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A (Brief) Battlereport and Question About Repentia


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OK, here's where I admit that I hardly ever play my Sisters of Battle army. I am a terrible person, and will chant 100 Ave Imperators in penance... unsure.png

But tonight I bring them out for a 1250 point game against a Salamander/Tau force. Hammer & Anvil Deployment with a 5 Objective Crusade scenario, opponent going first. I brought two Battle Squads, Saint Celestine with a Seraphim retinue, three Exorcists, and 5 Repentia who borrowed a Heavy Flamer Immolater. My opponent had two squads of Salamander Tacticals, Vulkan, a Contemptor, twelve Firewarriors, a Riptide, and a Commander in a Crisis Suit.

My Exorcists lined up to present front armour and provide fire support like only three Exorcists abreast can. One squad of Sisters camped on an objective in cover, while the other squad got into complete concealment near a second objective, prepped to move onto it in the 5th turn. My Seraphim and Saint Celestine went into Deepstrike Reserves.

I lost the game 7 Victory Points to 9 in 5 Turns.

The Exorcists saw the Crisis Suit, Riptide, and Contemptor dealt with no problem. Boom, boom, boom.

Celestine and her Seraphim mishaped, and my opponent got to stick them in a far corner, and since the game ended on Turn 5 they never made it into fighting distance. I had planned on them clearing off the Firewarriors objective, but it was not meant to be. down.gif

The Repentia commandeered the Immolator and rushed up my right flank to midfield. I parked the Immolator and got the Repentia out in a spot that gave them some LOS blocking from fire, and in a place where they could move out of and assault something.

Here's the problem: since assaulting from vehicles is a no-go in 6th edition even if it hasn't moved first, the Contemptor walked around the LOS blocking terrain and dropped two Heavy Flamer templates on them. They all died without doing anything. Of course I just realized I forgot my Feel No Pain rolls, but at that small of a unit size it probably wouldn't have made that much of a difference...

So one thing I've thought of is that they need to not go into Immolators so I can take more Repentia to soak up Wounds.

The next thing I thought was, "what would that be?"

So how do we move Repentia in this edition?

Do we do 10 Repentia in a Rhino?

Do we foot-slog them behind a transport?

Do we Deepstrike them in an Arvus Lighter?

How do we get them where they need to go, and how do they survive Overwatch fire when they get there? A 6++/5+FNP with a unit cap of 10 doesn't seem like enough to keep a T3, no shooting squad moving into strike range.

O do I just drop Repentia and add Dominions and Outflank them?

I had some success forming a "Diving bell" of Rhinos and Immolators around the repentia and running them behind.  

Positives:

- Leaves them able to assault when they arrive

Negatives

- Take casualties from exploding vehicles

-  Expensive use of three plus vehicles

 

Nowdays I use them as a counter assault unit, positioned behind my Sisters block and the Aegis defence line.  It makes my deployment a bit predictable, but gives me a castle that no sane player (who has played me more than once) will ever assault.

I usually field my Repentia (when I field them) on foot behind my offensive Battle Sister squad or, if I'm using it, Saint Jackie's Battle Conclave.

 

That leaves my field looking something like;

 

BACK ROW

Exorcist

Exorcist

Retributors (heavy bolter)

Battle Sisters (heavy bolter)

 

MIDFIELD

Repentia

Battle Conclave

 

FORWARDS

Battle Sisters (flamers/melta)

Dominions

Dominions

Celestine

 

Something I want to try, however, is this;

 

BACK ROW

Exorcist

Battle Sisters

 

MID FIELD

Repentia

Retributors (Heavy Flamer)

Penitent Engine

Battle Conclave

 

FORWARDS

Battle Sisters (melta)

Celestine

Lots of good ideas for the repentia here.  Yeah, it is a downside when the sisters are primarly a mid ranged shooty army or firefight army, not really close combat specialist and it shows with us having our best close combat unit, unable to get across the board with any speed or protection.  Not having an assault transport really hurts, and I can only hope that a new codex would fix some of those issues.   Why can't sisters take a land raider reedemer or crusader, I mean, those are assault vehicles with a hefty payload perfect for repentia and the weapon loadout fits the holy trinity, but land raiders are a marine vehicle only right, way, so were rhinos.  Anyways, we can only hope that we can get some new rules for our ladies, till then we have to figure out new ways of using an outdated and subpar codex designed specifically for last edition with new edition tricks and vehicles to deal with.  

