Codex: Adepta Sororitas homebrew

[Melissia]

It's a very long and involved project I've had going on, on the IGMB, which I can't reproduce here in its entirety simply because it's so large-- 20-ish unit profiles have been finished thus far, including expanded wargear, updated special rules, and so on. It is, to me, what would be an idealized fifth edition Sisters of Battle codex. At its best as a fifth edition codex, albeit it is not yet complete (currently, 21 out of 27 units are complete), including the transport units.

A basic summary:

• Costs were slightly raised in some places and lowered in others, with the Seraphim and Repentia taking the biggest hits in prices, Seraphim reduced to 20 per model and repentia... well, they were entirely reworked.
• Celestians are slightly increased in price, as are Battle Sisters, but they get more options and wargear to make up for it-- such as frag grenades and bolt pistols. On a related note, Sarissas are reworked as well, and feature prominently in the Celestian unit entry.
• Acts of Faith are simplified, but for the most part aren't changed too drastically.
• HQ units were completely reworked, to make them more in line with C:SM and C:IG HQ units, and to give the Sisters more options and a slightly deeper fluff.
• A couple more tanks were added in to heavy support, and Retributors were given a couple more options. The Leman Russ Vengeance is a more expensive long-ranged anti-tank option to compete with the Exorcist, while the Heirophant Siege Tank is a variant on the siege tanks common in the Imperium-- a short ranged large blast melta weapon. The Exorcist itself has been reworked and given the option for sponsons which increase the number of shots it gets.
• Dominians were reworked to be scouts with a mandatory transport, with the option to take either combiweapons or actual special weapons.
• Added a troops choice, novitiates, based off of a combination of fluff from the Ciaphas Cain books and the Dark Heresy roleplay, representing those recent graduates of the Schola Progenium whom have not yet earned their place amongst the Battle Sisters.
• Added a feature, "Cults", referring to religious cults within the Sisterhood which worship the Emperor in different ways.
  
  • The Cult of the Nightflame are (expensive) infiltrators with flame based weaponry.
  • The Cult of Penitence refers to the Repentia, and have been reworked to be more fluffy and more effective (their scraps of cloth aren't equivalent to carapace armor anymore, for example).
  • The Cult of the Umbral Cloak (which I haven't added in entirely yet, as I am unsure if I should really add that many units to the codex) is a close combat oriented infiltrator unit.
  • Cult Squads are limited to 0-1 in normal games, 0-2 in expansions such as planetstrike, and unlimited in apocalypse.
• Added more deep striking, infiltrating, and scout outflanking options to give the list more versatility. These units are generally more expensive because of this. Most notably, added in the Adepta Sororitas Dropship, a transport based off of the forgeworld Argus Lander model which has been reworked to be similar to a flying rhino.
• Added (adding? These units have not been finished yet) a list of units for the Ecclesiarchy itself, represented by mobs of citizen and zealots, squads of priests and so on.

As I've gotten busy with school and other projects, I'm probably not gonna complete it-- it's really just a mental exercise for myself, to keep my mind busy and so on, and a faint hope that GW employees might read it and maybe take a few ideas from it when they redo the Sisters (C:WH) codex whenever they do get around to it. Comment on it if you want, just tossing it out here.

[url]http://commissar.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Ally&action=display&thread=7887[/url]

[silashand]

Just some comments:

1. I know you've stated you like the idea of an IG tank, but I prefer the Rhino chassis myself. Either that or come up with a completely new vehicle. As per the background the Sisters have access to the finest weaponry the Imperium can offer due to the deep coffers of the Ecclesiarchy. Guard tanks do not seem to suit that image IMO. But it's your codex so it's your choice .

2. I think Divine Guidance should be changed to simply grant the unit Rending. Besides being what it does anyway, it keeps things at least somewhat standardized since the ability doesn't provide anything really unique enough to have its own wording. JMO though.

3. I like the cults.

4. Not sure I agree with integrating the Book of Saint Lucius ability into all SoB heroines. Seems a bit powerful IYAM. It's already one of the few no-brainer items in the list.

I haven't finished reading everything so more comments later maybe.

[BDub]

A nice body of work but seems like blind balancing rather than being thematic to the Sororitas.

