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Well, consider the psychic powers in the rule book or in the newer codices (CSM, DA, and CD). You have to roll for it. There is no way to pick a psychic power other than the primaris ones. Can we expect the same happening in the upcoming codices?

For instance, this would be bad news for a Seer Council that relies on fortune to become durable enough. Without fortune, a Seer Council is pretty much dead. This would be bad news for my Eldar. The new codex may arrive soon.

Thoughts?

It seems safe to say that all powers are gonna be random. As a Guard player this doesn't bother me, but anyone that relies on psyker powers has my sympathy. It seems like a natural extension of GW's recent random = fun mentality.

 creeping-deth87 wrote:
As a Guard player this doesn't bother me

I just had a horrible thought. What if orders, or whatever the next guard codex's iteration of orders is become random?

Being master psykers is the Eldar thing. They should be able to choose their powers.

I hate the random rolling for psychic powers (except for weirdboys) just because, for the most part, these pyskers spend years (or decades, or centuries) honing their psychic abilities, but then either:

You don't know which psychic shows up. Why? We know which troops show up, and with what equipment.

Your psyker manifests random abiities. He spent years training to just randomly launch off psychic phenomena?

Your psyker just doesn't control what the local conditions allow him to do. Again, WTF? Years spend honing your defenses against the warp, and you can't really control what powers emerge?


Ugh. Plus, it lessens the wackiness of ork psykers if EVERYBODY has random psychic powers. Orks seem just about as stable as everybody else!

Also, they talk about 'forging a narrative', but who writes a story where they randomly determine who the characters are? "So, in this novel, a [rolls dice] pirate falls in love with a [rolls dice] teenage girl struggling with her cancer diagnosis." To forge a narrative, you have to give narrative control to the players. It's not Mad Libs 40K (which would be different, but awesome!).


I don't know if GW is operating under a RANDOM=FUN mentality, or if it's another misconception. I really think that GW thinks that they can blunt the criticism of people who want clear, well-written, playtested, balanced rules suitable for tournament play by deliberately introducing all sorts of random, uncontrollable events into their game.

If enough things are random and uncontrollable, then nobody will be able to say that things are unbalanced (because all of the introduced randomness will hide it). If enough things are 'wacky' and random, then the people who are precise and particular about rules will not be interested. If enough stuff is wild and random, then everyone will have to 'work things out' among themselves, and you won't need a tight rules set.

They are basically saying "Let's deliberately make a wacky, unbalanced, unpredictable game, so that all those people who complain about flaws in the game will shut up."

Sadly, i think they are right. They just forget that those people BUY the game (or used to) and will move to other games which do have a clearly-written, well-tested, complete, balanced rule set. They are also forgetting that you have to have a game which attracts enough "wacky-loving' gamers to offset the loss of those other players. You also have to make sure that the 'new fans' BUY at least as much stuff as the old fans did. I'm totally unconvinced that people who don't mind a wacky, unbalanced, unpredictable game will buy 40K. Beer and Pretzels games don't generally cost hundreds of dollars and require hours of assembly and painting. I LOVE Munchkin, but you can play with a $25 box of cards.

Also, I don't think 'wacky' gamers will buy the large amount of models that 'serious' wargamers will. If you are willing to play wacky, anything goes games, I think you will be happy with a smaller, less 'competitive' army. If you are a competitive gamer, you will probably be buying more models, and you will be the person who is willing to buy new units when they come out, to give you a tactical advantage, or buy new units when the rules for them change. If you are more relaxed about your gaming, you're not going to go out and buy three new units because the rules for them got better. You're going to buy the stuff you like to model, or play with, regardless of the rules.

I think they are deliberately, buy unconsciously sabotaging themselves.

Well, Psychic powers are so powerful that not guaranteeing them should be a norm.

For those armies that don't have any, that's the only way to make it fair for them.

Either that, or make it so that you can get 6 psychic powers for sure, but obviously will be super expensive.

Da Butcha wrote:
I don't know if GW is operating under a RANDOM=FUN mentality, or if it's another misconception. I really think that GW thinks that they can blunt the criticism of people who want clear, well-written, playtested, balanced rules suitable for tournament play by deliberately introducing all sorts of random, uncontrollable events into their game.

