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As the thread title states, what exactly is Psychic Awakening? There are a few armies/factions (i.e. T'au Empire, Necrons, Dark Eldar, Black Templars) out there that can't use psychic abilities, but "Psychic Awakening" would imply that they would be able to deal with psykers, but from Part I and II, Black Templars and Dark Eldar weren't given anything to counter such powers, unless I am mistaken, as I only have Part II in my collection and haven't read all the way through it.

"Psychic Awakening" doesn't necessarily refer to psykers in every particular instance. The general idea - though the books aren't as consistent with this as I'd like them to be - is that the emergence of the Great Rift is causing psykers to begin manifesting within psychically sensitive races, particularly humanity, at a much higher rate than ever before, and that the general effed-up-edness of the Imperium is simultaneously preventing the Sisters of Silence from doing their job of gathering up the psykers as effectively as before, and all these extra psykers are CAUSING PROBZ. Each book, in theory at least, explores some consequence of this issue in various theatres of war and for various factions (though a lot of the stuff just seems to be describing "consequences of the Great Rift in general", which is annoying).

In gameplay terms, it's just an excuse to give rules updates to every faction, hype new models, and get the factions rules more in line with the paradigm established by the new SM codex (and perhaps also to lay the groundwork for 9th, or 8.5, or whatever) without having to release whole new codexes.

It's a cash grab. It's intended to show the consequences of the Cicatrix Maledictum opening up with Psykers awakening and/or getting stronger all across the galaxy. Of course what we are actually getting is about 10 pages of bad fluff, 20 pages of loyalist space marine supplement and about 5 minutes worth of work from the intern as a sopp to the fans of other factions. I think the next book, 4, will be the first one to have much to do with Psykers, mostly due the presence of the 1KSons and Grey Knights.

It's a way to bring non codex compliant sm chapters up to the same level as the c:sm chapters while throwing some crumbs at chaos and xenos factions.

Yeah, if the books at least contained 3-5 missions to play (narrative) it wouldn't be as bad, but the content has been mostly poor so far (didn't buy Baal as I have neither of those 2 forces and there was nothing from a narrative perspective that would make me buy it). Vigilus was a far better buy IMHO..

It's literally on the website, lol

The Cicatrix Maledictum has torn the galaxy in half, allowing the corrupting energies of the warp to boil through the wound in reality. The presence of so much raw empyric energy has created untold havoc throughout the Imperium, driving some populations mad, heightening tensions in otherwise pacified regions, and escalating conflicts all along the Great Rift.

...

This phenomenon has been dubbed the Psychic Awakening, and it is only increasing in severity.

"Psychic Awakening" essentially are the ripple effects of the Cicatrix Maledictum appearing. Hence why the books explore various stories and conflicts set in the period between the Cicatrix Maledictum appearing (e.g. the point in the time-line of 6th, 7th Edition) and the "current" timeline of 8th.

It's a badly done attempt to generate hype and sales with new lore and models.

what cracked me up is people thinking that it meant psykers for all factions, Say what?

Personally seems very lack-luster to me. And does anybody know: is it a 6 book series or are there more books planned?

Because there is a ton of factions remaining that haven't even been mentioned in the PA books so far.

Psychic Awakening is a series of Space Marine supplements disguised as campaign books.

 vipoid wrote:
Psychic Awakening is a series of Space Marine supplements disguised as campaign books.

I enjoyed the marine content in Phoenix Rising.

Dudeface wrote:

 vipoid wrote:
Psychic Awakening is a series of Space Marine supplements disguised as campaign books.

I enjoyed the marine content in Phoenix Rising.

I wish I could say the same for the Eldar content.

 Lord Clinto wrote:
Personally seems very lack-luster to me. And does anybody know: is it a 6 book series or are there more books planned?

Because there is a ton of factions remaining that haven't even been mentioned in the PA books so far.

Covered by GW before the first book even dropped:

 Lord Clinto wrote:
Personally seems very lack-luster to me. And does anybody know: is it a 6 book series or are there more books planned?

Because there is a ton of factions remaining that haven't even been mentioned in the PA books so far.