I do have to agree with SilasHand on a few points. The Leman Russ just doesn't feel appropriate. I would suggest a vindicator with a perhaps a heavy flamer top gun option.

Why a new flying transport. I can easily see either the new scout speeder or perhaps the full blown Valk. No need to invent anything here, just give Sororitas flavor to an existing option.

It seem like you are really trying to shoehorn in infiltration and outflanking into an army that fluffwise is a march forth and burn kind of force. The exception here would be Cult Assassins, which are absent. I get the feeling that you want a pure Sororitas force but that isn't really fluffy either. Where are the preachers and peasant rabble. I could see them as an outflanking force just because the fire of the emperor can seize a crowd anywhere and anytime with a preacher in their midst.

That's flavor. What I mean is that I don't totally disagree with any of it, just that I think you are sacrificing too much them for the sake of making the list competitive. I do think you can do both, but this doesn't feel like it.

[silashand]

Just food for thought, the below are some of the original playtest ideas for SoB before they decided to go the WH route. Not sure if you wanted to use any of them, but they were at one time being considered for Codex: Sisters of Battle by the design team:

0-1 CONFESSOR (37 PTS)

WS BS S T W I A Ld Save
Confessor 4 4 3 3 2 4 3 8 -

Options: The Confessor may be given any equipment allowed by the Ministorum Armoury.

SPECIAL RULES

Independant Character: Unless accompanied by his Attendants, the Confessor is an Independent Character and follows the independent character special rules in the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook.

Attendants: The Confessor may be accompanied by his attendants, see the separate entry below. The Confessor and his attendants count as a single HQ choice.

Inspirational: A squad led by a Confessor may re-roll any failed morale checks.

0-1 MISSIONARY (42 PTS)

WS BS S T W I A Ld Save
Missionary 4 4 3 3 3 4 3 9 -

Options: The Missionary may be given any equipment allowed by the Ministorum Armoury.

SPECIAL RULES

Independent Character: Unless accompanied by his Attendants, the Missionary is an Independent Character and follows the independent character special rules in the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook.

Attendants: The Missionary may be accompanied by his attendants, see the separate entry below. The Missionary and his attendants count as a single HQ choice.

Sacred Rites: A unit led by a Missionary may make a roll on the Sacred Rites table at the beginning of the battle. If the unit could normally take part in the Sacred Rites then there is no additional benefit for being led by a Missionary.

ATTENDANTS (6 PTS/MODEL)

WS BS S T W I A Ld Save
Attendant 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 8 5+
Acolyte 4 3 3 3 1 4 2 8 5+

Attendants: The unit consists of between 5 and 20 Attendants.

Weapons: Lasgun/autogun or laspistol/autopistol and close combat weapon.

Options: Up to one in five Attendants may be armed with one of the following: flamer at +3 pts, plasma gun at +5 pts or a meltagun at +10 pts. The squad may be equipped with frag grenades at an additional cost of +1 point per model and krak grenades at an additional cost of +2 points per model. One model may carry a Penitent Banner for +10 pts. A unit with a Penitent Banner automatically passes the first morale check it is required to take.

Characters: Models in the unit may be upgraded to the following characters, for the points cost listed. No more than one of each character may be included in a squad.

Acolyte +8 pts
Sister Famulous +5 pts
Sister Hospitaller free
Sister Dialogus +15 pts
Imagifer free
Precentor free

These characters may take any equipment allowed by the Ministorum Armoury. Note that a Precentor does not have any special rules, they're just able to take extra weapons and wargear.

Transport Vehicle: If the squad numbers ten or less models, it may be mounted in a Rhino armoured carrier at an additional cost of +45 points.

SPECIAL RULES

The Sisterhood: The Attendants unit may include one or more members of the Sisterhood. The rules for these are as follows.

Sister Famulous - A Sister of one of the Orders Famulous can use her connections with the Imperial nobility to command other Imperial servants to provide her with troops. These are usually Imperial Guardsmen or Planetary Defence Force personnel. For every Sister Famulous in the army you may include one unit chosen from the Imperial Guard army list. This unit does not take any space on the force organisation chart, but otherwise follows all rules that apply to it (including when it can be deployed, etc.). Only one unit may ever be chosen for each Confessor or Missionary, even if you would normally be allowed several units for a single force organisation slot. For example, you can take an Imperial Guard Infantry squad, not a whole platoon. Other than this you are free to choose the type of unit taken.

