Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Yeah, she's quite the prolific voice actress, though I'm lead to believe that it's actually a fairly small industry... almost how you only see the same two dozen Hollywood actors in any and all movies produced within a given ten-year stretch.

 Furyou Miko wrote:
Or, even better, Repentia leading zealot mobs!

Now that's an idea. Going off to write rules now....

Hmm...

While I like the imagery of that, Im not sure it's exactly... fitting... for the Repentia. After all, I could see that leading armies of the faithful into righteous battle with His enemies would be something of an honor for a Sister selected to do so... and the Repentia are Repentia because it's a punishment, whether self-inflicted or otherwise.

Not sure they would permit themselves, or be permitted, that kind of "honor".

I dunno about mixing Repentias and zealots. On the tabletop, I see them doing fairly different jobs. Zealots would be your distraction/meatshields, Repentias are your hard hitters. Also seems like it'd make Repentias seem less unique, and they are supposed to be outcasts, after all.

 Psienesis wrote:
Hmm...

While I like the imagery of that, Im not sure it's exactly... fitting... for the Repentia. After all, I could see that leading armies of the faithful into righteous battle with His enemies would be something of an honor for a Sister selected to do so... and the Repentia are Repentia because it's a punishment, whether self-inflicted or otherwise.

Not sure they would permit themselves, or be permitted, that kind of "honor".

I dunno. The Sisters are highly trained professionals who've spent their entire lives at arms and at prayer. Being assigned to work with "those fething Frateris amateurs" might be considered punishment detail, in some ways worse than being in a Repentia squad because you're not around other Sisters anymore; even a fallen Sister is worth more than a bunch of holy warrior wannabes who were sinners and civilians just a few weeks ago.

PS: Some of those Frateris putzes keep trying to spy on you changing in and out of your armor. Fething hypocritical dicks.

Leading militias sounds like like a job for an experienced Sister Superior - that's how the Sororitas did it on Armageddon, anyways. Repentia are quite likely too focused on finding redemption than actually leading. Unless your definition of "leading" is "charging ahead without caring for what happens behind her".

flamingkillamajig wrote:Finally my favorite they're driving around in a downward spiral and Beltane comes around from the other side. "Brother Beltane! Quickly, intercept them!" 'Yes, your eminence!' *Beltane crashes into them* "Brother your sacrifice is not in vain." 'But i'm still alive your eminence!' "Oh I see."

flamingkillamajig wrote:Anyway that comic is hilarious. What's it all from?

"The Redeemer" and "Kal Jerico". Both different comic series, but they both play in Necromunda. One focuses on the whacky leader of the Red Redemption, the other is about a sly bounty hunter and his idiot sidekick. Another fun one you might enjoy is "Deff Skwadron" which is about an Ork Fighta-Bomma squadron.

I honestly think the 40k comics are better than the novels. They tend to be less over-exaggerated (which personally I think gets boring fast) and instead feel as if they manage better to convey the thematic elements that make the setting feel so unique. Plus they are way more diverse than the novels which are 90% Space Marines. The silly ones above are more of an exception, though; generally the comics focus on adventure just like the novels do, just in a different way.

The comics really are excellent. I usually avoid Space Wolf novels (and, having recently given in and read Blood of Asaheim because of the many... glowing... reviews of its treatment of Sisters, I now remember why. Ugh.), but Lone Wolves completely breaks the mould and tells a story perfectly balanced between the Valhallan Guardsmen and the Space Wolves... the only egrarious part being the interstellar-capable Thunderhawk, heh.

 Furyou Miko wrote:
I usually avoid Space Wolf novels (and, having recently given in and read Blood of Asaheim because of the many... glowing... reviews of its treatment of Sisters, I now remember why. Ugh.)

Oh? I was told that the Sisters got an allright portrayal in that. Were they portrayed badly?

The rumors are warming up.

www.facebook.com/GamesWorkshopDigitalEditions

 SisterSydney wrote:

 Psienesis wrote:
Hmm...

While I like the imagery of that, Im not sure it's exactly... fitting... for the Repentia. After all, I could see that leading armies of the faithful into righteous battle with His enemies would be something of an honor for a Sister selected to do so... and the Repentia are Repentia because it's a punishment, whether self-inflicted or otherwise.

Not sure they would permit themselves, or be permitted, that kind of "honor".

