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The cover is pretty sweeeeeet.

Looks to be Anna Steinbauer art. Beautiful stuff!

I know this is a stop gap release, but that also means we'll be getting something bigger/better down the road. <3 it!

 Nevelon wrote:
Looks like all the doomsayers were right: GW killed off the Sisters of Battle.

...


However, you can use all your old models as counts-as for your brand new Adepta Sororitas army! Well, all the ones that are still fieldable with the new rules. We'll find out in a few weeks. Not that I expect any to get left out in the cold, but there is always a chance with codex updates.

Sisters of Battle are a sub group of the Adepta Sororitas. So no, nothing was "killed", it just looks like the focus might be a bit broader than just the Militant Orders.

 ClockworkZion wrote:

 Nevelon wrote:
Looks like all the doomsayers were right: GW killed off the Sisters of Battle.

...


However, you can use all your old models as counts-as for your brand new Adepta Sororitas army! Well, all the ones that are still fieldable with the new rules. We'll find out in a few weeks. Not that I expect any to get left out in the cold, but there is always a chance with codex updates.

Sisters of Battle are a sub group of the Adepta Sororitas. So no, nothing was "killed", it just looks like the focus might be a bit broader than just the Militant Orders.

Which can only be a good thing in my book- some more Ecclesiarchy stuff would be awesome! I'm happy for them to leave the Ordo Hereticus in the GK dex though, would be weird to have the units in 2 codices anyway.

 Troike wrote:

Hoitash wrote:
And maybe less dying in droves. They seem to do that a lot.

Have you read their codex? They're the ones who do the asskicking. And the only SoB massacre in there, Santuary 101, gets one sentence devoted to it.

True, much ass is kicked in the codex. It does seem like in the overall lore, though, that they die a lot, but maybe my perspective is colored by all the nay-sayers in my gaming club.

 ClockworkZion wrote:
it just looks like the focus might be a bit broader than just the Militant Orders.

How would they go about that, though? The non-militants really can't do much on a battlefield apart from playing small supporting roles, as they do now. Though they could also be talking from a fluff perspective, maybe?

Yay! New book!

Hoitash wrote:
It does seem like in the overall lore, though, that they die a lot, but maybe my perspective is colored by all the nay-sayers in my gaming club.

They really don't, when you look at all avaliable fluff. It's mostly internet hyperbole, IMO. The Bloodtide alone caused a massive overreaction, to the point where some people seem to think that Ward is some creepy SoB murderer when on balance, he's written more positive fluff about them than negative (he wrote the WD codex fluff).

Its good to see some love for the Nuns with Guns

Lets hope the BA codex gets some good treatment too

Lucarikx

 Troike wrote:

 ClockworkZion wrote:
it just looks like the focus might be a bit broader than just the Militant Orders.

How would they go about that, though? The non-militants really can't do much on a battlefield apart from playing small supporting roles, as they do now. Though they could also be talking from a fluff perspective, maybe?

Well, technically, preachers and confessors and stuff aren't militant, because of the Ecclesiarchy restrictions. So I guess we could see "not-militant" units of absolute fanatics, sort of like the direct loyalist equivalent of chaos cultists.

Haighus wrote:Well, technically, preachers and confessors and stuff aren't militant, because of the Ecclesiarchy restrictions. So I guess we could see "not-militant" units of absolute fanatics, sort of like the direct loyalist equivalent of chaos cultists.

But then it should really be called "Codex: Ecclesiarchy" ...

I really think the rename doesn't make much sense. No idea why they might've done it.

Getting Frateris Militia/Zealots/Redemptionists back would be cool, though!

Haighus wrote:
Well, technically, preachers and confessors and stuff aren't militant, because of the Ecclesiarchy restrictions.

Sure, but neither are they Sororitas. Here, the first two paragraphs of this article explain it:
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Adepta_Sororitas#.Uk7q_xCGcfw

 Lynata wrote:

Haighus wrote:Well, technically, preachers and confessors and stuff aren't militant, because of the Ecclesiarchy restrictions. So I guess we could see "not-militant" units of absolute fanatics, sort of like the direct loyalist equivalent of chaos cultists.

