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Made in au
Calm Celestian




leerm02 wrote:
Hey there folks!

So, as I am one of those poor masochistic fools who try to have a ton of smaller armies instead of one big army, I've starting thinking about getting a 1k(ish) Sisters of Battle force together.

Mostly: I love the look of the models, the super-over-the-top gothic thing, the flamers and meltas...

That being said: what would you folks say would be your MUST include for a small force (around 1k ish) of sisters?

Thanks in advance!
'Must' is a very strong word, one I'd save for a Canoness and a BSS. Repentia and Superior are really very good, Seraphim/Zephyrim have uses; as does Doms, Rets are effective heavy weapon support, St. C is a powerful named Character, Sacrosants are solid choices that look the part and (unfortunately) Pen. Engines/Mortifiers are about the only Mech units worth taking...

What probably matters more is what you want your force to *look* like. But that is a question for you to answer.

   
Made in gb
Longtime Dakkanaut



Glasgow

Cannoness

2 battle sisters boxes = 3 BS squads +1 Dominion

Repentia

Ebay a pious vorne (priest)

A squad of 4 multimelta rets is important you get 1 in each bs sister box if you get 2 off ebay you could make this instead of the Dominion squad

After that it depends a lot on subfaction
I would get a big character but your choice is very dependent on your playstyle vahl for shooty celestine if you want a beatstick triumph if your playing the mission

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/07/30 09:02:54


 
   
Made in ca
Dour Wolf Priest with Iron Wolf Amulet






Canada

Honestly, get 1-2 Sororitas combat patrols when that comes out, it will cover a lot of your army for a reasonable cost and you can convert the 2nd Canoness and Repentia Superior into a Palatine and a Sister Superior.

   
Made in us
Pious Palatine




So played a game against admech recently (full tournament netlist from an experienced player) with a meme 12 Engine of Redemtion list.

Conclusion? Surprisingly, Legit.

I got smoke on objectives but killed 3/4ths of his army.

List was argentshroud patrol+Vanguard

9 mortifiers half flails half saws all heavy bolters, 3 pengines all HF and Saws. Celestine 2 full MM ret squads 1 HF ret squad, 3 SB dominions, 3 rhinos, Celestine, Canoness with Quicksilver Veil, IP, Brazier, Dogmata.

He went first, smoked a whole unit of morties, a rhino, a pengine, and a unit of stormbolters.

My turn MM eat a full unit of Laschickens and stormbolters mop up most of his flanking ruststalkers, heavy flamer pengines mortifiers celestine and some spare bolter shots leave 2 of his big skittarri blocks severely depleted (one with only 3 models left)

His turn deepstrikers come in and between that and laschickens wipe out my remaining rhinos and multimelta unit, and 3 mortifiers in melee (who failed ALL of their do stuff on death rolls, including the CP one) left flank is lost.

My turn Celestine wipes a character in shooting and gets into the chickens, everything else on the right side of the board is dead. Right flank secured.

He had 1 big unit of skittari 3 chickens and a depleted skitarri unit left, I had 1 mortifier Celestine, one unit of battle sisters, my canoness, and my HF rets left. He was MASSIVELY ahead on points and we ran out of time.

12 Engine of redemption is a legit strat against admech, especially after nerfs. 2 major problems are action secondaries and giving up 15 points of bring them down. Celestine is an engine of destruction and the 6 inch HI is insanely good. WAY better than Vahl in this type of list. Dogmata is mandatory to have any chance at scoring.

Adjustment to the list: Patrol becomes ebon chalice for warlord trait and flamer strat (palantine) drop a rhino and some bits and bobs for a deepstrike EC seraphim squad, add at least one unit of action slaves. Used Divine Guidance, should have taken Hand of the Emperor. EC bonus trait would be DG.

On a board with actual obscuring(local store has very minimal terrain, didn't bring my own) I think I could have won a 6 turn game. You will ALWAYS be behind for the first 2 turns.


 
   
Made in us
Dakka Veteran





Lebanon NH


It's funny you should post that, because I was honestly thinking of doing something similar! (a walker heavy list, though maybe getting some of those sick Paragon warsuits in on the action as well.)

Has anyone else had any luck with a heavy walker based sisters army? Obviously, objectives will be near impossible... but it seems really quite killy...
   
Made in au
Calm Celestian




I expected it to be viable to good, but not scoring primary well and the easy secondary against it are two big hurdles to overcome. Idk it's even killy enough to make that work consistantly

   
Made in nl
Regular Dakkanaut




U02dah4 wrote:
A squad of 4 multimelta rets is important you get 1 in each bs sister box if you get 2 off ebay you could make this instead of the Dominion squad


Just a quick note on this, you do not get a multi melta in the battle sister squad box. One of the models can carry one, but it's not included in the box. Retributors are pretty good though, so buying two boxes to have 4 multi meltas and 4 heavy flamers is not a waste.