I dunno. The Sisters are highly trained professionals who've spent their entire lives at arms and at prayer. Being assigned to work with "those fething Frateris amateurs" might be considered punishment detail, in some ways worse than being in a Repentia squad because you're not around other Sisters anymore; even a fallen Sister is worth more than a bunch of holy warrior wannabes who were sinners and civilians just a few weeks ago.

PS: Some of those Frateris putzes keep trying to spy on you changing in and out of your armor. Fething hypocritical dicks.

Yeah, but the Repentia don't wear armor. Per their fluff, and the artwork, they might actually not wear anything at all, though the age-range of the game prevents that from being depicted in the model line. Some might just be wearing some prayer-scroll pasties and a sacred sacrament merkin. The Repentia really don't seem to be into the whole modesty thing.... and really, really, really want to die in glorious battle.

I know, I just prefer my Repentia with a little more clothing, dignity, and tactics -- more like what the current models and current rules portray with the change to Rage.

I have to say I like the idea of a fallen Palatine or other senior officer being deemed too great a failure to put in a regular Repentia squad and sent to lead the Frateris rabble. (In game terms either as an IC or a unit upgrade, I'm not sure which).

Yeah, I don't think the Repentia are just going to throw their lives away (otherwise there would probably be some Sacrament of Assisted Suicide or something), but I also don't think they look at a battle-plan and discard it because casualties (of their own) will be too high. They don't expect to, and are hoping not to, survive their engagement, and instead are looking to take as many heretics out with them.

TBH, I think I would rather see the various Ecclesiarchal figures (the Confessor, say) being the IC of choice to lead a Frateris Rabble. They form around the Battle-Sisters, they being the solid core of the army, and follow them into battle, but are actually being "lead" by some Preacher, Confessor or other Ecclesiarchal figure.

 Melissia wrote:
Sounds legit to me.

They'd totally do that.

Who better to inspire fanatic zeal than those whom have given themselves over to fanatic zeal completely and utterly-- to the point of apparently being blessed by the Emperor with luck and prowess?

How about a Sister's version of the Mobbing Up rule? Frateris Militia can/must pass a Leadership test when within 6" of Repentia and if the test is passed/failed (depends on your perspective there I suppose) the Frateris join the Repentia in a wave of righteous frenzy. You could even use the ork fearless mechanic given to mobs over 11 models with the Frateris, sounds about right I would say.

Yeah, that sounds better. The Repentia squad is just there, doing their thing, and all of a sudden they find themselves being carried forward on a human wave in the throes of a religious frenzy.

It would help to give the Repentia squad more chance of reaching the enemy without them actually leading the militia. You could have a reverse of the rule that says once the Frateris get below half strength (of whatever size their group was when it 'mobbed up' with the Repentia) they automatically fall back, possibly living the Repentia up their necks in gak but I guess that would be the point!

Hmm... though.... the Repentia already have Fleet. Would they grant that to the mob? I wouldn't think so... so one might end up losing the Repentia on the approach anyway, without some movement shenanigans, as casualties are taken from the front, and if they are using Fleet they are going to be sprinting ahead of the mob.

Though I guess that depends on basically not taking advantage of the Fleet rule until you get close enough to Move and then Assault... but if you're charging a gunline army, I don't think the Frateris Mob is going to make that much of a difference.

Psienesis wrote:Hmm... though.... the Repentia already have Fleet. Would they grant that to the mob?

Come to think of it, that would be an elegant solution, no?

Gameplaywise, you could use the militia as cannonfodder to protect the precious Repentia. Fluffwise, it's a bunch of fanatics getting inspired by someone even more zealous, and rallying around them (thus "accidentally" shielding the smaller squad with their more numerous bodies).

Yeah, if the Repentia granted Fleet to any Frateris that mobbed up with them, and they just flat-out ran at the enemy as one big pile, then that would work out fine.

This needs to happen... Maybe with just one bolter barrel. Combi-combi-weapon.

 Gogsnik wrote:
How about a Sister's version of the Mobbing Up rule? Frateris Militia can/must pass a Leadership test when within 6" of Repentia and if the test is passed/failed (depends on your perspective there I suppose) the Frateris join the Repentia in a wave of righteous frenzy. You could even use the ork fearless mechanic given to mobs over 11 models with the Frateris, sounds about right I would say.

