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So are the current SoB legal to play in tournament and will they be getting a new dex anytime soon?

Didnt know if this went in proposed rules, or you make the call so I just threw it in here feel free to move.

The book I believe is no longer legal. A few months back they released an updated codex in 2 issues of WD. I think that is the new legal codex.......

Laughing God wrote:So are the current SoB legal to play in tournament and will they be getting a new dex anytime soon?

Didnt know if this went in proposed rules, or you make the call so I just threw it in here feel free to move.

Sisters are Chapter Approved and repalce the Witch Hunter codex. They are legel to play from White Dwarf and it says so right in the article

Can anyone tell me which white dwarf that was in and if I can download it? My girlfriend is interested in picking the game up again

Issues #380 and #381, according to google (was faster than looking for the magazines themselves - and yes, this is very thinly veiled criticism for your lack of google-fu ).

GW still has not provided a downloadable version of the new Minidex on their website, but I'm sure there is some place on the web containing scanned pages.

Or you could try ebay to look for the issues themselves - it's how I got mine, as I found no shop selling them in my vicinity. Just be aware of the UK/US numbers difference. But any proper ebay auction has a picture of the article, and the magazine should have a small "contains new SoB codex" header on its cover.

I think you could easily argue legality of use in pick up games in a GW store, or any FLGS, if even needed. But still, be prepared that someone will potentially not want to play against it, snivel that its not real, yadda yadda.

Honestly, sad as it is, I can see the point of someone not wanting to play against it. Sisters info is not readily available, so a sisters player does have an advantage if opponent is unfamiliar. This of course gets dramatically magnified the more competitive the player or setting.

That said, I would carefully review tournament rules before assuming anything. Get a ruling if needed, and request the ruling be communicated to all. Last thing you want is some neckbeard suffering a terminal case of ruleslawyeritis nit picking the tournament rules to try and dq you. Unfortunately it is a plausible scenario.

Gymnogyps wrote:I think you could easily argue legality of use in pick up games in a GW store, or any FLGS, if even needed. But still, be prepared that someone will potentially not want to play against it, snivel that its not real, yadda yadda.

Honestly, sad as it is, I can see the point of someone not wanting to play against it. Sisters info is not readily available, so a sisters player does have an advantage if opponent is unfamiliar. This of course gets dramatically magnified the more competitive the player or setting.

That said, I would carefully review tournament rules before assuming anything. Get a ruling if needed, and request the ruling be communicated to all. Last thing you want is some neckbeard suffering a terminal case of ruleslawyeritis nit picking the tournament rules to try and dq you. Unfortunately it is a plausible scenario.

They have an advantage? Really? LOL. Based on that logic Sisters players would have always had an advantage as many people did not know how their abilties work even when the codex (WH) was readily available because they didn't care and that codex was probably better than this one.

Yep, only difference is the rules are even harder for them to find now.

US is WD 379/380, btw.

I have a printed and stapled copy that I use for games and let my opponents choose between that and the two WDs that are stashed in my army case.

@andrewm9. Yeah, I know. But its one thing if someone doesn't know due to their own laziness/lack of drive. It's another altogether to not have the choice because the rules are not available, functionally out of print. Note if GW would get off their collective tuckuss and put it on the website, much of this concern is alleviated.

BTW, For the longest time we had a local toolbox sisters player that deliberately roflstomped opponents using the witchhunters codex. He absolutely used their lack of familiarity against them. He was physically incapable of having just a fun game, though. He disappeared when the wd version issued. At least he could argue that if they have a problem, buy the book and read up. Can't really say that, now.

Edit- Laughing God, on your inquiry as to codex update... there were a lot of rumors on new plastics and new codex prior to the wd issuance. Look up MadCowCrazy on heresy online for a fantastic rumor summary. Don't know if it is still active or accessible. Anyway, yeah, sadly the latest seems to be saying this is it for at least a year, so 2013 to 2014 or longer. I hope we will be surprised, but nothing at all to back it up. Just hope. Meantime, the models are still really nice IMHO.

Edit 2 stupid autocorrect

Gymnogyps wrote:Meantime, the models are still really nice IMHO.

Quite right, gotta look at the bright side.

I admit that my biggest fear for the day whenever we get plastics is that I won't like the new version, that their look and style was changed in a way I didn't like. Such as giving them smaller bolters as some of the rumours originally claimed, or the models sporting high heels (which a lot of people seem to be fond of, but I merely regard as pretty sexist and totally not cool).