Also, I would advise against getting the patrol twice when starting with sisters. Those models are all single build models, so there's no weapon options on the basic sisters. Apart from 2x 10 sisters with awkward equipment, you can't really use them. A box of battle sisters is pretty much a must because it gives you access to a lot of special weapons.
   
Made in gb
Longtime Dakkanaut



Glasgow

I thought those heavy flamers were multimeltas but easily convertable
   
Made in us
Pious Palatine




Lammia wrote:
I expected it to be viable to good, but not scoring primary well and the easy secondary against it are two big hurdles to overcome. Idk it's even killy enough to make that work consistantly


Killing wise, it murders. Every unit of yours is a significant threat in at least 2 phases of the game (Pengines with HF are a significant threat in 3. No one respects heavy flamer overwatch anymore.) Killing your opponent isn't the issue, especially if you bring enough AS stormbolters and EC flamers for some good mortal wounds.

The objective part is harder to sort. You can't contest infantry much and your only real obsec is from the dogmata. Losing all those points to Bring it down doesn't help. Plus side it's one of VERY few setups that has a solid chance of picking up 4 points per round of Slay the Heretic on multiple turns.


 
   
Made in ca
Commander of the Mysterious 2nd Legion





leerm02 wrote:
Hey there folks!

So, as I am one of those poor masochistic fools who try to have a ton of smaller armies instead of one big army, I've starting thinking about getting a 1k(ish) Sisters of Battle force together.

Mostly: I love the look of the models, the super-over-the-top gothic thing, the flamers and meltas...

That being said: what would you folks say would be your MUST include for a small force (around 1k ish) of sisters?

Thanks in advance!


Battlesisters, beyond those sisters can be pretty flex.

TBH I'd snag the combat patrol box and build from there

Opinions are not facts please don't confuse the two 
   
Made in us
Dakka Veteran





Lebanon NH

Thanks for the responses guys!

As many have suggested: I think I'm going to start with just the battle-sisters and go from there. I figure a few blocks of basic troops will be useful for whatever I want my force to be, and I can decide at that point what direction I want to go in.

I'm also thinking that, in any game at least 1k points, Morvenn Vahl seems almost like an auto include. Plus the model is amazing!

That gives me an HQ and basic troops, which should be plenty to build off of.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Addition:

Hey, when building the new plastic penitent engine/mortifiers... can you model them with both legs on the ground? I kind of hate the one leg standing thing as it pretty much always ends up falling over at some point (and half the time breaking).

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/07/31 23:03:29


 
   
Made in au
Calm Celestian




Vahl is more trap choice than auto include in games less than 1500 points, but she's a nice model.

Pen. Engine/Mortifiers are more monopose than what you want, but mine have been surprisingly durable

   
Made in us
Dakka Veteran





Lebanon NH


Follow up question:

Are the paragon warsuits just a worse choice than mortifier/penitent engines? I'm having a hard time understanding why they cost more...
   
Made in au
Calm Celestian




leerm02 wrote:

Follow up question:

Are the paragon warsuits just a worse choice than mortifier/penitent engines? I'm having a hard time understanding why they cost more...
Better Keywords and defenses mostly...

They're not really worth it, but that's a reason

   
Made in ca
Dour Wolf Priest with Iron Wolf Amulet






Canada

leerm02 wrote:

Follow up question:

Are the paragon warsuits just a worse choice than mortifier/penitent engines? I'm having a hard time understanding why they cost more...

Yeah Paragons pay for durability, their damage output is lacking though. Personally, I prefer threat saturation and punishing my opponent if they don't go after the Mortifiers.

