So I'm tempted by sisters... guidance required

[helterskelter]

So after seeing furyou miko mentioning sisters of battle on more than one occassion, and every so often popping this way, I'm beginning to think I may be getting hooked. Digging out the WD with the codex an researching via the netweb, apart from being iffy to acquire on a well known auction site, I have found thathere is an army of purest evil in the most emperor loving way. Now my inner night lord smiled at the terror to be caused by immersing my enemies in holy flame, but i just can't quite put my finger where to start.

A cannoness seems a must, as do a selection of well placed priests, but I really need a voice or 6 to gelp give me a direction.

 

Also, I know I said I'd wait for plastic sisters, however an altering of budget has been decided upon

[Warsmith Aznable]

Can't hurt to start with a BSS. Then I would immediately shoot for adding an Immolator and/or Exorcist and a squad of melta Dominions.

[*Furyou Miko]

The best place to start with a Sisters army is infantry. For the smallest possible army, you want a Canoness, two Sisters Superior, two Meltaguns, two Flamers, and four Battle Sisters.

 

That'll net you a legal force org chart to start 250 point games. Alternatively, you might want to go for Celestine or Jacobus rather than the Canoness - a lot of players prefer Jacobus with the current codex (the e-codex from Black Library) because of his guaranteed Warlord trait and his buffing abilities, although I personally disagree.

[helterskelter]

I have seen something called acts of faith plus the priest prayers? Do these not buff units sufficiently? I've seen something that allows shred/rending too, so I think I'd be happy with a canoness

[Jacinda]

Every unit has their own Act of Faith that can be used once per game. A 10 point upgrade will let a unit use their Act of Faith a second time.

 

Short, short tactica:

Flamers good

Melta good

Stormbolters bad

Fast Attack choices are our strongest units.

Stay in the tank.

[Ishagu]

I spoke to someone who works in gw a few days back...

 

Prior to speaking to me he had spoken to someone else who works in gw...

 

I have received 3rd hand information that plastic sisters are... A possibility

[Kastor Krieg]

I spoke to someone who works in gw a few days back...

 

Prior to speaking to me he had spoken to someone else who works in gw...

 

I have received 3rd hand information that plastic sisters are... A possibility

Yeah, right. We all know that it's POSSIBLE, without speaking to any colour of a Shirt. On the other hand, is it PROBABLE? Nah :(

[Spacefrisian]

A nephew from a friend of a friend story?

 

Hey stop those credits from flying out of the window.

[Ishagu]

Hey guys, I don't wanna shout about it but this guy's been right before!

[chaplain belisarius]

I'd love it if we got plastic sob in the new year.

[helterskelter]

None of this plastic sister malarky helps me currently! So on point, what i gather 2 squads of sisters, 2 rhinos, canoness. Worth taking her with a command squad and immolator? If i get a good base to start with i can be more encouragable

[*Furyou Miko]

I've hidden a bunch of posts derailing the topic. Please try and keep things relevant and helpful.

The Command Squad has its benefits - it can be a combat monster if equipped that way, or it can be incredible ranged support. It's a good way to use extra points when you don't have enough models, but ultimately it's often better to use Dominions, Retributors or BSS instead.

[WarriorFish]

Yep! As I always say: you can't go wrong with more Sisters. The bread and butter of a force in a way no other army can really boast. Sisters, more Sisters and some metal boxes to ferry them about will never go far wrong :) For starting out I'd get a Canoness and enough Sisters to form two full 10 model squads and then you have a solid core to build on - Rhinos/Immolators would be worthwhile additions as Sisters have always done well mechanised.

[Ishagu]

Exorcists are your friends.

3 of them

[foxlight713]

For The Cannoness - Rosarius (4++ invulnerable save), and Mantle of Ophelia (for Eternal Warrior, prevents Instant Death) are 2 really good upgrades as she is only T3 and there is plenty of weapons that can ID her.

[Duke Danse Macabre]

Just remember when building your force our strength lies in our utility.

Large bolter squads eat up allot of points fast, 5 sister squads with 2 special weapons or a special and a heavy will be your best friends, this is why out cheap Razorback Immolators are so damn good.

