What models should I buy next?

[Corvus Rex]

I started collecting and (very slowly) painting Warhammer 40K models about two months ago, now, with an eye towards being able to field a nice Sisters of Battle army once I've learned the (voluminous) rules. I picked the Sisters purely based on look and lore, not knowing until after I'd made my initial investment that they're considered among the more difficult and expensive armies to collect, construct, and play. I have no regrets, however!

 

That said, I'm still feeling my way through the dark here. The folks at the local Games Workshop location have been enthusiastic and helpful, but I'm apparently the only person fielding a Sisters army (or Kill Team, which I hope to do at a tournament in two weeks) in our area. The learning curve is steep!

 

I won't ask you good people to tell me everything I need to know, but what I would like is some advice on what models I need to be collecting--in a general sense--if my goal is to field a, say, 2000 point Sisters army at some point next year. To that end, I'm listing below my signature those models I've already collected. They're mostly only mounted and primed so far, and one of my two Penitent Engines is still in the box (boy, was that a challenging thing to build), but at this point I've decided to slow down on the purchasing and concentrate on painting and reading and learning, and being judicious (with your help) about what models I do continue to collect.

 

I'm aware that this is a probably a very broad question, but hopefully there are some obvious gaps (opportunities!) in this list so one or more of you can say, "Well, obviously you're going to want six more Battle Sisters with Meltaguns," or words to that effect.

 

Note that the format of this list is the quantity of the models I have, followed by the name of the model as given in the codex, followed in brackets by the name of the figure as given on the GW website (where available, I have bought two models that are out of print/production so I don't know what they were called in the catalog when they were available).

 

Cheers,

 

Christopher

 

HQ

1 Canoness [sisters of Battle Canoness]

1 Battle Sister with Blessed Banner [out of print]

1 Battle Sister with Simulacrum Imperialis [battle Sister with Simulacrum Imperialis]

1 Hospitaller [sisters of Battle Hospitaller]

2 Dialogus [out of print]

 

Elites

6 Sisters Repentia [sisters Repentia]

1 Mistress of Repentance [sisters of Battle Mistress of Repentance]

 

Troops

24 Battle Sisters with Bolters [battle Sisters]

4 Battle Sisters with Storm Bolters [battle Sister with Storm Bolter 2]

4 Battle Sisters with Meltaguns [battle Sister with Meltagun 2]

4 Battle Sisters with Flamers [battle Sister with Flamer 2]

2 Retributors with Multi-Meltas [battle Sister with Multi-Melta]

2 Retributors with Heavy Flamers [battle Sister with Heavy Flamer]

2 Battle Sisters with Heavy Bolters [battle Sister with Heavy Bolter]

3 Veteran Superiors with Power Swords an Bolters [sisters of Battle Superior with Power Sword and Bolter]

3 Veteran Superiors with Bolters [sisters of Battle Superior with Bolter]

 

Dedicated Transport

2 Sororitas Rhinos [space Marine Rhino]

 

Fast Attack

2 Seraphim with Hand Flamers [sisters of Battle Seraphim with Hand Flamers]

4 Seraphim [sisters of Battle Seraphim 1]

 

Heavy Support

2 Penitent Engines [Penitent Engine]

1 Exorcist [Exorcist]

 

 

[Servant of Dante]

I applaud your choice of army! I love the Sisters, as anyone who reads any of my posts finds painfully clear :P I don't presume to know more than any of the more senior Fraters, but I am happy to help if I can!

I won't ask you good people to tell me everything I need to know

Challenge accepted! Imperator Vult!

I suppose I'll just answer your question about models, and leave off any of the rules stuff. I'm sure you can find your way in that regard, and if you need any help, feel free to ask! Also, Aquilanus led a series of tactica threads covering each unit in the Sisters codex, plus the Repressor, Avenger Strike Fighter, and Fortifications (don't worry if those words don't mean anything to you yet, and I don't mean to be patronizing if they do).

HQ

2 Sisters Diologus! I don't even have 1 :P but I don't know that I would ever field it if I did. I haven't fielded my Hospittaler in forever either. The "Blessed Banner" was originally released as an alternate Simulacrum Imperialis, but I guess GW re-branded it when they discontinued the actual Banner Bearer model. I don't run mine much, but I suppose I can use it as a Simulacrum, like it was originally intended.

I would want to have Celestine and Jacobus, even if you don't plan to use Special Characters much. They are neat models, and can be fun. Plus, Celestine is my favorite model in the range after the organ Exorcist (but if you don't like the GW Exorcist, you are not alone on this forum). There's really not a lot else to see in the HQ section, but you want Ministorum Priests. I have 3, and that's usually enough for my purposes, but I should pronbably have 5. That's especially important in higher point value games. They are just so good for what they do and how few points they cost. Plus, you get to say you model is singing a War Hymn :P

Elites

Not much to see here either (just use normal Sisters for Celestians if you for some reason decide to run a Celestian squad). The Celestians don't offer any edge over the standard BSS that is worth their points as far as I'm concerned. Repentia require finesse, something I tend to lack. You want Jacobus or Celestine if you want to run Repentia. They can be scary and fun if you can get them to work. The biggest issue is our codes's lack of an assault transport. Many will recommend taking allies (units from another codex); but I like to stick with just Sisters, and I would recommend getting a handle on our rules before branching out, but that has nothing to do with running Repentia. I digress.

