Can someone draw a power fist as a free action if he is not previusly wielding it?

Depends on how you've got it sheathed on your person, I suppose. But if you've already got the backpack power source equipped and enabled, I don't see any particular reason not to allow it.

I would say no.

Even if you are wearing the aforementioned required power pack equipping a powerfist is a more involved process than quickdrawing a traditional one handed melee, pistol, or basic weapon.

Unless its some sort of archeotech which can be worn as a bracer and deployed by activating it (even then if you look at the deployment time of a concealed weapon bionic it would probably still take a half action, but it's archeotech so being deployed as a free action isn't unreasonable I suppose).

If you are looking for more than yes or no I have a few questions.

Is the powerfist in question imposing a penalty by being equipped? (RT stats for the powerfist don't impose any penalty).

If it is equipped at all times you don't need the quick draw talent as the powerfield can be activated as a free action. Which means if you are holding anything in your hand, and want to hit something with the powerfist drop it (a free action) then activate the powerfist and swing away.

The rules for Rogue Trader to my knowledge in no way limit the use of a hand equipped with a powerfist (you can still wield other melee and ballistic weapons; it is fully articulated). If for some reason this specific powerfist is imposing a penalty you want to avoid by not wearing it, and then attempting to quick draw in combat situations...I would say you are out of luck. My thoughts.

Legally, I would still have to say no since a powerfist is not a melee weapon wielded in one hand but rather on one hand. It must first be equipped which means if you are wearing anything on that hand that would obstructed the powerfist it must first be removed; then you can equip the powerfist. Though it's probably a two-handed ordeal.

So no. I don't see allowing a character to quick draw such a weapon unless they were going to use it as a projectile rather than wear it.

Just wear the powerfist all the time. My character does, and his imposes a -20 to fine manipulation tests when using the hand due to poor dexterity. Which isn't typically an issue for him.

no i don't think they could if they were a space marine i bet they could but not a human

hereticmarine4321 said:

A power fist is generally always equipped, since it is worn as a gauntlet. It should probably be an item that is not able to be equipped in under a minute or two.

Power fists are gauntlets strapped on and incredibly awkward. I would say no to allowing it to be quick drawn or even put on with any speed in combat.

If I am correct, a powerfist can be equipped without it being activated. This allows the use of the hand without it destroying everything it touches. Once it is activated, it crushes everything in incandescent power. At least, this is what my memory tells me from other WH40k games.

This allows for an elegant solution. You could decide not to allow a powerfist to be 'quick drawn' in the sense of just slipping it on the hand (this revered piece of Imperial technology should only be carefully put on before going into battle, chanting the litanies of activation and linking it to its power conduits), but could allow a 'quick activation' of the powerfist. This would give the player the ability to use his powerfist equipped hand albeit clumsily (change that for better craftsmanship) and activate it for a fight, but would make it impossible to quickly reach into a bag and draw out a weapon of sheer hand to hand doom.

Friedrich van Riebeeck, Navigator Primus, Heart of the Void