NEW Sisters Units *Speculation*

[derpasaurus]

I assume that penitent engines and celestians in particular will be the new best units in the world. They seem to run a trend of making poopy units awesome to sell models.
I'd love to see pen engines as MC instead of walkers. Or maybe at least av12. fir realz. 

Cheap troops like frateris militia or initiates. Some sort of semi blobby, considerably more fragile, but cheap per model scoring unit. Sister of Silence with some sort of deny the witch bubble would be epic. Most units should have zealot or preferred enemy/hatred (mutant/psycher/heretic) even if you have to buy them as upgrades. 

Maybe a rework of the faith system so it's not a crap shoot every turn. 
In general I like the wd dex. It's really solid, and nothing makes me happier than melting the faces off of people who think the dex is weak, then shaking their hand at the end of a match with a slightly smug look on my face.

[Lucien Eilam]

So, looking at the currently rumoured 40k release dates, it would appear that Sisters of Battle will probably be out before 2015. I'm basing this off of the fact that they are unlikely to release Space Wolves, Grey Knights and Blood Angels within close proximity of one another. It wouldn't make good marketing sense and doesn't happen historically.

I think that's incredibly wishful thinking. Sorry to say, but that would make a hell of a lot more marketing sense than investing in new moulds for an all-metal army that hasn't sold well enough to justify printing a real codex in two entire editions. Heck, they apparently don't even sell well enough for anyone to bother spending 5 minutes putting the WD codex online.

 

Any one of those Marine codexes is guaranteed to sell by the bucketload, even if they released all three in consecutive months. Whereas Sisters need a Dark Eldar style relaunch but have never done anything to suggest that kind of investment would generate a worthwhile return. It probably makes less financial sense than bringing the Squats back, and there's no sign of them doing that either.

 

They might not discontinue them outright but, if they don't just leave them to rot as they are, I wouldn't expect any more than the White Dwarf codex slightly reworked for 6th edition, sold digitally/direct only, and repackaging of the existing range in Finecast.

[xFallenx]

I played my Pen Engines (2) for the first time this past weekend & they ate a Daemon Prince (of 3) who thought it was a wise idea to hit them from behind. I played them pretty close to my chest & had them babysit the objective needed for the win. My unit of 10 Repentia made a meal out of a 2nd Nurgle Daemon prince, while massed shooting & duel excorcists punched holes into big papa.

 

 

 

Guess that's to be expected when 1,700 pts of daemons tries to take on a bunker of 2,200 pts of Sisters (1,400) & coteaz/henchmen (800pts, these guys tore into a Deep striking unit of Nurgle warriors with the "I've been expecting you" rule. 50% casualties on landing thanks to the quad gun, 2x Jokero/3xServator unit camping on the objective) while his 1,300 pts of guard worried about the 800pts Seraphim (2) & melta/flamer Dominions (2).

 

 

Neither one of us got the objective, but I got first blood, warlord & line breaker to his line breaker. This brings my 40K record to 3-0-0. All of it due to the fact that no-one knows what the sisters are capable of. The only complaint I have with the army is the fact that I only have one scoring unit...& maybe the fact that I am using all of the faith points I get. From here on out, now that I understand those better, I'm bound to run into situations where I'll be forced to make some hard decisions. I really like this book, though that only counts so far as my total experience with 40K as a whole.

 

[Shifte]

 

So, looking at the currently rumoured 40k release dates, it would appear that Sisters of Battle will probably be out before 2015. I'm basing this off of the fact that they are unlikely to release Space Wolves, Grey Knights and Blood Angels within close proximity of one another. It wouldn't make good marketing sense and doesn't happen historically.

I think that's incredibly wishful thinking. Sorry to say, but that would make a hell of a lot more marketing sense than investing in new moulds for an all-metal army that hasn't sold well enough to justify printing a real codex in two entire editions. Heck, they apparently don't even sell well enough for anyone to bother spending 5 minutes putting the WD codex online.

 

Any one of those Marine codexes is guaranteed to sell by the bucketload, even if they released all three in consecutive months. Whereas Sisters need a Dark Eldar style relaunch but have never done anything to suggest that kind of investment would generate a worthwhile return. It probably makes less financial sense than bringing the Squats back, and there's no sign of them doing that either.

 

They might not discontinue them outright but, if they don't just leave them to rot as they are, I wouldn't expect any more than the White Dwarf codex slightly reworked for 6th edition, sold digitally/direct only, and repackaging of the existing range in Finecast.