The announcement for books 4-6 note it as the next release, not the remainder of the series. As noted, GW also said all factions will get things from PA. Rumors are their will be 9 books, which at 2-3 factions a book should cover them all. Time will tell.

Well, they appear to have covered in the first 4 books (counting the January one) (left to right, top to bottom).

Astartes, Heretic Astartes, Craftworld, Drukhari
Grey Knights, Thousand Sons, Tyranids
Blood Angels, Sisters (?), Dark Angels




Not sure if Sisters count. But the Psychic Awakening Website has the Sisters Logo on Faith & Fury, though they technically didn't get rules in that book. Worst case, if Faith & Fury counts for Sisters, Phoenix Rising might also count for Harlequins, despite no rules.

Either way, they'd be missing (Topt to Bottom, Left to Right):

(Harlequins?), Deathwatch
Custodes, Death Guard, Astra Militarum
Imperial Knights, Chaos Knights, Orks, Necrons, Tau, Chaos Daemons
AdMech, GSC, Space Wolves

13 or 14 more factions, i.e. as many as 7 more books after the first 4, if they do two factions a book and as little as 4-5 books even they squeeze in 3 and even 4 factions per book. Nine books in total (including everything published thus far) is probably the bare minimum.

Re:What Exactly Is Psychic Awakening?

An excuse to print money.

 bullyboy wrote:
what cracked me up is people thinking that it meant psykers for all factions, Say what?

"Introducing psykers for Sisters of Silence! Psykers for T'au! Psykers for Drukhari who somehow don't get immediately murdered by the rest of the army they appear in! Psykers for the Adepta Sororitas and Adeptus Mechanicus who also don't get immediately murdered by their allies! Psykers for all!"

 vipoid wrote:
Psychic Awakening is a series of Space Marine supplements disguised as campaign books.

That made me laugh and sigh at the same time

 Ghaz wrote:

 Lord Clinto wrote:
Personally seems very lack-luster to me. And does anybody know: is it a 6 book series or are there more books planned?

Because there is a ton of factions remaining that haven't even been mentioned in the PA books so far.

Covered by GW before the first book even dropped:

I must have missed the part where Dark Eldar, Harlequins and Corsairs got to shine.

nataliereed1984 wrote:
"Introducing psykers for Sisters of Silence! Psykers for T'au! Psykers for Drukhari who somehow don't get immediately murdered by the rest of the army they appear in! Psykers for the Adepta Sororitas and Adeptus Mechanicus who also don't get immediately murdered by their allies! Psykers for all!"

Behold, the new Tau "psyker". Mass manipulation and enslavement on a planet wide scale counts right? Tau are the "good guys" right?

 Ghaz wrote:

Spoiler:

I'm not very knowledgeable on my iconography, but I can't seem to see a Space Wolf icon anywhere on that graphic.

MiguelFelstone wrote:

 vipoid wrote:
Psychic Awakening is a series of Space Marine supplements disguised as campaign books.

That made me laugh and sigh at the same time

Well its completely accurate statement.

Sisters did not get anything in the PA book - apparently there is a narrative scenario that mentions them and has a Strat.
The massively under producd pre-order box set does have a incredably faint F+F logo - but thats it.

Some (pure Marine players) will doubtless scream - but but they had a whole box set - ignoring that they got a full Codex and then had 10 pages of new rules in the PA book.....

 Mr Morden wrote:

MiguelFelstone wrote:

 vipoid wrote:
Psychic Awakening is a series of Space Marine supplements disguised as campaign books.

That made me laugh and sigh at the same time

Well its completely accurate statement.

Sisters did not get anything in the PA book - apparently there is a narrative scenario that mentions them and has a Strat.
The massively under producd pre-order box set does have a incredably faint F+F logo - but thats it.

Some (pure Marine players) will doubtless scream - but but they had a whole box set - ignoring that they got a full Codex and then had 10 pages of new rules in the PA book.....

Not a marine player, just happy they're getting all the marine factions up to date and out the way quickly via these books rather than 6+ months of codex instead.

Of course you complain about marines in every thread you enter, to the point any empathy has been well eroded.

 Ginjitzu wrote:

 Ghaz wrote:

Spoiler:

I'm not very knowledgeable on my iconography, but I can't seem to see a Space Wolf icon anywhere on that graphic.

