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Exorcists don't have the "turret" rule. Because of this I've always played them as "hull-mounted" weapons.

I think what he wants is something that is more a front line tank.

The problem is any such tank would fall in the awkward position of being something everyone questions... Why don't marines have it?-or Why don't IG have it? SoB will always struggle to have their own distinct vehicle without some real thought on the part of game designers. The narrow gap in that valley the game designers have to hit is a vehicle either too specialized for SM use and too advanced for IG. The penitent engine is effectively a close combat sentinel but it stands up to scrutiny because SM have something they prefer and requires tech generally unavailable to IG.

In the case of a SoB predator tank or something like it... The nature of their purpose would predominately put them up against heretical threats, Chaos Cultists... To me I would imagine that might emphasize volume of fire a bit more.... Where a predator has twin-linked lascannon and two sponsons what if the SoB had something of a monument atop a Rhino chassis with 4 single lascannon turrets... Or multimeltas or whatever.

Alternatively you could have a tank that goes the other way, trading the volume of weapons for a single more devestating weapon though you then have something akin to the Exorcist

The fact that the Exorcist fires its rockets straight up into the air, which then rain down on the target area is what makes it "indirect fire support".

And, yes, I want something that is direct front-line support. Something maybe with a dozer blade that smashes through the barricade set up by heretics that then allows the Repentia to pour through the breach and take the fight directly to the enemy's grill. A tank that can fill a direct fire-support role by engaging enemy armor at range, or providing a target for enemy armor to focus on... while the Retributor squad uses cover to get into position with the multi-meltas to take it out. A tank that provides an AV 14 brick that the Battle Sisters rally around/advance in support of (and with the support of!), introducing the God-Emperor's armored fist to the teeth of the heretic.

 ClockworkZion wrote:
Exorcists don't have the "turret" rule. Because of this I've always played them as "hull-mounted" weapons.

Check the FAQ. You can draw line of sight from anywhere on the organ pipes. That means any direction too since you can draw it from the back of the pipe. Effectively, it's a turret.

In anycase, the original Exorcist model is the forge world one that looks like an actual rocket launcher and is direct fire, so I'm afraid you'll have to admit that I might have a valid point, even if you disagree with it.

You're talking about the Sanctorum Exorcist, which is noted as being the model produced on Ophelia VII, and post-dates the Exorcist, produced on Mars, and the oldest vehicle in the SOB armory, save the Rhino.

... I also think the Sanctorum model was produced by FW long after the pewter Exorcist model had been on the shelves.

Even so, that twin set of missile tubes is (IRL) designed to fire rockets over cover (indirect) or, via targeting systems, in volleys against air targets, making it more a SAM tank than an infantry support tank (and why they don't reproduce that model for an anti-air role is beyond me...)

Though, I did find this little bit on the GW site interesting, in the talk of tanks and maintenance:

Games Workshop, Exorcist tank store page wrote:
The Exorcist is only vaguely understood by the Tech-priests who must service it. Each one is an individual work of art, its battlefield role of providing devastating long-range fire support being secondary to its significance as divine symbol of the power of the Emperor.

 Furyou Miko wrote:

 ClockworkZion wrote:
Exorcists don't have the "turret" rule. Because of this I've always played them as "hull-mounted" weapons.

Check the FAQ. You can draw line of sight from anywhere on the organ pipes. That means any direction too since you can draw it from the back of the pipe. Effectively, it's a turret.

In anycase, the original Exorcist model is the forge world one that looks like an actual rocket launcher and is direct fire, so I'm afraid you'll have to admit that I might have a valid point, even if you disagree with it.

Oh I know about the FAQ. I wrote in half the questions in there (there are a number that I wrote in that aren't there, like if Zealots were still a legal option for the army).

I play on the lowest level of cheese possible though, so while I can use any tube to fire from, I only do so forward as to not be jerk.

Then again my shooting with an Exorcist tends to be above the average so maybe that's why.

...well... that twin set of tubes is designed to rotate 90 degrees (not 360, the back-blast from the missiles launching would cook the occupants of the vehicle...

... but I digress.

I want a Repressor with a bigger main gun for a tank. Something with decent range, good front AV, the Repressor's dozer blade, laud hailers and incense-smoke launchers. The Repressor's cupola weapon is fine for infantry support, but I think the Sisters need an MBT with some actual oomph to it.

I also think a tank with a black and gold battle-cannon hung with banners and prayer-flags would look boss.

(Maybe my bias, I have never had an Exorcist work out well)

 Furyou Miko wrote:
Syd, if you plugged your homebrew threads any more they'd power a pride float. :p

Exalted.

I am shameless and learned from the best: when the website I work for was owned by AOL, I got SEO training from the staff of the Huffington Post. You should see how I Tweet email, and cross-link my professional writing. Every article has links to at least three of my earlier ones...

Hey, that reminds me, I forgot to put a link to this latest one in my signature.... Hold on a moment...

Anyway, we have a Predator grade tank: The Exorcist.

Not a main battle tank, as others have said: too poorly armoured, even if the pipes count as a turret rather a fixed forward-didn't weapon (I confess I hadn't seen that interpretation before). It's a tank destroyer, in modern terms. I want something that can wade into the enemy and lay about on all sides with massive short-ranged firepower, like a Predator Infernus.

