Hello

I have one psyker in my group (actually a fallen priest but that's irrelevant here) who spams two minor powers in particular, and was hoping for some advice, or for someone to point out if i have something wrong.

1. "Distort Vision", now i have only just read the V3 errata, and it does clear up a few things, my next issue, is the PC has a habit of standing out in the open with his lasgun, using his free action to manifest "Distort Vision" then a Full Action to Full Auto. I guess my problem with this power is the "Free Action" focus time, and the IMHO huge %30 penalty to hit.

2. "Touch of Madness" which is generally, pass a will power check or fall to the ground gibbering like an idiot.

If someone could point out where i am misinterpreting things or just plain getting them wrong, it would be much appreciated.

Cheers in Advance.

(PS: Not that it is relevant, but just in case, Psi Rating 2, Will power Bonus 5, and I allow Fettering)

Dark Heresy does a pretty good job in and of itself at punishing Psykers who "spam" powers, in the potential to run Perils of the Warp. Does the guy never roll any 9's?

Other consideration. Psykers, sanctioned or not, are not looked particularly fondly upon by Imperium citizens. If he gets too spam-happy with his psychic powers in public areas, have the people reflect this. Shopkeepers don't like psykers and jack up prices when the psyker's buying. That informant in the bar is leery of him, and the Psyker takes penalties to trying and get information out of him.

But seriously, the threat of Psychic phenomenon should in and of itself be a potent dissuasion tactic, imho. As a guy playing a Psyker myself, I've been learning to employ powers when absolutely necessary, and even then, only after some deliberation.

Touch of Madness just requires a roll on the Shock Table. Normally it will just make the target lose an action or take a -10 to Tests or suchlike.

(PS: Not that it is relevant, but just in case, Psi Rating 2, Will power Bonus 5, and I allow Fettering)

Aha, this is your problem.

Fettering is incompatible with the Dark Heresy system, specifically for this reason. This is why the other games don't have Minor Psychic Powers. By allowing him to Fetter you have allowed him to spam indiscriminately. You have removed the game-mechanical control system.

In addition to what others have said, you're only allowed 1 attack action per turn (which is why you can't single shot 2 different targets a turn). I'm not sure if this is explicit in the rulebook, but in my games I consider any Power that has a negative effect on an enemy an attack power. Therefore, if you use Distort Vision, you'd be unable to also full-auto attack.

Fettering/push/etc was introduced to DH in Ascension. If they're playing that, he's not breaking any other rules (but Ascension is totally broken anyway).

Fettering/push/etc was introduced to DH in Ascension. If they're playing that, he's not breaking any other rules (but Ascension is totally broken anyway).

He's got WPB5 and PR2, so probably not Ascension.

Like I said, IMO by allowing a low-level psyker access to Fettered while retaining the DH psychic power rules he has given the player free reign to abuse things.

He should thank God the player doesn't have Weapon Jinx.

Unnatural Aim + missile/grenade launcher is what the pro psykers use.

but in my games I consider any Power that has a negative effect on an enemy an attack power. Therefore, if you use Distort Vision, you'd be unable to also full-auto attack.

This is covered in the Errata. According to the RAW, the Focus Power action (which is needed for all/any power), is considered an Attack Action.

Also, pre-ascension rules cover a "light" version of fettering, as described in Disciples of the Dark Gods. These talents have some pretty high prerequisites and XP cost.

Letting a starting Psyker fetter his minor powers for free represents a massive gift of ability, and is going to cause you major headaches!

Great advice guys, cheers. Especially the following

1. Focus Power is consdiered an Attack action, as such you may not go full auto as well

2. The light version of fettering in DotDG, what page is this on?

Psychic Supremacy, p 26:

Unfortunately the book does not specify XP values for these talents, but the author suggested on forums somewhere that he figured at least 300XP for this one. Note how this requires Psy rating 5 as well as Discipline Focus (which you can't get for minor powers)

This was before Ascension came along, and ruined everything of course

These talents are completely redundant if you allow the Fettering rules from Ascension, and the solutions are either:

a) Set Psychic Supremacy as a Prerequisite to "learn" the Fettering ruls

b) Only allow fettering for Ascended Psyker Primaris

c) Ignore Ascension completely, pretend like it was never written.

Personally, I went with c)

This is covered in the Errata. According to the RAW, the Focus Power action (which is needed for all/any power), is considered an Attack Action.

My issue with this is that it renders it impossible to use any utility power and attack in the same turn, so you can't use Unnatural Aim and shoot in the same turn, which I don't think makes sense. In my game, this rule is modified that psychic powers that affect an enemy are attacks and ones which affect the psyker or party are not.

I quite agree. I find many things in the DH rules quite silly. My house rules classify the powers in the same manner as in Black Crusade and Only War, and use the same rules about not taking actions of the same subtype.

Details in the link in my sig.

But that's house rules. Per RAW, you cannot attack and use a Psychic power in the same turn. Even a free action. The ONLY exception is Resist Possession.

I dunno. Unnatural Aim + an Aim action + attack in the next turn sounds OK to me conceptually.