Sisters of battle and custom fluff.

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**Psienesis**

Rivalries between individual Inquisitors, when it comes to taking one another out, is often fought as a shadow war, using deniable assets, shadowy, external groups, disposable acolytes, etc. The Sisterhood would, most likely, not be used in such a situation, unless and until one of these Inquisitors has enough solid evidence against his/her rival to bring to an Inquisitorial Court and have them declared Excommunicatus.

**Lynata**

Indeed - you don't just go and denounce or execute another Inquisitor, you either fight them covertly, or you keep quiet and collect evidence until you can make a move during an official Conclave. Rarely it becomes as open as what we see in the background of Karamazov, and that only happened because he is a master troll who doesn't care what his colleagues think or say.

If two OH Inquisitors would petition a convent, I imagine the Canoness would go either with the request that seems more urgent, or would tell the Inquisitors to sort out their order of precedence there and then. In most cases, an Inquisitor should be aware of how dangerous a colleague is and whether they can risk defying them that way. In even more cases, both Inquisitors will already be connected through a web of contacts that would determine the senior, likely by how close they are to some Inquisitor Lord.

That being said, how likely is it that two Inquisitors petition a convent simultaneously? And if it does not happen at exactly the same time but still within a short timeframe, the Order will likely already be too busy when the second request arrives, or will be able to spare the necessary troops anyways. No conflict of interests there.

SerQuintus wrote:The idea of the Grey Knights being the only Chamber Militant irks the hell out of me.

I'm almost sure that was just a one-off in the GK Codex, and that the 6E Rulebook has backpedaled on it. Either because the Codex bit was an error by the author, or because GW reconsidered this change.
But as I'm still not home I can't check the exact wording to make sure ... Psienesis?

**pretre**

@Lynata:
Okay...
P159, Sisters of Battle are the military wing of the AMinistorum.
P180, "The Ordo keeps close ties with the Sisters of Battle" Does not list as a chamber militant. This is the bottom left I think you're thinking about.
P195, SOB page reiterates military arm of AMinis. No mention of Inq.

**Frazzled**

MWHistorian wrote:
Well, SOB orders simply aren't as divergent as Space Marine chapters. Variations in tactical doctrine will be more subtle. Look at the United States marines vs. the Army. Same people, same equipment, same weapons. (for the most part.) What differentiates the two are the way they apply those what they have and the attitude. The US Marines fight different than the Army. The Marines are fewer, far more aggressive and work more with the Navy. The Army brings a whole lot more troops that are less trained and dedicated and have a few more neat toys.
Apply that to Sisters.
Say you have one order, the Order of the Bloody Lady or whatever. They love to rush forward, shouting prayers to the Emperor and use a lot of Dominions and Seraphim. They want to get in as close as possible as soon as possible.
Then you have the Order of the Iron Vow. They love lots of heavy weapons behind protective barriers. They have a lot of bastions, ADL's, Excocists and Retributers.
The you have the Order of the Penitent Lady and guess what they use a LOT of: Repentia and Penitent Engines.

So, though the orders use the same tactical doctrine, there is still a lot of room for variation.

As for new toys? Use allies but make them sisters. Exp. Use allied IG with a LR tank and have a sister sticking out the top. Or sentinels and make them look like something the sisters would use. Or an allied Space Marine, use a Master of the Forge, but model it like some weird Mechanicum freak and have a Thunder fire cannon with a flyr de lies on it.
Official stuff? Not so much.
My army has a female tech priest. Because.

Oh, and I got some SOB fluff in the More Dakka fluff section.

MW has the way of it. Use allies and just make them additional units in your SOB force. Just model heads appropriately. Use similar paint schemes, and view this as a chance to let your modeling talent shine. You could even take ally units rules and model something very unique.

**Psienesis**

Not at home to check but, off the top of my head, I think Petre is in the ballpark. While they've always been the militant arm of the Ecclesiarchy, I think they have backpedaled on an outright statement of being the CM of the OH. That does not mean that they *aren't*, though the WD Codex seems to have cut out most/all of the Inq-specific units, which suggests that they are no longer attached to the Inq... which is sad, really, because that Finecast mini of the Solomon Kane-like Inquisitor with the sword and the inferno pistol is hell of cool.

**pretre**

Psienesis wrote:
the Solomon Kane-like Inquisitor with the sword and the inferno pistol is hell of cool.

I have him in metal. He's the primaris psyker in my counts-as Ordo Hereticus strike force that uses IG rules. He still manages to get the SOB to help him out occasionally.

