Vigils, Thrones, & Novices: Infiltrators, Bikers, & Child Soldiers for the Adepta Sororitas

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**Psienesis**

Because most such units can Combat Squad to meet the transport capacity of the vehicle, though I don't see a problem with taking a church bus for a unit that cannot all fit into it. It's still a Rhino, which provides fire-support and cover.

Mistress needs a Crozius option. Just sayin'.

**AtoMaki**

SisterSydney wrote:
The cool ideas keep coming -- but I think I'm going to go with my own "Tau-style supporting fire" version of "Little Sisters." I want the rule to actually cause adult Sororitas to do something on the tabletop and encourage players to protect Novices with regular Sisters. As for their tactical role, well, they're cheap second-line troops to give you a little extra Objective Secured, and potentially act as bait for enemy charges.

Also I've toned down Crisis of Faith so the squad doesn't necessarily rout.

Spoiler:

Novice Squad: 95 points (Troops):
Teenaged holy warriors in training
Sororitas Novice WS:3 BS:3 S:3 T:3 W:1 I:3 A:1 Ld:7 Sv:4+/6++
Mistress of Novices WS:3 BS:4 S:3 T:3 W:1 I:3 A:2 Ld:9 Sv:3+/6++
[spoiler]
Unit Composition: 1 Mistress of Novices, 9 Novices
Unit Type: Infantry; Mistress is Infantry (Character)

Wargear (novices): Carapace armour, boltgun, frag and krak grenades
Wargear (Mistress): Power armour, boltgun, bolt pistol, frag and krak grenades

Special Rules: Act of Faith, Shield of Faith

Crisis of Faith
A Mistress of Novices spends years guiding and guarding her young charges. To see her killed shakes them to their souls. The bereaved Novices may lose heart at the death of their mentor -- or they may seek to avenge her with a reckless fury that older and wiser soldiers would not dare.
If a Mistress of Novices is removed as a casualty, her squad must take a Leadership Check at the end of the phase. (This is in addition to any Morale check caused by casualties, losing a close combat, or any other reason). The Novices naturally do not benefit from the Mistress's Leadership, but they may still benefit from other characters'.
If the squad fails this Morale Check, all Novice models immediately and permanently lose the Act of Faith and Shield of Faith special rules.
If the squad passes this Morale Check, it immediately gains the Zealot special rule.

Little Sisters
Full-fledged Sisters of Battle may tease the young Novices mercilessly, but they are fiercely protective of them.
When an enemy unit declares a charge against a Novice squad, all adult Sisters units within 6" of the charging unit’s target can choose to fire Overwatch as if they were also targets of the charge. Remember that a unit can still only fire Overwatch once each phase.
An adult Sister of Battle is any model with the Acts of Faith and Shield of Faith special rules that is not itself a Novice

Act of Faith: Emulate the Elders
Still learning the ways of the Adepta Sororitas as they are, Novices depend on the example of their elders -- even when those elders are rank-and-file Battle Sisters themselves barely out of their teens.
One use only. This Act of Faith may be used in any phase during which a unit of adult Battle Sisters successfully performed an Act of Faith within 6" of the Novice Squad. If successful, the Novice Squad immediately performs the same Act of Faith (if it is physically possible to do so: Novices may not imitate a Throne Squad's turbo-boost, for example).
An adult Sister of Battle is any model with the Acts of Faith and Shield of Faith special rules that is not itself a Novice.

Dedicated Transport:
A Novice squad with ten models or fewer may take a Rhino as a Dedicated Transport.

