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Hi all,

I'm a complete WH 40K beginner desperately looking for some advise on some tactics for Sisters of Battle! I'm currently trying to put together my first army (at about
1000 pts) and I've come up against some tough decisions. Any feedback on these questions would be greatly appreciated as I feel completely lost in the marsh of tactical options! :-)

First question: I've bought a couple of boxes of SoB troops, which come with 1 flamer and 1 storm bolter per box. But nearly every SoB army list I've come across suggest 2 flamers or 1 heavy flamer for each troop squad. I can't really afford to purchase individual models that way right now, so I wonder if you have any suggestion what to do with the storm bolters? My initial intention was to use the storm bolter sisters for a Celestian squad to go with the Canoness, but maybe there's a better option?

Second thing: I can't decide on what to get for heavy support. Many suggest one or more Exorcists and they do seem great, but they're also horribly expensive (in terms of money, not points) so I'm looking at getting one or two Immolators instead. Now, I've understood that Exorcists are good for killing tanks, but is it possible that one or two Immolators with twin multi-meltas could rush in and get the same job done? Alternatively, is rushing in a Retributor squad with multi-meltas in a Rhino or an Immolator to shoot at tanks a sensible tactic? (Someone said they have trouble getting into firing range unless they're transported near the action.)

Lastly, no army list I've found mentions Penitent Engines. Are they no good?

cheers / Erik Boman

Multimeltas are heavy weapons so you aren't rushing anywhere with them. immolators are short ranged light armor... they can't survive rushing in alone (so you would need a lot of them).

Penitent Engines aren't very good at all... unless you run 9 and then they are just ok. Your other heavy choices, except the orbital bombardment are all better choices 95% of the time.

Its Sad about penitent engines, one of the coolest looking models, (speshully the one with the sister in bondage ), but a bit rubbish in the game (AP11 and opentopped).

Siters repentia are the same really, they never get the chance to get into cc with anyone cos they get shot first. (and their holy rage means you can't be sensible and keep them in cover all the time until it's time too strike.)

Sisters, sisters and more sisters are what you need. bolters are great. personally I have heavy flamers in all my troop squads, they work well. retributors I give heavy bolters. sit them back and let rip. Don't bother with multi melta retributors. They cost a lot of points and don't usually get in range to take down tanks. Dominions with melta guns in a rhino or immolator are better (apparently). I try taking out tanks with my seraphim and melta bombs. (it works sometimes).

USE your faith points. Many of them are excellent in the right situation. i.e. divine guidance with a huge squad of sisters firing at MEQs. So try and pack in as many veteran sister superiors as you can to get max faith points and faithful units.

can't think if any thing else right now. Good luck with ya sisters Erik!

Thanks for the answers! I obviously missed that Multi-Meltas are heavy, so that's a no-go then. And like you say, it's a pity about the penitent engines as they look fantastic. I guess I'll go for Retributors w/ heavy bolters and use Seraphims for tank hunting. I'll not sure where that'd leave the storm bolter sisters, but I guess they could fit in either a Celestian bodyguard or a Dominion squad.

Also thanks for the advice on faith points! I'll try to get my head around their specifics to use them as effectively as possible.

cheers / Erik

You can try kitbashing. I cut off the end of a bolter then make a melta barrel end.
Exorcist; I got a bunch of tubing. 2 or 3 rows with angle cuts on top. Mount to a rhino.
In my army, I paint all flamer ends red and all melta ends yellow. This helps the kitbashed models fit in more. You can find dark angel emblem bits on ebay.

I hear that people on Dakka think that Seraphim suck, which is crazy to me. Is there anyone who can explain that position, or post me a nice link to a tactical thread about them? IMO they're the best jump packers in the game because a) they can use SoTM to become invulnerable, letting them tie up any threat, and b) they can use hit & run to leave combat, letting the rest of the army shoot whatever they tie up, and letting them charge over and over. Not to mention the damage they can do with as many a 3 divine guidance flamer templates...

personally i do use penitent engines. 2 of them to be exact. i just love the way the army looks when they're on the table. they got a little more survivable too with 5th edition, some luck and cover.
in my SoB squads i always take the heavy flamer and a meltagun and mount them in a rhino. i don't use dominions. i do use seraphim, at least 8 in a unit, with twin hand flamers.
for heavy support, even though it's costly money wise, an exorcist is indispensable. the only long range heavy weaponry sisters have. without using allies off course. 48" range, str.8 ap1, d6 shots is nothing to sniff at.
for HQ i always use a canoness with celestian retinue. i try to mount up practically the entire army, SoB really don't do anything at long range.
i hope i have been helpfull.
good luck

WARNING: regurgitated hearsay imminent!!!

I have heard that a SM whirlwind and an immolator can be combined (i.e. launcher bits swapped onto the immolator) to make a convincing exorsist, minus church organ, and the leftover whirlwind bits nets you a rhino.

all for 80 usd I believe...
the exorsist is what? almost $100?



The preceding advice is worth exactly what you paid for it

Yep, the immolator/whirlwind kit bash to get you a rhino and exorcist is a great idea - easily the most cost-effective way of getting a mechanised army.

As to your stormbolters, a tactic I sometimes use is to take a dominion squad with 4x SB's and a vet with a power weapon (and melta bombs if you can spare the points). You have to buy a transport but you can give it to a more worthy cause because the job of this unit is to hang around the backfield.
They make a passable (and cheap) counter-charge unit and faith can make them great at bringing down enemy units that bypass your front line (such as jump-pack troops and deep-striking units).

i to have storm bolter models that i will never use.

i am thinking of trying to turn them into heavy flamers... mabey cut off the bolter part and replace with SM or IG flamer bits?? replace sisters backpack with IG flamer fuel tanks.

just a thought.

The immolater + whirlwind idea is great. The result is a rhino and a awesome exorcist that actually looks like it could kill something!

Exorcists are only ~50$ US. They are a pain to build though.

Penitents and Repentia are neat, but only for 1 turn, then they die. I am a little sad I bought so many :(

Seraphim are really good in certain armies, less so in others. I run two units in my army.

Storm bolters can make a half decent firebase/objective holding unit. 10 girls with some SB can take a rhino, drive up and drop off on an objective, and just plink at 24". Not really exciting, but if you have the models it isn't horrible. I run a unit like that for just that reason. (But I wouldn't if I would get off my butt and finish painting the heavy flamer/flamer girls I have sitting on the table.)

Edit: The Whirlwind/Immolator kit bash is HERESY! but functional heresy. Don't forget to lacish purity seals on it too. Tart it up enough, and maybe you will only be branded a radical.