If we're wishlisting tanks primarily

I agree with the Infernus Sisters Edition (now with MORE fiyah powah!) but I'd also like a nice anti-armor platform, while we currently have plenty of tank cracking potential with the sheer amount of melta we carry a long range direct attack AT platform (Las cannons!) would round everything out nicely.

The Conflagorator (as I think I saw the name suggested) and and the venerable but much loved Penitent Engine make with the stabby

The Exorcist and the theoretical lascannon platform handle the back field.

Immos, Repressors and Rhinos are mid field/troop delivery.

 Lynata wrote:


Which is why I'm argueing for a robed, carapace-armoured female engineer with basic tools, who would thus be different from a power-armoured male abhuman with giant claws strapped to their backs.

I find this idea superior to either a carbon-copy of the IG/SM Engineseer/Techmarine or leaving out such a unit entirely.

It also fits to how the Hospitaller behaves to the Apothecary.

I like this version, especially carapace rather than artificer or power armor. Possibly with a supporting unit that could include assisting novices and/or crusader-style bodyguards. It would emphasis that such as asset is rarely deployed to battlefield conditions, and important to protect when she is.

The main problem with Lynata's idea is that... well, every Battle Sister and every Techpriest have power armour - why does this random battle sister techie not have power armour?

It's the same issue I ran into when I designed my Knights of the Hammer - why do these Sisters forgo power armour? Especially since servo-arms and thunder hammers and power axes are all Unwieldy, so it's not like they can really take advantage of any potential ease-of-movement bonusses?

 Furyou Miko wrote:
Anyway, we have a Predator grade tank: The Exorcist.

The Predator is considered a light tank in-universe, heh. The Exorcist in comparison is probably closer to a tank hunter.

Also, if the only vehicles we get are Space Marine ripoffs, I'd get pissed off.

So Melissa -doesn't- want the drop pods back?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Speaking of drop pods, which Citadel Journal(s) should I be looking for to find the old Sisters rules?

 ClockworkZion wrote:
So Melissa -doesn't- want the drop pods back?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Speaking of drop pods, which Citadel Journal(s) should I be looking for to find the old Sisters rules?

Citadel Journal 49. The Ordo Hereticus Strike Force. Celestians & Repentia in drop pods. There are also rules for some of the 2nd edition Sisters' special characters in there

Hmm... thing is, the setting is pretty established that the Imperium simply doesn't have a massive variety in models of vehicles. What is has is a whole lotta variants on a very small number of vehicle-patterns.

So for the Sisters to have a Predator or Leman Russ variant would not, to me, be them ripping something off the Space Marines or the IG, but them getting their own variant of these Imperial work-horses.

andrewm9 wrote:

 ClockworkZion wrote:
So Melissa -doesn't- want the drop pods back?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Speaking of drop pods, which Citadel Journal(s) should I be looking for to find the old Sisters rules?

Citadel Journal 49. The Ordo Hereticus Strike Force. Celestians & Repentia in drop pods. There are also rules for some of the 2nd edition Sisters' special characters in there

Thanks! I'm slowly working on adding to my collection.

I would advocate dropships over droppods myself. Like the dropships in Starship Troopers.

Both is better

I think I'd like a dropship in fluff and art, but not sure I'd want to have a model for one in actual gameplay. Pods are big enough, but at least they are more tall than wide, I think having a Pelican (the SST-inspired troop transport in Halo) on the board, if it were actually designed to fit 10 or 12 Sisters, would just be too much.

The model, I think, would be some 14" long and probably as wide in the wingspan (once you add in the engines, crew compartment, various bling, chin-mounted weapon, etc). Can't imagine toting more than one of these to a game.

I mean, we're talking something along the lines of this:

Drop pods shouldn't be available to regular humans. Leave that to the T4 freaks like Orks and Space Marines.

The SOB already have a drop-pod, the Dominica-Pattern.

no rules for it at present but yep

 Psienesis wrote:
The SOB already have a drop-pod, the Dominica-Pattern.

They had two actually. One they rode in, the other was filled with guns!

 ClockworkZion wrote:

 Psienesis wrote:
The SOB already have a drop-pod, the Dominica-Pattern.

They had two actually. One they rode in, the other was filled with guns!

I'm trying to dig up a digital copy now. Anyone finds one, let me know.

Sororitas Valkyrie for the win. Also of course I have to pimp a thread on Ecclesiarchy/Sororitas air & space capabilities. (Don't worry, this isn't me homebrewing, I ask a question and loremasters respond).

Here are the Drop Pods:

Yeah, those would need some modification. They are pretty craptastic right now.

edit: assuming drop pod assault though, the dominica gun pattern would be good if it came down in points. Drop next to something and hope you scatter within 12, first 3 Multi-Meltas. Turn 1 hilarity!

 pretre wrote:
Yeah, those would need some modification. They are pretty craptastic right now.

The ideas are sound though!

And FW has a basis for us to use with the Deathstorm Drop Pods. Just swap those Assault Cannons for Heavy Bolters or Multi-Meltas and we're set!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Heck, give the missile launching version Exorcists missiles and we're REALLY set!

Also, being in heavy support, I would probably never use them.

We really need something good in elite.

 pretre wrote:
Also, being in heavy support, I would probably never use them.

We really need something good in elite.

Fast Attack has room for more options too.