What's Next for the Sisters?

[Banjulhu]

So by this time next week the Sisters of Battle will have a complete range of miniatures available in most good local games stores and many bad ones.

History suggests therefore that a new edition of 40k is inbound and that there will be some fundamental rules change that will screw the Sisters over.

My guess is that 9th Edition or whatever it will be called will be announced in the cancelled Adepticon things GW are doing and that the rule of three will be in the main rules and extended to all Troops choices.

But in an infinite existence there is infinite possibilities.

What is your prediction of doom and gloom?^*

 

^*I am given to understand that positive predictions are also possible.

[Dusktiger]

So...You're starting the thread right off with obvious trolling commentary and not even going to be subtle about this?

If you want an honest, serious conversation about how Sisters will progress from here on out now that the 2nd wave release is here, then edit your original post please.  otherwise this thread will cause exterminatus protocols to become active.

[taikishi]

1. Rule of Three needs to go. Certain units absolutely need to be restricted, but carte blanche?

 

2. If Rule of Three gets extended to all units, including Troops and Dedicated Transports, you can probably kiss playing any army with less than 3 different troops choices goodbye unless they ally with another faction

 

Sisters -- 1 troops choice

Deathwatch -- 2 troops choices

Grey Knights -- 2 troops choices and one is terminators

Harlequins -- 1 troops choice

Necrons -- 2 troops choices

Orks -- 2 troops choices

So...You're starting the thread right off with obvious trolling commentary and not even going to be subtle about this?

If you want an honest, serious conversation about how Sisters will progress from here on out now that the 2nd wave release is here, then edit your original post please.  otherwise this thread will cause exterminatus protocols to become active.

 

Agreed. The title is completely misleading and needs to be changed.

[Aqui]

=][= Needlessly negative posts will be purged. This forum isn't for whining needlessly. Constructive posts are not only welcome, but encouraged. Any Frater who get out of hand will be dealt with. =][=

[Banjulhu]

I keep on forgetting that there are more than sisters with limited troops choices.

Given the nature of competitive list building I can see there being some attempt at curtailing how some armies spam down many copies of small units and having some armies get caught up in the churn is not unheard of.

Hell if we are lucky we may end up with Frateris Militia as a 2nd troop choice in whatever Psychic Awakening book the sisters get stuff in.

Part of would actually like to see the return of the old rapid fire rule that prohibits shooting at full range if a unit moves. Yes it would screw the sisters output but shooting could probably do with a tone down in general.

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

As far as I'm aware, Rule of Three is a tournament guideline everyone's accepted as a hard rule. In fact, looking over the Matched Play section of the rulebook, I can't see anything about Rule of Three.

[Spinsanity]

If the rule of 3 were to be made to affect troops too, I could see the Frateris Militia return just so sisters armies can field a Brigade or a second Battalion like everyone else (Harlequins excluded, for now)

[Trokair]

I would love to see a second troop choice, such as Frateris Militia, or maybe Crusaders move to troop and become units of 10 or more. They have the digital template to make a plastic crusader kit, so I could see that as faint possibility. The crusaders might need to be a lesser version with 4++ shields or so but they could then be a very defensive troop compared to the offensive output of a sisters squad.

 

While the trend with PA has been custom traits by combining 2 rules from a list I am not sure if Sisters will get it or if it is too early for them given how new the codes is.

 

Additional Sister HQ choice would be nice, a lieutenant equivalent maybe. A generic pulpit would also be nice.

[TheDreadfulSagittary]

I just started to collect the Sisters recently (been waiting for the second box of Battle Sisters for nearly a month now - my FLGS does not want me to speed build this army ), but I too would like a second troop option for the army. Fraternis Militia would be a nice choice! Something that resembles the chaos cultists, but now fighting for the true cause, the Man Emperor of Mankind 

 

Also a flyer support would be nice. I like the design of the DA flyer, would love to see something similar. Or a fighter-bomber in the shape of the Imperial Aquila... 

[Trokair]

I think the army also needs a Lord of War option. How about a Baneblade variant with a Chappell on top.

 

Main weapon would be a large Flamer, Melta or Bolter weapon and an exorcist organ could be at the back.

Edited March 15, 2020 by Trokair

[EmperorGTank]

Personally I think when our PA does hit, though i expect it to be last since we just got a big update, we will at least get custom orders and maybe a stratagem that makes a Canoness like Junith giving rerolls to hits and wounds of 1, like the chapter master stratagem. Frateris militia and a Palatine HQ or something would be huge bonuses though! I would love it!

