There comes a point where there's weapons rarer and weaker than a regular power-weapon, yet apparently just as vulnerable as normal primitives.

Is there a point to having so many inferior yet rarer options? Does anybody take extremely rare things that lack a power-field, knowing they're one power-dagger parry from having to shell out for new ones? You can always decide to try and dodge on your end, but what about quickdraw-capable melee duelists, or weapons you had no way of knowing would destroy it? Any experiences in the matter?

Looking at it, all I can think is that they're meant to stick at least a minor minimal daemon in there, like a small-puppy of Khorne, before you ever use them.

Universum is cruel in the 40k. If your GM/ you as a GM are going to implement this, then this is just. Although power weapons tend to be generally hard to come by.

This is why you play black crusade and LET THE GALAXY BUUUURNNN!!!!!

Just because a weapon is rarer, doesn't mean it's better. Some weapons are presented as curiosities of the Screaming Vortex, or so you can give your NPCs more interesting, context-appropriate gear.

40k galaxy is chock-full of weird weapons. One planet, the savage inhabitants see their obsidian knives as the pinnacle of martial technology. Other planet, rural townsfolk all wield Necrodermis swords without even realizing it (I loved that idea in Nightbringer). Having stats for all kinds of unusual weapons, from awesome to conditionally useful to downright sh*tty, makes the setting more engaging.

Maybe its so rare precisely because its so awful?

After manufacture, they realized how awful they were and didn't make more.

That makes sense for a number of weapons, but there's too many for it to be just that. Especially when looking at things obviously made for dueling [balanced weapons for example].

Power weapons are very or extremely rare, but there's plenty of things out there more difficult to obtain.

One planet, the savage inhabitants see their obsidian knives as the pinnacle of martial technology

Still I'm surprised we've not seen a repeat of the old forge-world lathe-blade upgrade, or other protective coatings. Or even a power-field generator addition like Zappy Gubbinz, though it would have to be an on-creation only deal of course.

I remember a sad moment when a Harlequin with Harlequins Kiss attacked us, and someone parried with power sword. Harlequin was left with shuriken pistol which is so weak, he couldn't even harm most of us.

Kiton said:

What's harder to obtain: an AK-47 assault rifle or a genuine Edo-period samurai sword?

Which is a better weapon?

Some things are hard to obtain because they're so good, only select artificers in the galaxy can make them.

Other things are hard to obtain because they're obscure, either produced only in specific places or not produced at all anymore.

Availability is just that, how hard it is to get your hands on something. For standardized, mass-produced goods it goes hand in hand with quality and usefulness, like Sword < Mono Sword < Chainsword < Power Sword. For exotic goods, there is no such relation.

@Kiton

I can think of only very few situations where you don't immediately notice enemies who use power weapons - and apart from rather unique circumstances, I can't think of any other weapons that will regularly destroy your weaponry.

So… just get a power blade as backup when you think your beloved Vera might be in danger.

Amaimon said:

Something seems really weird about that - surely a Harlequin's Kiss shouldn't be parryable, it's a long thin monofilament wire in a launcher attached to the forearm.

Chastity said:

I'd think not the wire itself, but the attacking hand with the gizmo attached to it is parryable.

PnPgamer said:

That makes a degree of sense, but then it seems odd that you'd destroy the Kiss but not the arm it's attached to. Maybe the power field overloads it or something.

What is also odd that you don't tear the limb off in case of any natural attacks.

That used to drive me nuts in the Star Wars games. Sure, parrying I can understand: You block or grab the opponent's handle, arms or whatever, not the blade. But when *you* parry a fist or headbutt, and nothing at all happens to them?