close combat, correct? Nothing I've found says you cannot.

I am sorry if this has been discussed before but my search-fu is lacking apparently.

grotms wrote:
In the psychic phase it says that novas are treated like a shooting attack that hits everyone within max range. Including units in locked in combat, and regardless of line of sight. I believe this means that casters themselves cannot use novas if they are locked in combat. My friend disagrees.

The first paragraph under the heading 'Witchfire' specifically states that they can't be used if the caster is locked in close combat. Novas, being a type of Witchfire would follow this rule as they lack a specific exception that would allow them to be cast in close combat.

As above, you cannot cast witchfires while locked in close combat (p.27 under witchfire), similar to not being able to shoot while in close combat. There is no such restriction on blessings and maledictions, so you can go ahead and cast those. Being able to hit units in close combat means you can walk up beside a combat and hit the models in it. It does not mean you can nova while participating in said combat. You would need a specifically worded exception in order to do that. "Specific" meaning "You may use this while locked in combat" or something similar.

Are there any novas out there with this exception? Just curious.

You by RAW cannot fire off nova's if you are in close combat.


My own playgroup laughs at this non-sense however and allows them to be cast in close combat.


Why would you not be able to emit a short ranged blast of flame just because someone was standing next to you trying to stab you with a sword? It's probably one of the best times to use such an attack.

 Eihnlazer wrote:
Why would you not be able to emit a short ranged blast of flame just because someone was standing next to you trying to stab you with a sword? It's probably one of the best times to use such an attack.

If you want a fluff reason, perhaps you need to close your eyes to focus to cast the nova power. In most situations, closing your eyes in Close combat is a bad idea.

tag8833 wrote:

 Eihnlazer wrote:
Why would you not be able to emit a short ranged blast of flame just because someone was standing next to you trying to stab you with a sword? It's probably one of the best times to use such an attack.

If you want a fluff reason, perhaps you need to close your eyes to focus to cast the nova power. In most situations, closing your eyes in Close combat is a bad idea.

Think crappy anime style power up sequence, something along the lines of Dragon Ball Z. It takes you a few minutes of laser light show and spiky hair to use your powers. And lots of screaming at the sky.

 kingbobbito wrote:

tag8833 wrote:

 Eihnlazer wrote:
Why would you not be able to emit a short ranged blast of flame just because someone was standing next to you trying to stab you with a sword? It's probably one of the best times to use such an attack.

If you want a fluff reason, perhaps you need to close your eyes to focus to cast the nova power. In most situations, closing your eyes in Close combat is a bad idea.

Think super awesome anime style power up sequence, something along the lines of Dragon Ball Z. It takes you a few minutes of laser light show and spiky hair to use your powers. And lots of screaming at the sky.

Fixed.

 flukezor wrote:

 kingbobbito wrote:

tag8833 wrote:

 Eihnlazer wrote:
Why would you not be able to emit a short ranged blast of flame just because someone was standing next to you trying to stab you with a sword? It's probably one of the best times to use such an attack.

If you want a fluff reason, perhaps you need to close your eyes to focus to cast the nova power. In most situations, closing your eyes in Close combat is a bad idea.

Think super awesome anime style power up sequence, something along the lines of Dragon Ball Z. It takes you a few minutes of laser light show and spiky hair to use your powers. And lots of screaming at the sky.

Fixed.

You would, Saiyaman. You would.

its more ambigious than you think

http://armourpiercingpi.blogspot.jp/2014/01/warhammer-40000-psychic-powers.html

peirceg wrote:
its more ambigious than you think

http://armourpiercingpi.blogspot.jp/2014/01/warhammer-40000-psychic-powers.html

How is it ambiguous?

a) That's dealing with 6th edition rules.
b) The question here is about being able to cast a Nova in CC. The post you linked says:

So it's interesting, and relevant, that the Psyker manifesting a witchfire power cannot be locked in combat, but a Psyker manifesting a nova power automatically targets and hits units regardless being locked in combat.

(underline mine)

So the post 100% agrees with this thread.

peirceg wrote:
its more ambigious than you think

http://armourpiercingpi.blogspot.jp/2014/01/warhammer-40000-psychic-powers.html

From 7th rulebook:

A nova power automatically targets and hits enemy units... regardless of being locked in combat. Otherwise, a nova is treated like a shooting attack, and indeed will have a profile like a ranged weapon.

The power targets and hits any enemy unit, even if said enemy unit is locked in combat. It says nothing about the psyker being locked in combat.

It does, however, say that the nova is still a shooting attack, and will be treated as a ranged weapon. Ranged weapons cannot be used in CC.