But then it should really be called "Codex: Ecclesiarchy" ...

I really think the rename doesn't make much sense. No idea why they might've done it.

Getting Frateris Militia/Zealots/Redemptionists back would be cool, though!

Could say exactly the same thing about Codex: Chaos Space Marines, what with most of the top lists apparently having less than a handful of power armoured models... As long as the militia is not an automatic better option than sisters, I'm all for it though.

 Troike wrote:

 ClockworkZion wrote:
it just looks like the focus might be a bit broader than just the Militant Orders.

How would they go about that, though? The non-militants really can't do much on a battlefield apart from playing small supporting roles, as they do now. Though they could also be talking from a fluff perspective, maybe?

Not sure honestly. Fluff seems the most likely, but with GW you can never be 100% sure what they'll do.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Lucarikx wrote:
Its good to see some love for the Nuns with Guns

Lets hope the BA codex gets some good treatment too

Lucarikx

They're getting what they already have it seems.

Really like to new cover art. Mostly I'm really happy that we're getting new content.

I have a small sad face in that the 19th seems far away, but I can't wait for it to come around.

D

 ClockworkZion wrote:

 Nevelon wrote:
Looks like all the doomsayers were right: GW killed off the Sisters of Battle.

...


However, you can use all your old models as counts-as for your brand new Adepta Sororitas army! Well, all the ones that are still fieldable with the new rules. We'll find out in a few weeks. Not that I expect any to get left out in the cold, but there is always a chance with codex updates.

Sisters of Battle are a sub group of the Adepta Sororitas. So no, nothing was "killed", it just looks like the focus might be a bit broader than just the Militant Orders.

Sorry, with the name change I thought I'd toss a joke in there, as technically Codex: SoB is no more.

At least two of the non-militant orders are already represented in the command squad, where you can have a hospitaler and dialogus. Not that anyone takes them, as that would require a cannoness, but there you go. Not sure how they could work in the Famolus ones.

They could bump them up to be more then just members of a command squad, as actual ICs in their own right. Depends what they want to focus the army on. It's already morphed into C:WH and back, so who knows what's in store this time. We'll find out in a couple of weeks.

Holy moly, that cover art is great! I was concerned the digital codex would just be an old piece of art with minimal effort. GW has proved me wrong in this regard, so I can hope that even more good surprises await us on the 19th!

Heck, I might need to bump my combat patrol force of Sisters up to a full force! Their imagery is some of my favorite in 40k. I feel like the name change was to focus the army towards the more ornateness and unapproachability that the army often represents. That the name goes back to the Latin promotes this concept. They aren't Space Marines, functioning solely as weapons of war. They are the spirit of the greater Imperium.

At least that's how I take it.

Hoitash wrote:

 MWHistorian wrote:
I'm interested in the fluff that will come with it. I want more detailed and specific history, practices, organization, etc.

And maybe less dying in droves. They seem to do that a lot.

So do Imperial Fists.

beast_gts wrote:

 btldoomhammer wrote:
What is an Altar of War? Was there something similar before or is it something new?

Basically new missions. I don't think Sisters have had any before (but Marines are onto their second book of them!).

In the 3E Witch Hunter codex they had a mission called "Defend The Shrine".

You place the shrine in the middle of the table, the defender can set up units anywhere within 12" of the shrine.
The attacker splits his forces into 2 roughly equal forces and can deploy within 12" from the short table edges.

Then the Battle Missions book came and Spheeezeee Meehhhreeeneeezzz got All-Round Defence.
You place an objective in the middle, the defender deploys within 12" of it, enemy must deploy more than 18" from the centre of the table...


Oh how GW loves to twist that rusty fork into our sides...

Nevelon wrote:At least two of the non-militant orders are already represented in the command squad, where you can have a hospitaler and dialogus. Not that anyone takes them, as that would require a cannoness, but there you go. Not sure how they could work in the Famolus ones.