Options:
Add up to ten additional Novices: 8 points per model
One Novice may take an item from the Special Weapons list.
The Mistress of Novices may take items from the Melee Weapons and/or Ranged Weapons lists.
The Mistress may take melta bombs: 5 points

When a prospective Sister of Battle graduates from the Schola Progenium around age 12, she is sent to the Adepta Sororitas for what is typically a six-year Novitiate. As a Novice, she learns the Sisterhood's traditions, rituals, tactics, and weaponry. A strength-augmentation harness worn over her carapace armour allows the teenage girl to handle the weight of the holy bolter, letting her train from the first day of her Novitiate with the weapon she will most likely use for the rest of her life.
As a matter of both military doctrine and maternal instinct, the Sisterhood tries to keep its Novices safe, by the standards of the Imperium. Novices do sometimes accompany Battle Sisters on campaign as pages, serving their elders and observing the Sororitas way of war first-hand while being carefully graded for their skills, piety, and nerve. Older Novices being considered for the Orders Militant are even organized into squads and sent into combat as a form of live-fire training, albeit against weak targets and with extensive backup. Only as a desperate measure would the Sororitas throw their "Little Sisters" into pitched battle. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and in the grim darkness of a waning Imperium, times are desperate all the time....

Design Notes:

Spoiler:

Start with a basic Battle Sister @ 12 ppm.

-1 BS: -10 points
-1 Ld: -5 pts
Replace Power Armour with Carapace: -5 pts (per a PM from Ovion)
Total subtractions: -20 points

Little Sisters: +10 points
Essentially Tau Supporting fire (10 points) for multiple Sisters units (multiply by...something) but only protecting one unit (divide by... the same thing?), so 10 pts.

Essentially Hatred for the Mistress in close combat but not shooting (10/2 = 5 points) plus potentially other Sisters units, again in close combat but not shooting (10/2 = 5 pts), potentially for multiple Sister squads but only under very specialized circumstances (which I figure cancel out). So 10 points.

Crisis of Faith: +/-0 points
A tricky one to cost. ~~First, it potentially causes the unit to take a morale check when it otherwise wouldn't have to, which is bad. Second,~~ assuming no Independent Character has joined the unit, it's a Ld 7 test, so about a 50-50 chance to succeed or fail. On a succeed, it effectively adds two special rules, Fearless & Hatred (+20 points), and on a failure, it takes away two SRs (-20).

NET: -10 points

Divide by 3 for high-quality troops, which these still are relative to Guardsmen: -3.3 pts. Then take -1 more because they don't have Bolt Pistols.

12 - 4.3 = 7.7 points, round up to 8.

But the Mistress is a standard Battle Sister (12 pts) with the Veteran Superior upgrade (10 points), so it's a squad with nine 8-pt models (=72 pts) and one 22-pointer: 94 points, round up to 95 for sanity's sake.

[/spoiler]

I've sent the calls.

**SisterSydney**

So a unit can take a dedicated transport it can't possibly fit inside? Huh.

**koooaei**

SisterSydney wrote:
So a unit can take a dedicated transport it can't possibly fit inside? Huh.

Yep.

**AtoMaki**

Ooookay, after two test battles, I can say that the not!SupportFire rule is a little bit too good. It actually makes the Novices a better choice than the normal Sisters because of the synergy. SoB has too much flamers for this kind of stuff, and a Novice unit with a 4xHF Retributor squad and a 4xFlamer Dominion squad is a serious headache for any assault unit.

**SisterSydney**

BAD GUYS: Let's charge the teenage girls, we'll sweep 'em easy.
SISTERS: Like hell you will!
DAKKADAKKADAKKADAKKA FWOOSH FWOOSH FWOOSH
SURVIVING BAD GUY: So. Much. Overwatch. [dies]

I like it. I'm not so worried about balance: surely the solution for the bad guys is, y'know, don't charge the Novices. Kill the grown-ups first.

**koooaei**

All the protecionism will contradicts a bit with how regular sisters will use novices as a meetshield bauble wrap for overwatch. Like firewarriors are using kroot.

**Furyou Miko**

SisterSydney wrote:So a unit can take a dedicated transport it can't possibly fit inside? Huh.

Yes, it's very useful for things like large Sisters squads taking Immolators as fire support - like how they could take them as a Heavy choice in the witch hunter book, kind of.

Also, flamers for supporting fire doesn't make sense. The flamer is indiscriminate and very short ranged. If you use it with Supporting Fire, it should use the template, not Wall of Death, and follow the normal rules for templates and friendly models.

**SisterSydney**

Yeah. Part of me thinks "why should I have to fix GW's Supporting Fire rule?" but more of me thinks "supporting fire from flamers is absurd as implemented." Weren't people talking about long, thin lines of Tau and Kroot so everybody could overwatch everybody else with a cumulative zillion flamers?