Gw always had that kind of mentality... Random is so much fun! Just check some of their other Games:

BloodBowl: That strong unit you just bought have 50% chance of doing anything each turn!... Or have 50% chance of not playing at all for the first half... and 16% of not coming at all! (The rules I remember are 10+ years old... it may have changed then)

Talisman: The big boss is randomly choosen... So after 4+ hours of playing... you uncovers... The hand of doom! Roll a dice to see who wins the game... or if everybody lose the game! So wacky! So much fun!... I don't know, but if I'm for investing 4 hours of my time in a game... I would like a proper closure instead of a die roll that could have been rolled at the beginning to see who wins without spending energy trying to be at the head of the game for all it's duration.

Hero Quest: While the barbarian is being thrown out of town for witchcraft... the Wizard is wrestling a bear at the pub (and is winning!). Also, roll d6 to generate your mana pool for the turn, on a roll of 1, add a handful of monsters on the field! (And no you cannot keep the mana for the next turn... you HAVE to roll each turn).

To go back on topic... Yeah, I really hope that that "Random is so much fun!" trend will pass... Random should be a theme reserved for Orks and Chaos. With MAYBE the exception of some psykers for the IG... They sometimes really look like some helpless chaps who got thrown into the war against their consent (Only choosing between that or be used as logs for the Emperor private fireplace). I liked the old resource management of the Sisters (Where you has sometimes to choose to sacrifice your own troops to generate faith points) and that's why I decided to play them in the first place. But changed that for some wacky Randomness. (Fortunately, it isn't THAT bad)

Da Butcha wrote:
I'm totally unconvinced that people who don't mind a wacky, unbalanced, unpredictable game will buy 40K. Beer and Pretzels games don't generally cost hundreds of dollars and require hours of assembly and painting.
[...]
If you are willing to play wacky, anything goes games, I think you will be happy with a smaller, less 'competitive' army.

I completely agree with you. If I want wacky randomness, I'll just play a game of Talisman and be done with it.

I don't mind some randomness but Psykers powers (And warlord traits) shouldn't be random. Instead of balancing the powers of psychic powers by rolling them between some awful and game-breaking ones, just balance them and let everyone choose.

...

Thinking of it, maybe they make players rolls these powers to avoid everyone taking the same exact power at every games and wants them to be used equally to avoid min-maxing... if it is the case; that's a really bad game-design solution IMO.

 Makutsu wrote:
Well, Psychic powers are so powerful that not guaranteeing them should be a norm.

For those armies that don't have any, that's the only way to make it fair for them.

Either that, or make it so that you can get 6 psychic powers for sure, but obviously will be super expensive.

No, it's poor game design.

First off, a lot of the powers are just terrible, that's why there's the average (or in the case of divination amazing) primaris power.

Secondly, instead of randomly generating special rules that are "so powerful" why not give options from 2 or 3 moderately powerful special rules? That would result in real choice by the player and tactical thinking. Instead of hurr durr roll to see if I get one the good ones, if not I'll take the mediocre one.

Edit: All this random garbage is starting to make me feel like GW is underestimating the player's ability to make decisions. It's as though fun is more important than engaging, which is demonstrably not true.

I thought i read in the latest wd magazine that the battle report they chose their powers. That might of been for the game though

It's as though fun is more important than engaging, which is demonstrably not true.

What?

And yet, Fantasy players have almost always played under such a system, wether by rolling up their wizards' spells or else randomly drawing cards from a spell deck... And yet no one really complains about it.
And in Fantasy, they're now limited to just 1 copy per army of each spell! (unless you have a caster who has access to the Loremaster ability) At least in 40k you still can roll-up multiple copies of the same powers.

And before Eldar players start all 'the sky is falling' moaning, perhaps we should wait and see the new codex first. Maybe Fortune might be the Primaris Farseer power?

Of corse, this is DakkaDakka, so I guess we shouldn't expect such things.

Rolling for Psychic powers is a horrible thing IMO.

Imagine having to roll for your wargear.

"I really hope I get missle launchers this game for my Long Fangs instead of bolters"

"Oh well, looks like I rolled Meltaguns for the whole squad"

 undertow wrote:
Rolling for Psychic powers is a horrible thing IMO.

Imagine having to roll for your wargear.

"I really hope I get missle launchers this game for my Long Fangs instead of bolters"

"Oh well, looks like I rolled Meltaguns for the whole squad"

I don't have to imagine it. I have a demon army.

I'll play devil's advocate and speak up for random psychic powers. First, I've been playing Eldar lately and rely on my Psychic powers heavily, so it is a pain in the butt not getting the powers I want.

That being said, it adds to the fun of the game for me to have to adjust my strategy literally right before deploying my forces. I go in with a game plan for what I want to do, but at least 50% of the time, I don't get the powers I want, and have to adjust to the ones I get. A lot of them may seem like junk, but if you tailor your gameplay to the powers you do get, it can be just as rewarding.