   
Made in us
Grim Dark Angels Interrogator-Chaplain






A Protoss colony world

Curious as to how you all think this list will do at an upcoming GT I'm attending in a couple of weeks:
Spoiler:
Battalion: Bloody Rose
No FO slot:
Repentia Superior
HQ:
Morvenn Vahl (Warlord)
Canoness: Chainsword, Bolt Pistol, Relic: Benificence, Blessing: Word of the Emperor, Saint In The Making: Blazing Ire
Troops:
5 Battle Sisters: Chainsword, Combimelta, Meltagun
5 Battle Sisters: Chainsword
5 Battle Sisters: Chainsword
Elites:
10 Celestian Sacresants: 9x Anointed Halberd, Spear of the Faithful
Dialogus: Relic: Book of Saint Lucius, Saint In The Making: Indomitable Belief, Hymn: Litany of Enduring Faith
8 Repentia
8 Repentia
5 Repentia
Fast Attack:
5 Dominions: Chainsword, 4x AC Storm Bolter
5 Dominions: Chainsword, 4x AC Storm Bolter
10 Zephyrim: Pennant
Heavy Support:
3 Mortifiers: Heavy Bolters and Flails on each
5 Retributors: Chainsword, 4x Multimelta, 2x Armorium Cherub
5 Retributors: Chainsword, 4x Heavy Bolter, Armorium Cherub
Dedicated Transport:
Sororitas Rhino
Sororitas Rhino
1999 points, starts with 9 CP before putting things in reserves

The 5-girl Repentia unit goes with one unit of Dominions in one of the Rhinos, while the BSS with meltas goes with the other Dominions in their Rhino. I'll probably put one of the bigger Repentia units in reserves, and in some matchups the melta Retributors will also be reserved. My main concern is that I don't have enough ranged anti-vehicle stuff, but I kind of make up for it with nasty melee threats. In an ideal world I'd take Multimeltas on the second Retributor squad (probably dropping one of the Morties to make room), but I don't have the models and won't be able to acquire, build, and paint them in time in addition to everything else I've already got to prepare.

My armies (re-counted and updated on 11/1/23, including modeled wargear options):
Dark Angels: ~15000 Astra Militarum: ~1200 | Adeptus Custodes: ~1900 | Imperial Knights: ~2000 | Sisters of Battle: ~3500 | Leagues of Votann: ~1200 | Tyranids: ~2600 | Stormcast Eternals: ~5000
Check out my P&M Blogs: ZergSmasher's P&M Blog | Imperial Knights blog | Board Games blog | Total models painted in 2023: 40 | Total models painted in 2024: 7 | Current main painting project: Dark Angels
 Mr_Rose wrote:
Who doesn’t love crazy mutant squawk-puppies? Eh? Nobody, that’s who.
 
   
Made in au
Calm Celestian




 ZergSmasher wrote:
Curious as to how you all think this list will do at an upcoming GT I'm attending in a couple of weeks:
Spoiler:
Battalion: Bloody Rose
No FO slot:
Repentia Superior
HQ:
Morvenn Vahl (Warlord)
Canoness: Chainsword, Bolt Pistol, Relic: Benificence, Blessing: Word of the Emperor, Saint In The Making: Blazing Ire
Troops:
5 Battle Sisters: Chainsword, Combimelta, Meltagun
5 Battle Sisters: Chainsword
5 Battle Sisters: Chainsword
Elites:
10 Celestian Sacresants: 9x Anointed Halberd, Spear of the Faithful
Dialogus: Relic: Book of Saint Lucius, Saint In The Making: Indomitable Belief, Hymn: Litany of Enduring Faith
8 Repentia
8 Repentia
5 Repentia
Fast Attack:
5 Dominions: Chainsword, 4x AC Storm Bolter
5 Dominions: Chainsword, 4x AC Storm Bolter
10 Zephyrim: Pennant
Heavy Support:
3 Mortifiers: Heavy Bolters and Flails on each
5 Retributors: Chainsword, 4x Multimelta, 2x Armorium Cherub
5 Retributors: Chainsword, 4x Heavy Bolter, Armorium Cherub
Dedicated Transport:
Sororitas Rhino
Sororitas Rhino
1999 points, starts with 9 CP before putting things in reserves

The 5-girl Repentia unit goes with one unit of Dominions in one of the Rhinos, while the BSS with meltas goes with the other Dominions in their Rhino. I'll probably put one of the bigger Repentia units in reserves, and in some matchups the melta Retributors will also be reserved. My main concern is that I don't have enough ranged anti-vehicle stuff, but I kind of make up for it with nasty melee threats. In an ideal world I'd take Multimeltas on the second Retributor squad (probably dropping one of the Morties to make room), but I don't have the models and won't be able to acquire, build, and paint them in time in addition to everything else I've already got to prepare.
Not sure what Vahl does/how she stays alive. But there's a lot of conventional wisdom in that list and I hope you do well with it.

