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Out of curiosity how would a sister treat a tech-priest? Would there be a tension between the two?

There's always tension any time a techpriest is involved, simply due to the fact that he or she doesn't follow the imperial cult's beliefs. But it would depend on the situation.

I don't think there would be much tenision bewteen a somewhat mellow guardsmen and a tech priest. Also, do sisters and IG have acesses to any form of orbital inserition similar to a drop pod?

I'm working on a massive campagain and fan fic. that why I'm asking so many odd questions.

The SOBs would have them around because of there vehicles and PEs. As long as they didn't say anything heretical they wouldn't be issues.

Melissia wrote:40k wikia uses fanfiction sources. There's really nothing wrong with this-- fanfiction can be a great way to help enjoy the genre. But it's not really helpful for canon (assuming you believe in such a thing).

They don't really "use fanfiction sources".

They fill in the blanks using their own theories, citing specific passages and the like(usually incorrect page #'s, paragraphs, etc) to "support" said theories but because of the wiki status, people accept it at face value.

Spidey0804 wrote:The SOBs would have them around because of there vehicles and PEs. As long as they didn't say anything heretical they wouldn't be issues.

I understand why would they have them but I think a faithful sob might have banter with a tech-priest that pretty strong in his faith.

Melissia wrote:There's always tension any time a techpriest is involved, simply due to the fact that he or she doesn't follow the imperial cult's beliefs. But it would depend on the situation.

Well if Titanicus is anything to go by - i think a lot of the "scale of tension" if i might phrase it as such depends on which part of the Imperial Cult is interacting with which part of the Mechanicus.

There are rather earnest believers in the concept of the Omnissiah-Emperor, which would simply make that section of the Mechanicus "our crazy cybered cousins...who still bow to the God-Emperor in their own way."

On the other end of the bell curve, you have the Omnissiah =/= Emperor - and that's where the real friction comes in.

Incidentally i do recall a Cain novel where Ciaphas still makes his obesiance to the Omnissiah shrine - why? Because the Emperor is still the Emperor, regardless of what form he comes in.

There hasn't been much lore between the sisters and mechanicus, so it's kinda hard to say I think, but I think due to the ardent beliefs of the Sisters that there would be at least some tension.

Well in Red and Black the sisters of battle and the mechanicus get along very well.

Necrosis wrote:Well in Red and Black the sisters of battle and the mechanicus get along very well.

I havent gotten to listen to it yet... stop spoiling it

Spidey0804 wrote:

Necrosis wrote:Well in Red and Black the sisters of battle and the mechanicus get along very well.

I havent gotten to listen to it yet... stop spoiling it

My apologizes.

Shouldn't they be able to do that? The IG often defers to the Space Marines, unless some military genius shows up.

The Machine Cult is an officially recognized and permissible branch of the Imperial Cult according to the High Lords of Terra and Ecclesiarchy.

Super zealots like SoB might be crabby about a techpriest, but then again, since their dogma also says the Machine Cult is ok, they may very well be cool with it. This isn't really something that can be generalized.

