Just thought i'd get peoples views on the idea of a new weapon:

Astartes Power Chainsword:

Looking at the rules and seeing what is already available (both in core rulebook & RoB) i figured that a power version of a Chainsword would do the same base damage as a Chainsword (1d10+3) with the added penetration from the power field (6 - same as Powersword). Requisition would be 20 (same as Powersword) and renown Respected (also same as Powersword). As it is a custom weapon i suggested a pre-requisite of having to get the Signature Wargear Talent to be able to get it.

(As for Power and Chain properties combined, it has already been done i.e. Chainfist).

Does this sound reasonable to you guys? (if not, why not - looking for honest reasons/criticism as can't find anything that would disallow it but the GM asked me to ask the general consensus from 40k peeps).

sgtgrarm said:

Don't have the book on me, but how does the base damage compare to a power weapon? I'd adjust the renow/req cost baed on that. More damage, give it a nudge up to 23 or 25. Less damage, nudge it down to 15 or 18. Otherwise it doesn't seems okay to me (though the theory behind the power field adding to the chain damage somehow doesn't add up in my head, though as you say it's already been done with the chainfist). The increased power of pen and power field seems reasonable to me.

I like the signature wargear pre-req, as it keeps it unique/custom made for the character, and that's half the fun of signature wargear.

I guess you are trying to make a more common Frostblade found in the relic section of the book

The base damages are 1d10+3 for Chainsword and 1d10+6 for Powersword, so i thought i'd go for the Chainsword's damage with the Powersword's penetration.

Chainsword Req is 5 and Powersword Req is 20 so i thought 20 was fair (as it is actually weaker than Powersword).

Also i noticed on p154 of the core rulebook under 'Power Weapons' it says that " In theory, any weapon can be upgraded to a power weapon given the necessary technology." It does say that the Astartes tend to stick to a traditional selection but this is the whole point of adding Signature Wargear as a prerequisite.

Nuada_Obliage said:

Essentially, yes, but without additional Crit damage and with much lower penetration and damage (9 Vs 6 Pen & 11 Vs 3 Damage).

Isee no problem with that. There are dozens of Astartus power weapon STCs. I see no reason why this couldn't be one of them. Besides, it gives a character something that is unique without being power game-y; of that I approve greatly.

An Astartes power chainsword would be a Frostblade, wouldn't it?

Siranui said:

Yes, i don't really see the need to make up rules for a weapon that already exists. Chain knives, power hammers, force shields (as in psy) would all be much cooler creations.

I'm not totally against the idea, I don’t have the stats for the frostblade around (as I’m at work) are there any restrictions? However the reason this has come up is the parry vs a powers weapon. SgtGrm did loose two chainswords in one/two sessions parrying powerswords (dodge).

Perhaps there could bean attachment that could increase the resistance to power fields when parrying OR negate it? The weapon equivalent to a lightning rod or a machine spirit type thing (capacitor) that could absorb a limited amount of charge.

BP

It's a Space Wolf only relic. They are the only Chapter to use weapons like it.

Best bet for dealing with powerswords is to carry one of your own when you know that you'll be facing foes armed with them.

Eviscerators are power chainswords too

They're just really, really big chainswords. They don't have a powerfield.

Actually they do, a weaker lower tech power field but a power field nonetheless...(read description IH and BoM)

IH, BoH?

So those religious maniac Necromundan scum have power weapons?

Santiago said:

Probably a matter of local variation and craftsmanship - repurposed industrial chainsaws for the Cult of the Red Redemption in the depths of the underhive, purpose-built giant Chainswords for the sanctioned and well-supported warriors of the Emperor.

Personally, with regards to chainswords being shorn in half by power swords - an issue my players have encountered - I'm inclined to make master-crafted weapons more resistant (25% instead of 75%) to the effects of power weapons.

Ok Sgt Grm, I don't see why you cant ask a Tech-priest to do some modifications for you.

I feel a decent back story is needed to let any weapon mod.

I agree with one of the other posts get a power sword but I can see why you want this as your talents so far make you most awesome with a chainsword in particular.

Backstory idea, Mechanicus were trying to make a cheap alternative to Powerswords?

N0-1_H3r3 said:

Excellent idea!