 

It is why I haven't invested or thought about repentia, because they can hit hard and the FNP is nice, they have weak armor and are forced to hoof it across the ground, and for their price, i feel I would just simply be better off with more battle sisters giving me more ranged shots.  

It is why I haven't invested or thought about repentia, because they can hit hard and the FNP is nice, they have weak armor and are forced to hoof it across the ground, and for their price, i feel I would just simply be better off with more battle sisters giving me more ranged shots.  

 

Lots of good ideas for the repentia here.  Yeah, it is a downside when the sisters are primarly a mid ranged shooty army or firefight army, not really close combat specialist and it shows with us having our best close combat unit, unable to get across the board with any speed or protection.  Not having an assault transport really hurts, and I can only hope that a new codex would fix some of those issues.   Why can't sisters take a land raider reedemer or crusader, I mean, those are assault vehicles with a hefty payload perfect for repentia and the weapon loadout fits the holy trinity, but land raiders are a marine vehicle only right, way, so were rhinos.  Anyways, we can only hope that we can get some new rules for our ladies, till then we have to figure out new ways of using an outdated and subpar codex designed specifically for last edition with new edition tricks and vehicles to deal with.  

 

It is why I haven't invested or thought about repentia, because they can hit hard and the FNP is nice, they have weak armor and are forced to hoof it across the ground, and for their price, i feel I would just simply be better off with more battle sisters giving me more ranged shots.  

 

 

For shame! Not So!  Repentia! I never leave home without them! Watching the oppositions face as you pick up 20 dice, re-roll hits re-roll wounds AP2 is just priceless. Shield of faith+ FNP also makes them reasonably survivable.  Dont get me wrong, if the Oppo decides they are going to go, then they will go, but in all of my games i can truthfully say:

 - I always field a Repentia unit;

 - I almost always get them into close combat;

 - and when they do, they almost always slaughter what they hit to a man

I usually field my Repentia (when I field them) on foot behind my offensive Battle Sister squad or, if I'm using it, Saint Jackie's Battle Conclave.

 

I assume you are referring to a transgendered Jacobus? I hadn't thought of that. Put a line of Crusaders up front to take hits on their shields, a second rank of DCA, and then have the Repentia in a third rank. I could see that working.

Yeah, lol.

 

Saint Jackie

 

It works pretty well. Everyone knows that the Conclave is evil and Repentia are weak... put Jacobus at the back of the conclave and it's a matter of moments to shift hir into the Repentia squad if the Conclave is whittled down to non-usability before they get to the enemy.

I usually field my Repentia (when I field them) on foot behind my offensive Battle Sister squad or, if I'm using it, Saint Jackie's Battle Conclave.

 

This is how I use them as well.  They make a good counter assault unit and can hide behind the crusader's storm shield.  Either that or they stay with the quadgun and cover in the rear.

  • 2 weeks later...

 

I usually field my Repentia (when I field them) on foot behind my offensive Battle Sister squad or, if I'm using it, Saint Jackie's Battle Conclave.

 

I assume you are referring to a transgendered Jacobus? I hadn't thought of that. Put a line of Crusaders up front to take hits on their shields, a second rank of DCA, and then have the Repentia in a third rank. I could see that working.

 

I played two games the other day, one normal game and one Apocalypse game. I won the first game on Victory Points thanks to the Battle Conclave, thanks to this discussion. I can't tell you how long it's been since I've won against a Grey Knight force. I'm definitely getting more Crusaders to fill out the front row, probably some Reaper models of female adventurers. Maybe find an appropriate counts-as for Jacobus as well.

