BSB Speculation

[Jomgor]

The repentia are trash. Clearly smothered by PC considerations rather than going for the aesthetic of crazy repentant zealots wishing to die in a high gothic setting.

If I run repentia, I'm probably going to stick to metal ones, or at the very least absurdly converted plastic. They need clothes torn to absolute shreds, litanies need to be dangling from piercings through their cheeks, they should be female khorne berzerkers rocking the aquilla and fleur. Not some GSC rejects that look like an assassin with an eviscerator.

 

I didnt expect much when it came to the repentia, but then Slaanesh dropped and those were actually pretty good so I had a grain of hope. But it looks like my initial thoughts were correct, GW doesnt have the stones to make proper repentia, my own fault for thinking otherwise and getting disappointed I suppose.

 

If I wanted IG or GSC with big chainswords, I would just play IG or GSC with big chainswords. But what I want to play are misanthropic hyper zealots that treat pain like windex.

 

IMO*

[ThePenitentOne]

So Repentia are kinda my bag. My Penitent Legion is the pride of my collection; I already have 27 Repentia with 3 mistresses, 3 penitent engines, 9 arcos and a pair of priests. And I will buy these.

 

I love the faces and fleurs and the piercings and plugs. I like the poses and muscles. I don't like the tank tops; I knew we wouldn't get the full on BDSM of the originals, and I was prepared to accept that, and  even see it for its merits. But I expected a sort of Escher top rather than the tank top thing that they got. I also think some of the sculpts look like they've got boxers going on. I also would have liked boots- they even make sense from a combat perspective.

 

If you're disappointed with these, the Wargames Exclusive sealed set is probably just what you want. The Raging Heroes sisters Davidian lock good too. WGE also does pin-up (ie. topless) Repentia, which might be too far. I got all of the WGE ones to make up my 27 just incase I didn't like the new GW.

 

I glad I like them enough to buy a squad. It'll be nice to have store legal 27.

[ERJAK]

The repentia are trash. Clearly smothered by PC considerations rather than going for the aesthetic of crazy repentant zealots wishing to die in a high gothic setting.

If I run repentia, I'm probably going to stick to metal ones, or at the very least absurdly converted plastic. They need clothes torn to absolute shreds, litanies need to be dangling from piercings through their cheeks, they should be female khorne berzerkers rocking the aquilla and fleur. Not some GSC rejects that look like an assassin with an eviscerator.

 

I didnt expect much when it came to the repentia, but then Slaanesh dropped and those were actually pretty good so I had a grain of hope. But it looks like my initial thoughts were correct, GW doesnt have the stones to make proper repentia, my own fault for thinking otherwise and getting disappointed I suppose.

 

If I wanted IG or GSC with big chainswords, I would just play IG or GSC with big chainswords. But what I want to play are misanthropic hyper zealots that treat pain like windex.

 

IMO*

That sounds terrible.

 

Why would their clothes be torn? Do they wake up early every morning to artfully tear their robes? Why would they spend time and energy doing piercings when the brands are faster and less likely to cause a repentia to fail their redemption by snagging themselves on some rebar? They're not female khorne berzerkers, why would they want to look like them?

 

Your repentia would be terrible overdone nonsense barely worth being used as extras on a direct to DVD 'Ghosts of Mars' sequel.

[Jomgor]

 

The repentia are trash. Clearly smothered by PC considerations rather than going for the aesthetic of crazy repentant zealots wishing to die in a high gothic setting.

If I run repentia, I'm probably going to stick to metal ones, or at the very least absurdly converted plastic. They need clothes torn to absolute shreds, litanies need to be dangling from piercings through their cheeks, they should be female khorne berzerkers rocking the aquilla and fleur. Not some GSC rejects that look like an assassin with an eviscerator.

 

I didnt expect much when it came to the repentia, but then Slaanesh dropped and those were actually pretty good so I had a grain of hope. But it looks like my initial thoughts were correct, GW doesnt have the stones to make proper repentia, my own fault for thinking otherwise and getting disappointed I suppose.