Troops

You will want a large number of Meltaguns. I have 8, and I need more. I rarely touch my 2 storm bolters, or at least never more than 1 at a time. I have 5 heavy flamers and 5 heavy bolters, and I think I need to get myself 4 more multi-meltas so I can have 5 of those too (take that as you will, the heavy bolters probably aren't strictly necessary, and I would get 5 heavy flamers before either of the other 2, if only because they are so much fun). These considerations mostly have to do with Dominions and Retributors (and Command Squads). I have 1 superior with a Power Sword (her name is Margrettia), and I rarely find myself wanting a second. I might consider getting one or two more of the bolter superiors, or going on ebay/similar site and getting some of the other OOP Superior loadouts (I haven't yet, but I should).

Fast Attack

I like to run full squads of 10 Seraphim. I might be experimenting qith 2 min size squads with 2 hand flamer Sisters in each (or maybe even some Inferno Pistols), but I would want to have 10, even though they cost an arm and a leg. I personally enjoy my Seraphim Superior with Power Sword and Plasma Pistol (which I had to get off of eBay), even if she ends up killing herself half the time (if you do not know what I'm talking about, read the Gets Hot! special rule in the main rulebook, and know that even though it's a 1 in 6 chance (plus armour), it's not :P )

Also, Meltagun Dominions in Immolators with more Melta. Since GW has discontinued the Immolator, this might be an issue, but the Exorcist kit comes with all the pieces for the Immolator and Sisters Rhino turrets, minus the clear plastic dome. What I did (after getting the idea from Aquilanus) was get a Space Marine Rhino and build it, but I put on the top piece that has the hole in it; the one used for the Razorback. I put the hole in the front of the hatch space, and that hole is the right size for an Immolator or Sisters Rhino turret.

anyway, you'll want a bunch of those. The rhinos, at least. I have 3 rhino/Immolators, and I want 2 more at least . . .

Heavy Support

More Exorcists

I enjoy Retributors, but I already talked about the heavy weapon Sisters.

From what I've heard, you want at least 3 Penitent Engines to run together as a squad if you are going to run them. They die easily.

I think that's all I have to say. I'm sure someone else will pick up on things I have missed; I'm just happy to be able to help :) and if you have any questions, ask. You can also send Private Messages to a specific person(s) by clicking your account name at the very top of the page and then clicking Personal Messanger.

Oh, and I almost forgot. I think it's fun to greet all the new Sisters players on the forum like this (as if I've been on the forum for very long :P )

Here's your flamer, and three barrels of His holy promethium. Speak to a mod when you run out (or before). Ave Imperator!

[A.T.]

There are a great many discontinued (but still 'current') sisters of battle models which are only available through ebay unless GW decides to briefly re-list them as a made to order weekend.

You can see the complete line here is there is anything that takes your fancy - the seraphim in particular benefit from the second pose to break up the unit and a recognisable squad vet.

http://www.collecting-citadel-miniatures.com/wiki/index.php/Sisters_of_Battle_-_Collectors_Guide

 

 

Adding a few notes to the advise already given:

 

24 bolter sisters should cover most of your needs. Most you'd want in a single squad would be 16 (for a blob squad) and you generally don't see more than one blob fielded if they are used at all. The only time you'd want more basic sisters is if running a counts-as gladius or a throwback Witch Hunters list (typical 1850 WH mech would be 4 squads of 10, 4 squads of 5, and 3 exorcists - 24 to 32 bolter sisters depending on use of banners).

 

You are probably ok for sister superiors but you could paint up the storm bolters as extra superiors. There are also three other model variants so if you pick up a complete set you'll have more anyway.

 

Heavy weapons are a mixed bag. The sisters have an apoc (but not regular) formation that requires a bunch of all of them in return for relentless.

In regular games heavy flamers see the most use in both normal sisters squad (flamer/heavy flamer - weaker now that the two weapons are resolved separately), as retributors with rending heavy flamers (not optimal with the sisters limited heavy support, but fun), and as a canoness command squad.

Multimeltas are very much take it or leave it on non-relentless models just the same as on regular space marines. As an anti-tank weapon moving 6" with a 6" melta range is usually preferable to having a 12" melta range on a static platform.

Heavy bolters allow you to use the retributors rending at maximum range and were very popular in the white dwarf codex (where the squad cost 25 points less and could try for rending every single turn). Not so popular any more but still worth having 4 heavy bolter models to field from time to time.