Sister Hospitaller - In addition to any other weapons or wargear, a Sister Hospitaller may be given a very useful Medicus Ministorum as detailed in the Armoury and Wargear sections.

Sister Dialogus - One of these members of the Sisterhood can use her considerable language skills to translate prayers spoken in High Gothic into other languages, so that they can be understood by those around her. If a unit has a model within 6" of the Sister Dialogus then it may use the Leadership of the Attendants unit for any morale checks or pinning tests it is required to make. Note that this will be the Leadership of the Confessor or Missionary leading the Attendants, unless that character has been killed.

Sacred Rites: The unit may roll on the Sacred Rites table at the start of the battle.

INVOCATOR (?? PTS)

Armour Front Side Rear BS
Invocator 11 11 10 3

Type: Tank, open-topped

Crew: Attendants

Weapons: The Invocator is armed with a turret-mounted plasma cannon.

Options: The Invocator may be upgraded with two side sponsons armed with the following weapons: autocannon at +10pts; heavy bolter at +5 points. The Invocator may be given the following vehicle upgrades at the costs listed in the Ministorum Armoury: dozer blade, extra armour, hunter-killer missile, searchlight, smoke launchers.

SPECIAL RULES

Blaring Prayers: The voice of the Confessor aboard the Invocator is projected across the battlefield by a number of powerful speakers, instilling blinding hatred in the Emperor's servants. Any friendly unit with a model within 6" of the Invocator may re-roll any missed to hit rolls in an assault.

MARTYRS (25pts /model)

WS BS S T W I A Ld Save
Martyr 4 3 3 3 1 3 2 10 5+

Squad: You may include up to 5 Martyrs as a single Elites choice.

Weapons: Laspistol/autopistol and close combat weapon.

SPECIAL RULES

Individuals: Martyrs fight as individual models and can never join a unit. All Martyrs from one selection on the force organisation chart must be deployed at the same time (though they may be deployed in different places).

Fearless: Martyrs want nothing more than to die in the service of the Emperor. For this reason they will gladly fight against even the most horrifying of foes. Martyrs never fall back, and are automatically assumed to pass any morale checks they are required to make (even against attacks that do not normally allow morale checks to be taken). In addition, Martyrs cannot be pinned.

Suicidal Bombers: Martyrs wear a special harness fitted with high explosives and willingly throw themselves at the enemy before setting them off in a massive detonation. At the start of any assault phase (including the opponent's turn) the Martyr may set off his bomb harness. This is done after any models have charged into an assault, but before any attacks are made. Centre the large blast marker over the Martyr. Any model (friend or foe) touched by the template is hit by flying bone and shrapnel on a D6 roll of 4+. Models hit take a Strength 4 hit with no Armour Piercing value. Any unit taking casualties from a Martyr must take a morale check immediately. Against vehicles the Martyr will usually throw themselves under neath its wheels or tracks (or cling onto its engines in the case of a skimmer) before pulling the pin. An exploding Martyr inflicts an automatic melta-bomb hit if attacking a vehicle. For obvious reasons, a Martyr who sets off his bomb harness is killed (with no saving throw… ) and the model is removed! If the martyr is killed there is a chance the bomb harness will be set off (either by the attack or by the Martyr with their dying breath!) If the Martyr is killed in an assault, the bomb harness explodes on a 4, 5 or 6. If the Martyr is killed by a ranged attack then the bombs detonate on a roll of 6. The bombs explode as detailed above.

FRATERIS MILITIA (3pts /model)

WS BS S T W I A Ld Save
Militia 2 3 3 3 1 3 1 7 -

Squad: The squad consists of between 10 and 50 Militia.

Weapons: Close combat weapon.

Options: Any model may be given a laspistol/autopistol for +1 point or a lasgun/autogun for +2 pts. Up to one model in five may be given one of the following weapons; plasma gun at +??pts, melta-gun at +??pts, flamer at +??pts, heavy bolter at +??pts, heavy stubber at +??pts or an autocannon at +??pts. One model may carry a Penitent Banner for +5pts. A unit with a Penitent Banner automatically passes the first morale check it is required to take.