This isn't a premiere; we already had Non-Militant Sisters in the CA 2002 army list. In it, the Famulous basically unlocked the option to add squads from C:IG, representing Guard, PDF or militia forces seconded to the Ecclesiarchy by way of the Orders Famulous' "diplomatic" network.

Having these characters as ICs would be cool, but I really don't want to see the general style of the army shift away from the SoB.

Also, it's called Codex Imperial Guard even though it also has Commissars, Psykers and Confessors .. even a Navy guy, so meh.

The "make it sound more churchy" theory from Accolade is interesting, but if that was the intention I still don't agree with it. They've been the Sisters of Battle for, what, 20 years by now, and it just looks "out of place" to have this army be the only one referred to by its Adeptus name.


As for Missions, we actually had a bunch. The White Dwarf issue accompanying the 2E Codex release featured a mini-series of missions connected by the story of a Genestealer Cult attacking the local Ecclesiarchy. In the first mission you had to defend the temple, in the second you were scouting the enemy, and the third was a purge, iirc.
Also, one of the White Dwarf issues following the 5E Minidex released had three missions for SoB, too. I remember because of the accompanying fluff piece stating that the Sisters exterminated several Marine Chapters in the past.

 MadCowCrazy wrote:

beast_gts wrote:

 btldoomhammer wrote:
What is an Altar of War? Was there something similar before or is it something new?

Basically new missions. I don't think Sisters have had any before (but Marines are onto their second book of them!).

In the 3E Witch Hunter codex they had a mission called "Defend The Shrine".

You place the shrine in the middle of the table, the defender can set up units anywhere within 12" of the shrine.
The attacker splits his forces into 2 roughly equal forces and can deploy within 12" from the short table edges.

Then the Battle Missions book came and Spheeezeee Meehhhreeeneeezzz got All-Round Defence.
You place an objective in the middle, the defender deploys within 12" of it, enemy must deploy more than 18" from the centre of the table...


Oh how GW loves to twist that rusty fork into our sides...

I believe Defend the Shrine got a reprint in the Sept '11 WD as well. I don't have my codex with me to check though.

Either way, Defend the Shrine was a lot like the 3rd Ed Rulebook mission "Meatgrinder", just with an objective added.

Pretty exciting to see GW use this digital codex path to add army lists and supplemental army lists to forces that really need them. It's pretty fantastic to be honest and something that really sparks new interest in the hobby.

About the cover picture though, I can't see where all the laudation is coming from. The pose is just awful and she seems to be on steroids or HGH atleast judging from the facial features, all the while maintaining a bikini model slim waist. Additionally, even if the Adepta Sororitas officially sanctioned wargear includes triple D breast implants, I fail to see why the breastplate needs to have cups in it. Finally, the woman at the back appears to be the front one's clone (down to the same officially sanctioned mascara that they use), but if that's a thing in the background that I've missed then I apologise.

Sisters confirmed to be being released on all fronts on the 19th:

Matthew Austin So is the 19th the release date for all versions, or just the BL one?

Games Workshop: Digital Editions Hi Matthew, It's for all of them.
There will be an interactive edition on the iBookstore, and an eBook edition on Blacklibrary.com

- Eddie

Cool art. Hope Canoness' become better with more options...

 Therion wrote:
Pretty exciting to see GW use this digital codex path to add army lists and supplemental army lists to forces that really need them. It's pretty fantastic to be honest and something that really sparks new interest in the hobby.

About the cover picture though, I can't see where all the laudation is coming from. The pose is just awful and she seems to be on steroids or HGH atleast judging from the facial features, all the while maintaining a bikini model slim waist. Additionally, even if the Adepta Sororitas officially sanctioned wargear includes triple D breast implants, I fail to see why the breastplate needs to have cups in it. Finally, the woman at the back appears to be the front one's clone (down to the same officially sanctioned mascara that they use), but if that's a thing in the background that I've missed then I apologise.

I don't see whats the problem with having cups in the breastplate. 40k Armor is about being beautiful. This is 40k, where gothic, over the top armor is basically the way they roll. Strong, fit women are thin. Have you ever looked at army women?


