Any advice for a still-learning player?

[Corvus Rex]

I've been involved in the hobby for about two years, but have mainly confined myself to reading books and collecting models.

 

Now my local store manager is encouraging me to paint up some of my models and play in an "escalation league" over the next four weeks: 500 points in Week One, then 1000, then 1500, then 2000. It's basically open play with a points limit, but I want to use my Sisters and their closest allies exclusively.

 

I did this once before under the previous rules set when I played in a Kill Team tournament. I shamelessly cribbed a list from a player here--I think he was from Portugal--and won the tournament! It was a lot of fun, and while I don't entertain any notions of repeating my victory, I do want to be competitive.

 

Which is why I'm coming here looking for advice. I don't really know enough about the new rules set and the data sheets and abilities of my models yet to deploy a tactically sound army on my own, I don't think. Since the tournament starts Saturday (though I have through next Friday to play), and I have a lot of painting to do, I kind of just threw the list below together based on the models I like. I'm not sure about a lot of things about it--for instance, when folks play small points value armies, do they or do they not tend to use big high value models that take up a lot of their budget? In other words, does Celestine have any business on the 500 point version of my tournament army?

 

Anyway, here's what I've got. Hopefully my math is right, and hopefully somebody here has a quick and easy 500 point solution they can paste in and say, "Nah, Christopher, what you want to field is THIS."

 

I have pretty much all the Sisters models I think, so I can field pretty much anything.

---

 

First Attempt at a 500 point list:

 

Saint Celestine: 150 points

Sororitas Rhino + storm bolter: 77 points

Battle Sisters Squad (10 members): 126 points

   1 with flamer

   1 with multi-melta

Seraphim Squad (10 members): 145 points

   Superior replaces one bolt pistol with powersword

   Superior replaces other bolt pistol with plasma pistol

   Two Seraphim replace their bolt pistols with hand flamers

 

Total: 498 points

 

Cheers.

[Beams]

That seems like a side 500pt list. I'm personally more fond of repressors than rhinos, but at the end of the day, either works, especially in small points. I'd also reconsider the multimelta, and instead take inferno pistols on the seraphim. 4 shots vs 1, and the lack of range doesn't really matter since St. Celestine will make them move 24"

[Aothaine]

Honestly, I would check with your LGS and make sure bringing something like Celestine to a 500 point game is okay. She is a beast and is undercosted imho. A lot of people are going to have a tough time taking her out. If your community is super competitive, take her. If not, I would hold her off for the bigger engagements personally.

 

 

Maybe add a squad of 5-7 Retributors with Multi-meltas x4 and a cheap HQ sister with power sword in a rhino? Not sure if you can get all that for 150 as I have not looked at sister points so far.

Edited November 30, 2017 by Aothaine

[Aqui]

Celestines points cost has increased to 200pts now too in Chapter Approved. I'd change the Celestine to a Canoness and maybe a Priest. Edited November 30, 2017 by Aqui

[Corvus Rex]

Celestines points cost has increased to 200pts now too in Chapter Approved. I'd change the Celestine to a Canoness and maybe a Priest.

That's certainly valuable information, thanks. I didn't think that book was even out yet?

[Dosjetka]

It's coming out on Saturday.

[Aothaine]

 

Celestines points cost has increased to 200pts now too in Chapter Approved. I'd change the Celestine to a Canoness and maybe a Priest.

That's certainly valuable information, thanks. I didn't think that book was even out yet?

 

 

Comes out this weekend. 12/2/2017.

Edited November 30, 2017 by Aothaine

[Corvus Rex]

I just checked with my local shop manager. She says that use of Chapter Approved won't kick in until the second, or possibly even the third week of our escalation league, since it wouldn't be fair to have people start playing based on a rules set that drops on the same day the tournament starts. Whew!

[bkde]

If you're planning to expand your Sororitas army up to 1000pts and beyond...take Celestine.  Get use to using her, she'll be in almost every other list you ever make.

 

I'm a fan of small BSS squads (less chance to fail morale).  And unless it's mandatory to take a troops choice, everything BSS do is done better by a different unit in the book (dominions or retributions).  If you have them, take the immolator with flamers over the rhino.  It's arguably one of the best units in the book and being able to scout before the first player takes their first turn by loading up the doms is amazing.

 

In short: Fast Attack Detachment (4CP's total)

 

Celestine

5 girl dominion squad w/5x stormbolters (meltas preferred, but stormbolters are a good choice too if the points are tight. Even doms with bolters are better than regular BSS as they'll scout the immo forward)

immolator with immo flamers

5 seraphim with 4x melta pistols

5 seraphim with 2x melta pistols (or 4x flame pistols)

 

Should be bang on 500pts.

 

Generally putting special weapons and do-dads on superiors is a waste of points. 

[Beams]

If you're planning to expand your Sororitas army up to 1000pts and beyond...take Celestine. Get use to using her, she'll be in almost every other list you ever make.

 

I'm a fan of small BSS squads (less chance to fail morale). And unless it's mandatory to take a troops choice, everything BSS do is done better by a different unit in the book (dominions or retributions). If you have them, take the immolator with flamers over the rhino. It's arguably one of the best units in the book and being able to scout before the first player takes their first turn by loading up the doms is amazing.

 

In short: Fast Attack Detachment (4CP's total)

 

Celestine

5 girl dominion squad w/5x stormbolters (meltas preferred, but stormbolters are a good choice too if the points are tight. Even doms with bolters are better than regular BSS as they'll scout the immo forward)

immolator with immo flamers

5 seraphim with 4x melta pistols

5 seraphim with 2x melta pistols (or 4x flame pistols)

 

Should be bang on 500pts.

 

Generally putting special weapons and do-dads on superiors is a waste of points.

I'm gonna be completely honest, I always go with the 10 girl squad with the plasma pistol on the seraphim superior. The ten girls can keep up with Celestine better than the two squads of five, and the plasma pistol is useful for a little extra umph! And is nice for when you get locked into close combat. Edited November 30, 2017 by Beams

[Drider]

For me, Seraphim squad size varies depending on available points. it's usually one of the the first things to be reduced, but i agree, seraphim are more useful as a max unit rather than several min units.

 

in order of what i consider most important to least.

2 girls with inferno pistols>max unit size>wargear on the seraphim superior.

[Corvus Rex]

Thanks so much for the advice, everyone!

[Matt_149]

If you do use bss I have found the best loadout is 2 storm bolters, heavy bolter and 4 more girls. Only costs 77 points and are a good firebase for objectives