The models are nice but they are really expensive. Any cheap buys on ebay are typically of dubious quality having been painted poorly /and/or well worn. My most recent list (2000 points) cost $1066.25 brand new. i don't even want to know how much my 5000 point Apoc army cost brand new. I'd like to add a few to my collection but I can't justify the expense even to me. I mean a unit of Retributors costs 70+ dollars with just 4 heavy weapons and a superior.

Sisters deserve the quality plastics that GW is putting out for otehr armies. I think GW is kidding themselves if they think they are going to move all the old metal merchandise becasue they put out a low quality codex. Yes, I know you can win with it and I have won with it, but it doesn't mean I leek the quality of the new codex compared to other 5th edition ones.

The good thing about the metal miniatures is that you can really feel their weight in your hand. This may sound somewhat elitist, but classic SoB minis just feel “more special“ because of it. I still lack any experience with finecast whatsoever, but I heard a lot of people comment that they are even lighter than normal plastics… It’s a damn pity we can apparently only opt for high detail (assuming that we won’t get gakky quality casts like some of the early finecast results) and easy convertability or the weight/feel and toughness of the original metals. I won’t go into speculations regarding the price, as I’m not entirely sure the difference will be that remarkable.

Fully agree about the WD Minidex being pretty lackluster, though. I feel somewhat penalized for sticking with my Canoness (who has lost a lot of options) instead of going for one of the special character crowd pleasers who are currently regarded as no-brainers…
Blasphemous, I say!

I was just thinking yesterday that the Command Squad is a great option if it wasn't for the silly Canoness you have to take to get it.

They should have made it an elite choice.

Army list legal? Yes.

Playable and/or effective? Variable and debatable.

Will they get another 'proper' codex soon?

Maybe in 6th ed. Two years give or take (no less than 18 months, judging by the BA WD codex to new codex delays).

@chromedog: in my experience, they are very playable and effective.

Lynata wrote:The good thing about the metal miniatures is that you can really feel their weight in your hand. This may sound somewhat elitist, but classic SoB minis just feel “more special“ because of it. I still lack any experience with finecast whatsoever, but I heard a lot of people comment that they are even lighter than normal plastics… It’s a damn pity we can apparently only opt for high detail (assuming that we won’t get gakky quality casts like some of the early finecast results) and easy convertability or the weight/feel and toughness of the original metals. I won’t go into speculations regarding the price, as I’m not entirely sure the difference will be that remarkable.

Fully agree about the WD Minidex being pretty lackluster, though. I feel somewhat penalized for sticking with my Canoness (who has lost a lot of options) instead of going for one of the special character crowd pleasers who are currently regarded as no-brainers…
Blasphemous, I say!

:: nods :: Though I usually prefer plastics because I personally find them easier to put together and paint, I will admit that it's nice to feel the weight of a metal infantry miniature. I have grown weary of having a backpack or two fall off every few games just from normal handling - and neither I nor my opponent are particularly rough on the miniatures. That could easily be poor workmanship on my part, though, as I don't press the parts tightly together for a short time before letting it dry, instead opting for the quicker method of applying glue, applying the pack, and placing the model face down with the backpack resting in its proper place thanks only to gravity and friction.

Finecast are very light indeed. I would agree that they're lighter than normal plastics, though I should point out that my only experience with Finecast is a Painboy, which I've never had a metal one of. In all honesty, when I was building my Painboy, I felt very conscious about its fragility. I worried that I might break it if I applied the amount of pressure I use for plastics or metal to try to make parts fit - specifically, trying to get the model's tab into the slottabase. I quickly opted for the method a local GW employee suggested when I purchased my Howling Banshees and Swooping Hawks - taking a set of plastic cutters, placing the flat side against the top of the tab, and pressing downward without exerting any pressure on the model itself. I discovered that the material was fairly soft - the flat side of the plastic cutters dug into the resin material, and had it been on the model rather than the tab, would likely have disfigured it in a way noticeable through paint.

Back on topic...

Yes, the blasphemy is strong with this one. I'll admit when I first got my hands on the WD Codex - actually, prior to that, as I had been discussing it here on the forums with people who had already gotten it - I drooled heavily over the "Uriah-bomb." Maniacal cackling was had in real life as I described it to my regular opponent, as I recall. They did not disappoint me in my first game with them, managing to horrifically butcher an 8-man Space Marine Honor Guard before they could react. It was under ideal circumstances, however, as they got the charge, the enemy were not in cover - which will really mess up the unit, as they lack assault grenades - and my opponent was used to her Honor Guard slaughtering every Sisters of Battle unit that I possessed, in every prior game the Honor Guard had seen.