Peachey said:

Comparing my idea for a Power Chainsword to the Frostblade Relic is like comparing a deathwatch bolter to the Skapulan Bolter Relic. Yeah, they're essentiallt similar weapons but power and damage levels are waaaay different.

Surely if a sword can be re-forged as a power weapon then so can a chainsword?

The question ends up being... to what end? Aside from granting those with Flesh Tearer a far ess painful consequence to compensate for that lovely extra tearing damage (Chain Fist and Lightning Claw both take away a hand, effectively).

It seems pretty clear, at least to me, that a power field is doing more than merely increasing the ability of a weapon to penetrate (by breaking down objects in its path, etc.), given the wealth of power sword examples. First and foremost are the stats for the power weapon's damage itself - average 11 or 12, Pen 6. Now, do we have examples of weapons that do 11.5 damage in deathwatch? What comes closest is probably the good ol' chainsword with that nifty tearing, at 1d10 +3 tearing (average 10.2). What weapons seem closest in terms of usage and weight, however? Ceremonial Sword with 3 less damage, Force sword with 4 less damage, both doing Rending rather than Energy damage.

A Power Field on an Astartes sized one-handed blade, then, appears to give +3 damage and an Pen of 6.

The chainsword, compared to a ceremonial sword, adds about 2 to damage and penetration.

A straight-up conversion placing a Power Field on a chainsword seems like it would end up being 1d10 +6, Pen 6, Balanced, Tearing... but then, what is the chain actually going to be doing in terms of adding to the damage? It is made clear by the damage type (regardless of type of power weapon, be it hammer or foil blade) that the physical object bearing the power field is mostly irrelevant in comparison to the destructive energies that grant the additional penetration and damage and damage type. What becomes relevant seems to be, at most, the sturdiness of the object required to plow through the target being struck, now rendered by the power field into what amounts to whipped cream. Different levels of power source lead, I'd guess, to the differences in effect between a Serpentine Power Blade and a Power Fist.

Then I consider Chainfists and Frostblades, and I start scratching my head again.

Nevertheless, I feel the OP has a point, and have no problem with having different styles of the same "sort" of weapon, this being power-fielded chain weapons. I'd appreciate a more basic, reliable, semi-mass manufacturable version (as any sort of variation on "awesome, one-of-a-kind powerchainsword of doom" can be represented by different levels of Craftsmanship of the Frostblade stat block).

Damnit, OP, now I've got visions of a Space Wolf descendent chapter with a penchant for Claws, including a Runic Claw akin to a Lightning Claw for the Rune Priests. My DM is either going to love it or laugh at me...

Fair points all.

Especially the bit (which i'd forgotten) about the way the object carrying the power field is irrelevant so chain/non-chain wouldn't really make a difference.

For this reason i have decided against pestering the GM to let me have one of these and besides, i've only 6 more renown points until i reach "Distinguished" so will wait til then and get a Powerfist , I'll just carry 4 or 5 Chainswords in the meantime in case i need to parry any more Powerswords (joke Lynch/Peachey).

Hell, flavor and uniqueness is fricking Deathwatch in a can.

Ask your DM, when you request a power sword through Signature Wargear, that a power field be attached to the trusty chainsword he was brought up with. Unrefined and not made specifically for the job, the chain is what it should be: A dedication of loyalty to a weapon loyal to the wielder through and through.

Edit: In case that wasn't clear, I'm saying that you get a Power Sword (stat-wise) from that Signiture Wargear, but that power sword is a modified chainsword, yes? Same stats as power sword, just looks badass. Because that's what is important, right?

Unusualsuspect said:

A chainsword with an activation rune for parrying and increased PEN. I feel a visist to Harl Greyweaver would work.

Peachey said:

Wasn't that what i originally proposed anyway (the parrying and Pen bit)?

Or maybe having the power field encapsulate only the teeth and only when the chainsword is activated - this would enable the parry and penetration but would avoid the whole "touch you with powerfield and explode" type scenario you would get with, say, a Powerfist's field.

Wouldn't it be far, far easier to manufacture an actual powersword than an article that covers the teeth individually?

To me the concept seems to want the best of both worlds: Desiring the chainsword's enhanced damage potential, with the powersword's advantage of the powerfield. A bit like wanting a sportscar that seats 7. Sometimes there's a choice to be made.