Is this permitted? And if it is not, should it be?

Thanks.

I dont think so but im not sure. Do you mean use your reaction to parry with servo arm or get an extra reaction to parry with?

Is it a weapon? Can you make attacks with it? Is it unwieldy? If it otherwise qualifies, does it explicitly disallow its use for parrying in the text?

I don't see anything indicating it can't be used, and frankly I love the image of some heretic's spiked club clanging off a servo arm while the techpriest just stands there glowering.

nolsutt said:

Yeah, I meant as a "regular" defensive reaction, not as an extra. From my understanding techmarines don't get the fast-attack/two-weapon wielder talent to prevent extra attacks... I'm assuming it would be the same for defensive reactions. I'm wondering if a techmarine could carry a heavy weapon w/two hands AND still be able to parry in melee w/the servo-arm.

Unusualsuspect said:

Thanks for your response. Yes, I follow your logic: you may use it for attacks, either standard or as a reaction... but I don't know if it would be considered unwieldy or balanced. I don't remember seeing that listed anywhere.

Weapon traits should assume to not be applied to a weapon unless explicitly stated - if it doesn't say it is balanced, or felling, or tearing, the weapon doesn't have it. In this case, the servo-arm doesn't seem to have any weapon abilities, so I'd say you can parry at the normal lack of modifier.

The thing I am thingking about is: Would a Techmarine use his servo arm in such a disrespectful way?
Smashing the enemies of the omnisiah with it is one thing, but have a heretic hit it with his filthy weapon?

Perhaps is the most dire situations.

And what I just can't think of being possible is using counter attack with a servo arm.
Yes, it's not in the RAW but it just feels wrong.

I dunno- a mighty Tech Marine showing the glory of the Omnisiah by batting aside inferior weaponry with his mighty servo-arm before crushing the one bold enough to assault one of the Space Marines? Smashing straight through an opponent's swing, embedding their weapon into their face (or what counts as one) before crushing their skull?

I think that's pretty awesome.

If a Techmarine's Servo-Arm is considered to be able to move fast enough to attack then it should be able to parry as well. Just like a normal human can try to parry with his naked arm.

This kind of parry may well result in damage to the Servo-Arm, though, depending on what kind of weapon gets to strike it ...

Personally, I'd consider a Servo-Arm to be Unwieldy/Unbalanced simply because it doesn't really look that mobile in comparison to a normal arm. This is not in the RAW, however, and as such subject to personal opinion.