I was impressed enough with them that I purchased two more Crusaders - I had already had a pair from when I purchased an Inquisitor and Retinue purely to make use of Sister Hospitaler models - and six Death-Cult Assassins, plus Uriah Jacobus. I later ordered other miniatures from Reaper Minis to proxy for the Crusaders and Jacobus, in the interest of having a purely female army.

I have also used Saint Celestine on occasion. In my defence, I was using her with the Witch Hunters Codex as well, simply because the model is gorgeous.

I too feel somewhat penalized when I opt not to take a Canoness. It is rather unfortunate, as I have a pair of Canon... Canonesses? Canonni? Whichever. One of which I have been using for around two years, the other of which is a more recent addition when I desired different wargear without having to remove arms - though they sometimes fall off anyways.

I also field a unit of Retributors with four Heavy Bolters. I was fielding this unit under the Witch Hunters Codex, with the main difference being that with the Witch Hunters Codex, the unit contained 4-5 additional Sisters, to make Divine Guidance more reliable.

However, I also take solace that I have deviated from the norm, in that my current list contains no Dominions. Some previous incarnations of my Sisters of Battle lists have featured between one and three Dominion Squads based on the buzz going on around them, however, most of those lists were never fielded - due in part to lack of appropriate models. I also have avoided Immolator spam, as I dislike using mechanized lists - my current 1500 points list contains 3 vehicles - a Rhino, an Exorcist, and a Penitent Engine.

I probably would have fielded more Seraphim, as the models are quite nice, except, well, they have done little for me. When I remember their use in games, the main incident that comes to mind is when 5 of the 6 survivors - from taking down two combat squads made from different Tactical Squads - died from dangerous terrain tests in one movement phase, as they jumped down from some ruins after finishing off the second combat squad. In retrospect, I should have moved them as infantry to ground level, as then dangerous terrain tests are not incurred.

However, despite the apparent nerf we have received, and the lack of plastics or a proper Codex, I will keep playing my Sisters of Battle - at least when I do not have the urge to play a different army. My opponent has stated that should I prefer using the Witch Hunters Codex, they would allow me that privilege, so if it comes to pass that I simply cannot stand the current Sisters Codex, I will have that to fall back upon, as I play exclusively with this person. My current post-Christmas shopping plans include a further three squads of Sisters of Battle, and I am considering eschewing the three squads of Steel Legion troopers also in my list in order to add an additional squad, in addition to squad leaders for each squad - as it stands, I would use the Superiors I already have... which may be a wise idea to begin with, to save on costs.

The cost of the models irritates me, especially when I look to my other armies and realize how much more I can get for them for the same dollar amount. I doubt Finecast would make them any cheaper, but there is always hope. And currently, I am very much hoping that the plastics will not be similar to Grey Knights in Power Armor in terms of model count and cost. I was fortunate enough to pick up five boxes of Battle Sisters when the boxes were still sold at my local GW - and come to think of it, it was back when the boxes still existed.

Oh dear, I hope it's not the sleep deprivation that's made me type like this, and so prolifically.

If your girlfriend wants to get into the game again perhaps try and persuade her not to pick up the faction where a single basic unit costs somewhere in the region of £50 just for ten basic bolter nuns.

pretre wrote:@chromedog: in my experience, they are very playable and effective.

Could be.
I've seen one very good player take first place in a major tourney with them - mind you this WAS using the WH codex and not the WD. Still, he has several other armies to play with as well.

Nobody plays them anymore (around here. they're waiting for a codex update, not a "have this, now piss off and stop annoying us" update). They're like necrons were three months ago. Or Tau.

chromedog wrote:

pretre wrote:@chromedog: in my experience, they are very playable and effective.

Could be.
I've seen one very good player take first place in a major tourney with them - mind you this WAS using the WH codex and not the WD. Still, he has several other armies to play with as well.

Nobody plays them anymore (around here. they're waiting for a codex update, not a "have this, now piss off and stop annoying us" update). They're like necrons were three months ago. Or Tau.

More fun for me then. When the folks who gave up realize that it isn't that bad and want to use their models, they'll come back.

We HAD one SoB player at my club in the last 14 years.
He stopped gaming a few years back due to declining health and had no children to pass his toys onto.

Of the 40k players in my club, 4 play Eldar, 1 plays Tyranids, 1 plays orks, 3 play necrons and the other 6 play marines of various stripes (the other 6 players don't play 40k, preferring fantasy).