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Something I've never quite understood, so I'm relying on you masters of canon. Where do the SoB get their troops from? What's the selection/training process like? Is there any sort of augmentation, or are the SoB baseline humans?

Also, are they dateable? Because I'm sure we all just LOVE a woman in power armor.

TermiesInARaider wrote:Where do the SoB get their troops from?

An Imperial organization known as the Schola Progenium. It takes the orphans of war heroes and trains them from shortly after birth, determining where they will go in life-- the commissariat, the stormtroopers, the sisters, etc-- although the students have some say in the matter. The training is rather intense, producing the best human soldiers and officers in the galaxy.

TermiesInARaider wrote:Is there any sort of augmentation, or are the SoB baseline humans?

Baseline humans. Sisters of Battle have power armor as augmentation, and whatever cybernetic implants that they might have to replace lost organs, but nothing else.

TermiesInARaider wrote:Also, are they dateable?

They cleave only unto the Emperor.

Even though according to a single source (The Cain books and nowhere else. Sandy Mitchel is rather unable to write Sisters very well.) they have no vow of chastity, the Sisters are dedicated to their cause above all else, living a life of self-denial in complete dedication to the Emperor.

I'd rather not date a woman who can snap my spine by patting me on the back.

On topic, Mel has the correct answers.

Lol, just the info I needed. Thanks, y'all.

Melissia wrote:

TermiesInARaider wrote:Also, are they dateable?

They cleave only unto the Emperor.

Even though according to a single source (The Cain books and nowhere else. Sandy Mitchel is rather unable to write Sisters very well.) they have no vow of chastity, the Sisters are dedicated to their cause above all else, living a life of self-denial in complete dedication to the Emperor.

Although, seeing as they do carry those belts of prayer beads where every bead represents penance for a sin they do have to sin in some way. I'm not sure they'd go as far as abandoning their duties for dating, but even speaking to a male outsider and reporting "sinful thoughts" should do it.

Chastity is to be expected of someone promised to the Emperor, that is true. I'd still think some of the non-combatant Orders would find it perfectly acceptable to have children (by fine Imperial heroes, ofc) as long as it doesn't interfere with the Order's normal work.

Spetulhu wrote:Although, seeing as they do carry those belts of prayer beads where every bead represents penance for a sin they do have to sin in some way. I'm not sure they'd go as far as abandoning their duties for dating, but even speaking to a male outsider and reporting "sinful thoughts" should do it.

Chastity is to be expected of someone promised to the Emperor, that is true. I'd still think some of the non-combatant Orders would find it perfectly acceptable to have children (by fine Imperial heroes, ofc) as long as it doesn't interfere with the Order's normal work.

Well, it was more of a joke, really, but knowing Caphias Cain, he's probably gone there at some point.

Spetulhu wrote:Although, seeing as they do carry those belts of prayer beads where every bead represents penance for a sin they do have to sin in some way.

"I forgot to recite the 278th daily prayer."
"I misspoke when talking to Sisters Ariana about the details of [insert battle here]."
"I felt the urge to hit that priest who came by today, as he was speaking so full of pride and arrogance that he coud not have been pure."


Etc etc etc. For Sisters, even the slightest "sins" need atonement. Some Sisters take it so far as to the extreme, and these ones often end up as Repentia.

Melissia wrote:

Spetulhu wrote:Although, seeing as they do carry those belts of prayer beads where every bead represents penance for a sin they do have to sin in some way.

"I forgot to recite the 278th daily prayer."
"I misspoke when talking to Sisters Ariana about the details of [insert battle here]."
"I felt the urge to hit that priest who came by today, as he was speaking so full of pride and arrogance that he coud not have been pure."


Etc etc etc. For Sisters, even the slightest "sins" need atonement. Some Sisters take it so far as to the extreme, and these ones often end up as Repentia.

Aye, that's why I said "sinful thoughts", not "sinful deeds". Even getting the idea that she has somehow incited others into thinking about sinning could be enough - for example nodding your approval at someone cleaning the cathedral you're guarding and noticing the young man staring at you. You've just distracted a servant from his temple duties!

I'd go to say that the only place this issue could really come into question is in the service of an Inquisitor. Otherwise, yeah, faith overrides all. But with the Inquisitor, you have a conundrum. Hold by your vow of chastity, or submit to the will of someone who, essentially, is the Imperium incarnate. Hence, why Caphias Cain has totally already gone there.

TermiesInARaider wrote:I'd go to say that the only place this issue could really come into question is in the service of an Inquisitor.