Because that was the wrong pic that they took down soon after publishing the article.
This is the correct one, edited with the missing and upcoming factions:

Dudeface wrote:

 Mr Morden wrote:

MiguelFelstone wrote:

 vipoid wrote:
Psychic Awakening is a series of Space Marine supplements disguised as campaign books.

That made me laugh and sigh at the same time

Well its completely accurate statement.

Sisters did not get anything in the PA book - apparently there is a narrative scenario that mentions them and has a Strat.
The massively under producd pre-order box set does have a incredably faint F+F logo - but thats it.

Some (pure Marine players) will doubtless scream - but but they had a whole box set - ignoring that they got a full Codex and then had 10 pages of new rules in the PA book.....

Not a marine player, just happy they're getting all the marine factions up to date and out the way quickly via these books rather than 6+ months of codex instead.

Of course you complain about marines in every thread you enter, to the point any empathy has been well eroded.

Indeed, no Marine player is truely upset. a black templar player once said he wished BTs had got a new plastic character, and that's hardly a horriabnly unfair thing to wish for when it seems EVERY other chapter with distinct rules got a updated or new plastic char.

I guess the main thing is that BT are a second-founding chapter, like Crimson Fists and Flesh Tearers. Although they're by far the most popular and supported of successor chapters, GW probably just want to keep expectations in check for now, and focus on Primaris characters for the originals, so people don't start clamouring for a Gabriel Seth, Pedro Kantor, or Gabriel Angelos.

BrianDavion wrote:

Dudeface wrote:

 Mr Morden wrote:

MiguelFelstone wrote:

 vipoid wrote:
Psychic Awakening is a series of Space Marine supplements disguised as campaign books.

That made me laugh and sigh at the same time

Well its completely accurate statement.

Sisters did not get anything in the PA book - apparently there is a narrative scenario that mentions them and has a Strat.
The massively under producd pre-order box set does have a incredably faint F+F logo - but thats it.

Some (pure Marine players) will doubtless scream - but but they had a whole box set - ignoring that they got a full Codex and then had 10 pages of new rules in the PA book.....

Not a marine player, just happy they're getting all the marine factions up to date and out the way quickly via these books rather than 6+ months of codex instead.

Of course you complain about marines in every thread you enter, to the point any empathy has been well eroded.

Indeed, no Marine player is truely upset. a black templar player once said he wished BTs had got a new plastic character, and that's hardly a horriabnly unfair thing to wish for when it seems EVERY other chapter with distinct rules got a updated or new plastic char.

Space marine players have nothing to complain about. With the exception of Phoenix Rising every release for months has been centered on their faction.

Yesterday I saw someone actually say that Blood of the Phoenix / Phoenix Rising was proof that Space Marines are undersupported and GW is focusing too much on the Xenos.

I kid thee not.

Dudeface wrote:

 Mr Morden wrote:

MiguelFelstone wrote:

 vipoid wrote:
Psychic Awakening is a series of Space Marine supplements disguised as campaign books.

That made me laugh and sigh at the same time

Well its completely accurate statement.

Sisters did not get anything in the PA book - apparently there is a narrative scenario that mentions them and has a Strat.
The massively under producd pre-order box set does have a incredably faint F+F logo - but thats it.

Some (pure Marine players) will doubtless scream - but but they had a whole box set - ignoring that they got a full Codex and then had 10 pages of new rules in the PA book.....

Not a marine player, just happy they're getting all the marine factions up to date and out the way quickly via these books rather than 6+ months of codex instead.

Of course you complain about marines in every thread you enter, to the point any empathy has been well eroded.

I think i can live without your empathy

There is no reason to suppose, given the evidence that the Marine deluge will ease.....

Apart from the first half assed one, do you truly consider these to be anything other than thinly disquised marine supplements? Why did they not just make three more with all the others.

nataliereed1984 wrote:
Yesterday I saw someone actually say that Blood of the Phoenix / Phoenix Rising was proof that Space Marines are undersupported and GW is focusing too much on the Xenos.

I kid thee not.

They seemed to be trolling for a fight. It would appear the admins agreed.