 

If I wanted IG or GSC with big chainswords, I would just play IG or GSC with big chainswords. But what I want to play are misanthropic hyper zealots that treat pain like windex.

 

IMO*

That sounds terrible.

 

Why would their clothes be torn? Do they wake up early every morning to artfully tear their robes? Why would they spend time and energy doing piercings when the brands are faster and less likely to cause a repentia to fail their redemption by snagging themselves on some rebar? They're not female khorne berzerkers, why would they want to look like them?

 

Your repentia would be terrible overdone nonsense barely worth being used as extras on a direct to DVD 'Ghosts of Mars' sequel.

 

oh im sorry I thought this was 40k, I didnt realize we were doing sensible and conservitive. overdone nonsense is supposed to be par for the course. This is terrible underdone nonsense I wouldn't waste the time, glue and paint to make if you sent them to me for free.

[Slasher956]

Horses for courses gentlemen (& ladies of course).

 

Personally I like them and think they are a nice consistent upgrade from the old metal ones - which I do use and look forward to adding a 2nd unit and getting them working for me!*

 

*In ways other than getting in to combat once every now and then - murdering everything when they get there then spend the next dozen games being target number 1! .... still if they are shooting the repentia they arent shooting the exorcists

 

edit - I have just noticed the bionic arm in the last picture....

[Aqui]

oh im sorry I thought this was 40k, I didnt realize we were doing sensible and conservitive. overdone nonsense is supposed to be par for the course. This is terrible underdone nonsense I wouldn't waste the time, glue and paint to make if you sent them to me for free.

You are entitled to the opinion that this models are not how you feel represent Repentia, but its an opinion. Everyone is entitled to one.

[RolandTHTG]

Other than the too-deep brands, I really like the models. I think they would look better as scared brands along the lines of the recent slaanesh prince, but hopefully that gets improved as the model is finished. 

 

They're more subtle than the chaos models gw has released recently, but every single model shown has some form of piercing through the skin on their legs, which has to be constant pain while running. 

[Gederas]

Other than the too-deep brands, I really like the models. I think they would look better as scared brands along the lines of the recent slaanesh prince, but hopefully that gets improved as the model is finished. 

 

They're more subtle than the chaos models gw has released recently, but every single model shown has some form of piercing through the skin on their legs, which has to be constant pain while running. 

I think that's the point for the Repentia at the least.

[Jack Burton]

Oh man I have to say I do not like these either.

 

The good: They're well-detailed, well-proportioned, clearly up to the standard of GW minis nowadays.

                 They have strong, dynamic poses that make sense for what they're supposed to be.

 

The bad: I don't understand the cybernetic ports on the skin.  Sisters aren't supposed to have any kind of direct interface with their armor, right?  This is part of the reason why they're so much slower in their armor than Space Marines?  I'm not really sold on the brands, I prefer to freehand that kind of thing, but to each their own there...and the Championship Belt on one is really not doing it for me at all...

                The clothing makes them look....frumpy and not very well defined.  There's not a lot of shape in the middle of the miniature.  This also contributes to...

                More than half of them look like men from anything approaching a tabletop perspective.  This is probably the aesthetic point I'm going to disagree with some of you on.  Especially for a game like 40K, I want my miniatures to be stylistically aggressive, with exaggerated poses, features, and shapes.  The style should be unapologetically in-your-face 80's action movie kind of aesthetic.  Yes I know that realistically women who train like Sisters of Battle will have a more masculine musculature and yes of course it doesn't make a lot of sense to wear your pre-torn robe and rags into battle and well yeah all the braziers and censers and other hangings-on (that are almost wholly missing from these!  Why??) are a constant nuisance and threat to the safety of the user on the battlefield but....I don't care about any of that in my 40K.  The safe, realistically-designed Repentia are just....boring.  They don't excite me in any aesthetic sense and I'm not eager to model, paint, or play them.  I'll be continuing to use Raging Heroes Davidians, and just be willing the weather the criticism of oversexualization.

[A.T.]

