Struggling with Troops choices

[Naminé]

Hello again,

 

With the new codex, I've gotta admit, I'm really struggling to find the optimum setup for my regular battle sisters.  My old list is now far more expensive, and although I'm happy to change I really don't know what to.  So far I've been using a huge deathstar squad, which works but I can't help feeling it is somewhat inefficient.

 

So at 1500 points, what are you guys taking for troops?  How many units, what sizes and what options?

[tvih]

I run/plan on running 5-6 sisters per squad with 2 specials, and possibly a combi (if I can convert some). Put 'em in a Rhino and do some drive-by shooting, or Immolator for a more shooty transport that you can't shoot out from.

 

Problem is of course if one doesn't have so many special weapon models, it is expensive to get them - which is kind of my problem rounding out my Sisters.

[Fibonacci]

I'm still playing around and have never really had a set list anyway, but currently I like 2 squads of 5 with flamers in a MM Immolator and a squad of 9 with flamers and a priest in a rhino.   If I take a command squad, that gets the heavy flamers; if not then I put heavy flamers in the troops.

 

I still take dominions with 4 meltas but they are either in Repressors when I can use them or Rhinos when I can't.  I am finding that between melts dominions and MM Immotalors for the small troop squads I have enough anti-armor.  6th edition loves flamers and I never seem to have too many ;)

 

Anyway, that's my base even in smaller games.  One full and 2 small squads.  I will add more but ... yeah, it's a tough choice what works better after that. Another full squad with a priest or another small squad and put the extra points in other places.  This is also working with the models I own and while trying to keep a fluffy list. 

[WAR]

10 sister melta/ hvy flamer,simcrimlum, vet with melta bombs and a rhino or if I can get enough repressors expensive but less than my marines with hvy bolter melta pf

[WarriorFish]

I'm with war009 more or less - still the full squad and thanks to the points drop the heavy flamer is more favourable and the simulacrum has made a welcome return - though I must confess to using the models as normal bolter Sisters anyway!

 

If I do take Immo squads it won't be wholesale, maybe one or two in a list? I prefer my units to have the resilience of more models, especially in the Troops section so it is 10 woman squads as the mainstay for my line Sisters.

[Naminé]

Are you guys going for veteran upgrades and simulcrums on the standard rank and file?  I ask because it seems to get expensive fast, and cuts down on other areas.

Thanks for the responses so far.

[WAR]

Yes as the AoF is viable now to benefit from the point increase of taking a simulacrum vs not plus having the increase ld helps to pass the important ld test to do the AoF

[*Furyou Miko]

Personally, I don't think the AoF is effective enough to warrant it when it's a choice between that or giving one to the melta-minions.

[Fibonacci]

I have not made up my mind about the Vet Superior.

 

If the points is to make the Faith test, a Laud Hailer is a better option for 10 points.  Also, 1 Laud Hailer can affect several squads.  However a Laud Hailer will not help a Priest's War Hymn.  So I take a Vet upgrade any time the unit will host a Priest.

 

As far as the Simulacrum and the AoF itself ... let me cut a long discussion down to say that even in 5 sister squads, point for point a Simulacrum is a better return than more models.  So everywhere except for my small sized, forward thrusting units (which will not survive outside of their transport long enough to get a second act of faith) I put a Simulacrum in the unit.

 

But really all this is just a rule of thumb sort of build.  I have not seen enough of a real difference in either way of playing (vets or LH on the vehicles) to say which is best.  One thing I have found to be well worth the points, I put do condemnor bolters on my Battle Sister Superiors almost every time now where before they seldom took any weapon upgrade.

[oreaper84]

i have been fond of running quasi blobs of battle sister 14-15 with a priest. This is found to be a real pain to remove. Since they are mostly static i run  they with a single Mmelta. That being said i run more flamers and heavy flamers in command squads (which im now becoming a fan of). I did just notice that the AoF for the command sqaud is a little wierd, i mean i realize that fleet/crusader is meh...whatever, but move through cover is completely useless as the AoF is used in the assault phase. Did anyone else notice this waste of 4-5 mm of space and pixels in the dex. It is NEVER a usable rule unless your Infantry is what...charging through some iceblood river.

[*Furyou Miko]

Move Through Cover in the assault phase means that you roll 4d6 and discard the highest and the lowest dice (charging through difficult terrain is 4d6 discard highest, MtC adds an extra die and discards the lowest). Not useless at all.