It is certainly possible for high-ranking Sisters of Battle to act as commanders of forces containing units of the Imperial Guard. Although this could be considered a violation of the Decree Passive, the Ecclesiarchy, through those Priests and Confessors installed in various Guard Commands, often manages to sway influential nobles and commanders to its side when calling for a War of Faith. The 2E Codex briefly deals with the subject, telling us that whilst the Wars of Faith must be approved by the High Lords and are technically meant to be funded and organised solely by the Ecclesiarchy, they are at times assisted by forces of the Imperial Guard or individual High Lords. It should be noted that the clerics accompanying most Guard regiments of Navy ships have a profound influence on its ships crew and commander, and many may be persuaded to assist in such a holy endeavour in order to serve their Emperor as dictated by the Church. In the vastness of space, communications are slow and often intermittent, explaining how entire Guard regiments and Navy fleets may occasionally “get lost“ to engage in some private war where it takes years until anyone notices. As we all know, the Imperium may even forget entire planets in its bureaucracy.
Nominal leadership of a War of Faith always rests with the Ecclesiarch and his appointed clerical emissary, yet in practice operational command – and thus authority over any Imperial Guard assets accompanying the crusade, almost always rests with a veteran Canoness from one of the Militant Orders, as they have the most experience in such matters.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the Sisters of Battle are trained to employ drastically different tactical and strategical doctrine than most Guard regiments, focusing on squads of Battle Sisters operating independently from one another to pursue a given goal as the Sisters Superior see fit. Depending on the squad's role, they will move towards the objective or support one another without much intervention from above. Naturally, the Canoness will have laid out a general battle plan and occasionally try to adapt to new situations by issueing new orders to her Sisters Superior, but in general a Sororitas force will not display the clockwork interaction displayed by many Guard regiments or Space Marine Chapters, placing high emphasis on a Sister Superior's personal assessment of a given situation. This difference to the Imperial Guard's “chessboard approach“ may prove problematic when a Canoness finds herself in charge of allied forces, but since they will likely keep their own command structure this fortunately should not prove too problematic. Another profound difference is, of course, the nature of the troops. Whilst the Imperial Guard is a resilient steamroller slowly hammering an enemy into submission, the Battle Sisters are an extremely mobile elite focusing on quick strikes against high-profile targets like noble lords, apostate Cardinals, Guard commanders or Space Marine Chapter Masters, or similarly swift punitive expeditions against mutants or supposed heretics in civilian populations. Whereas long-term engagements are the Imperial Guard's everyday business, the Battle Sisters are simply ill-equipped for this, as their gear requires much more maintenance and the fury of the Sororitas burns bright but fast, accompanied by a certain threat of exhausting their strength by acting too aggressive in the beginning of a campaign. Balancing these drastically different approaches may prove to be difficult, though there are many stories where it has been done successfully. For example, Canoness Carmina's command of the Armageddon Hive Militia regiments was described as a “masterfully coordinated tactical manoeuvre“, even moreso since she managed to anticipate the actions and effects of the uncooperative Flesh Tearers Space Marine Chapter and managed to have the Astartes drive the Orks directly into a fortified ambush prepared by her Sisters and the Militia without even having (or being able) to tell the Marines.

Sisters of Battle acting as Sergeants or “Commissars“ of individual squads, however, seems less likely out of two reasons: firstly because each Guard regiment will already have its own command structure in place and “ursurping“ it may seem inappropriate at best and may draw Inquisitorial scrutiny at worst. Secondly, the Battle Sisters are operating in squads, with each Sister Superior having “adopted“ a cadre of Sisters Militant to care for and lead in battle. To find a Sister not belonging to a squad is highly unorthodox and would likely only happen in actual combat where she was cut off from her group or everyone else is dead. In these circumstances, however, it is entirely possible that Sisters and Guardsmen will fight side by side, forming ad-hoc groups of likeminded warriors intent on driving back the enemy and avenging the deaths of their comrades. As we can read in numerous sources, the zeal of the Battle Sisters has a very inspirational effect on Guard morale.
An example from GW's old Armageddon 3 campaign website, for example, tells us that “their sheer faith in the divine Emperor has been decisive in several engagements. Battered and dispirited Guardsmen have been given new heart as the Sisters refuse to give ground under ferocious Orks assaults and within the Hives, the impassioned words of resistance spoken by the Sisterhood has steadied the resolve of entire populations.“

It should be noted, however, that members of the Sisterhood do occasionally display a commisar'ish attitude and are quite capable of attempting to police the ranks of the Imperial Guard or even the Space Marines, although not in a permanent position but rather a side-activity. At the very least, the Order of the Argent Shroud has managed to garner a certain reputation for these kinds of activities:

The following is an excerpt from a message sent by General Kurov of the Armageddon Command Guard, dated 2912999.M41:
[...]As we are all aware, the Order of the Argent Shroud are renowned for their mandate of regulating the activities of not just members of the Ecclesiarchy, but of other Imperial organisations they come into contact with as well. Whilst I appreciate their dedication and success at rooting out traitors and dissenters within our midst, the effect upon the general morale of any fighting arm during their investigations almost always depreciates as their purges continue.[...]

As such it seems clear that the presence of a force of Adepta Sororitas Battle Sisters is very much a two-edged sword for any allied troops. As long as you can point the Sisters towards the common foe, they will perform with valor and uplift the spirits of every Guardsman witnessing them do battle. Out of combat, however, one must be careful not to have the Sisters mingle too much with other fighting arms of the Imperium, lest the former may attempt to force their extreme standards of faith and purity upon those men and women who have grown up in Hive gangs, wilder clans or farmer families instead of a monastic community – with potentially disastrous results.

