This one is more of a setting question; do lightning claws exist outside the Space Marines? I noticed in a playthrough of Dawn of War recently that Imperial Guard commanders can be equipped with them, but I'm leeray to take a video game as the last word on canon in a setting. =P Would be nice to have a pair, though~

Also, have Necrons been statted at all in any of the 40k RPG line? I don't own much of the series, but to my recollection, I've seen everything but them and Dark Eldar in the books (and even then, I recall a lot of the Eldar stuff in RT looking a lot like Dark Eldar gear, and things like Splinter Rifles implying they are about).

Also, what is most peoples opinion on how 'un-noticable' you could have cybernetic replacements? Does the Imperium have the technology to pull off things like Doctor Octopus level Mechadendrites which could be hidden under bulky clothing? And would even older cybernetics still be blatenty visible, like the 'half-jaw replaced with metal' look that Techpriests/Explorators have? Trying to find some fluff ways to describe my Explorator, and with stuff like Agility 43 and most of all his other abilities at 40+, was tempted to explain them as getting some older, less clunky Mechanicus Implants.

1. An Orkish Power Klaw appears in Into the Storm. (Same as a Power Fist, but with Tearing quality) I would use its stats. And nothing is unattainable by a Rogue Trader, with the sole exception perhaps of items which tend to identify certain factions as unique from the Imperium, such as Titans for the Mechanicus and bioware implants for Space Marines.

2. If they were to appear, they would most likely be in a Deathwatch supplement, because that's pretty much their business.

3. If they're [best] quality, yes, you can disguise them. Adeptus Mechanicus would not bother to disguise theirs, but regular Imperial humans would be more likely to want to. Also your Explorators base stats aren't how they benefit from their cybernetics, your cybernetics have described bonuses to agility, strength, etc. they give you.

1. Lightning claws might not be the easisest thing to get, but a RT might get his hands on them.

2. i think so. in Edge of the Abyss or ItS are some Eldar named Children of Thorns mentioned and they seem to me like a cabal of Dark Elder, for they fight "normal" Eldar too.

3. As Fortinbras says.

Mm. I assumed Dark Eldar are around; seemed as though the book is written from the view of the Imperium (Eldar Corsair armour, anyone? Spikey to the point that theres mono-knives anywhere, splinter rifles... who needs distinction? They're both decietful xenos who need exterminating ;D)

And yeah. Was wondering in the case of things like when subtlely is required ('Who we looking for? That guy with the four tentacles coming out of his back, and half his jaw replaced with filters? Well, that cuts down our search parameters quite a bit'), which combined with an overly wavering faith Explorator who's looking into Genetor specifically because he doesn't believe 'the flesh is weak'... (Easy to see why the high stat, resourceful and questionable Techpriest got shunted to exploring the Black rather than sticking around...)

The IHB has a variation on lightning claws.

A couple of Necrons have appeared in DW: TEP. Current time line in DW is still 80 years prior to the Imperium recognizing them as a threat.

Dark Eldar appear in DH: PtU. More up to date DE weapon stats appear in RT: ItS

Cybernetics in 40K can be anything from a rusty iron plate bolted to your skull to vat grown clone replacement parts to ultra high tech replacement eyes that are indistinguishable from real, yet may contain auspexes, digi weaponry, and any number of other enhancements.
I have had Tech Priests in my games that range from brains in jars to hulking cyborgs with giant claws and guns, to a 90 year old man with no discernible augmetics until they were attacked, when multiple mechadendrites appeared out of folds in his robes revealing weapon arms and targeting arrays. Cybernetics can be anything you want them to be in 40K.

I generally go with Best Quality being much less invasive and unobtrusive to the point where most will never know it's there, or you may have a Tech Priest that has all Best Quality bits that are near indistinguishable from a human, except for a slight hum or smell of ozone that follows him around. Just because you have a best quality augmetic is no reason to make it unobtrusive. They can be just as ostentatious a display of wealth and and show of favoritism by the Mechanicus as anything else, as far as Rogue Traders are concerned.

Personally I would consider Doc Oc's mechadendrites to be Good quality, as far as their ability to be concealed.

ItsUncertainWho said:

Let me guess: 2d10 E, PEN 9, Power Field, Tearing, Unwieldy?

I'm not finding anything on that point so far; I've found the lightning gauntlet, but thats a stun-baton in a fist.

Rules and fluff wise, lightning claws are nothing like a power claw. Best bet would be to look at the rules in Deathwatch and subtract 1 damage and one or two penetration, seems like that's the effect on most of the weapons... Didn't take too much time to examine it, but no, a power claw would not be appropriate. The lightning claw for example is fine for parrying, a significant difference.

Power claws? Don't recall bumping into them in the books.

Golgenna Grenadier said:

A Power Fist is unwieldy too. Are you going to tell me you can't parry with a power fist but you can with lightning claws?

Fortinbras said:

Yup. In previous vesions of 40k where there was actually a parry rule, Lightning Claws were one of the most effective defensive weapons out there. They were better than having a Thunder Shield for the purpose of prtection in close combat, IIRC.

Aside from the IG commander in Dawn of War I've only ever seen Lightning claws in army books dealing with inquisitors who also happen to have space marines on their side.

Although I've been pondering this same situation as an alternative to a power fist. The advice someone else gave earlier is pretty much my solution as well, reduce damage and pen by 1 or two and remove tearing.

As for the Parrying with the claws....works for wolverine.