 

Also with the crazy updates Ghazkull and Ragnar are getting I could see Celestine getting something, maybe a personal stratagem or even a pseudo narrative buff that puts her in line more with the big boys, close to how she used to be. But if even one of those many things occur I'll be very satisfied!

[Banjulhu]

Given what was done in Age of Sigmar with the Warcry range being given a place in the Chaos army book then there is potential for a militia to be made up of Necromunda ganger models.

Cawdor in particular already fit the visual theme of the sisters so well.

[Dread]

I'll weigh in my 2 cents.

 

Sisters has always just been one troop choice, yes I would like more options too, but at least it's a solid option. It's not a legal building tax like some other armies. Good points value, decent weapons and some good quirks.

 

Losing rites to take a knight or bane blade is horse pucky but the rites are just blah, not really necessary.

 

A flyer of their own, well if ad mech is a pattern, we may just see one down the road.

 

As for luetinents, I think the hospitaler, imagifier and diaglous are supposed to be that in a manner of speaking imho.

 

Having some of the best jump troops in any army is a plus as well as one of the best heavy support options in any army is also a plus.

 

This is coming from someone who bought an entire new dark Eldar army at the end of 5th that was very playable for about 4 months until 6th ed dropped, ruined play for an entire brand new sculpted army. Can't see another edition messing up the sisters but it did happen to DE, which are actually worth playing now since 8th ed dropped.

 

I've only gotten a few games in with what I have in my little sisters army but seem to play well.

 

Hope this helps.

Edited March 15, 2020 by Dread

[ThePenitentOne]

thRule of three will never come to troops. GW awarding a massive buff to battalions and brigades should make it fairly obvious that GW thinks these are the only detachments that matter. I am a frequent defender of GW in other forums, but the CP bump for those two detachments completely de-legitimized any other detachment type and destroyed the uniqueness of the DE army as a whole; it is not at all plausible that GW, having sacrificed so much to privilege those two detachment types would then turn around and invalidate that choice.

 

Admittedly though, anything is possible.

 

As for 9th, I don't think it's going to happen. I think GW has finally found a way to update every army in the game once a year via the campaign cycle, and I think they're going to stick to it. I also think the part of the player base that tends to be hypercritical will warm up once their favourite marginalized SM army gets a small but meaningful update once a year every year for five years or so.

 

There will, of course, have to be a consolidation of rules every so often; not all of the campaign supplement rules will make it into every codex update, but the strongest ones will, in much the same way rules are sometimes released as beta material in the spring update and then made official in the CA.

 

Pesonally, I like this system, and I have trouble understanding those who preferred the old system of "cross my fingers and hope my dex gets an update this edition at all." 

 

What's next for sisters specifically? Well, as mentioned above, a flier. A super heavy at some point is also a reasonable expectation. Finally, characters that are not and have never been Order of Our Martyred Lady. Really, that's all we need. Frateris Militia as a troops choice would actually validate a pure ecclesiarchy army, but sisters are so good that I'm not sure many people would opt for an ecclesiarchy army even if it was an option. 

[Lemondish]

I think the army also needs a Lord of War option. How about a Baneblade variant with a Chappell on top.

 

Main weapon would be a large Flamer, Melta or Bolter weapon and an exorcist organ could be at the back.

That floating church in the art would be amazing.

[bkde]

Similar to the other Psychic Awakening books, I'm sure we'll get a combination of "pick two of the following <Order> abilities".

 

Maybe a 1CP pregame buff to make a Canoness reroll 1's to wound as well.

 

Maybe some additional warlord traits, a few new relics.  Some tweaks to Celestians would be nice, I think they're the only real dud in the codex right now, with no real reason to take them over the cheaper BSS.

 

I could see 9th ed being announced, which would be a shame.  I think the game is in a really good spot right now.

[MagicHat]

Things I expect: jump pack HQ, flier.

Things I hope for: battle tank, superheavy, upgrade kit for celestians. Power weapons, maybe some special weapon only for them.

[Lemondish]

Similar to the other Psychic Awakening books, I'm sure we'll get a combination of "pick two of the following <Order> abilities".

 

Maybe a 1CP pregame buff to make a Canoness reroll 1's to wound as well.

 

Maybe some additional warlord traits, a few new relics. Some tweaks to Celestians would be nice, I think they're the only real dud in the codex right now, with no real reason to take them over the cheaper BSS.

 

I could see 9th ed being announced, which would be a shame. I think the game is in a really good spot right now.

Totally disagree on the Celestian assessment here. I won't say no to buffs ever, but this unit has been a massive hit for me.

 

As far as what I'd like to see next for the future? A new, generic HQ. Perhaps a Palatine?

