Does the benefit from abhor the witch apply when hit by a force weapon? Itd be nice to ignore that damage.

Tunnelhckrat said:

It won't keep you from being hurt by the weapon itself, but it can negate the effects if the enemy psyker channels his psychic energy to do extra damage. Channeling such power requires a Focus Power test, which prevents the activation of other Psychic Powers that round; it's basically a Psychic Power without a specific name and is treated as such by the rules for things like Abhor the Witch, action use, Psy Rating, or Righteous Fury.

So if you Push the power when using the Force Sword does this increase the base damage and penetration since these are based on Psy Rating? and if it is treated as a Power then it would fall under the errata for 'Power Format' and 'thus cannot be combined with other Attack Subtype actions.' meaning you basicaly can never use this ability, because when would you be hitting them with a weapon that isn't an 'Attack Subtype' action. Even if you allow for that one the fact that librarians get swift attack and lightning attack would mean they can't use the best part of the weapon if they swing more than once?

I think it just means that since it is a 'focus power' opposed willpower test you get a bonus from psy rating and can cause perils of the warp, but doesn't have all the other limitations that a 'real' psychic power would have. You still can't do other offensive powers and swing the sword so that's not an issue (no two attack actions)

I'd let the Templar use the talent to avoid the extra brain melty power though. but I'd also let the librarian try to melt his brain on each swing if he could manage to hit more than once. with that many chances to kill himself with errant warp energies.

(That's just my opinion though, I just play a Dev and watch the AM and Lib kill stuff if it gets too close.)

Nathiel said:

My group uses the base Psy Rating of the character at all times for enhancing weapon stats. Pushing just makes it easier to do extra damage by channeling energy into the target.

Focusing the power into the target is made as part of the attack (they're inexplicably linked) so it would be allowed. And Librarians can do enough with that one hit that any more is potentially overpowering. A Librarian will almost always win the opposed test, and I've seen my group's Librarian gain an extra 6d10 damage because his Willpower is so high. That hurts. Even an average roll will often net an extra 2-3d10. Even with only one channel a turn, the Librarian in my group regularly does the most damage. Heaven forbid he ever Push Smite and target someone...or some group.

many times ive made the mistake of grouping enemies too close, just to watch another well placed smite destroy them all with 6d10 damage