Not even then. Inquisitors have to tread carefully around Sisters just as they do around the Astartes and Mechanicus. The one in the Ciaphas Cain books hid his radicalism from them lest he earn their ire.

Melissia wrote:

TermiesInARaider wrote:I'd go to say that the only place this issue could really come into question is in the service of an Inquisitor.

Not even then. Inquisitors have to tread carefully around Sisters just as they do around the Astartes and Mechanicus. The one in the Ciaphas Cain books hid his radicalism from them lest he earn their ire.

Again, really more of a joke than anything, but I trust in your judgement.

The SOBs has none augmentics unless it's replacements, but their immense faith makes them much harder and impervious than any mortal. That's faith and conviction. I combine that with a certain commissar (Cain) smarking over old sport-results.

There is little fluff developed about the Sisters, which is too bad.

Melissia wrote:

TermiesInARaider wrote:Where do the SoB get their troops from?

An Imperial organization known as the Schola Progenium. It takes the orphans of war heroes and trains them from shortly after birth, determining where they will go in life-- the commissariat, the stormtroopers, the sisters, etc-- although the students have some say in the matter. The training is rather intense, producing the best human soldiers and officers in the galaxy.

...
Even though according to a single source (The Cain books and nowhere else. Sandy Mitchel is rather unable to write Sisters very well.) they have no vow of chastity, the Sisters are dedicated to their cause above all else, living a life of self-denial in complete dedication to the Emperor.

Point of fact, Sisters can also get recruits elsewhere. (Though this is uncommon, according to fluff it does happen.) Further, there is also the debatable poor choice of wording in Blood of Martyrs that implies that Sisters Famulous may serve as mistresses to certain powerful nobles as part of the Order's general mission of riding herd on the Imperium's nobility. (Again, this is debatable and may simply have been a poor choice of wording by the editors/writer, or FFG trying to harden back to the order's origins in Frank Herbert's Dune.)

And I found his observations sadly pertinent to how they would actually conduct combat in the battle for Aceralbaterra. (You know, behaving like people who really believe those sort of things actually tend to behave in real combat. It's very hard to control religious fanatics on the battlefield. Caine's observation on pointing at something important to the enemy and screaming 'Heretic' is, sadly, a good way to direct troops with that sort of mindset, as the histories of various knightly orders would demonstrate...)

Then again troops not in the throws of religious fervor can also get tunnel vision. It's called target fixation and is something airforce's have a hard time training pilots out of, since they tend to fly right into the ground chasing falling airplanes...

Being fanatical doesn't mean stupid. Many SOBs are accomplished tacticians, despite their fanaticism and can rival the finest of the Space Marines as far as tactics and strategy goes.

TermiesInARaider wrote:

Spetulhu wrote:Although, seeing as they do carry those belts of prayer beads where every bead represents penance for a sin they do have to sin in some way. I'm not sure they'd go as far as abandoning their duties for dating, but even speaking to a male outsider and reporting "sinful thoughts" should do it.

Chastity is to be expected of someone promised to the Emperor, that is true. I'd still think some of the non-combatant Orders would find it perfectly acceptable to have children (by fine Imperial heroes, ofc) as long as it doesn't interfere with the Order's normal work.

Well, it was more of a joke, really, but knowing Caphias Cain, he's probably gone there at some point.

Nope - even Cain was quite shocked by the concept of a Sister not being chaste - Amberley remarks that there is no vow extent but all the other participants in the Cain novels assume they are........... and (much to Cains annoyance) are in quite a bit of awe of them in a similar way to the way the Asartes are treated. Cain does not like them because their actions can put him at risk, they are unpredictable and don't have to obey him but even he concedes on a number of occassions they are formidable warriors.

Also The Sisters are likely a little sensitive about the whole subject of sex after Vandire made them into the "Brides" of the Emperor - they are back to "Daughters" where they should be.............

As noted some Sisters will be highly trained tacticians - others more charge and the Emperor WILL protect - again a bit like the Astartes?

Beaviz81 wrote:Being fanatical doesn't mean stupid. Many SOBs are accomplished tacticians, despite their fanaticism and can rival the finest of the Space Marines as far as tactics and strategy goes.

Source?

And, while i agree that fanaticism does not always equal stupidity, you would be amazed the number of times it does throughout history. (Hattin anyone?)

There are few sources, but some Cannonnesses has racked up quite the list of victories. So that means they are likely to have sound military minds, then again I'm not the best source as I sort of make an educated guess on what I haven't found.

I'd like to add a quick question.

Can Repentia ever end up being connected to a Penitent Engine, or is it exclusively for Heretics and Traitors?