**Troike**

Psienesis wrote:
though the WD Codex seems to have cut out most/all of the Inq-specific units, which suggests that they are no longer attached to the Inq...

Not necessarily, it just seems to be a shift of focus. The WH phase obviously focused on how they worked alongside the Ordo Hereticus, their previous and subsequent codexes are focused on their role as the Ecclesiarchy's soldiers.

The 6e rulebook says that they keep close ties, which would suggest that they still work together a lot. Not unexpected, really. To me the OH and Sisterhood seem like such natural allies.

I think the problem here is that nothing has been explicitly retconned or clarified, so it's kinda ambigous.

**pretre**

Troike wrote:
I think the problem here is that nothing has been explicitly retconned or clarified, so it's kinda ambigous.

What are you looking for? A note in the codex that says specifically that they aren't an Chamber Militant? Other than that, they've done everything to change the C:WH stance in C:GK, C:SOB and the Main Rulebook.

**Troike**

pretre wrote:
What are you looking for? A note in the codex that says specifically that they aren't an Chamber Militant? Other than that, they've done everything to change the C:WH stance in C:GK, C:SOB and the Main Rulebook.

Though they're still noted as working very closely. Sounds like a Chamber Militant relationship to me.

**Frazzled**

Eissel wrote:
^ Thank you for that response. The "Allies but sisters" thing is actually something I was thinking about because I have a land raider that I wanted to do something with, but I had no idea how to make the actual space marines.

My store is super duper serious about WYSIWYG (to the point they won't even allow you to use certain conversions), and even if they weren't it's not like I could just make them sisters with a different color scheme. That'd be too much confusion, I think.

Why? You can make it comepletely WYSWYG.
example: IG
1. converted light: same exact IG units, just in similar colors to the SOB, and with female heads.
2. converted heavy: female heads; SOB colors, actual same weapons but different vehicles (Panther body instead of a Leman Russ Body, that sort of thing).

**Lynata**

pretre wrote:P159, Sisters of Battle are the military wing of the AMinistorum.
P180, "The Ordo keeps close ties with the Sisters of Battle" Does not list as a chamber militant. This is the bottom left I think you're thinking about.
P195, SOB page reiterates military arm of AMinis. No mention of Inq.

Thanks, just got back home and took a look myself. The term "Chapter Militant" seems to have vanished entirely, although it is of note that the Inquisition's relationship to the Deathwatch and the Grey Knights are described in a similar manner as the Sisters. Also, as per page 187, the Grey Knights are "again" only the military arm of the Ordo Malleus rather than the Inquisition as a whole, just as I suspected/recalled.
The three organisations thus seem to remain Chambers Militant in all but name.

But I have to say, I wonder if GW is aiming to get rid of the term entirely or if this is just a "phase" and it'll pop back up in the next book.

**Dannyevilguy**

I have a sisters allied detachment for my IG, but I treat them as the ones in charge who are using the mass of soldiers as fodder and support. Though they are also vampires commanding undead...sooo not really able to be called loyalists anymore. Still, check out my gallery (Vampire Counts 40k) to see the idea behind painting and modelling 2 armies in a similar scheme.

Creates a cool look and allows your allies to make sense no matter what they are. Then just make the tactics whatever you want to suit the new army/faction you have created.

**Veteran Sergeant**

Dannyevilguy wrote:
I have a sisters allied detachment for my IG, but I treat them as the ones in charge who are using the mass of soldiers as fodder and support. Though they are also vampires commanding undead...sooo not really able to be called loyalists anymore. Still, check out my gallery (Vampire Counts 40k) to see the idea behind painting and modelling 2 armies in a similar scheme.

That's a lot of heresy you have going on there.

I approve. The Hellhounds with the bubbling goo tanks are pretty slick.

**tundrafrog1124**

MWHistorian wrote:
Well, SOB orders simply aren't as divergent as Space Marine chapters. Variations in tactical doctrine will be more subtle. Look at the United States marines vs. the Army. Same people, same equipment, same weapons. (for the most part.) What differentiates the two are the way they apply those what they have and the attitude. The US Marines fight different than the Army. The Marines are fewer, far more aggressive and work more with the Navy. The Army brings a whole lot more troops that are less trained and dedicated and have a few more neat toys..

So of this is correct, some not so much.

Marines are, as you said fewer in number, their tactics are to secure positions in short order allowing for large scale deployment to proceed. I.E. securing a beachhead. Because of this the Marines are trained in ways different for the U.S. Army infantry men. (The Marines are used by the Navy in mission required by them.)