Rather than try to implement supporting fire flamers properly, which would require some tricky rules writing, I think I'll just say no supporting fire from template weapons, period.

As for Kooooaei's comment : yes, I see your point. Think of it as the rank-and-file Sisters (the models) being protective while the commander (you) cynically exploits that protective instinct.

As for dedicated transports that can't hold the whole unit, I can justify that in my mind as them being DTs for a smaller squad that's been absorbed into a larger formation for this particular battle. I wish people besides IG could get "combined squads."

**SisterSydney**

With the "flamers can't do supporting fire" fix, I strongly suspect Novices are done. Many thanks to everyone who's helped. What I would really love your help on now is my new Sororitas HQs, ranging from customizable Canonesses to army-buffing Confessors and Repentia Champions.

**Psienesis**

Well... I mean, that's one of the reasons to bring a flamer. Is because you want to set those people over there on fire, but you're just too far away to get the job done... you need something to throw flames onto them.

That OW with a Flamer is a huge heapin' helpin' of Wall of Death is... kinda how GW intended flamers to work. It's why the Wall of Death rule exists. Its how you ruin the day of an Invisible unit, by inflicting d3 automatic hits per flamer in the unit... you know, just tossing burning promethium out there all willy-nilly, dousing invisible mofos in gouts of burning Piety.

Its also a lesson to the heretical scum: don't hit the children.... that's the Mistress of Novices' job. Find more worthy targets. Construct additional pylons.

**SisterSydney**

I know, I'm torn about whether to "fix" supporting fire. There are weirdnesses when one unit somehow fires overwatch for another using flamers that are (a) out of range and (b) would have to fire through friendlies anyway.

**BoomWolf**

Honestly I just don't see the "not supporting fire" really fit thematically, as it DOES push the initiates into a meatshield role, and that's not quite good fluff-wise.

I think we need a whole new concept here, first we need to decide what is the initiates supposed ROLE on the battlefield, than give them an ability to match, currently they got no defined role, and as such we are flailing with random stuff who each turn out somehow "wrong" in its feel.

**SisterSydney**

Their role isn't as distinct from Battle Sisters as, say, Marine Scouts from Tac Squads or Kroot from Fire Warriors, and that is an issue. Essentially they're less expensive second-tier infantry to supplement the main battle line or camp on objectives -- but that may not be enough.

I do see how the "meatshield" thing could be a problem: put a thin screen of Novices in front of your main battle line, so the enemy can't charge your regulars without charging the Novices first and getting Supporting Fired to death. Hrrm.

**Psienesis**

Hmm... here's an idea. Flip the Supporting Fire role around. Make it the kids who are providing the supporting fire to their Big Sisters... they're there to learn how war is waged, but they're supposed to be watching how its done... so seeing one of their Sister units be subject to an assault, that triggers the "1, 2, 3, Roast 'em!" response.

Also, "1, 2, 3, Roast 'em!" needs to be a SR that does... something. Not sure what yet. But something.

**SisterSydney**

You're getting closer than I was, but having the Novices do supporting fire implies somehow they've learned to do something that they just forget when they become Battle Sisters. I'm thinking now of making the Novices act like a standard or banner or laud hailer, given adult Sisters within 12" rerolls on some Leadership tests, or Stubborn, to reflect how hard they fight not to let their Little Sisters down or leave them in danger.

That creates an incentive for the player to protect the Novices, since they're a weak unit that helps him get the most out of other, stronger units. It also means there's no point in spamming Novices or using them as meat shields.

**BoomWolf**

Aura of LD reroll/stubborn does seem to fit nicely, yes.

**Psienesis**

SisterSydney wrote:
You're getting closer than I was, but having the Novices do supporting fire implies somehow they've learned to do something that they just forget when they become Battle Sisters. I'm thinking now of making the Novices act like a standard or banner or laud hailer, given adult Sisters within 12" rerolls on some Leadership tests, or Stubborn, to reflect how hard they fight not to let their Little Sisters down or leave them in danger.