For example, I don't usually like to reserve a lot of units when I play. However, if I roll for the power that lets me roll 3 dice for reserves and outflank, I'm going to take advantage of that and use those abilities to my advantage. I usually don't outflank my scatter walkers, but if I know they're going to come in turn 2, and exactly the side I want them to come in, then I will outflank them.

Take advantage of the powers you get, and incorporate them into your playstyle.

 xole wrote:

 undertow wrote:
Rolling for Psychic powers is a horrible thing IMO.

Imagine having to roll for your wargear.

"I really hope I get missle launchers this game for my Long Fangs instead of bolters"

"Oh well, looks like I rolled Meltaguns for the whole squad"

I don't have to imagine it. I have a demon army.

So do I, and I'm still mad that I have no dependable ways of getting anti-tank. I really miss having Bolt of Tzeentch on three DPs + Fateweaver.

Rather than posting a wall of text in here and hijack a thread, I thought I'd just ask.

Would any of you care to see a new version of psychic powers that are part of a new rulebook a few members of the community and I are working on?
Here's the link: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/499585.page

It has a lot of what everyone has voiced concerns about, so I thought you might be interested.

*edit: forgot the link.

And before Eldar players start all 'the sky is falling' moaning, perhaps we should wait and see the new codex first. Maybe Fortune might be the Primaris Farseer power?

Well, if you have an expensive unit like a Seer Council and fortune is not guaranteed, the unit will not go very far. I see no other unit that needs fortune more than a Council. For other units and armies I don't care too much what powers will be up.

 rabid1903 wrote:
Rather than posting a wall of text in here and hijack a thread, I thought I'd just ask.

Would any of you care to see a new version of psychic powers that are part of a new rulebook a few members of the community and I are working on?

It has a lot of what everyone has voiced concerns about, so I thought you might be interested.

Not here, no. You should post them in the 40k Proposed Rules section, though. That's the whole point of that discussion sub-forum.

 kronk wrote:

 rabid1903 wrote:
Rather than posting a wall of text in here and hijack a thread, I thought I'd just ask.

Would any of you care to see a new version of psychic powers that are part of a new rulebook a few members of the community and I are working on?

It has a lot of what everyone has voiced concerns about, so I thought you might be interested.

Not here, no. You should post them in the 40k Proposed Rules section, though. That's the whole point of that discussion sub-forum.

I understand that, but was thinking that because it was for a specific portion of a whole rulebook that maybe this would be a bit better. I just didn't want to start a whole new thread there and push someone else's off the page.

Thanks though, I'll butt out

 creeping-deth87 wrote:
It seems safe to say that all powers are gonna be random. As a Guard player this doesn't bother me, but anyone that relies on psyker powers has my sympathy. It seems like a natural extension of GW's recent random = fun mentality.

I'm wondering how they're going to do this for Tyranids, since most of their psykers have set powers...

OK - a Couple points...

People who are whining about random powers - suck it up....I for one am completely fine with y opponent not taking all the perfect powers, basically handing him an auto-win....and honestly, it takes a ton of the fun out of a game when there is no strategy - it is just 'run the army exactly like this to win'.

Second - planning on what powers you could get SHOULD be a part of your army construction

Third - ok, so you don't get to pick - the other thing is that you are not stuck with a power that is worthless that you paid points for (awww...I am playing someone without vehicles...I am so glad I spent all those point on that Str10 AP 1 Heavy 1, Lance shot for that squad)....You are paying points for the level, yes - and you COULD roll a bad power - that is what Primas powers are for. If you don't like the Primas power - don't roll on that table.

Fourth - Like someone said, fantasy has been doing this for a long time - and they are mages who study magic and they only get a random X number.

Fifth - Warhammer 40K is not 'let's see who can throw around the most powerful psychic power and win'. It is a bunch of people (and daemons and monsters and aliens) running through the lud and shooting the frack out of each other.

And one more thing - if you don't like the random psychic powers - DONT TAKE A PSYKER!!! that simple. Spend your points elsewhere and take something 'assured'....like that plasma pistol....

I have seen someone at a tournament complain about the power he got through the whole game...i was surprised he didn't get punched.

Come on...this is a game...if you don't like the rules - don't play

What's the problem? It's a change that makes it a bit more like WHFB, just like overwatch.