 

I know it likely wouldn't ever happen, but out of all the units in this codex, Celestine and her Geminae need the most help, and I do not believe that help can come from anything but a data sheet update.

 

I'm not sure minor order rules are necessary, though it would be welcome. A new set of sacred rites would be neat but unlikely.

 

Even further unlikely, some unique unit based strats like allowing Dominions to bestow their vanguard move to a transport they're embarked in or to a unit they're next to would be cool. A super Hospitaller upgrade would make sense. It's really hard to see what, outside of Celestine, needs a boost. PA has done well in updating armies since their codex release, and even more so has managed to explore unique builds or boost up flagging units. Maybe some help for the poor Immolator is needed, but everything else does a real solid job all things considered.

 

Finally, on the list of things that won't happen in a million years...abilities that can be used in the psychic phase but which aren't actually psychic powers.

Edited March 16, 2020 by Lemondish

[Jack Burton]

I think the army also needs a Lord of War option. How about a Baneblade variant with a Chappell on top.

 

 

Reading this I just imagine an enormous tank with Dave Chappelle on top shouting at people.  This needs to happen.

[bkde]

Totally disagree on the Celestian assessment here. I won't say no to buffs ever, but this unit has been a massive hit for me.

 

I know it likely wouldn't ever happen, but out of all the units in this codex, Celestine and her Geminae need the most help, and I do not believe that help can come from anything but a data sheet update.

 

I'm not sure minor order rules are necessary, though it would be welcome. A new set of sacred rites would be neat but unlikely.

 

Even further unlikely, some unique unit based strats like allowing Dominions to bestow their vanguard move to a transport they're embarked in or to a unit they're next to would be cool. A super Hospitaller upgrade would make sense. It's really hard to see what, outside of Celestine, needs a boost. PA has done well in updating armies since their codex release, and even more so has managed to explore unique builds or boost up flagging units. Maybe some help for the poor Immolator is needed, but everything else does a real solid job all things considered.

 

I haven’t seen Celestians played...ever. Even in any of the army lists they rarely make an appearance. Glad to hear someone is having luck with them, curious as to how.

 

Celestine is okay, but the Geminae need a fix, something to ensure they always keep up with Celestine. They were designed as a character unit, would be easy enough to combine the data sheets like they were in the Index. Would prevent the issues of Gems or Celestine being left behind if one advances or charges.

 

Immos I find to be in a good spot, the heavy bolter tax is a pain, but the option to auto explode is great.

 

The Dom transport ability would be nice, but there must be a reason why it was removed in the new book. My thoughts are due to the prevalence of Dom/Repressor spam. However due to the Repressor changes and the possibility of the Repressor going to legends...that may no longer be an issue.

 

Or maybe we get a new Repressor kit from GW in PA...

[ThePenitentOne]

I think the reason for eliminating doms scout move to vehicles also has to do with the inclusion of Zephyrim; I think they wanted to create a dex that was more conducive to angel wings dropping from the sky. With MD and Deadly Descent, Seraphim and Zephyrs are the bigger threat.

[EmperorGTank]

Just a thought on Celestine, I think, datasheet update notwithstanding, she needs some kind of reroll from a personal strat or a "free AoF" strat to really be worth 160, she is fine for the most part, but feels like a 135-150 point character. I always thought it was strange that shes one of the only named characters without some kind of reroll and only the invuln buff, and of course her free AoF in the index that was broken because extra phases are broken. They gotta find a better, happier medium! So I hope PA gives her something!

[bkde]

Just a thought on Celestine, I think, datasheet update notwithstanding, she needs some kind of reroll from a personal strat or a "free AoF" strat to really be worth 160, she is fine for the most part, but feels like a 135-150 point character. I always thought it was strange that shes one of the only named characters without some kind of reroll and only the invuln buff, and of course her free AoF in the index that was broken because extra phases are broken. They gotta find a better, happier medium! So I hope PA gives her something!

 

That's a really good point, she could go back to giving a free AoF to something within 6".  The player would still need to have the MD available to use it, so it isn't super broken, and would almost be the same as giving her a reroll too (if she opted to spend the MD on herself, generally a 2 or a 3 considering she hits on 2's and wounds most things on 3's anyways).

 

That would be a really great and easy fix.

[taikishi]

Here's one thing that's definitely next for Sisters, even though BoLS and a few others seemed to think otherwise, especially with their involvement in Faith and Fury:

 

Edited March 17, 2020 by taikishi

[Lemondish]

That photo won't load for me, because BoLS doesn't like linking photos. However, I believe it's the Facebook post stating Sisters will be included in a future Psychic Awakening book.

 

Edit: nevermind, magically fixed

Edited March 17, 2020 by Lemondish