Allied SoB/GK Units

[Lansirill]

I'm thinking about painting up a few squads from SoB and GKs, simply because the models are nice. I have a sizable collection of Marines and a 1500 mech-vet IG list that would probably be the parent lists. I'm a-ok on the rules for adding allies. What I'm not sure of is which units are worth adding if you only take a few.

 

As far as GK go, there's not many options, and they all seem to be pretty functional on their own so unless GKs or GKTs just really suck I can't imagine there's much mystery there. Just paint up one of each and have fun.

 

What I'm not sure about are Sisters. With the faith mechanic, more is better, and I'm not sure that fielding a small number of them (and only having a handful of faith points to work with) really lets them shine. Dominion squads look like they're worth taking on their own, with the Immolator looking like a nice light tank and packing 4 meltaguns for 111 points is pretty nice regardless of what else you do with them. Beyond them I'm not sure what is worth taking if I only take a few things though. I haven't played against/with sisters enough to really get a feel for how important faith is to making different units worthwhile.

[number6]

GKTs will probably add the most to a Marines or IG list. They are a unit that even the new Astartes assault terminators fear, and that's really saying something.

 

With sisters, I'd say that basic Sisters units in Rhinos is probably your best bet. They're power-armoured Troops, and they can carry more meltas, flamers, and heavy flamers than tactical marines, which is a good thing for 5th edition.

 

With IG, you don't get as many special weapons as a vet squad, but you do get greater resilience and overall shooting firepower -- even a slight boost in combat effectiveness if you care to splurge a little on the VSS -- so it's still a good deal for you there, too.

 

Don't overlook a Malleus Inquisitor in a Rhino with a pair of mystics, either. The best deep-striking defense in the game, and very affordable points-wise.

[wizard12]

in my opion as a GK player take the terminators and normal guys but make sure you use the normal guys as fast attack not troop unless you take some seraphims from the SoB army

 

in terms of being good, the treminators are great. If you have a HQ slot free on the FoC I surgest taking a grand master as they are brilliant in close combat and a good choice to acompany any terminators you have.

 

I can't really comment on SoB as I don't play them but from what I've heard and what I've read in the codex they is pretty powerful with the acts of faith but as their going to be allied you won't have many faith points to use :)

 

hope my opinions help

[Inquisitor Fox]

What I'm not sure about are Sisters. With the faith mechanic, more is better, and I'm not sure that fielding a small number of them (and only having a handful of faith points to work with) really lets them shine. Dominion squads look like they're worth taking on their own, with the Immolator looking like a nice light tank and packing 4 meltaguns for 111 points is pretty nice regardless of what else you do with them. Beyond them I'm not sure what is worth taking if I only take a few things though. I haven't played against/with sisters enough to really get a feel for how important faith is to making different units worthwhile.

My advice as a Witch Hunters player is this: Do not count on Faith as part of your battle plan. Make a battle plan and procede as if the Faith Points did not exist. When during your game you see a "Pivotal Moment" that could go either way, and you need it to go your way, pop a Faith Point for an Act of Faith to help tip the odds in your favor. If you count on Faith, or assume it will work, it will fail you. Likewise, if you set up everything as best you can and do all that you can do on your own, Faith will often make the difference if you don't rely on it.

 

You may wish to consider a unit of Seraphim as opposed to Dominions, perhaps with the Guard army in particular. Seraphim are a unit unlike anything else the Guard has to offer, which means it would be a great supplemental choice. Dominions are really just basic Sisters with 2 extra special weapons. Immolators are a nice little 'Razorback' but just as durable as your average Rhino, which is to say not at all :) Personally I like the Heavy Flamer Immolator, the others well... I'd rather have a Chimera.

 

If you want more Faith Points, remember you can can ally an HQ! That's one or two Faith Points right there. If you give the HQ a Celestian Bodyguard that's another Faith Point, then you have your Elite Celestians if you desire.

 

Another option is adding Inquisitors (DH or WH depending on your preference) which if taken as an HQ choice allows you to ally in either an Elites choice Temple Assassin, or a "unit" of up to 3 Death Cult Assassins. You can take a Land Raider on the Inquisitor as a transport option... potentially juicy for Guard but not required. You also can take a WH Priest (which does NOT use up an HQ choice, you can just ally them in), attach it to either a Sisters unit or Inq. Stormtroopers (as per the list in the Priests entry), which would allow you to ally in an Elites Arco-flagellant unit. That should spice any army up by adding a nasty close combat unit to it's ranks!

 

Time, experience, and personal preference will play a role, mostly just have fun and use models you think are cool ;)

[Lansirill]

I think one of the bigger attractions to the Immolator is that I like the model, or more precisely I like the Exorcist model and want to use it as an Immolator instead (so that I can actually play with the darn thing.) It's probably not worth the points, but taking a Canoness with a Celestian retinue and an Immolator is always an option. It'd look pretty spiffy on the table though, that's for sure. Sounds like a job for checking out the army lists section. :D

[wizard12]

You may wish to consider a unit of Seraphim as opposed to Dominions,

 

if you do take them, don't mistake them for assault units. fly into flamer range, flame the opponet and shot you bolt pistols. If you know you can survive a round of combat dive in and jump out with the hit and run rule, shoot and fly away leaving a confused opponet. ;)

 

in other words, use them to tie up more powerful eniemies for a short time.

[WarriorFish]

All GKs make valuable allies, since they're all potent - the CC punch is most welcome in an IG army. GKTs in particular can really bolster your attacking elements. The same pretty much goes for SoB, the standard SoB squad, Dominions and Seras can add some firepower pretty cheaply.

 

As has been mentioned, you can't make much use of Faith (taking a Canoness and spending it all on her works though) but they really add something to your army. Extra bolters and bodies is nice for Marines, and having some Power Armoured troops supporting your Guardsmen is great (not to mention nobdy expects that in a Guard army!).

 

Most important of all is that it's cool and characterful and they're great models :D

[Lansirill]

How does this unit handle the slings and arrows of C&C? I'm probably wasting points with the imagifer and banner bearer, but I'm half making this unit just so that it'll look sweet. If I'm not absolutely shooting myself in the foot with them (if they're just a complete waste of points) then I'll probably keep 'em. With the low strength and good armor on sisters, I can imagine that a standard may actually be worthwhile. I don't have the banner modeled yet (just the Canoness and Imagifer) so it's a piece of cake to drop her and go with another bolter instead. Same with the flamers, I don't have them yet so its easy enough to swap them for something else.

 

Canoness

- Blessed Weapon

- Rosarius

- Book of St. Lucius

=105

 

Celestian Retinue

- Sister Superior with Bolter

- Imagifer

- Celestian with Sacred Standard

- 2x Celestian with Flamer

=112

 

Immolator

- TLHF

- Extra Armor

- Smoke Launchers

=73

 

Total = 290

[Inquisitor Fox]

In terms of close combat you're missing a few key things.

 

I'd swap the bolter of the Sister Superior, upgrade her to a Veteran Sister Superior and give her either a bolt pistol and power weapon, OR an eviscerator. One option to consider is a combi-bolter/flamer and power weapon. 3 flamers popped from the same unit? Yes please! You can also consider upgrading one of the 'normal' flamer Sisters to a heavy flamer Sister.

 

I would also recommend Holy Promethium for the Immolator. Forcing Morale checks on things that take even a single wound from the TL Heavy Flamers is nifty!

 

On the Cannoness, you should consider the Cloak of Aspira, and the Mantle of Ophelia. Both are highly useful upgrades for a close combat girl.

 

I realize that all of these things just increases the cost of the squad, but they should also increase it's effectiveness as well.