As for rolling for wargear, with guardsmen it can only turn out better

 creeping-deth87 wrote:
It seems safe to say that all powers are gonna be random. As a Guard player this doesn't bother me, but anyone that relies on psyker powers has my sympathy. It seems like a natural extension of GW's recent random = fun mentality.

More specifically, it's in keeping with their current 'Let's revisit 2nd edition, but better!' mentality.

In 2nd ed, powers were drawn randomly from cards. So this isn't really new, just a return to the 'old' way of doing it.

 Amaraxis wrote:
OK - a Couple points...

People who are whining about random powers - suck it up....I for one am completely fine with y opponent not taking all the perfect powers, basically handing him an auto-win....and honestly, it takes a ton of the fun out of a game when there is no strategy - it is just 'run the army exactly like this to win'.

Second - planning on what powers you could get SHOULD be a part of your army construction

Third - ok, so you don't get to pick - the other thing is that you are not stuck with a power that is worthless that you paid points for (awww...I am playing someone without vehicles...I am so glad I spent all those point on that Str10 AP 1 Heavy 1, Lance shot for that squad)....You are paying points for the level, yes - and you COULD roll a bad power - that is what Primas powers are for. If you don't like the Primas power - don't roll on that table.

Fourth - Like someone said, fantasy has been doing this for a long time - and they are mages who study magic and they only get a random X number.

Fifth - Warhammer 40K is not 'let's see who can throw around the most powerful psychic power and win'. It is a bunch of people (and daemons and monsters and aliens) running through the lud and shooting the frack out of each other.

And one more thing - if you don't like the random psychic powers - DONT TAKE A PSYKER!!! that simple. Spend your points elsewhere and take something 'assured'....like that plasma pistol....

I have seen someone at a tournament complain about the power he got through the whole game...i was surprised he didn't get punched.

Come on...this is a game...if you don't like the rules - don't play

I love these sorts of counter-arguments. So when 7th edition comes out and your list is randomly generated, you'll be fine with that.

The answer to every one of your points is that if GW actually playtested they would be able to develop a system that wasn't random. Take the current Eldar codex for example, each power has a point cost - some powers are higher, some lower. If I take the time to build my list and plan some sort of strategy, why is it unreasonable to resent that I can only choose powers (a huge part of my strategy) off a random table.

1: I disagree that there is an auto-win power. Sure Fortune is good, but it's not broken. It's expensive and has limitations. Is it any more or less broken than say, Invisibility?
2: I'd rather plan with what I know - like when I pay points to upgrade a unit's weapons.
3: I guess, having control of my list is better than not.
4: I play 40k. I've spent a lot of time and $$ on my 40k army. Who cares how WHF or Infinity or any other system works. I want to play 40k.
5: Have Psykers ever won a game - consistently? Have you ever seen someone complain about an opponent's Psyker the entire game - I wouldn't expect so.

To tell some one to just suck it up isn't helpful. I don't play competitively, but I still want to have fun. Part of that is building a list and part of ~that~ is having the control to decide what I want to play. If I didn't care I'd be fine with randomly generating a list. I wouldn't like that either. I don't mean to be pissy or whinny, I just think that it's valid to dislike the direction of a particular part of the game and voice your feelings on it (that's why it's in the general discussion section of a fan forum). I know it won't change GW's effort's to "improve the game", and I think that some of the changes from 5th are better. But to ask players to suck it up, after many (many) dollars supporting GW and many hours bonding with their army (assembling, painting, poring over the codex, working out list after list, etc.) because the writers have become lazy and uninterested in working out details like point costs for psyker powers, is unreasonable.

 mars2024 wrote:
5: Have Psykers ever won a game - consistently? Have you ever seen someone complain about an opponent's Psyker the entire game - I wouldn't expect so.

Yes, to both. Again, welcome to 2nd Edition, when Psykers ruled the earth. With random powers.

 Amaraxis wrote:
OK - a Couple points...

People who are whining about random powers - suck it up....I for one am completely fine with y opponent not taking all the perfect powers, basically handing him an auto-win....and honestly, it takes a ton of the fun out of a game when there is no strategy - it is just 'run the army exactly like this to win'.

Second - planning on what powers you could get SHOULD be a part of your army construction

Third - ok, so you don't get to pick - the other thing is that you are not stuck with a power that is worthless that you paid points for (awww...I am playing someone without vehicles...I am so glad I spent all those point on that Str10 AP 1 Heavy 1, Lance shot for that squad)....You are paying points for the level, yes - and you COULD roll a bad power - that is what Primas powers are for. If you don't like the Primas power - don't roll on that table.