That creates an incentive for the player to protect the Novices, since they're a weak unit that helps him get the most out of other, stronger units. It also means there's no point in spamming Novices or using them as meat shields.

Because the Novices don't get "Supporting Fire". What they get is a faction-specific ability that allows them to support BSS (or other) Sororitas squads who are subject to assault.

This, of course, is perfectly in line with GW's tendency to make up a brand-new rule for a unit that almost exactly mimics an already-existing rule.

But it's basically Supporting Fire that only applies to other Sororitas units. You can't, for example, take 5 squads of Novices and park them around a SM Tac Squad to get mass Supporting Fire.

And as to why they "forget" how to do this when they become full Battle Sisters? They don't. The abstraction of the ruleset simply doesn't provide for a mechanic for it (also, BSS tend to look out for their own squad first, primarily, knowing that their Sisters over there can more than handle themselves).

**SisterSydney**

The final (?) version of the Novices, with "Little Sisters" acting as a morale booster to their big sisters:

Novice Squad: 95 points (Troops):
Teenaged holy warriors in training
Sororitas Novice WS:3 BS:3 S:3 T:3 W:1 I:3 A:1 Ld:7 Sv:4+/6++
Mistress of Novices WS:3 BS:4 S:3 T:3 W:1 I:3 A:2 Ld:9 Sv:3+/6++

Spoiler:

Design Notes:

Spoiler:

**SisterSydney**

I couldn't resist fiddling with the Vigils -- they now have a suitably creepy special rule, "This Is Your Target," instead of a multi-function AOF. Comments on whether this is OP are welcome:

Vigil Squad: 125 points (Elites)
Sororitas Infiltrators
Vigil WS:3 BS:4 S:3 T:3 W:1 I:4 A:1 Ld:9 Sv:3+/6++
Superior WS:3 BS:4 S:3 T:3 W:1 I:4 A:2 Ld:9 Sv:3+/6++

Spoiler:

Design Notes:

Spoiler:

**Nevelon**

I’d worry about infiltrating TL’d melta squads w/the monster/tank hunter special rule. That’s a crippling alpha strike. I know you can scout dominion squads up for something similar.

Although I guess you can’t start in melta range. IIRC you need to place infiltrators 12” away from the enemy, so your 6” move won’t get you in the kill zone. Still, 4xMelta (5 w/ a combi) S8 AP 1 shots re-rolling to hit/pens.

If these guys borrowed a SW drop pod, they’d do some nasty things.

I might wrap “This is your target” rule into the AoF. And let them choose it on use. One advantage of this would be to reduce bookkeeping. You wouldn’t have to track which squad hates what.

**SisterSydney**

Those are good points. Ironically, I had the AOF working as "pick one of three" originally, so I'll just change that back. What I had NOT thought through was the interaction of Infiltration, movement, and melta range. You're right that the Vigils can't get into melta range on turn one, but that still gives me an idea for how to tone down Twin-Linked (which I still want, to reflect their superb-even-for-Sisters markswomanship). Instead of "This Is Your Target," how about this unique special rule:

Infallible Aim
As the foremost markswomen of the Sisterhood, the Vigils can assume an almost supernatural stillness as they take aim at a priority target -- at the price of tactical flexibility.
Before the beginning of your movement phase, you may declare that a Vigils squad is using Infallible Aim. All the squad's shooting weapons gain the Twin-Linked and Heavy special rules until the end of your turn.

So no moving or charging on the same turn they use Twin-Linked, unless they want to drop to BS1, which forces an interesting tactical choice.

**Mr Morden**

Wouldn't they use Stalker bolt rounds or a actual sniper rifle?

So similar to that used by Telion (and presumably other Marines if GW bothered to think about it - esp Raven Guard)

so Range 36", S X, Ap5, Heavy 1, Sniper.

I really like the description /fluff - I just don't know why 40k has an obsession with Sniper "squads" rather than 1 or 2 (wo)man teams?

**SisterSydney**

Yeah, the Stalker Bolter is an interesting option, and it's annoying GW hasn't given it to other Marines. As is, though, it's a unique bit of wargear for a special character. Even if it weren't, it's less Sisterly/AWESOME than infiltrating melta and flamers.