That sounds really cool. What is the Mobbing Up rule, though? Some Orky thing? I don't think I have the current Codex:Green Meanies.

SoB squad types derive their names from types of angels or references of an angelic nature... Dominion and seraphim. In the same convention of those two are Thones and Virtues... Thrones being the four angels that form the wheels of God's chariot... Virtues being the deliverers of miracles. Both to me bring to mind allusion that could be made by news units.... say a armored car type ground vehicle... Or for the other either a veteran unit or aircraft with the ability to be precisely where it's needed.

I like that. "Throne" sounds a bit too generic (the average gamer would just think of the chair), but "Virtue" would fit even in its common meaning. Plus, a "Virtue-pattern Lightning" would fit to the existing Justice-pattern Immolator...

This also reminds me of the "Elohim" rank that Black Industries invented for Battle Sisters in the Inquisitor's Handbook. It got picked up by James Swallow, I think - in the Red & Black audiobook.
I've adopted that one into my headcanon, too.

"Thrones" are in some instances translated as the Valiant... Probably a more easily used name.

On a different note... Who maintains the SoB's vehicles?-Do they anything analogous to Techpriest/Techmarines?

On the Repentia:
I've said it in previous threads, but I would reboot their appearance and their methodology.

I would have the Repentia still wear their usual under-armour bodyglove (basically the equivalent of the quilted jacket worn under plate armour in medieval times), with the torn tabard worn over that for modesty. It makes more sense than the current miniatures which wear what seems to be a uniform specifically created for the Repentia rather than my uniform-by-default.

And I would emphasise that the purpose of the Repentia is not to die, it is to redeem themselves, in their own eyes and the eyes of the Emperor. The squad's mistress carries neural whips not so she can turn them on her charges, but so that she can incapacitate the most dangerous enemies - like those wielding power weapons - who would otherwise kill her charges before they had a chance to strike. Her greatest aspiration would be for the women under her care to live long enough to redeem themselves and return to the Sisterhood proper.

Hrm... doesn't really fit the concept behind the Repentia though. Remember, the SOB is a penitent order... in everything they do, they're making up for some sin or transgression or another, the Repentia are the ones (mostly) who actually got caught breaking some rule or stricture or another....

... hey, maybe this is where Sisters who drink, gamble and flirt end up, neh?

... and so, with being a penitent Order, and now having something to actually pay a penance for... death in battle is their way to atone. Any other concern is secondary to that goal. This is also why the Repentia Mistress is there. She's there to remind her charges that they are being punished for whatever it was that made them Repentia, whether they chose that fate or were sentenced to it. While the neural whips are effective against a lot of foes... well, think about it. It's a whip. The types of people the Sisters are going to run into frequently that will probably have power weapons are Space Marines. A neural whip isn't going to phase them.

... and, yes, IG officers and such often carry power weapons, too, but in-universe, that's like one guy out of a platoon of forty. Power Weapons of any form are commented on as being arcane and rare, potent weapons in the Imperium. Not super-rare like some gear, but rare enough to be a sign of wealth and prestige. A pack of Repentia is not worried about that one guy with a power sword.

Don't forget, the Eviscerator is also a power-weapon. It's a two-handed chainsword wrapped in a powerfield. It's overkill and redundancy in a not-so-elegant weapon of carnage.

 Psienesis wrote:

... and, yes, IG officers and such often carry power weapons, too, but in-universe, that's like one guy out of a platoon of forty. Power Weapons of any form are commented on as being arcane and rare, potent weapons in the Imperium. Not super-rare like some gear, but rare enough to be a sign of wealth and prestige. A pack of Repentia is not worried about that one guy with a power sword.

Power weapons are actually quite common in the IG. At least to those who have access to them. According to the Only War RPG, power weapons are just as "rare" as hunter-killer missiles, bolt pistols, multi-lasers(!!) or autocannons(!!!).

 Psienesis wrote:
...death in battle is their way to atone.

Feth. That. Sacrifice is commendable because of what it achieves, not because of what it costs. Risking death to perform heroic deeds is a fine way for them to atone. Death for its own sake is merely a waste of a valuable resource.

Don't forget, the Eviscerator is also a power-weapon. It's a two-handed chainsword wrapped in a powerfield. It's overkill and redundancy in a not-so-elegant weapon of carnage.