 

I still say though, first buy, get the ipad codex for them, worth every penny. :)

[Jack Burton]

I have had a lot of success with blobs of 20 sisters, plus 2 priests and sometimes Celestine. Their preferred enemy bolter fire worked very well against drop podding marines, jetbikes eldar, and tyrants swarm and MCs.

 

In fact, they have been just as good in close combat for me, with the ability to use their krak grenades against MCs.

 

If you have enough bodies it's worth fielding, see if it works for you too.

[Inquisitor Fox]

I adore Seraphim.  I've never been disappointed by them.  Converting them to having two twin-linked inferno pistols was a pain, but a squad with 2 sisters w/ 2 TL inferno pistols, then a superior with a power sword and plasma pistol has been a great "headhunter" squad for tough targets/vehicles.

 

I actually use two squads, one with flamers, one with "melta/plasma" and I love them.

[Duke Danse Macabre]

Problem is with 20 sister blobs with 2 priests they can set you back in the region of 300 points and they are a shooting choice first, we however are not a gunline army, with 24 inch range we suffer at this so we are better using our abilities elsewhere.

[helterskelter]

300 points doesnt seem like a massive set back? I have played marines and do heresy so invariably 300 point squads pop up everywhere, even dropping a sister in each squad and rhino transport for them with a few choice support squads? Like those squads of sisters with 4 heavy flamers in a heavy flamer toting vehicle! Lots of burny goodness

[Duke Danse Macabre]

Yeh but in those forces they have a higher WS, more weapons open to them, FNP buffs to replace the reroll saves, higher toughness, etc.

Just because one army uses 300 point units in a different game system does not mean its the "Optimal" way of running sisters, if you enjoy it by all means but its not the best is all I am saying.

 

I do enjoy running a 6 Sister Retributor squad in an Repressor with 4 Heavy Flamers and Simulacrum Imperialis, Truth be told a priest would only help here but I find these units are geared to horde armies and where as I like them I don't run them, feels too much like tailoring for my taste.

[*Furyou Miko]

I played a game against Necrons this week. Fielded two 20-strong flamer/heavy-flamer/veteran/power maul squads with dual priest/eviscerator, backed up by a SCS with the Blessed Banner of the Orders Militant. They got bogged down and took three turns to cross a river, but once they pulled free, they slammed into the Necron infantry (Immortals/Lord/ResOrb/Warscythe/MSS) like a freight train. Wounding on 5s, still wiped them out, although the Eviscerator attacks were needed to mop up.

 

As with everything Sisters, you have to commit to it if you want it to succeed. One priest-blob is a points sink. Two with proper support units will roll anything that's not specialised.. and there lays the problem. Against specialist units, they still fold in assault..

 

That said, I've had some good luck with Sisters blobs boltering down tough elite enemies, iincluding a (very lucky) situation where they wiped out a full unit of Typhoid Terminators between two rounds of shooting and an Overwatch.

[Inquisitor Fox]

I will point out though, that with the presence of Exorcists as well as Dominions and Seraphim with melta-dedicated weaponry... well... one or two of those units pointed at a unit of Terminators, some Termies die :)  Anti-tank melta weaponry will slag Terminators pretty well too.  You just have to decide that the infantry unit is more important than a tank for that turn.  That's my suggestion for "elite units".  We don't melee them, treat them like tanks and blow the snot out of them, then let your regular units handle hordes or infantry.

[Naminé]

Depends on your army to be honest. Personally I love to melee them and get stuck in with my Battle conclave, Repentia or Penitent Engines!

 

The reason why everyone is saying different things in this thread is because Sisters are actually effective in lots of ways and builds. It depends on the style of play and the list you want to use, and once you find a fit you will swear blind that it is the best way.

[FlamingWalnut]

One thing I wanted to point out, and I'm not sure if it was mentioned, but if you're gonna get Rhinos, you might as well get the Immolator set. All the bits for a Rhino, but some extra sister bits if you want an Immolator down the line. Just a friendly reminder of which kit to buy.