Alpha-Class Psykers Q&A

[Elite Guard]

I'll probably be doing most of the Q...

1-What defines an Alpha Class? I.E. whats the difference between a Beta-Class psyker and an Alpha?

2-Are A-C P a human phenomena only or do other races (i.e. eldar) have an Alpha class equivalent?

3-Where in the Index Most Powerful Psykic Beings in the Universe do Alpha Class stand? Stronger than Warp Demons? Blast apart a CraftWorld and every Eldar mind on it? Crush a C'Tan's being with nary a thought?

4-Does the Imperium employ these (so i've heard) powerful psykers and does it let them use their abilities (I doubt, it would be "witchcraft")? Or does the imperium just execute them?

5-Untouchables. Still strong enough to nullify an Alpha psyker's abilities, or are they just that bad ass?

6-Any Alpha Class (or in this case, Psykers in general) make it into SM chapers? Imagine what a psyker with SM organs would be capable of. I guess the only place this could be found would be pre-heresy Thousand Sons, no?

Thats it for now, but I'm sure I can come back for more. Anyone with questions post and anyone with answers post as well.

[Sir Guppy]

well the first time i read about alpha psykers was in the new 40k rulebook. pg 125, where they are described as just insanley powerful psykers, they prolly couldnt destory a craftworld or crush a ctan but they could certianly cause it damage. its a big step from destroying settlements and titans to destorying planet sized ships.

i would guess other races also have alpha class psykers, altho a race like the eldar would prolly consider this a blessing rather than a curse.

although alpha class psykers can casue great damage they are still quite weak, and so by using their immense power they would likely be attacked by the warp deamons in greater numbers than that of a normal psyker.

its likely that the imperium just execute these psykers or feed them to the emperor they would pose to much of a threat.

although the imperium does use psykers but they have to be strictly sanctioned. ie, libarians, sanctioned psykers, grey knights and some inquisitors all have psychic powers.

[Skelron]

I'll probably be doing most of the Q...

1-What defines an Alpha Class? I.E. whats the difference between a Beta-Class psyker and an Alpha?

Short answer the abilty to have so much Warp power that your body could sustain a Deamon Prince's power for a very long amount of time. Also the ability to hold of Chaos unaided with the right training.


2-Are A-C P a human phenomena only or do other races (i.e. eldar) have an Alpha class equivalent?

Yes and no. While the Eldar do have Alpha+ Equivalents, (Farseers for a start at the very least are Alpha+) Their training is rather different. An Eldar might train for 100+ years something they can easily afford, and which is safer. (The slow build up to your power, as you improve in power your Mental defenses are improved alongside it. You are better trained.) The Alpha+ Humans on the other hand sometimes just seem to have the power, no training neccersary to be able to use it... Of course this also makes them easier to possess and gives them much less of an understanding of what they are doing. They operate far more on instinct than the Eldar.



3-Where in the Index Most Powerful Psykic Beings in the Universe do Alpha Class stand? Stronger than Warp Demons? Blast apart a CraftWorld and every Eldar mind on it? Crush a C'Tan's being with nary a thought?



In Warp no. Able to banish a Deamon Prince Maybe.
Craftworld No
C'tan killing NO! (Maybe weaken it's current avatar... maybe)



4-Does the Imperium employ these (so i've heard) powerful psykers and does it let them use their abilities (I doubt, it would be "witchcraft")? Or does the imperium just execute them?

Depends I know cheesy answer. But it really does depend on the situation, if the Alpha+ is found at a young enough age to be trained, appears relatively free of Deamonic influance, and a Black Arc is passing nearby, then they will be sent off to the Inquisition for training. (Many Inquistors are Psykers, some of the best Alpha+) If any of these conditions are not met, then the chance of being killed goes up, if the Black Arc is not nearby, and the Governer does as he/she is suppossed to do then the Psyker will be killed as all Pyskers are killed if no Black Arc.


5-Untouchables. Still strong enough to nullify an Alpha psyker's abilities, or are they just that bad ass?

Pariahs completly block Warp energy no upper limit has yet to be seen. So yes Untouchables do stop Alpha+


6-Any Alpha Class (or in this case, Psykers in general) make it into SM chapers? Imagine what a psyker with SM organs would be capable of. I guess the only place this could be found would be pre-heresy Thousand Sons, no?


They are called Liberians, not many would be Alpha+ but some might. They are also called Grey Knights. (an entire chapter of Pysker Marines aimed at the combating of Deamons, and armed for the role. Imagine Terminator Armour and weapons modifed to aid in the killing of Deamons. A Grey Knight is what a Marine wants to be when he grows up :p)

Also it should be noted the Thousend Sons where banished not for being Psykers but for being Sorcerors, what exactly the differance is I am not 100% sure, nut it exists obviously. (The Emps was a Psyker after all but he said what had been done was beyond being a Psyker)

[Sir Guppy]

about the thousands sons, i think the emperor and many high standing imperial people were afraid of the spread of psykers, so they decided to make it a crime or at least suppress pyskers they could be better controlled. it was when magnus the red looked into the future and saw what horus was going to do, or horus asked him to join, that magnus spoke telepathically to the emperor, the emp thought he was lying and sent the space wolves to go murder everyone on the home planet. so magnus fled with his thousand sons and started worshipping tzeentch.

[FatalTheRabbit]

about the thousands sons, i think the emperor and many high standing imperial people were afraid of the spread of psykers, so they decided to make it a crime or at least suppress pyskers they could be better controlled. it was when magnus the red looked into the future and saw what horus was going to do, or horus asked him to join, that magnus spoke telepathically to the emperor, the emp thought he was lying and sent the space wolves to go murder everyone on the home planet. so magnus fled with his thousand sons and started worshipping tzeentch.

The emperor is by no means whatsoever afraid of psykers. Thats ludicrous. When it comes to psykic powers the emperor has one major concern. All of humanity will eventualy become psykers. To the last man. The problem with this is that humanity might not be ready to handle such an advance. The emperors greatest fear is that in humanities infantile stages of psyker growth it will be overwhelmed by chaos. Since humanity is such a numerous race if it were to be overwhelmed then it might merge the warp and the galaxy together as one.

[chocolate]

Plus hes a snarky bastard who had it out for Magnus. Guess where my allegiance lies...

[Sir Guppy]

hell im with the thousand sons here, they got bloody backstabbed and there home world got ravaged by dogs and wolves.

[Grendel Rose]

Yeah not one of the emperors more shining moments of clarity there, especially since magnus was trying to warn him about horus at the time.