Penitent Engine Squadrons + Invisibility

[L30n1d4s]

I have not tried this out yet, but looking at the new psychic disciplines and revamped SoB allies matrix and I think Penitent Engines may have a new lease on life. Specifically, with the new version of Invisibility in the Telepathy discipline that allies can cast on friendly Sister of Battle units.

 

Imagine a Squadron of three Penitent Engines, costing just about the same price as a Land Raider total. Normally, their fragileness (Av11 open-topped) and lack of speed (6" move + D6" run at best) is a severe handicap that mitigates their outstanding damage output (6 x Heavy Flamer Templates followed by 18 S10 AP2 attacks striking at Initiative 3 on the charge).

 

While the mobility issue cannot be easily fixed, the durability issue can be dramatically changed with successful casting of Invisibility on the Squadron... basically, you turn the squadron of walkers into Flyers in terms of survivability, with ALL units only be able to shoots snapshots at them (this obviously means that Blast/Template weapons cannot hit them at all). Additionally, this effect continues into the Assault phase, making it so all other units can only hit them on 6+ rolls in close combat.

 

Now combine this survivability with such tremendous damage output on the charge (both against hordes and elite units alike) for such an affordable unit and I'd say you have a very competitive use for Penitent Engines. Of course you still have to foot slog them into action, but even just the threat of them can force your opponent to react in ways that is advantageous to you and disadvantageous to him, especially after he experiences a turn of being hit by 6 Templates followed by 18 S10 AP2 attacks and knows the true damage they can put out.

[WarriorFish]

I'm not well versed in the new powers, but are you sure the 6+ to hit also applies in close combat? If so that's brutal, even not it's still very good. Aside from the heresy of using witches of course :P

[*Furyou Miko]

Penitent Witches and Penitent Engines make good bedfellows.... oh god. Brb. I have to go stat that up.

 

Edit: http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/292600-penitent-witches-ecclesiarchy/

[Naminé]

Invisibility is probably one of the more powerful psychic powers now, so it's pretty much great on anything!  The hard part is getting the power in the first place.

 

I run Penitent Engines regularly and they're already pretty good in my opinion.  I find a squadron of 3 is plenty survivable so long as you run them through cover and I actually prefer them as the Adepta Sororitas Heavy Support choice, since they are the only one which is a known commodity (especially with the Retributor cost increase).

[Spacefrisian]

The worst one is hitting in combat is 5, so i would like to know how you assume it to be 6.

[andrewm9]

The worst one is hitting in combat is 5, so i would like to know how you assume it to be 6.

Its what invisbility does. You can only fire snap shots at the target in shooting and only hit in close combat on 6's. It is warp charge 2 after all.