The Eviscerator is a slow power weapon. Which is why the Mistress needs to take out the fast power weapons in the enemy's ranks that would kill a Repentia before they had a chance to retaliate.

The problem with that theory is that Repentia don't wear armour, so the only one at especial risk from a power weapon over a regular, unpowered weapon is the Mistress herself.

Neural whips aside, the Mistress is there to tank shooting attacks on her power armour, as far as I'm concerned, so that the Repentia can make it into CC in the first place. :p
I
Mob Up rule was from the 3e Codex: Orks, and was the method by which an under-strength Ork unit that was fleeing would get a chance to rally and join another Ork squad for the rest of the game.

Troike wrote:
Oh? I was told that the Sisters got an allright portrayal in that. Were they portrayed badly?

They have an okay portrayal in that they aren't shown as drinking, flirting or gambling, I guess.

However, they also don't do anything until the Wolves tell them to. They have a month before the enemy army arrives to besiege their walled city. They don't make any preparations to defend said city until the Wolves arrive two days before the army arrives. Literally none.

They also allow plague carriers into the city in the name of sentimentality and charity ("I thought we were saving them" - a direct quote from the canoness, who then admits she was wrong and should have killed them as soon as the Space Wolves tell her so).

The Sisterhoods Face Character, an ex-famulous who previously worked with the Inquisition, actively kills several of her Sisters in a fake infiltration raid in order to cover up and destroy Inquisition secrets... which she then tells to the person she was hiding them from anyway. Oh, and she admits to lacking faith and being a doubter. So the face character is an explicitly bad Battle Sister.

Finally, a Palatine and five Sisters with flamers, along with a platoon of Imperial guardsmen, in an entrenched, defensive position manage to kill "dozens" of cultists before being overwhelmed and killed. Compare to the Wolves killing "thousands" and walking home.

Somehow, this is portrayed as impressive. So, Blood of Asaheim may not have whorish, gambling Sisters... but it does have incompetent, lazy, treacherous and overall faithless Sisters. Even the Canoness says "I had lost faith and thought we were going to die until you arrived" - talking about an under-strength squad of Grey Hunters, who apparently are so awesome that they teach a Canoness of the Sisters of Battle to believe in the Emperor again.

By the way, these are Wounded Heart sisters - they faced down the 13th black crusade, yet here they doubt, lose faith and give up because of a horde of cultists led by three plague marines. Three.

 Furyou Miko wrote:
However, they also don't do anything until the Wolves tell them to. They have a month before the enemy army arrives to besiege their walled city. They don't make any preparations to defend said city until the Wolves arrive two days before the army arrives. Literally none.

They also allow plague carriers into the city in the name of sentimentality and charity ("I thought we were saving them" - a direct quote from the canoness, who then admits she was wrong and should have killed them as soon as the Space Wolves tell her so).

The Sisterhoods Face Character, an ex-famulous who previously worked with the Inquisition, actively kills several of her Sisters in a fake infiltration raid in order to cover up and destroy Inquisition secrets... which she then tells to the person she was hiding them from anyway. Oh, and she admits to lacking faith and being a doubter. So the face character is an explicitly bad Battle Sister.

Finally, a Palatine and five Sisters with flamers, along with a platoon of Imperial guardsmen, in an entrenched, defensive position manage to kill "dozens" of cultists before being overwhelmed and killed. Compare to the Wolves killing "thousands" and walking home.

Somehow, this is portrayed as impressive. So, Blood of Asaheim may not have whorish, gambling Sisters... but it does have incompetent, lazy, treacherous and overall faithless Sisters. Even the Canoness says "I had lost faith and thought we were going to die until you arrived" - talking about an under-strength squad of Grey Hunters, who apparently are so awesome that they teach a Canoness of the Sisters of Battle to believe in the Emperor again.

By the way, these are Wounded Heart sisters - they faced down the 13th black crusade, yet here they doubt, lose faith and give up because of a horde of cultists led by three plague marines. Three.

Oh dear. Sounds like another case of an author writing them being firmly in the shadow of the Space Marines, and not really understanding them in the first place. I won't be buying it, then. Thanks for the heads up.

Yeah, I'm super annoyed since it now turns out that's £11 I could have put towards my copy of the sisters codex, which i now can't afford. ><