Thunder Hammers vs Powerfists

[Grey Mage]

Dont forget to mastercraft to get that average of six hits each round <_<.

[Torin]

Yup LC is deadly at the hand of the WL

[Valerian]

It just occured to me if you take a Powerfist or Thunderhamer on a Runepriest with a chooser (no other weapon) you gain an extra attack. Or did i overlooked some ruling?

Its debatable, but I think most people would let you. Chooser of the Slain counts as being equiped with an additional close combat weapon, so be prepared that some people will argue you dont count as being equiped with a "special close combat weapon". Feel free to smack them upside the head with a common sense device. Remember though that a storm shield still keeps you from getting the extra attack.

 

I don't have my rulebook with me here at work, but I believe the wording on both the Thunderhammer and Power Fist (and also the Lightning Claw, of course) is something to the effect of- your model has to have a second Thunderhammer or Power Fist or Lightning Claw (two of the same weapon) in order to get the additional attack. Since the Chooser of the Slain is not a second Thunderhammer, Power Fist, or Lightning Claw (obviously) I don't believe that you would get + 1 attack for having one combined with any of those three specific special close combat weapons.

 

Because the Chooser of the Slain does count as being equipped with an additional close combat weapon it would, however, give you +1 attack when combined with a Power Weapon, or a Frost Blade, or another CCW, or a pistol, etc.

 

Regards,

 

Valerian

[SeanyPrawny]

Kinda ridiculous coz I don't see anyway you wouldn't already have one of those weapons (pistol, axe w/e) anyway making it pointless. I beleive it was intended for use with the storm shield but its just been screwed over recently.

 

OT: Its all situational. If your going against a nidzilla army or an armoured company then TH will win out but otherwise powerfists are just more practical. I do much prefer the look of TH though

[Grey Mage]

Well also remember that the older SW codex doesnt have a Runic Staff labeled as a CCW, just a Psychic hood. For those of us who must use the older set it is useful in that regard.

[Valerian]

Kinda ridiculous coz I don't see anyway you wouldn't already have one of those weapons (pistol, axe w/e) anyway making it pointless. I beleive it was intended for use with the storm shield but its just been screwed over recently.

 

Not really pointless, you can still take a Frostblade and Storm Shield, then add the Chooser of the Slain, and your Rune Priest will get an invulnerable save and the extra attack for a second close combat weapon (as well as the ability to deny infiltration by the enemy). That can certainly be worthwhile; it just won't add this same benefit if you try to use it with a Thunderhammer, Power Fist, or Lightning Claw.

 

Valerian

[SeanyPrawny]

Unfortunately the Storm shield rule states you never gain the extra attack for an extra close combat weapon so you can't (though I think you should be able to) The staff point makes sense though.

[Valerian]

Unfortunately the Storm shield rule states you never gain the extra attack for an extra close combat weapon so you can't (though I think you should be able to) The staff point makes sense though.

 

Ah, I see what you are talking about. Here is my interpretation of that line: In previous editions there was some discussion of whether you got the invulnerable save and the + 1 attack when you were armed with a Storm Shield. Although "common sense" would dictate that you would not, the argument for this was valid, as the Storm Shield was listed in the Weapons section of the Armoury (and I suppose that you could always bash someone in the face with your shield).

 

It is my impression that the writers of 5th edition, in order to finally end the argument and provide a definitive answer, included the line in the description of the Storm Shield to make it clear that having the shield does not count as having an additional close combat weapon, and therefore no + 1 attack.

 

Kudos to the designers for clarifying another ambiguous issue. However, at the same time, the way the rule is written they have created another problem. It now looks like you "never gain the extra attack" even if the attack is granted by some other piece of wargear than the Storm Shield (such as the Chooser of the Slain). This is the RAW of it. However, I go with what I believe the RAI of the rule is, and that is to clarify what a Storm Shield does/does not do, and that it was not meant to interfere with the effects of unrelated wargear.

 

Best regards,

 

Valerian