To use a Psychic Power, a Librarian must pass a Focus Power Test (a Willpower Test modified by the level of the power). (Paraphrasing p. 185)

Ok, maybe I'm missing it, but I don't see anywhere in the book that actually states the Difficulty Modifier for the 3 Power Levels (Fettered, Unfettered, and Push). The examples seem to indicate that a Push is an Ordinary (+10) test and an Unfettered is a Challenging (+0) test. But, there is no reference to the modifiers in the Power Level descriptions and there are no tables listing the Power Level modifiers.

Does anyone know if this is actually specified anywhere in the book?

Perhaps modified by the psy ranking, as in the rouge trader ?

tkis said:

From what I read, it works exactly the same was as it does in Rogue Trader.

For those of us who don't have Rogue Trader (which probably shouldn't be a prerequitste for using the Deathwatch book), how does it work in RT?

If a Power requires you to make a focus power test, you add +5 per psi rank to the test

Broasted, I hate your icon! Do you have any idea how many **** times I've been turned into that **** monkey?! LOL

TalkingMuffin said:

I feel your pain, but I have no hatred for the monkey. It ain't the monkey's fault. The monkey is a simple beast, and only knows what it must do. The player may not understand, and may treat the monkey with scorn. The wise player is ruthless, and treats the monkey as a straw dog. Such is the way of heaven.

tkis said:

Does this work for Deathwatch? It doesn't seem to match what's given in the examples, unless I'm reading or calculating it horribly wrong (which is certainly a possibility).

Neisseria said:

Page 185, very bottom of the right column.

Alex

ak-73 said:

Ah yes. So it definitely works like that. But in that case we still need a base difficulty for the rolls at each power level, which I can't find anywhere (and nor can the original poster of this thread apparently). The rule you've quoted still doesn't help the examples make sense, unless (again) my maths is screwed up or I've misunderstood.

I feel like an idiot. What am I missing?

Neisseria said:

No reason to feel like an idiot. These rules are not skillfully presented. I assume the +10 in the example on page 185 come from the smite test being modified by a number of ranged attack modifiers, possibly for short range in this case.

I'd say the Test is +0 unless a specific power's description says otherwise.

Alex

ak-73 said:

Excellent, thank you. I hadn't considered modifiers unrelated to the psychic power specifically. Makes sense now! Cheers.

TalkingMuffin said:

Since I'm usually relegated to playing Overlord, I love that monkey. Love the the Monkey!!!

ak-73 said:

Alex, I agree with your logic on this, and that's how I've been running it in my games so far.

However, the examples don't reflect the Psi Rating bonus, which seems to be a gross omission.

This also doesn't explain the statement at the top of page 185 that states: "Then he must make a Focus Power Test (a Willpower Test modified by the level of power) to see if it manifests." Admitted, it does not say Power Level, rather "level of power," but this just creates more confusion. The statement clearly says that the Focus Power Test is modified by the Power Level or some "level of power." This could easily be referencing the Psi Rating bonus, but, if so, it should be more clearly stated. Also, if the base modifier for a Focus Power Test is +0 (Challenging), then it should be clearly stated in this section.

I'd really like to get an official Fantasy Flight ruling on this. Do they check these forums, or do I need to submit this through some other organ?

ak-73 said:

I have another problem with that example, when it says he's going to get a bonus for 'Pushing' the power it states his Push bonus is +3 (WP bonus) Implying the bonus for Pushing is your WP Bonus rather than the flat +3! Anyway the Smite description does say ranges attack mods do apply on the Power focus test. (although at first glance it looks like the only missile like power that does apply these mods, bloodlance doesn't etc. and I'm guessing deciding who gets hit that one could be open to interpretation)

One thing though, in the descriptions of Fettered, Unfettered & puch on pg185, it says the bonuses (or penalties) to Psi rating are applied at the end when calculating the final effect. I read this to mean not to use the adjusted Pst rating when calculating the psi rating bonus to the focus test, but then in the focus test paragraph it says you use the Psi rating 'as used for the power' which to me sounds it's specific to the situation and that you do use the adjusted psi rating depending on which option you've chosen.

Since all powers focus test seem to be on WP now rather than on a mix of stats ala RT, I don't for see many focus tests being failed (even if you do half Psi rating for fettered tests, or maintain more than one) but then once you get past a certain in level in RT they're not failed much then either and a Librarian that can't count on his main strength isn't going to be much fun to play (we're not low level DH any more ) but without losing fatigue to unfettered they are just Psychic energiser bunnies aren't they.

All in all Iike the DH version of rolling your psi rating in dice vs a target number that was taken from WFRP2 anyway, but I can see that at psi ratingsof 7+ its a lot of dice, and I certainly like the fettered, unfettered & push options given in RT for adding on the DH system.

Anyway I like potential for very powerful Psi attacks it fits the DW feel, and it fits a lot of the other 40k fluff as well.

Erm, how do I edit posts I've already submitted, spotted a few typos there

EDIT: Nevermind

Toms dad said:

Yeah, page 185 needs some serious clarification. Anyway, I'll play it as stated for now. The only reason to not throw around psy like crazy is the chance for triggering Psychic phenomena you don't want to see triggered. But then again, that's what Karma is for.

Alex

Also while I'm thinking about the two different systems, I like the DH one because more difficult powers required you to push yourself that bit more and take more risks to inact them, whereas the RT/DW one only gives you better results if you push yourself (DH gives you both possible benefits). This partially depends if the PR bonus to your focus roll is effected by the mode you use of course. But even then the basic chance of successfully getting the power to work doesn't change no matter the power (I was expecting to see power specific mods which were reflective of their relative strengths rather than their application), but this is partially offset by the rank prerequisites for the powers in DW I guess.

On the clarification of page 185, it's basically the same rules as in RT isn't it? So is there errata for RT that might do the same job?

Toms dad said:

I'll use effective PR because it gives more variance during play.

Alex

Sounds good,

I think that's why like the older system, the decison on how many dice you roll has meaningful repercussions and leasds to more varince, especially when yopu factor in the fettered, unfettered & push options.

I just need to give some theshold values to all the powers in RT & DW.

oh and factor in more time when level eight librarians decide to push with 13 dice, or god knows how many if push bonuses does end up being WP bonuses that could be what 17 -18 dice. Actually that's a point, can DW marines get unnatural willpower? (I think ascended characters can get up to x4 in DH:A)