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This topic kind of sits on the line between fluff and crunch, but lets post it here for now.

What do people think about all the shared weapons between the fractions? Like it seems most every amy has a power sword and a lot have chain swords. it some places it makes sense both orks and SM love big noisy weapons, but why would elder have chain swords? Why would the nids have power swords? Why can't everyone get their own stuff?

One weapon wrapped in a matter-destroying energy field is pretty much the same as any other weapon wrapped in a matter-destroying energy field. The means by which said energy field is created might be entirely different (one might be tech, another psychic, a third sorcerous and another just plain weird) but, in the end, it's all effectively the same thing.

Simplicity sake. Like Psienesis just mentionned two different kind of weapons producing similar results should have the rules.

"shared weapons" were bigger in the early phase of the game when the galaxy was more of a community and unified place. The Eldars used lasguns and Orks had Bolters until like 3rd Edition IIRC.

 Harriticus wrote:
"shared weapons" were bigger in the early phase of the game when the galaxy was more of a community and unified place. The Eldars used lasguns and Orks had Bolters until like 3rd Edition IIRC.

exactly this. In comparison to the good ole days there is a huge amount of variety between the races.

As was also mentioned the simplification still in place is more to do with the effect of the weapon rather than its nature. - a power weapon can have a huge variety of forms and means of power but in essence they are still "just" a combat weapon with an energy field of some type.

Take a look at the evolution of human weaponry:

Every civilization started out with some form of spear and knife. Most eventually developed longer-range weapons such as the bow. As they entered the Bronze Age, some form of sword was created. As soon as the Gunpowder Age began, cannons soon followed.

Different cultures from different places often tend to develop in amazingly similar ways. Certain weapon technologies just kind of make sense. It's sort of like the concept of convergent evolution.