They are women. A way to make that clear to the players and actually making them different from the astartes is by having them don such armor.

 ClockworkZion wrote:
And here's the cover:

Okay, maybe I'm a bad person, but that picture totally makes me think the new Sisters theme song should be this:

I spend my money on the regular miracles
just like you like me like everybody else
upon the sun looking sad and beautiful
just like you like me like everybody else

when it gets loud, I turn it up
(shake it like a bad girl up in harlem)
when it's too hot, I light it up
light it up yeah smoke em if you got em

What they're lighting up and smoking, in this case, ain't cigarettes but heretics....


The video is here if you don't have the song downloaded, but just listen and ignore the images: Just think of the three Sisters on that cover striding forward through the fire with bolter, flamer, and melta blazing in all directions.

Therion wrote:About the cover picture though, I can't see where all the laudation is coming from. The pose is just awful and she seems to be on steroids or HGH atleast judging from the facial features, all the while maintaining a bikini model slim waist. Additionally, even if the Adepta Sororitas officially sanctioned wargear includes triple D breast implants, I fail to see why the breastplate needs to have cups in it. Finally, the woman at the back appears to be the front one's clone (down to the same officially sanctioned mascara that they use), but if that's a thing in the background that I've missed then I apologise.

Battle Sisters have always looked that way. The Orders of the Sisterhood are monastic convents that practice a certain uniformity amongst their members, and in their role as living symbols of the Church Militant's might they do aim for an "angelic appearance". As for the cupped breastplate, although there is no official explanation yet, common theories are that they are the result of either the Ecclesiarchy attempting to circumvent the Decree Passive's rule of having "no men under arms", the mad High Lord Vandire's personal preferences, or quite simply a practice of the ancient sect of Daughters of the Emperor (basically Proto-SoB) on San Leor.

As teban mentioned, they fit nicely to the rest of 40k's visual aesthetics that are dominated by flying cathedral starships, chainsaw-blades and giant pauldrons.

I do agree that the waist looks a bit too thin on this piece of art (given that there should be a suit of powered armour underneath that corset, with up to an inch of ceramite plating plus an undersuit of electrically motivated fiber bundles), but as that is pretty much my only criticism and as the rest looks very badass, I can certainly live with it.

 Lynata wrote:

Therion wrote:About the cover picture though, I can't see where all the laudation is coming from. The pose is just awful and she seems to be on steroids or HGH atleast judging from the facial features, all the while maintaining a bikini model slim waist. Additionally, even if the Adepta Sororitas officially sanctioned wargear includes triple D breast implants, I fail to see why the breastplate needs to have cups in it. Finally, the woman at the back appears to be the front one's clone (down to the same officially sanctioned mascara that they use), but if that's a thing in the background that I've missed then I apologise.

Battle Sisters have always looked that way. The Orders of the Sisterhood are monastic convents that practice a certain uniformity amongst their members, and in their role as living symbols of the Church Militant's might they do aim for an "angelic appearance". As for the cupped breastplate, although there is no official explanation yet, common theories are that they are the result of either the Ecclesiarchy attempting to circumvent the Decree Passive's rule of having "no men under arms", the mad High Lord Vandire's personal preferences, or quite simply a practice of the ancient sect of Daughters of the Emperor (basically Proto-SoB) on San Leor.

As teban mentioned, they fit nicely to the rest of 40k's visual aesthetics that are dominated by flying cathedral starships, chainsaw-blades and giant pauldrons.

I do agree that the waist looks a bit too thin on this piece of art (given that there should be a suit of powered armour underneath that corset, with up to an inch of ceramite plating plus an undersuit of electrically motivated fiber bundles), but as that is pretty much my only criticism and as the rest looks very badass, I can certainly live with it.

Just equate it to sci fi and call it a day, stuff doens't have to work, it has to look good

A space wizard did it.

Ha, anybody else notice that all three weapons of the Holy Trinity are present on that artwork? A nice touch.