As for GW creating sniper squads rather than 1-2 (wo)man teams, I think the answer is that the rules don't handle a realistic sniper team well. A real-life team relies on camouflage and avoiding notice, and there are no hidden units or spotting rules in 40K, so they'd just be shot to death or assaulted in short order.

**Furyou Miko**

The closest they get is Guard special weapon squads which are 3x sniper and 3x spotter (with lasgun).

You could do something like this;

Sororitas Sniper Team
Some Vigils find themselves preferring the range and power of a stalker-modified Bolter over the close-range death dealt by their standard weapons. These specialised Vigils work in small squads that disperse upon the battlefield, striking before fading away.

Statline: standard Vigil for all models.

Unit Composition: 3 Vigil Snipers, 3 Vigil Spotters.

Wargear (Vigil Sniper): Power armour, frag and krak grenades, Camo Cloak, Sniper Rifle, Bolt Pistol

Wargear (Vigil Spotter): Power armour, frag and krak grenades, Camo Cloak, Bolt Pistol, Magnoculars

Special Rules: Acts of Faith, Shield of Faith, Precision Shots, Infiltrate, Strike and Fade, Unerring Vengeance, Dispersed Deployment

Magnoculars: Instead of firing her weapon, a model with Magnoculars may instead choose one of the following:
- Apply Twin-Linked to their unit's shooting attacks.
- Apply Precision Shots (3+) to their unit's shooting attacks.

Dispersed Deployment: When deploying the Vigil Snipers, you may split the unit into three teams, each containing a Sniper and a Spotter. For the rest of the game, treat these teams each as single squads.

Strike and Fade: Vigil Snipers may never claim or contest objectives. If a Vigil Sniper team moved in the previous turn, it has a 2+ cover save. If the Vigil Sniper team is ever assaulted, instead of firing Overwatch they may instead elect to be removed from play. They may take no further part in the battle, but do not count as being slain for the purposes of First Blood or Victory Points.

**SisterSydney**

That's verrrrrrry interesting. Really creative unit design.

**Mr Morden**

Indeed I am quite envious about how well you have put that together

love all of it

Maybe give the Spotter a bolter as normal weapon as well? Do sniper spotters normally have a normal weapon?

**Furyou Miko**

Ah, it's not so special really. I just combined the Vigils Sydney wrote with the old Guard Sniper rules from the original Cities of Death and the Combat Squad rules from the Space Marines. ^^;

Hm, well, historically speaking, only Officers carry pistols, but in 40k, everyone has one as a side-arm, so I'm not sure if 'normally' really applies. I chose not to give her one to discourage the usage of them as throwaway 24" skirmishers and to balance out the 2+ cover for moving - 'real' sniper doctrine has the shooter relocate between shots to prevent anyone tracking them down by the muzzle flash, even if it's just a case of moving to the next window down.

**mr. peasant**

Re: Dispersed Deployment

Instead of adding an extra special rule, a simpler way to go about it would be for the slot to be composed of 1-3 Vigil Squads; each composed of 1 Sniper and 1 Spotter.

Re: Snipers moving between shots

I dunno... I was always of the understanding that snipers tended to do the exact opposite - namely to recon an area, find the ideal site and camp out there for hours (even days) waiting for their target(s). And when they fired, they stayed put since the movement would give away their location far more than the muzzle flash (which is tiny). Especially since their carefully crafted camouflage would no longer blend as seamlessly with the new position.

**Psienesis**

namely to recon an area, find the ideal site and camp out there for hours (even days) waiting for their target(s)

That is for a SOG (Special Operations Group) sniper who is targeting 1 specific target (either individual person or individual who has a specific function... you might not know who the boss of that compound is, but you'll know them when you see them).

A sniper assigned to an infantry combat patrol or LRRP will not sit somewhere for days, he moves with the unit, and so needs to take advantage of the battleground to remove high-priority targets (like enemy with rocket launchers, machine guns or other heavy weapons), and will need to remain mobile during a fire-fight, both to prevent being spotted and also to adjust to changes in firing lines and targets of opportunity.