Still, the Adepta Sororitas enjoy a great amount of popularity, and it is my belief that any notion that the common Guardsmen would view them as crazed fanatics is driven by a misplaced comparison to modern world attitudes. As the designer's notes for the Witch Hunters Codex in WD #292 note:
“By the standards of the 21st century, these girls are fanatical zealots, but in the context of the 41st millennium they are paragons of virtue, whose every action is a manifestation of the divine will of the God-Emperor of Mankind. It's all a matter of perspective, you see.“

Plus, even General Kurov's previously cited warning finishes with the words that “now [that] the Third Armageddon War has started in earnest, the Order of the Argent Shroud will be concentrating more upon defeating the Ork invaders than governing our own forces. In spite of the reputation that often precedes them in extended campaigns, the Order is a fine fighting organisation that will provide a solid back bone for the rest of our armies in the Fire Wastes.“


Disclaimer: The above opinion reflects the writer's personal interpretation of a uniform summary of official Games Workshop sources, including rulebooks, codices and issues of White Dwarf or the Citadel Magazine. Outsourced and licensed products or fan-fiction containing elements incompatible to these sources have been dismissed and ignored.

The Sisterhood, IMO, has and will on occasion take command of loyal Imperial troops whose own officers may be dead (or lack suitable zeal). Guard regiments can be equally fanatical and see a Sister, like the Astartes as a direct instrument of the Emperor's Will. This sort of unit will often have many preachers of their own who will reinforce this belief. The Sisterhood like Marines tends to maintain its own command structure and act independently, but in extremis a Sister would act as she saw best to fulfil her duties - if that meant taking command - she would do so without hesitation. However, the Sororitas are limited in numbers and like the Astartes, often seem to have difficulty understanding less single minded warriors.

With the codex sources being so limited I tend to look to the BL to see how this can work:

In Legion of the Damned - the Sisterhood stand somewhat aloof from the other Imperial forces - they have a sacred duty to perform - and that takes precedence. Elements fight side by side with the other defenders but they do not take control, leaving that task to the reluctant Astartes.

In Helsreach, the Sisterhood again defend their temples and those who shelter within them and lead other defenders by inspiration and deeds rather than as commanders.

In Duty Calls - elements of the planetary militia on Periremunda near one convent basically follow their orders and requirements - gladly - even though they not technically under their command. Veteran guardsmen from off world such as Colonel Kasteen reacts favourably - for instance in this exchange.

"Battle Sisters", Kasteen said, her voice taking on a tinge of awe.
I (Cain) nodded, " I suppose if any planetary force can be considered uncompromised by the 'stealers it would be them." I conceded. After all, they were hardly likely to pass on the taint even if they were infected, and in the atmosphere of Emperor-bothering piety in which they lived I doubted that anyone touched by the Xenos could escape detection very long.
"By the Emperors Grace" Kasteen said.

When Cannoness Eglantine speaks in the planetary briefing - her words hold considerable weight.

As usual, Lynata, a thoroughly comprehensive and enjoyable read.

In regard to the OP:
Why not use the Sisters of Battle as ministorum priests? I think that in such a role they fit quite well (both fluff wise and game wise).
They shout lythanies(sp?) of hatred at the enemies while at the same time soaking themselves in blood on the battle field.

Also, this way they aren't really in command of the regiment but are able to provide some guidance to the troops.

Just some thoughts...
Loner

Ehm, read what Lynata wrote about they training in squad-tactics. Also the only Sisters of Battle I can see attached to an Imperial Guard-regiment are the Sister Hospitalliers.

Beaviz81 wrote:Ehm, read what Lynata wrote about they training in squad-tactics. Also the only Sisters of Battle I can see attached to an Imperial Guard-regiment are the Sister Hospitalliers.

In which case the hospitallier model would made a great replacement for the Command Squad medic.

And, as Lynata said, it's not uncommon for sisters to group up with guardsmen in the middle of battle. I personally think the Ministorum priests is a great idea, it would be a good representation of a sister (or a couple of them) being seperated from the main force and inspiring the guardsmen they've grouped up with on to further acts of zeal and bravery. Fits perfectly, the only problem is that their power armour isn't represented at all. Perhaps wayward repentia?

Repentias are lead, and are SOB that have failed, all they know is that their duty is to die for the Emperor, and they have failed miserably if they end up alive and alone. So in my book a Repentia who somehow is alone would just charge the nearest monstrosity and not go to a squad of guardsmen who ain't likely to charge a Bloodthirster f.ex.