The clothing makes them look...frumpy and not very well defined

 

Power-armour style sleeves and skirt/tabard, appropriately tattered, make them look pretty decent. The trouble with shirt and shorts is that there is no movement in them while robes can flare out giving a sense of action and movement, and also tying them to the rest of the line.

 

It solves the two biggest problems with them IMO - not that they aren't showing enough skin or are too muscular, but that they feel too static and lumpy despite the poses (even the scrolls are stiff) and that there is no clear visual link to the other sisters.

 

(also it gives a kind of badass trenchcoat look. If nothing else the proof of concept image floating around proves they aren't beyond salvaging with a kitbash)

[Slasher956]

Thinking of the sprues here.... the unit will be 3 -9 girls, (current beta dex), they've shown us 3 bodies, 4 heads & 4 sets of arms... So I'm thinking the box will be 2 sprues - one of 5 & the other of 4 bodies with a miix of 12 heads & arms.  Possibly with a bit of sprue space for extra cubbins like extra scrolls etc.

[dracpanzer]

No matter if you like the models or not. If the rules don't get improved, they won't see the table top much.

 

That coming from a player who regular fields SOME Repentia, because I love the lore of the unit. Doesn't change the fact that I am in a very small minority doing so...

[Atrus]

Aye, only time I field them is against someone whose never seen sisters before and I wanna show off the range.

 

I agree the shown new repentia is salvageable with the torn cloak/habit/robe/watchamacallit; but I'm no good with greenstuff or kitbashing, so if GW don't see the light and get away from the absurd shorts and shirt thing, they're not going to see my money.

[taikishi]

Aye, only time I field them is against someone whose never seen sisters before and I wanna show off the range.

 

I agree the shown new repentia is salvageable with the torn cloak/habit/robe/watchamacallit; but I'm no good with greenstuff or kitbashing, so if GW don't see the light and get away from the absurd shorts and shirt thing, they're not going to see my money.

 

I've never used green stuff before, so I'd be in for an experience one way or another. That said, I agree. I'd much rather see the models in torn and unkempt habits without the forehead brands.

[dracpanzer]

My take on the torn and tattered clothing being their thing is this. They are routinely given attention by the Mistress of Repentance just to keep them properly motivated. Meaning, they are regularly whipped, such a thing will invariably tear and cut the remnants of their uniform.

 

Which is likewise the torn remnants of their original Sororitas robes. So ragged and torn should definitely be a thing. How much I guess is more a question of taste. I just think it would have more of an effect on a uniform than falling out to fight in PT gear.

 

Last, I think carrying around an Eviscerator chainsword without the aid of a scabbard or mag lock might lead to a few wardrobe modifications and or malfunctions that they wouldn't really be of a mind to fix.

[Ficinus]

I use a squad of six Bloody Rose Repentia in a rhino with mistress and missionary (and two beatstick canonesses) every game. Sometimes they do nothing because the enemy focuses on them. Often I can hide the rhino well enough and use them to charge turn three or four after the enemy has been forced to move up and deal with my battle sisters. They do pretty well, even if they are super fragile.

 

Also, my regular opponents are often more afraid of the arco-flags in an immolator than the repentia in a rhino. Or they are equally afraid and split fire.

[ThePenitentOne]

I'd like to kitbash a mistress/ canoness combo. I'm curious about the cost of a full on Penitent Legion- A canoness as the leader so they can get the Bloody Rose power, 3 priests leading 27 arcos, 3 mistresses, and 3 squads of 3 PE's. Throw in enough troops, seraphim and extras to make it a brigade so I don't get shafted on CP. Hopefully there's enough left over for more guns and more CP.

 

Has anyone else ever tried full on assault saturation? I mean, I know we're never going to be as good as an actual CC army, but it seems like every negative comment I've ever read seemed to come from a list optimized for our famous mid-range firefights or repressor spam with one or two CC units thrown in to round out the points, and it's pretty much a consensus that this is ineffective. So I wonder what all in would be like. I've never been able to field more than 3 penitent engines, 2 repentia squads and 1 unit of  arcos. I've managed to max out my repentia and get my arco squad to full strength so far.