Fourth - Like someone said, fantasy has been doing this for a long time - and they are mages who study magic and they only get a random X number.

Fifth - Warhammer 40K is not 'let's see who can throw around the most powerful psychic power and win'. It is a bunch of people (and daemons and monsters and aliens) running through the lud and shooting the frack out of each other.

And one more thing - if you don't like the random psychic powers - DONT TAKE A PSYKER!!! that simple. Spend your points elsewhere and take something 'assured'....like that plasma pistol....

I have seen someone at a tournament complain about the power he got through the whole game...i was surprised he didn't get punched.

Come on...this is a game...if you don't like the rules - don't play

Right. And if they change the game to where everything works like Warmachine would you still play 40k? Try playing Eldar and not taking a psyker. I dare you. While it technically CAN be done, it falls into the same concept of taking the worst units in a codex and trying to make a super competitive list out of them. You are purposely shooting yourself in the foot if you don't take a psyker with your Eldar army. Eldar units are designed around taking them. No other army in the game is so reliant on that.

The OP has a very valid point. I'm hoping that if the Eldar do go down the same road as all of the other 6th edition codexes that Fortune becomes the Primaris power for at least one of their disciplines. Without it, your VERY expensive unit dies to las gun fire.

 mars2024 wrote:

 Amaraxis wrote:
OK - a Couple points...

People who are whining about random powers - suck it up....I for one am completely fine with y opponent not taking all the perfect powers, basically handing him an auto-win....and honestly, it takes a ton of the fun out of a game when there is no strategy - it is just 'run the army exactly like this to win'.

Second - planning on what powers you could get SHOULD be a part of your army construction

Third - ok, so you don't get to pick - the other thing is that you are not stuck with a power that is worthless that you paid points for (awww...I am playing someone without vehicles...I am so glad I spent all those point on that Str10 AP 1 Heavy 1, Lance shot for that squad)....You are paying points for the level, yes - and you COULD roll a bad power - that is what Primas powers are for. If you don't like the Primas power - don't roll on that table.

Fourth - Like someone said, fantasy has been doing this for a long time - and they are mages who study magic and they only get a random X number.

Fifth - Warhammer 40K is not 'let's see who can throw around the most powerful psychic power and win'. It is a bunch of people (and daemons and monsters and aliens) running through the lud and shooting the frack out of each other.

And one more thing - if you don't like the random psychic powers - DONT TAKE A PSYKER!!! that simple. Spend your points elsewhere and take something 'assured'....like that plasma pistol....

I have seen someone at a tournament complain about the power he got through the whole game...i was surprised he didn't get punched.

Come on...this is a game...if you don't like the rules - don't play

I love these sorts of counter-arguments. So when 7th edition comes out and your list is randomly generated, you'll be fine with that.

The answer to every one of your points is that if GW actually playtested they would be able to develop a system that wasn't random. Take the current Eldar codex for example, each power has a point cost - some powers are higher, some lower. If I take the time to build my list and plan some sort of strategy, why is it unreasonable to resent that I can only choose powers (a huge part of my strategy) off a random table.

1: I disagree that there is an auto-win power. Sure Fortune is good, but it's not broken. It's expensive and has limitations. Is it any more or less broken than say, Invisibility?
2: I'd rather plan with what I know - like when I pay points to upgrade a unit's weapons.
3: I guess, having control of my list is better than not.
4: I play 40k. I've spent a lot of time and $$ on my 40k army. Who cares how WHF or Infinity or any other system works. I want to play 40k.
5: Have Psykers ever won a game - consistently? Have you ever seen someone complain about an opponent's Psyker the entire game - I wouldn't expect so.

To tell some one to just suck it up isn't helpful. I don't play competitively, but I still want to have fun. Part of that is building a list and part of ~that~ is having the control to decide what I want to play. If I didn't care I'd be fine with randomly generating a list. I wouldn't like that either. I don't mean to be pissy or whinny, I just think that it's valid to dislike the direction of a particular part of the game and voice your feelings on it (that's why it's in the general discussion section of a fan forum). I know it won't change GW's effort's to "improve the game", and I think that some of the changes from 5th are better. But to ask players to suck it up, after many (many) dollars supporting GW and many hours bonding with their army (assembling, painting, poring over the codex, working out list after list, etc.) because the writers have become lazy and uninterested in working out details like point costs for psyker powers, is unreasonable.