   
Made in us
Grim Dark Angels Interrogator-Chaplain






A Protoss colony world

Lammia wrote:
 ZergSmasher wrote:
Curious as to how you all think this list will do at an upcoming GT I'm attending in a couple of weeks:
Spoiler:
Battalion: Bloody Rose
No FO slot:
Repentia Superior
HQ:
Morvenn Vahl (Warlord)
Canoness: Chainsword, Bolt Pistol, Relic: Benificence, Blessing: Word of the Emperor, Saint In The Making: Blazing Ire
Troops:
5 Battle Sisters: Chainsword, Combimelta, Meltagun
5 Battle Sisters: Chainsword
5 Battle Sisters: Chainsword
Elites:
10 Celestian Sacresants: 9x Anointed Halberd, Spear of the Faithful
Dialogus: Relic: Book of Saint Lucius, Saint In The Making: Indomitable Belief, Hymn: Litany of Enduring Faith
8 Repentia
8 Repentia
5 Repentia
Fast Attack:
5 Dominions: Chainsword, 4x AC Storm Bolter
5 Dominions: Chainsword, 4x AC Storm Bolter
10 Zephyrim: Pennant
Heavy Support:
3 Mortifiers: Heavy Bolters and Flails on each
5 Retributors: Chainsword, 4x Multimelta, 2x Armorium Cherub
5 Retributors: Chainsword, 4x Heavy Bolter, Armorium Cherub
Dedicated Transport:
Sororitas Rhino
Sororitas Rhino
1999 points, starts with 9 CP before putting things in reserves

The 5-girl Repentia unit goes with one unit of Dominions in one of the Rhinos, while the BSS with meltas goes with the other Dominions in their Rhino. I'll probably put one of the bigger Repentia units in reserves, and in some matchups the melta Retributors will also be reserved. My main concern is that I don't have enough ranged anti-vehicle stuff, but I kind of make up for it with nasty melee threats. In an ideal world I'd take Multimeltas on the second Retributor squad (probably dropping one of the Morties to make room), but I don't have the models and won't be able to acquire, build, and paint them in time in addition to everything else I've already got to prepare.
Not sure what Vahl does/how she stays alive. But there's a lot of conventional wisdom in that list and I hope you do well with it.

Vahl is there to buff the Sacresants or the melta Rets. Keeping her alive could get tricky, but honestly I've seen her in a number of top lists in Goonhammer articles and none of them had super obvious ways to protect her. My upcoming tournament outing will likely give me some good education on how to run a Sisters list in competitive play (or how not to ). Hopefully I can get in a practice game or two before then.

My armies (re-counted and updated on 11/1/23, including modeled wargear options):
Dark Angels: ~15000 Astra Militarum: ~1200 | Adeptus Custodes: ~1900 | Imperial Knights: ~2000 | Sisters of Battle: ~3500 | Leagues of Votann: ~1200 | Tyranids: ~2600 | Stormcast Eternals: ~5000
Check out my P&M Blogs: ZergSmasher's P&M Blog | Imperial Knights blog | Board Games blog | Total models painted in 2023: 40 | Total models painted in 2024: 7 | Current main painting project: Dark Angels
 Mr_Rose wrote:
Who doesn’t love crazy mutant squawk-puppies? Eh? Nobody, that’s who.
 
   
Made in us
Confessor Of Sins





Tacoma, WA, USA

Vahl is a 8 wound character. She stays alive via screening until she decides to mash things in melee. Then she relies on her solid defenses (2+, 4++, Half Damage, 4+++ vs Mortal Wounds).
   
Made in au
Calm Celestian




 alextroy wrote:
Vahl is a 8 wound character. She stays alive via screening until she decides to mash things in melee. Then she relies on her solid defenses (2+, 4++, Half Damage, 4+++ vs Mortal Wounds).
In theory, a largely MSU Sisters shouldn't be able to screen her well enough. I think the answer is just target saturation; there are too many things that are more important to kill.

The only other option I've sceen has a 20 and 10 model VH BSS blob.

   
Made in ca
Krazed Killa Kan




Claremont, ON

10 Sacrecents with 4++ 2+ and bodyguard rule do a good job of keeping her safe too. I think I'd swag the diologus for a dogmata with Indomitable belief and the invul hymn.

2500 4000 4000 5000 5000
DE 2500 TS: 2500 2500  
   
Made in us
Confessor Of Sins





Tacoma, WA, USA

Vehicles will shield her nicely, as will large units of Repentia or relatively hard to put down units of Mortifiers or PE.
   
Made in gb
Longtime Dakkanaut



Glasgow

5 sacresancts can keep her safe if she's in full view and their behind a LOS blocking wall but within 3"
   
Made in us
Pious Palatine




Lammia wrote:
 alextroy wrote:
Vahl is a 8 wound character. She stays alive via screening until she decides to mash things in melee. Then she relies on her solid defenses (2+, 4++, Half Damage, 4+++ vs Mortal Wounds).
In theory, a largely MSU Sisters shouldn't be able to screen her well enough. I think the answer is just target saturation; there are too many things that are more important to kill.