 

I'll get 2 more arco squads and at least 3 more penitent engines when the new models drop. It's kind moot to try anything novel with sisters til we have the new dex anyway.

[Atrus]

Not tried it as I don't have the models but firmly believe it'd look sweet as on the table.

[Closet Skeleton]

The bad: I don't understand the cybernetic ports on the skin.  Sisters aren't supposed to have any kind of direct interface with their armor, right?  This is part of the reason why they're so much slower in their armor than Space Marines?  I'm not really sold on the brands, I prefer to freehand that kind of thing, but to each their own there...and the Championship Belt on one is really not doing it for me at all...

 

Yes I know that realistically women who train like Sisters of Battle will have a more masculine musculature and yes of course it doesn't make a lot of sense to wear your pre-torn robe and rags into battle and well yeah all the braziers and censers and other hangings-on (that are almost wholly missing from these!  Why??) are a constant nuisance and threat to the safety of the user on the battlefield but....I don't care about any of that in my 40K.

 

When GW expands a range stuff always gets retconned, SoB have power armour interfaces now and there's nothing about that that doesn't make sense. With how common bionics are in 40k it didn't make much sense that SoB didn't have many.

 

SoB are slower than Space Marines because they aren't superhumans.

 

These are CAD renders, presumably the kit will have optional decorations.

 

Death Cult assassins and Repentia had too much overlap in the fetish gear melee unit department so they needed differentiating.

 

 

they should be female khorne berzerkers rocking the aquilla and fleur.

 

Funny, to me these look like the perfect base for khorne cultists.

 

oh im sorry I thought this was 40k, I didnt realize we were doing sensible and conservitive. overdone nonsense is supposed to be par for the course. This is terrible underdone nonsense I wouldn't waste the time, glue and paint to make if you sent them to me for free.

 

 

One of those heads has a fleur de lis cut down to the skull.

[dracpanzer]

I'd like to kitbash a mistress/ canoness combo.

Like this?

[CaptainMarsh]

I like the new Repentia more than the old Repentia. Of course the whole deal is pointless unless I find them worthy of bringing to the field, but still an improvement.

[Dominoris]

 

I don't understand the cybernetic ports on the skin.  Sisters aren't supposed to have any kind of direct interface with their armor, right?  This is part of the reason why they're so much slower in their armor than Space Marines?

 

They do not have the black carapace, true.  Because of that, they rely on the ports to interface with the armor.

[Atrus]

So having had a few days to reflect on the repentia shown, I've come to a more thought out view on the repentia shown, as opposed to an emotional knee jerk reaction.

 

Posing:

 

Old models were limited to 3 power.

1) Standing straight up with eviscerators straight forward.

2) standing straight up but with one foot forward and eviscerators pointing up a bit.

3) eviscerators overhead, standing straight up but with a foot raised and bent knee.

 

Very static and very 2D. Turn the models straight on and they disappear :p

 

New models are more 3D. We've seen running. Full blown swing follow through with feet showing base of support.

Compared to the old poses, the new ones certainly look more interesting.

That said, the I poses are only "okay" to my eye. They don't convey too much action to me, no leaping or even a big wind up for a eviscerating blow.

But these are plastics; the dream of modifications and modelling self styled poses is coming true.

 

 

The Plugs:

 

These are a retcon and not one I'm on board with- just like the retcon of Necrons having Dynasties.

The fluff implications aside, they're harshly huge and we've never seen them in any form of sisters media- to this extent.

Fortunately, plastic (huzzah), that stuff can be scraped off and as for the fluff, there's always headcannon. I know my girls will be going about Imperium Nihilus using only sheer awesomeness (and a power pack) to move their armour.

 

 

Musculature/femininity:

 

Seeing muscle tone is great. It's cool to see trained and toned flesh lays beneath that power armour. Personally i have no problem with it, i like it. My concern here lies in the scale of it.