 

Meltaguns - you want a minimum of 8 (and two transports) for the two practically compulsory dominion squads in regular lists :p

 

Celestians - are poor generally, but in kill team their higher stats are actually a bit more valuable. There are no unique models for them though.

 

Finally priests (and cults) - a matter of personal preference here. You can use your dialogus models for the role, the priests are most prominent in armies with a large blob and when used alongside a combat canoness. Small squads of sisters gain comparatively little benefit.

 

 

 

The "Blessed Banner" was originally released as an alternate Simulacrum Imperialis, but I guess GW re-branded it when they discontinued the actual Banner Bearer model. I don't run mine much, but I suppose I can use it as a Simulacrum, like it was originally intended.

It was the sacred standard/sacred banner from the 3e WH book, only available to celestian command squads. Official kitbash of the original banner to remove the cost of the cardboard banner printing AFAIK.

 

They do make good simulacrums, or just generic bolter sisters carrying banners to make the squad more visually interesting. I find the banners easier to convert than the normal simulacrums when making variants as you have more banner pole to work with.

[Drider]

I think you need more transports and special/heavy weapons and transports.

 

I had my first game in 3months on Sunday 1850 vs SW the models i used for comparison were:

 

1 Celestine

1 Canoness

7 superiors (I only have 3 of the actual models but I just make sure I know which one is the character in each unit for the purposes of challenges etc. A normal sister with a slightly differant paint job works fine as long as you can tell at a glance)

8 battle sisters

12 sisters with melta

4 sister with flamers

4 sisters with heavy flamers

3 penitent engines

3 immolators

4 rhinos

3 exorcists

 

Incase your wondering. We played ITC mission 1. The game ended on turn 5 and I won overall by 1 point

[A.T.]

With specific regards to transports - if you don't glue down the exorcist pilot (baseplate and up), the missile tubes, and the servitor and you can swap between exorcist, immolator, and rhino freely.

[Servant of Dante]

With specific regards to transports - if you don't glue down the exorcist pilot (baseplate and up), the missile tubes, and the servitor and you can swap between exorcist, immolator, and rhino freely.

True.

 

Personally, I don't want to use a vehicle with the Exorcist plates on the sides as anything but an Exorcist, but is certainly a solution

[dracpanzer]

Personally, I would convert your storm bolters into combi-weapons.  Just put the SM combi weapon barrels in place of one of the stormbolter barrels.

 

Your meltaguns I would put into a Dom squad, flamers into two troop squads (or go flamer and heavy flamer on two troop and two flamers in a third) heavy bolters and heavy flamers are best with rending in your Retributor squads.  Multi-melta I would say is better in a command squad with relentless.

 

Remember  your sister superiors with bolter actually has a power sword in a scabbard on her right hip.  I prefer Seraphim in tens, but if you have room beside your dominion squads, two five girl squads with two twin flamers each is nice. 

 

Biggest hole in your collection is the lack of meltaguns.  There are conversion kits available to swap them for bolter girls though.   Just a thought.

[A.T.]

Multi-melta I would say is better in a command squad with relentless.

Biggest hole in your collection is the lack of meltaguns.  There are conversion kits available to swap them for bolter girls though.   Just a thought.

 

No relentless for command squads, that was the WD dex. They now have fleet, crusader, and move through cover... which they can't use in the movement phase or for running.

 

For meltaguns i've found that the easiest conversion is the bolter sister with grenade (holding the bolter out to the side). Just clip the bolter off and replace with a meltagun - the old separately sold meltaguns were good for this but any old marine weapon should do.

[Corvus Rex]

Wow, thank you all so very much. Lot to process here!

One quick question, for those of you suggesting various kitbashing solutions to get more Sisters with Meltaguns. Is there a reason to do it that way rather than just buying the existing models available through GW? Just an expense thing? Something else?

[Drider]

Shot answer is it's usually a cheeper option to convert your own.

 

Longer answer is that it can give you the option to personalise an otherwise mono pose army.

 

If money and personal preference incline you to buy the "correct" models new or used. Do what feels right to collect an army your happy with.

[dracpanzer]

No relentless for command squads, that was the WD dex. They now have fleet, crusader, and move through cover... which they can't use in the movement phase or for running.

 

For meltaguns i've found that the easiest conversion is the bolter sister with grenade (holding the bolter out to the side). Just clip the bolter off and replace with a meltagun - the old separately sold meltaguns were good for this but any old marine weapon should do.

Exactly right, too many editions blending together. Thanks.

 

While getting the grenade girl for conversions is great, she can be just as hard to track down as the melta girl. Thats why I would suggest the melta conversion kit.

[A.T.]

One quick question, for those of you suggesting various kitbashing solutions to get more Sisters with Meltaguns. Is there a reason to do it that way rather than just buying the existing models available through GW? Just an expense thing? Something else?

A mix of cost, convenience, and variety.

 

Around the start of 5th edition they were practically giving bolter sisters away on ebay. I had a couple of meltaguns (the little metal ones that they used to sell in packs), a lot of spare bolters, and I was on something of a budget.