 

I think you might have missed my point a wee bit here, chap. I might not have made it clear, though, so I'll just iterate my logic a bit if you'll indulge me?:

 

1) Right now, Games Workshop is in the process of releasing new codices at a very fast pace. Unless they slow down dramatically, every single codex (including Sisters) could be released by early to mid 2015. 

 

2) If the release-schedule rumours are correct (which I identified as a core foundation of this speculative thread), then three of the remaining six armies which have yet to be scheduled for release would be Space Marine factions.

 

3) In terms of marketing, it would be foolish for Games Workshop to release two Space Marine codices in quick succession of one another. As you have implied in your post, a Space Marine release will sell a 'bucketload' of products. That is true, but the fact is that they are going to release and sell a new codex for every army during this edition regardless of whether it happens in November 2014 or June 2015. Their key objective, therefore, is to maximise sales during this cycle.

 

With that in mind, consider this: there is a lot of overlap between people who will buy a Space Wolves release and people who will buy a Blood Angels release. By releasing those armies within close proximity of one another, you are effectively making your products compete to some degree and limiting the effect of the 'sales spike' that they bring with them. Basically, some of the people who would have bought both Blood Angels AND Space Wolves may find that they don't have the disposable income to purchase both armies within 2/3 months of one another and will instead decide only to buy one before losing interest in the other after the excitement of a new release is lost.

 

This is coupled with the fact that Games Workshop's senior management have to keep shareholders happy. In order to do this, managers and directors will often try to ensure sales stability throughout the year so that there are less negative fluctuations in share price. The fact is, it is better for most shareholders AND managers to have consistent sales throughout the year. If they blow their load in six months of epic Space Marine releases, they'll find that one year later they've run out of popular things to sell and their accounts will start looking less favourable. Besides this, releasing new and exciting products regularly will theoretically maximise general interest in the game from hobbyists.

 

4) The Sisters of Battle are a very popular concept. In the RPG Dark Heresy, they're one of the most popular concepts for player characters and have been at the heart of at least two supplements. In terms of the tabletop, they maintain a fairly vocal online fanbase and are played about as often as Dark Eldar were before their re release. This is despite the fact that SoB haven't got an accessible codex and they don't sell models in the store. The issue of Sisters getting a new codex isn't a matter of "if", it is a matter of "when". I can say this confidently because Games Workshop have indicated this themselves and it makes sense from both a marketing standpoint (a female army has the potential to offer something more appealing to female gamers) and because they need to pad out their 'heavy hitters' with other armies from time to time.

 

5) Ultimately, this led to my suggestion that Sisters may be released before 2015. The fact is that if they release 6 codices in 2014 (like 2013) then there are 4 slots available in 2014. If we presume that only two of those slots will be Space Marine armies, then that leaves two slots for one of Dark Eldar, Sisters of Battle and Necrons. Personally, I'd imagine that Necrons will be one of the last releases due to how relatively recent their last codex is.

 

6) This is all just speculation, but I don't think it is wishful thinking. There is evidence to suggest that if GW keep up their release schedule pace, and don't renege on their pledge to maintain the Sisters of Battle as an army, then we will have a codex for every army by mid 2015. Things could obviously go wrong and we might experience delays, but if it continues as Sixth Edition has so far, then this is a plausible outcome.

 

Personally, I suspect that we'll even see a new army this edition alongside the old ones. That's how fast they're currently moving. Even if they slow down, we'll still probably get a new book for every army before seventh edition.

[Lucien Eilam]

The Sisters of Battle are a very popular concept.

No, they're really not. "Very popular" concepts shift toy soldiers in high quantities. There's no evidence that Sisters of Battle have ever done that. If they're very popular, why haven't they had even a single Finecast re-release, never mind any plastic miniatures ever, or a real codex in over a decade, or a single product on the shelves in GW stores for literally years? GW milks popular things for all they're worth. Sisters of Battle didn't even warrant a mention in an Apocalypse book focused on a battle they're supposed to have fought in.

 

In terms of the tabletop, they maintain a fairly vocal online fanbase and are played about as often as Dark Eldar were before their re release.

No chance. Dark Eldar were way more popular than Sisters, even before re-release. Inclusion in a core starter set and plastics guaranteed that.

 

GW couldn't care less how "vocal" you are. They only care if you're getting your wallet out. And even in terms of vocality: on this, the foremost power armour forum on the Internet, Sisters of Battle are discussed just barely more than the Adeptus Mechanicus, who have never had a book, and will probably be overtaken by Guard in the space of about six months.

 

The issue of Sisters getting a new codex isn't a matter of "if", it is a matter of "when".

Sorry, but it ain't necessarily so.