1. Invisibility is an auto-win power.
2. Planning for randomness is a thing.
3. You roll for Warlord traits, no complaints?
4. No one is asking you to play otherwise.
5. Doom of Malantai/Eldrad rolling invisibility/Severin Lothbot

Simple solution: Agree with your opponent to choose psychic powers. Assign points tax if you feel this is necessary.

I play a tyranid psychic choir and I love the random powers and as a matter of fact do does my Tau opponent. I don't think he wants to vs enduranced iron armed flyrants every game...

I don't like alot of things GWS does but I'm defnitlyey in the pro randomness corner!

See - as for a game becoming like other - sure - games like this evolve over time and if I am not willing to adapt, I will stop playing...

Or do this thing called house rules....within days, of 6th, people were already house/FLGS ruling that you pick your warlord trait...

It's a game...if you are not having fun, don't play and go back to D3....

And to answer lists being random - sure...works for me...

As for Eldar without Psykers - well, the point you are missing is THEY DON'T HAVE TO ROLL FOR POWERS!!!!! They can purchase them like normal (same as grey knights, who btw pay 5 per power). And as an aside - Eldar got BETTER with the powers (Divination Primis > Fortune)

I play the game to have fun...so they add randomness - so?
Are you going to complain about every rule that they come out with? Did you complain about the requirements on allies? What about FOC? Oh, FNP went to 5+...you mad?

I can understand not liking the change...but saying that the rules suck and you hate how they are doing it - there is MANY solutions for YOU to play 'non-competitively' with whatever rules you want....hell, you can go back to 5th ed and all the non-6th dexes....

In all honesty - I like the randomness - it tests my ability as a player to adjust to random chance. And like I said - if you don't like the way powers are done - don't use a psyker that needs to roll for them...play nids or GKs or something....

 Amaraxis wrote:
OK - a Couple points...

People who are whining about random powers - suck it up....I for one am completely fine with y opponent not taking all the perfect powers, basically handing him an auto-win....and honestly, it takes a ton of the fun out of a game when there is no strategy - it is just 'run the army exactly like this to win'.

Second - planning on what powers you could get SHOULD be a part of your army construction

Third - ok, so you don't get to pick - the other thing is that you are not stuck with a power that is worthless that you paid points for (awww...I am playing someone without vehicles...I am so glad I spent all those point on that Str10 AP 1 Heavy 1, Lance shot for that squad)....You are paying points for the level, yes - and you COULD roll a bad power - that is what Primas powers are for. If you don't like the Primas power - don't roll on that table.

Fourth - Like someone said, fantasy has been doing this for a long time - and they are mages who study magic and they only get a random X number.

Fifth - Warhammer 40K is not 'let's see who can throw around the most powerful psychic power and win'. It is a bunch of people (and daemons and monsters and aliens) running through the lud and shooting the frack out of each other.

And one more thing - if you don't like the random psychic powers - DONT TAKE A PSYKER!!! that simple. Spend your points elsewhere and take something 'assured'....like that plasma pistol....

I have seen someone at a tournament complain about the power he got through the whole game...i was surprised he didn't get punched.

Come on...this is a game...if you don't like the rules - don't play

1) Auto win from a powers? Could you name those and how exactly making them come in randomly makes them better? They are changing how psychic powers work, what direction should they go: "you may pick from 6 powers, all good, but useful in different conditions and priced appropriately" or "roll and get super powerful or totally crappy power"? You seem to thing the second one is a proper way to go.
2) You know what is better for planning? Knowing what you are choosing.
3) That point is just stupid. I'm not afraid to use that word. "That you are not stuck with a power that is worthless that you paid points for"? You still DO pay for the power but now you can't plan the way you could have when you had a wider choice. You still can be stuck with "power that is worthless that you paid points for". How is randomizing mitigate that? It does not. It does however create a situation where you get a power not suited for the rest of your army making "power that is worthless that you paid points for" a much higher chance.
4) If I wanted to play fantasy I would play fantasy. Secondly, the existence of this mechanic in a similar game does not make it a good mechanic.
5) Do we even play the same game? Psykers are so heavily lodged into the core concept of the game you can't just wave them away. Remove psykers and you're stuck with simplified IG against Tau and Necrons. No Emperor so no Primarchs and no SMs with IG not having warp travel, no Chaos, no Eldar, no Tyranids and no Orks.

And one more thing: So you are fine with a whole level of gameplay being gone or crippled? No friend of yours like psykers? Nobody you know have psyker models? How all this is a good thing? "Other have it worse so it's good"?

And yeah, people should not be discussing a game in a forum dedicated to discussing a game. Common sense so overrated.