Mr Morden wrote:

Nope - even Cain was quite shocked by the concept of a Sister not being chaste - Amberley remarks that there is no vow extent but all the other participants in the Cain novels assume they are........... and (much to Cains annoyance) are in quite a bit of awe of them in a similar way to the way the Asartes are treated. Cain does not like them because their actions can put him at risk, they are unpredictable and don't have to obey him but even he concedes on a number of occassions they are formidable warriors.

This is an important point Melissia seems to have missed in Sandy Mitchell's work. While Cain himself views the sisters as fanatical emperor-botherers, the common imperial guardsman is shown to be inspired, if not awe-struck, by their zeal and fiery determination. Cain's portrayal of them isn't much more satirical than his view on other factions of the Imperium, though he does show respect to the Astartes in 'Emperor's Finest'.

Sister's of battle seem ignorant

Brother Thomas wrote:Sister's of battle seem ignorant

Try not to view everything in white and black.

You could say Space Marines are all very prideful and will let their pride cloud their judgement up to the point where they will fall to chaos.
Now is this true? For some space marines yes it is but for all space marines? No it isn't. It's the same thing with sisters of battle. Their are some sisters who are actually ignorant but to say they all are or even the majority of them is actually ironically a very ignorant thing. It's like saying all Asians are good at math. The truth is yes their are lots of Asians who good at math but not all of them are good at it.

@Medium of Death: Repentia is a sister of battle how has failed (big time) or done something wrong and takes a vow to become a repentia. A Penitent Engine is for Heretics who have committed such a crime that not even Arco-Flaggelant is punishment enough.

Brother Thomas wrote:Sister's of battle seem ignorant

Blessed is the mind too small for doubt.

Sister's of battle seem ignorant

They are, they despise psykers even though the Imperium survives through psykers and the Emporer was just the most powerfull psyker in existence.

But none of those other psykers are the God-Emperor. They are but pretenders to His Perfection. Pale, distorted reflections of His Glory that cannot help but seem base and ugly in comparison... and also potentially conduits of the Warp, from which all manner of abominations may erupt.

They are right in despising the psyker.

BaronIveagh wrote:Source?

Trained by the schola progenium.

Melissia wrote:

BaronIveagh wrote:Source?

Trained by the schola progenium.

Stormtroopers are trained by the Schola Progenium. That doesn't mean every one of them is a brilliant tactician.

Melissia wrote:Trained by the schola progenium.

So are Arbites. That doesn't make them Macharius. The few glimpse of the training we get seem to involve prayer, song, and bayonet practice. I'd rate them highly as shock troops, not so much as strategists.

In Dark Heresy a sister of battle before becoming a Canoness can get Scholastic Lore (Tactica Imperialis) +20 (the highest rank), Command +20 and Into the Jaws of Hell. These three combined would probably show how good of leader they are and how well they grasp tactics. Now some sisters might have a better understanding and tactics then a space marine but in most cases a space marines will better understanding of war and tactics due to their long age and the amount of experience they have under them. Also a space marine can spend more of his time training and learning tactics (as they require less sleep and rest then a sister of battle).

So to sum it up, space marines will usually have better tactics and strategies then sisters (and imperial guard) due to their genetic modifications.

Necrosis wrote:In Dark Heresy a sister of battle before becoming a Canoness can get Scholastic Lore (Tactica Imperialis) +20 (the highest rank), Command +20 and Into the Jaws of Hell. These three combined would probably show how good of leader they are and how well they grasp tactics. Now some sisters might have a better understanding and tactics then a space marine but in most cases a space marines will better understanding of war and tactics due to their long age and the amount of experience they have under them. Also a space marine can spend more of his time training and learning tactics (as they require less sleep and rest then a sister of battle).

So to sum it up, space marines will usually have better tactics and strategies then sisters (and imperial guard) due to their genetic modifications.

And now we'll commit the gravest of sins: crunch balance = fluff justifications.

So, the Imperium has tanks with ranges of only 100 yards?

BaronIveagh wrote:And now we'll commit the gravest of sins: crunch balance = fluff justifications.

So, the Imperium has tanks with ranges of only 100 yards?

In Dark Heresy A bolter range is 100 meters with no penalty, you can shot up to 200 meters with a penalty.
1 yards = 0.9144 meters
A Man Portable Lascannon for a human is 300 meters with no penalty and 600 meters with a penalty.

Edit: Give me some time and I'll start adding in the tanks profiles.

A hellstrike missile can be shot at 1000 meters with no penalty and 2000 meters with a penalty.