 

I can say this confidently because Games Workshop have indicated this themselves

Games Dev, a couple years back, indicated that they won't "Squat" another army. That's not the same as the people who actually make business decisions for GW, today, signing off on probably hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of new plastic moulds. Think Batman: I won't kill you, but I don't have to save you. Except it's not even Batman's call, it's his accountant's, and there's one hell of a bill attached.

 

And remember: Squats were going to get new rules every single Games Day until they were all unexpectedly eaten by Tyranids.

 

No other army in any system has been as neglected as Sisters have. Notice that there's no Finecast out tomorrow, in spite of several potential gaps in GW's single most popular range? By 2015, Sisters will have gone 12 years without a new printed codex, and it might have been literally years since GW last released miniatures made of anything other than plastic. Even Dark Eldar were only 7 years since the previous printed update, and half their new range was released in much cheaper to develop metal or Finecast.

 

The world's changed. New Sisters in 2015 means an all-new, all-plastic range, at significantly greater expense than Dark Eldar, for a range that shifts far less product.

[Shifte]

Well, I can agree that Sisters will need a whole new model range. However, they could get away with;

 

A box for Battle Sisters squads with weapon options for dominions and retributors.

A Seraphim box.

An Exorcist/New Tank kit.

A Cannoness kit.

 

New Repentia, a new Celestine, new Penitent engines and new Celestians would be nice but non-essential. In fact, they'd probably wait and see how successful the army was before releasing a 2nd wave. Much like with the new Dark Eldar release. Considering the fact that 'Allies' are now a thing, there's even more sales opportunities for nice looking Sisters models.

 

Also, the Dark Eldar's codex release was in 1998. They spruced it up slightly in 2003, but the model release and advertising bonanza occurred in 1998. The modern codex was released in November 2010, a full 12 years later. Codex: Witch Hunters was released in 2003 and The Sisters of Battle were updated as a stand alone army a couple of years ago in a 2011 WD article. Both armies have been fairly neglected in the past. However, as explained in my previous post, GW's release schedule has went into overdrive. Considering the Sisters of Battle got a spread in the main rulebook, and the fact that at Games Days GW staff members have said Sisters were staying, I believe that it is logical that they'll be released within this edition. I think they had a chance to 'Squat them', and elected not to.

[*Furyou Miko]

There are five Sisters players in my local area. Now, I may be just down the road from GWHQ in a university city, but I'd say that constitutes a "significant minority" at the very least - especially as we only have two DEldar players.

 

Dark Eldar only sold about as well as Battle Sisters in the years after their initial release. If they hadn't been a box set army, they would therefore have sold even less well, logically speaking.

 

That's a pretty good indicator that a similar massive re-release would have a similar effect on the army's popularity. There's also the fact that the voices begging for a new Dark Eldar release were a lot quieter than the ones asking for Sisters.

[Hyaenidae]

In my 17 years of this hobby, I've only seen one SoB army. Not pulling your leg, seriously one.

 

Having sadi that, I think SoB are one of the gnarliest factions out there, with an atmosphere/ vibe about them that is truly representitive of the Grim and Dark setting.  I would be broken hearted if GW dropped or rolled them. I'm hoping that never happens, though too many of my worst suspicions have been proven to be correct over the last year.

 

Fingers crossed, Lady (Canoness) Luck is with y'all.

[Shifte]

For your kind wishes, I will allow you and your fellow 999 Heathens to live without purging.

 

Or at least give you a head start. :D

[Hyaenidae]

You're going to have to get though a rolling barrage first.

 

Hope your faith can stop 120mm HE shells.

 

 

:P

[*Furyou Miko]

Yeah, it pretty much can...

[Hyaenidae]

... I'd argue, but yes, you're right. Damn.

 

Better move up to the 155mm, then.

[Pierdzioszek]

And all I would like to get is stuff from third edition codex cover- and fluff like can only be found around 2/3 edition :D

plus:

penitents

archo flagelants

more flamers

uriah

[WarriorFish]

more flamers

You'll fit in well here

I'm still musing on what we may or may not have. It feels too early to really do anything more than throw ideas around and talk about old units and maybe the good old days. Some very interesting posts being made for it, but I can't really add much. I'd still love a combined codex with more Witch Hunter style elements as I really enjoyed that but only as part of a comprehensive choice system.

So you can have pure Sisters or mix and match or whatever else you liked - choice is always a good thing and GW needs to learn this lesson well.

[tyrannosaurus]

An option to take Frateris Militia and Arbites and I'd be happy, although I love the model range as it is. Everyone who sees my Sisters always comment on how nice the sculpts are. A bit of savvy Ebaying and it doesn't end up being too expensive either. I've been buying up what I can every month in fear of Sisters being Failcosted :(