 

My team won the Apocalypse battle too, but that had more to do with our IG parking lot, though my ladies did play their role in holding an objective and taking out enemy units with the Exorcists. And Celestine finishing off a Terminator squad that threatened to contest. It was a long day, but a victorious day.

Your mistake was in deployment.

If you're going to be moving Repentias forward, you cannot deep strike Celestine and Seraphims. They have to walk up as well so as to provide the other player with too many threats to deal with.

 

They have the mobility to keep up with a rhino/immolator going flat out and if you hit a different flank with them, you're going to screw up with your opponents mind. Keep them into cover as you move up and they will be quite durable... just don't let flamers get to them.

 

I obliterated a Tau in a 1500 points game this way. By turn 2 I had a squad of dominions, sisters, repentias and celestine/seraphims right in his face. By turn 4 I had him nearly tabled.

 

I sent the repentias against the riptide and, once he knew what they could do, he got so scared of them he played into my hands trying to get rid of them.

 

Your army has to work together. I see so many people focusing on a unit needing to make it's points back... but a unit does not need to kill a single thing to make it's points back.

 

While your repentias are dying in drove, your seraphims should be having a field day with any infantry found on the board.

Thinking about Repentia again...

 

Their Act of Faith gets used at the start of the Assault Phase, but this was written before 6th edition. As-written, and with no FAQ that addresses it, it looks to me that their Act of Faith would count against wounds taken from Overwatch fire. Does anybody else do it this way?

Thinking about Repentia again...

 

Their Act of Faith gets used at the start of the Assault Phase, but this was written before 6th edition. As-written, and with no FAQ that addresses it, it looks to me that their Act of Faith would count against wounds taken from Overwatch fire. Does anybody else do it this way?

Thinking about it, that would make sense. I would be wary to do it though, I think I will wait and see if it pops up in the FAQ, if not I will do it like that as long as my opponent agrees.

Yeah, lol.

 

Saint Jackie

 

It works pretty well. Everyone knows that the Conclave is evil and Repentia are weak... put Jacobus at the back of the conclave and it's a matter of moments to shift hir into the Repentia squad if the Conclave is whittled down to non-usability before they get to the enemy.

Haha, awesome idea, Miko :D Love the model.

 

Also, I almost always field repentia myself. Granted, right now my force is fairly small, it may change once I fill out more and more of my army... but even if there's not a lot of armor around, they are a damned scary unit to see. They massacre terminators and have even annihilated khorne berserkers and out-damaged death company. I do the "diving bell" idea, too, as far as delivery is concerned... I try to block LoS as much as possible between vehicles, terrain and other units, as you also get a 5+ cover save if the enemy shoots at them and another friendly unit is between them and the shooters. 

 

I'll never forget my first use of repentia.. I sent them after my friend's punisher leman russ tank. Only 4 sisters made it out alive and I was resigned that they weren't going to do anything at all... then rage happened. 16 attacks from 4 models rerolling penetrating hits on rear armor. Right now, at least, they're a must take in my list.

I am 50/50 with my Repentia.  I use them half the time and the other half I don't  They ALWAYS pay for themselves.  If they don't kill anything, the enemy spends alot alot of shooting to kill them instead of shooting at my other stuff.  If they don't get shoot, then they slaughter anything they get near.  I have two ways of getting them into the fight safely.  I tend to do #1 more then #2 but #2 does work effectively. 

 

1)  One is I load them into a commindeered rhino and drive them full speed at the enemy along side the other 3 to 5 rhinos. 

 

- This causes a targeting priority delema.  If they spend all the shooting on the rhino with the Repentia, then the other rhinos get into flamer/melta range fully loaded with battle sisters or vice-versa.

 

2)  I attach St. Celestine with them and run them across the table behind my transports keeping Celestine between the enemy and them.

 

 - This allows St. Celestine to provide a 2+/4+ shield for them so then don't get gutted on the way.  When I do this, I also try to keep them behind the rhino rush wall and near cover.

 

 

I never DS Celestine anymore, I have this bad habit of ALLWAYS mishapping.  If I am in any direction of anything, I will ALWAYS deviate directly into it.  I have a very very very very poor history with DS. 

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