The only other option I've sceen has a 20 and 10 model VH BSS blob.


You only need 1 sacresant to make vahl untargetable. Just camp them out of LoS.


 
   
Made in us
Grim Dark Angels Interrogator-Chaplain






A Protoss colony world

skycapt44 wrote:
10 Sacrecents with 4++ 2+ and bodyguard rule do a good job of keeping her safe too. I think I'd swag the diologus for a dogmata with Indomitable belief and the invul hymn.

I considered choosing a Dogmata rather than a Dialogus (dropping a single Repentia or Sacresant to make the points difference). Two reasons I took the Dialogus instead: 1) I like the miracle dice manipulation, and 2) my Dialogus is already painted, unlike my Dogmata.

My armies (re-counted and updated on 11/1/23, including modeled wargear options):
Dark Angels: ~15000 Astra Militarum: ~1200 | Adeptus Custodes: ~1900 | Imperial Knights: ~2000 | Sisters of Battle: ~3500 | Leagues of Votann: ~1200 | Tyranids: ~2600 | Stormcast Eternals: ~5000
Check out my P&M Blogs: ZergSmasher's P&M Blog | Imperial Knights blog | Board Games blog | Total models painted in 2023: 40 | Total models painted in 2024: 7 | Current main painting project: Dark Angels
 Mr_Rose wrote:
Who doesn’t love crazy mutant squawk-puppies? Eh? Nobody, that’s who.
 
   
Made in au
Longtime Dakkanaut




When you disembark you get out 3" and then move 6". Most people just jump out 9" and as a result people think that a 'disembark' move is a thing.


Isn't that just the same thing? Tournament players just do that to save time.
   
Made in au
Calm Celestian




Jarms48 wrote:
When you disembark you get out 3" and then move 6". Most people just jump out 9" and as a result people think that a 'disembark' move is a thing.


Isn't that just the same thing? Tournament players just do that to save time.
not quite

   
Made in gb
Longtime Dakkanaut



Glasgow

A lot of the time it is

But imagine you have big sisters bases and 10 models

They won't all fit within 3" of the front of the Rhino so some are going to end up further back which can be made worse by other units or terrain

Now in practice it's a short cut experienced players no when it makes a difference and when it really doesn't. I'm not going to carefully position every model when the target their chargeiging is 10" away and the front model is 9" forward. Or its an open field I can measure 9 and make the shape of the front of a rhino
   
Made in us
Pious Palatine




U02dah4 wrote:
A lot of the time it is

But imagine you have big sisters bases and 10 models

They won't all fit within 3" of the front of the Rhino so some are going to end up further back which can be made worse by other units or terrain

Now in practice it's a short cut experienced players no when it makes a difference and when it really doesn't. I'm not going to carefully position every model when the target their chargeiging is 10" away and the front model is 9" forward. Or its an open field I can measure 9 and make the shape of the front of a rhino


The biggest difference comes from when people disembark near terrain. There's actually a batrep GK vs Sisters where the GK keep popping in and out of transports when parked right next to a ruin and does the incorrect disembark gaining himself at least and extra inch or two of movement each time.

While infantry may move freely through ruins, you aren't allowed to place a model INSIDE a physical wall, which would have been required to get the amount of movement the individual was taking. this would have pushed a significant chunk of the unit back, possibly pushing several models out of their maximum shooting range.

90% of the time it doesn't matter but A. When it does matter it matters a lot and B. Because people do it the quick way 90% of the time, people forget how the rules work and come up with nonsense like a 'disembark move'.


 
   
Made in us
Grim Dark Angels Interrogator-Chaplain






A Protoss colony world

Interesting article from Goonhammer featuring John Lennon discussing his recent winning Sisters list from the Lone Star Open:

https://www.goonhammer.com/john-lennon-talks-about-playing-sisters-of-battle-with-the-new-codex/

My armies (re-counted and updated on 11/1/23, including modeled wargear options):
Dark Angels: ~15000 Astra Militarum: ~1200 | Adeptus Custodes: ~1900 | Imperial Knights: ~2000 | Sisters of Battle: ~3500 | Leagues of Votann: ~1200 | Tyranids: ~2600 | Stormcast Eternals: ~5000
Check out my P&M Blogs: ZergSmasher's P&M Blog | Imperial Knights blog | Board Games blog | Total models painted in 2023: 40 | Total models painted in 2024: 7 | Current main painting project: Dark Angels
 Mr_Rose wrote:
Who doesn’t love crazy mutant squawk-puppies? Eh? Nobody, that’s who.
 
   
 
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