I have seen some references on the forums that having one unwieldy weapon prevents any parry, even from a different weapon that is not unwieldy. I cant find this in the book any where. Does anyone know where this comes from?

Sorry, double post

Page 144.

Alex

Well, its sort of true.

In order to use two different one handed weapons in close combat you need the Two Weapon Wielder talent (TWW). This actually includes just holding two seperate weapons in each hand. The TWW being the combat training and conditioning to enter battle with two weapons, as fighting with two weapons in both hands is very difficult, even if you aren't attacking with both at the same time. Characters without TWW do not have the training and therefore focus on the single weapon they are using at one time, whether its 1-handed or 2. Without the talent you are supposed to be limited to holding only the weapon you are using at the time, be it one handed or two. Having to switch the one your currently using for the other with ready actions. For space marines this is not so much of a problem as readying most weapons is a free action (within reason of course).

So if you do not have TWW and are using an unwieldy weapon you cannot parry since you are not currently wielding a weapon capable of parrying. Even if you have your combat blade or chainsword, you are not (or at least should not) wielding it, and unless you have the one special talent you can't ready the parrying weapon as part of a reaction.

Now, if your character does have the TWW talent he may wield a 1-haneded unwieldy weapon in one hand and a parrying weapon in the other. Thus allowing him to parry while wielding the unwieldy weapon.

herichimo said:

You are actually in error here, the issue has been resolved after rather lengthy debate by an email clarification from Ross. Basically it works the same as per the DH errata: (look for Reply#40)

www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_foros_discusion.asp

herichimo said:

And since you don't have to have TWW to use two weapons, this applies to everyone who wields a second object he can parry with. Heck, in theory you could try parrying with your arm.

Alex

Well, I may have been wrong. We had a recent discussion in our game group about that and we got around to what I posted ealier. It would make sense in a non powergaming - abusing the rules way. But it doesn't matter.

Either way you still need to be holding two weapons one that can parry to do so.

Aside: TWW only decreasing the penalty for two weapon wielding by 10 is kinda crap. Especially when the listed rules states you need TWW to make a multiple attack action with 2 weapons. Don't know why the hell a 10 point penalty reduction is worth 500 xp then... But oh well.

herichimo said:

I consider it 'unnoficial' errata, but being that I played with those rules in DH they bled into DW pretty easily. But yes, I agree, you must be holding (and be proficient in, IMO) two weapons to parry when wielding an unwieldy weapon. Though as a HR I'd allow a person in modern armor to attempt to parry a primitive weapon.

As for it being a low bonus, I think that just speaks to how much skills cost in DW in general, as it costs 600 to know how to drive, or 800 to learn basic concealment. Internally, the blance seems to work for me though.