The U.S. Army is too large a force to be so simplified. The U.S. Army consists of the Airborne, Rangers, Delta Force, Special Forces, armored companies, infantry companies, and artillery companies. The U.S. Army is trained for a variety of different tasks, whether lighting fast assaults, prolonged wars of attrition or silent infiltration and disruption. In no way is the Army, less trained. (The Army is a standalone force, but often works in conduction with the Air Force as they used to the Army Air Core and the two branches retain their close ties.)

ON TOPIC: A way to differentiate your SOB is two have them be a strict assault force. I.E. if the unit cannot fit into a transport you don't take it

**MWHistorian**

The Marines are also trained in a variety of missions. While I Iraq our detainee facility was guarded by Marines in towers. Not their usual mission. I should have been clearer, I was comparing basic grunts. Infantry to infantry. Artillery to artillery, etc.

**BlaxicanX**

The best thing about the Warhammer 40K universe is that there is no canon and all of the fluff is up to your own personal interpretation. That leaves a lot of fluffy flexibility with which you can define your army's style however you choose.

For example, my SoB army is comprised of a bunch of strong independent black women who don't need no God-Emperor. They travel through Imperial space in a giant Battle-Barge shaped like Margaret Thatcher's face, liberating oppressed Sororitas from the Patriarchy.

I use a Beyonce' doll as a counts-as Celestine model.

**MWHistorian**

BlaxicanX wrote:
The best thing about the Warhammer 40K universe is that there is no canon and all of the fluff is up to your own personal interpretation. That leaves a lot of fluffy flexibility with which you can define your army's style however you choose.

For example, my SoB army is comprised of a bunch of strong independent black women who don't need no God-Emperor. They travel through Imperial space in a giant Battle-Barge shaped like Margaret Thatcher's face, liberating oppressed Sororitas from the Patriarchy.

I use a Beyonce' doll as a counts-as Celestine model.

At that point they're not SOB, so why bother?

**BlaxicanX**

How are they not Sisters of Battle at that point? Chaos Marines are still Space Marines.

**MWHistorian**

BlaxicanX wrote:
How are they not Sisters of Battle at that point? Chaos Marines are still Space Marines.

They're defined by their faith in the emperor. Take that away and they become something else. SM are defined by being giant super human warriors.

**Void__Dragon**

Why couldn't it be faith in their own independence?

**MWHistorian**

Void__Dragon wrote:
Why couldn't it be faith in their own independence?

Why don't I have chaos marines that love everyone and open charities for the poor?

**Void__Dragon**

Why couldn't Chaos Marines do that though?

The path to Hell is paved with good intentions after all, so a warband could start off quite charitably and honorably.

**Lynata**

Of course, such .. "deviations" are about on the same level as a Guard regiment consisting of pulserifle-armed catgirls and the God-Emperor actually being a teddybear. If that's still "40k" for you guys - well, I guess we all have our opinions.

BlaxicanX: Do you also have Space Marines that see themselves as the Imperium's last line of defense against encroaching Feminist Cults? Seems like that would fit the theme. You could have them wear those Al Bundy t-shirts maybe.

**Troike**

Void__Dragon wrote:
Why couldn't Chaos Marines do that though?

The path to Hell is paved with good intentions after all, so a warband could start off quite charitably and honorably.

But that actually fits in with the fluff. Chaotic corruption has often crept in through good intentions. This is more similar to something like pacifist Orks or highly emotional Necron warriors. Pretty much goes against the entire nature of that army.

**Lynata**

Shush. I'm fairly sure this is not intended to be a serious debate.

... or is it?

**Troike**

Lynata wrote:
Shush. I'm fairly sure this is not intended to be a serious debate.

... or is it?

Was just making a point against Void Dragon's, which was made seriously.

And I basically made the same point that you did, with your catgirl regiment and teddy Big E.

**Lynata**

I know, I know - it just sounds like bait to me. I had hoped that my comment was still unserious enough, hence those specific examples.

**Psienesis**

Sounds like the plot to a blaxploitation film, circa 1974, apart from using Margaret Thatcher's face for a ship (which is not even thematically keeping with the joke-theme of that army, given who Margaret Thatcher was.)

**Melissia**

That's sillier than hello kitty Orks...

I don't know if I'd really want to play against that just on principle.

**Kain**

My wife made the Sisters of Cold Purity Ordo Minoris to go with my Ice Dragons Space Marines and Frost Sabres Imperial Guard. As well as our joint Nix Malleum Titan legion project. Still somewhat conceptual.