[Nicodemus Doloroso]

What are your thoughts on a home objective sitting troop choice? I'm thinking specifically something to sit behind an Aegis Defence Line with quad gun. 10 sisters with a multimelta?

[Naminé]

In the previous codex I always used to have a squad of 10 bolter sisters, no upgrades whatsoever, who sat in reserve and then came on as late as possible to grab a home objective.  Now that we can have even smaller and cheaper (but admittedly worse) squads for the same purpose, I'm still working out what is most effective for this purpose.

 

Thanks for all the responses guys, I am going for a more defensive build with my next game, with troops choices as follows:

 

2 lots of 9 battle sisters, 2 flamers and a combi-flamer, riding with a priest in a Rhino.  The idea being they can deter charges cause some nice anti-infantry damage.

In addition I am going to try one small squad of 5 sisters, 2 stormbolters and a Heavy Bolter to sit in my deployment zone.

 

I'll let you guys know who it fares.

[Da Taz]

I run 10 sisters with Vet, Meltagun, Heavy Flamer and repressor. I have to repoint it under the new codex, but it shouldn't be any more then before and maybe just under. I will have think about adding any upgrades. I just may end up adding a Sim. just don't know at this time.

[oreaper84]

Move Through Cover in the assault phase means that you roll 4d6 and discard the highest and the lowest dice (charging through difficult terrain is 4d6 discard highest, MtC adds an extra die and discards the lowest). Not useless at all.

 

actually it states in the brb that it has no effect on assault moves, what you state make logical sence....just isn't true though

[*Furyou Miko]

No, it doesn't.

 

Not in my copy, at any rate. Check the Assaulting Through Cover section, I think.

[Fibonacci]

On page 40 in the Move Through Cover USR

"The Move Through Cover special rule has no effect on charge range rolls or Irnpact tests (see page 95)"

 

So you get to automatically pass any dangerous terrain test you have to make while charging as long as you don't jump off a building :)

[Naminé]

Well in the last game I played I tried flamer, combi-flamer and Heavy flamer on each BSS with no other upgrades.  10 per unit in a Rhino.  I must say that if nothing else the change to condemner boltguns has made it easier to focus on upgrades :p

 

Both units did well, just like the old days tbh and there was quite a few 4+ saves floating around the enemy ranks to make that Heavy flamer especially useful.  I was going to run priests in each unit but in the end I didn't really need to; however I still want to try this in future (probably at a higher points value).

 

Highlight of the game was when a Vindicare Assassin was foiled by a Rhino's smoke launchers, only to die from it's single stormbolter in return whilst the Sisters inside roasted a squad of Pathfinders.

[*Furyou Miko]

Smoke Launchers.

Last game I played, between the Shield of Faith and my Smoke Launchers, my Rhino survived a ridiculous amount of conversion beamer and missile launcher spam, long enough to drop a SCS into assault and slaughter the marines.

[oreaper84]

Smoke Launchers.

Last game I played, between the Shield of Faith and my Smoke Launchers, my Rhino survived a ridiculous amount of conversion beamer and missile launcher spam, long enough to drop a SCS into assault and slaughter the marines.

Never underestimate a 6++ ( it works better if you wisper "the emperor procects" before you role em) :)

[Naminé]

Smoke Launchers.

Last game I played, between the Shield of Faith and my Smoke Launchers, my Rhino survived a ridiculous amount of conversion beamer and missile launcher spam, long enough to drop a SCS into assault and slaughter the marines.

Never underestimate a 6++ ( it works better if you wisper "the emperor procects" before you role em)

Whisper?! I say it loud and say it strong!

[Dread]

That's cool, I roll the dice and interject, 6!! Works better that way for me.

 

And, oh, 10 sisters, meltagun, hvy flamer and rhino. Pretty much the same as before but now with the hvy flamer instead of 2 meltas.

[Nicodemus Doloroso]

In the previous codex I always used to have a squad of 10 bolter sisters, no upgrades whatsoever, who sat in reserve and then came on as late as possible to grab a home objective.  Now that we can have even smaller and cheaper (but admittedly worse) squads for the same purpose, I'm still working out what is most effective for this purpose.

 

I wonder if 8 Sisters plus a priest (for just about the same cost) would fare well, since they'd be impossible to move by way of failed Ld check.