Then again the woman in charge of the Repentia might join a squad of guardsmen and act like their Priest, as she is likely to take charge of the whole thing without too many questions asked. I wouldn't ask 100 kilo of fanatical angry nun any questions. Especially not when she is using very painful whips.

Beaviz81 wrote:Repentias are lead, and are SOB that have failed, all they know is that their duty is to die for the Emperor, and they have failed miserably if they end up alive and alone. So in my book a Repentia who somehow is alone would just charge the nearest monstrosity and not go to a squad of guardsmen who ain't likely to charge a Bloodthirster f.ex.

I realise, though the eviscerator and poor armour save would fit perfectly. You might be able to justify it by saying the guardsmen are simply following her on their own accord, rather than her leading them (hell she might not even be aware of them), as they are inspired as she dismembers foe after foe with a passion.

And as they are independant characters, you wouldn't necessarily have to even put her in a squad, though this is an almost sure waste of points.

An Arco-Flaggy is impressive as well, I wouldn't recommend following them around. That's how I think the Repentia would be, totally frenzied. The only thing keeping them not slicing everyone nearby to pizza is the leader of that squad.

Arco-flaggelant's are a different case, they literally would not be able to tell the difference between friend or foe, or even the concept, if they were in combat-mode (I think).
Repntia sisters are zealous, but they are not jacked up like Charlie Sheen on christmas on so many combat drugs that they are absolutely crazy. In Faith and Fire it shows a Repentia taking a (somewhat sombre) moment to identify whether a crew member was a traitor or friend before dismembering him.

And the guardsmen could just be following at a 'safe' distance after all.

Still even in the works of Mitchell, only the squad-leaders talk to the outsiders, no-one else. And as previously written the only SOB that would join up with a IG regiment is a Sister Hospitallier.

Yes, but as we're talking about a battlefield situation here, where the sisters or repentia are either seperated or the sole survivors, that probably wouldn't apply.

The Sisters could be a maybe depending on their age, tactical skill and seniority, as learning on the job is the Imperium of Mankind's Operati Mundi. The Repentia is there to commit suicide in the name of the Emperor, so I'm not really supportive of that storyline, as they are only slightly less insane than the Arcos in my mind.

Kanluwen wrote:

Melissia wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:

Melissia wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:The Guard who have served alongside the more militant Orders are quite aware of the fact that the Sororitas accomplish quite amazing feats of battle through sheer stubbornness.

Yes, but Sisters are not incompetents. They are trained in combat tactics and strategy, the history of war, and so on and so forth.

They might be trained in the theories of war, but that does not mean they actively utilize said training.

The same could be said about your beloved Cadians, too.

In what regard?

I'm not saying "Sisters are stupid, and they deserve to die constantly!".

They simply are not, in universe, regarded by the Imperial Guard regiments of any notable renown as tactically competent. They have a different set of standards which they use to denote a "victory".

Those standards are fairly close to that of Orks, with the exception of the "We can't lose if we run away, because we're coming back for another go!" clause which is seemingly absent, as they'd rather get stuck in and go out in a glorious last stand than running away.
This results in them using a totally different set of tactics that one does not see in the majority of the Astartes Chapters or the Imperial Guard at large--where in the Astartes Chapters, each Battle-Brother is considered in a cost:benefit ratio as to whether or not the Imperium is best served by their death. The Imperial Guard regiments worth talking about utilize a similar--if less strict--ratio to consider.

This reminds me of some dudes we've mentioned on Dakka before...

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3p1kah/

There are too many that think of the Sisters of Battle as premenstrual nuns who all have anger-issues. What they miss are how great they are as soldiers. In my mind the SOB is the second best soldiers in the IOM.

Well I leave 'cool-headed' elite soldiers with a profound awareness of tactics as a niche for Codex Marine chapters.

SoB are much cooler to me if imagined as leading Ecclesiarchial warbands of fanatics with torches, pitchforks and the like, screaming ALL UNBELIEVERS MUST DIE!!!!


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Beaviz81 wrote:There are too many that think of the Sisters of Battle as premenstrual nuns who all have anger-issues.

No those are the players

Many of the Canonesses are military geniuses. There just ain't a wise idea to keep them around, as you should just point them at the nearest foe and yell: "Heretic!"

And yes they are indeed extremely elite, their faith even augments them a tad. They act swiftly and with flexibility.