Psychic Powers: Avenger vs. Smite

By pendrake71, in Deathwatch Rules Questions

A Player (Imperial Fists Librarian) in my campaign uses Smite for all his ranged (psychic) attacks, even against Hordes.

His premise is that Smite's "chain-lightning" effect is superior to Avenger's "heavy flamer" effect upon both individual targets and Hordes.

Excerpts from DW-01: Core Rulebook, for ease of reference. Though if I am missing something elsewhere, feel free to point-out as well.

Quote

Psychic Power: Avenger (DW-01: Core Rulebook, pg. 194)
Action: Full
Opposed: No
Range: 30m
Sustained: No

Description : The Librarian summons up the ancestors of his Chapter and shapes them into a flaming vengeful avatar of death. The construct then billows forward to incinerate those in its path. The Avenger power works exactly like a shot from an Adeptus Astartes heavy flamer (see page 145), with all the usual chance to hit and set targets on fire. However, due to the horrific nature of the psychic flames, the Penetration of the attack is equal to [2 x PR].


Psychic Power: Smite (DW-01: Core Rulebook, pg. 195)

Action: Half
Opposed: No
Range: 10m x PR
Sustained: No

Description : The Librarian conjurers up lethal bolts of lightning that leap from his hands to burn and blast his enemies into ash. Smite must be targeted at a single creature. However, it may affect others nearby depending on its power. The Librarian does not need to make a BS test to hit the target. However, his Focus Power Test is modified as if he was making a ranged attack (using bonuses and penalties for range, lighting, enemy talents, etc.). Smite deals [1d10 Energy Damage x PR] with a Penetration equal to his PR. Any creatures within [1 metre x PR] of the target will also be affected by Smite.


Damaging a Horde: Flame Weapons (DW-01: Core Rulebook, pg. 360)

A flame weapon used on a Horde will hit it a number of times equal to one quarter of the weapon’s range (rounding up), plus 1d5. So a flame weapon with a range of 10 will hit a Horde 1d5+3 times.


Damaging a Horde: Psychic Powers (DW-01: Core Rulebook, pg. 360)

Psychic Powers used against a Horde will hit it a number of times equal to the Psy Rating used in the power, no matter what the power may be. If the psychic power affects an area, it adds an additional 1d10 hits. At the GM’s discretion, if a particular psychic power does not inflict damage (such as Compel), it still inflicts “hits,” meaning that portions of the Horde have been convinced not to attack, and so forth. Furthermore, the GM should take care to adjudicate the effects of certain psychic powers (such as Vortex of Doom) in specific situations against Hordes (such as a Horde tightly packed into a small space).

It was my understanding that Flame-type weapons are supposed to be very effective against Hordes. Does Smite overshadow this with its "chain-lightning" effect upon Hordes?

Or is my Player correct in his belief and use of Smite's superiority over Avenger?

Edited by pendrake71

Errata, p.4: “The Avenger power works exactly like a shot from an Adeptus Astartes heavy flamer (see page 145), with all the usual chances to hit and set targets on fire, and affecting Hordes as an Adeptus Astartes heavy flamer rather than as a psychic power normally would (see page 360).”, so against Hordes it does 8+1d5 hits for 2d10+6E, Pen 2x(PR). Without Errata it would be 8+1d5+1d10 hits.

Smite against Hordes - (PR)+1d10 hits for (PR)xd10E, Pen (PR) If you agree that Smite affects area.

It seems that choice between them depends on the PR and on high ranks Smite is more powerful, if you use Errata.