The old models look alright in this regard. They're not hugely muscled and can see that these limbs fit inside power armour.

These new models? Well, we won't know until the models are in our hands. My hope is that GW have made them in such a way they they retain this musculature but at a scale that they look like they can fit inside power armour.

I find it doubtful a repentia can live long enough to get so buff they can't fit in power armour.

That said, I could see GW releasing a new unit in thicker bigger armour saying that they're former repentia, to get around such a thing...probably not.

 

As to the overall female look...the old models need no imagination, nuff said.

The new ones leave (for me) a truck load of imagination required. The faces lack almost all femininity. I'm Army, and even the most buffed up female PTIs I've come across look female in the face. These new ones lack that; so very rigid.

Despite these models wearing short shorts and a generous top- things that usually accentuate female form- what we (I) see is very very little in the tell of feminity.

One of the main draws of the sisters to me is that they're hardcore kicka** women and you can tell from a distance. These new ones make me feel I'm required to get a magnifying glass and go cross eyed trying to determine if they're female or a bunch of transitioning dudes.

This doesn't make me sexist, it just means I like my little toy plastic soldiers that are girls to look like girls because that's what they are.

 

 

Clothing:

 

The other stuff on the new models I can live with, but this is where the line is drawn.

Repentia, to my knowledge (and if I'm wrong then headcannon), are not given the best treatment.

They are given the barest necessities to survive. The simplest and only required of meals to sustain them. The most basic of medical attention after battle just to prevent them from dying.

They are required to look after the only piece of wargear they have (eviscerators) and are given the means for that.

They are not issued any clothing (except in cases of total destruction) and only have the habit/robe that they had when they were stripped of their armour. This robe lasts them the entire time they're a repentia, it gets torn, they tie it up; it's torn from battle, it's torn from the whips of the mistress, it gets reduced to rags- heck, part of the oath of penitent ceremony, the sisters robe is cut to shreds and tied to them.

They wear a mask - not to conceal their identity. Part of the oath of the penitent the sisters declare the penitent to be nameless to them. The hood/mask doesn't represent hiding identity, rather that the wearer no longer has identity.

 

All of the above is absolutely nailed in the old models.

In the new models, it is an utter and complete failure. No torn robes of their order. One? Mask.

The new clothing does not tie in with the aesthetic of the sisters save for the Eviscerators. No paint job will fix that imo.

 

Some of us may have seen floating around a pohotoshopped image someone did of one of GWs repentia where instead of the shorts and shirt, it has a torn and ragged robe.

That pohotoshopped image is infinately better looking and complimentary to the sisters aesthetic than the plastic (cad) lump GW showed us. It is my hope that this Photoshop image makes its way back to GW, the designers slap themselves in the faces and change the CAD to this much better look.

 

Now certainly one could greenstuff and kitbash the repentia to have the ragged robe look, but that is an awful lot of work to get them to a place where they should be starting from. That is all time and effort that I can't afford.

[MithrilForge]

... I like em, but i'm not a full on zealot for the fluff so i'm easily pleased   i'm sure that these models will look a lot better in real life and with some good paint jobs.

They are plastic so as others have mentioned ..green stuff,some skill and some imagination and you have your 80's style half naked metal chicks of zealotry 

I think the NEW GW is being a bit more thoughtful and shall we say conservative in its new model lines...take slaneesh for instance... very bland nowadays ...

i'm still very much looking forward to see what the Penitent Engine looks like   

 

Mithril 

[Slasher956]

Question is...with the new codex how much of the fluff is being expanded, retconed,added etc etc?

 

So the old fluff of the repentia might be changed along with the aesthetics of the models

 

As others have aluded to.. GW is not the fringe geek hideout that it was in the 80s and 90s but one of the main names in the tabletop war games industry (world wide). This brings a certain amount of pressure and critisums that weren’t around 20-30 years ago....can you imagine the backlash if GW was to release half nacked females now? It’s a downside to their success in that they now get more scrutiny from ‘PC Do Gooders’ who’d hadn’t heard of them years ago