HERETICS (10 pts +3 pts /model)

WS BS S T W I A Ld Save
Militia 2 2 3 3 1 3 1 7 -
Preacher 3 3 3 3 1 3 2 8 -

Squad: The squad consists of a Preacher and between 10 and 20 Heretics.

Weapons: Fists and chains (counts as close combat weapon).

Options: Any model may be given an additional close combat weapon for +1 pt. The Preacher may be given any equipment allowed by the Ministorum army list.

SPECIAL RULES

Non-believers: The Preacher may not lead the Heretics in the Sacred Rites. The Emperor's Justice: If the Heretics ever fall back, then they will be summarily killed by the Preacher. This happens at the end of their fall back move and the heretic models are removed immediately. The Preacher will automatically regroup at the start of his next turn and must move as quickly as possible towards the nearest friendly unit, who he will join when he gets within 2" of a model in the unit. Note that this may be a unit that already has a Preacher in it.

FLAGELLANT (6 pts /model)

WS BS S T W I A Ld Save
Flagellant 4 2 4 3 1 3 2 8 -

Squad: The squad consists of between 5 and 20 Flagellants.

Weapons: 2 close combat weapons.

Options: Any model may exchange their weapons for a flail. A model with a flail strikes at -1 Initiative but +2 Strength.

SPECIAL RULES

Fearless: Flagellants are resigned to their impending doom and therefore have no fears of what the universe may hold. A unit of Flagellants never falls back, and is automatically assumed to pass any morale checks they are required to make (even against attacks that do not normally allow morale checks to be taken). In addition, Flagellants cannot be pinned.

MOUNTED MILITIA (5 pts /model)

WS BS S T W I A Ld Save
Militia 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 8 3+
Squad: The squad consists of between 10 and 30 Militia.

Weapons: Close combat weapon.

Options: Any model may be given a laspistol/autopistol for +1 point or a lasgun/autogun for +2 pts. One model may carry a Penitent Banner for +5pts. A unit with a Penitent Banner automatically passes the first morale check it is required to take.

SPECIAL RULES

Cavalry: Mounted Militia are cavalry and follow the rules for cavalry given in Warhammer 40,000.

[Melissia]

1. I know you've stated you like the idea of an IG tank, but I prefer the Rhino chassis myself. Either that or come up with a completely new vehicle. As per the background the Sisters have access to the finest weaponry the Imperium can offer due to the deep coffers of the Ecclesiarchy. Guard tanks do not seem to suit that image IMO. But it's your codex so it's your choice .

Rhinos would basically make it into a predator clone. Sisters already had an overpriced Razorback clone in the form of the Immolator, which I worked to try and differentiate from the Razorback.

As for creating a new chassis altogether, that itself is a bit questionable to me. The Ecclesiarchy has great funding, but I don't see how they could claim a unique and viable chassis for themselves without earning even more ire from the Mechanicus, which the Ecclesiarchy relies upon for maintenance just like everyone else? A variant of a Leman Russ is more reasonable than that I think.

The Exorcist is a fast and mobile vehicle, while the Leman Russ is a front line tank. The Sisters participate in both kinds of combat.

2. I think Divine Guidance should be changed to simply grant the unit Rending. Besides being what it does anyway, it keeps things at least somewhat standardized since the ability doesn't provide anything really unique enough to have its own wording. JMO though.

Rending is possibly too much. It would allow bolter rounds to glance predators and penetrate chimeras (S4, +6 pen, +3 rending, = 13 penetration total). And it'd let heavy flamers glance land raiders, which seems a bit... odd?

4. Not sure I agree with integrating the Book of Saint Lucius ability into all SoB heroines. Seems a bit powerful IYAM. It's already one of the few no-brainer items in the list.

The fact that it's already a no-brainer is precisely why I integrated it. I increased the base price of the squads to compensate for it.

I do have to agree with SilasHand on a few points. The Leman Russ just doesn't feel appropriate. I would suggest a vindicator with a perhaps a heavy flamer top gun option.

The vindicator would be unable to compete with the Exorcist.

Why a new flying transport. I can easily see either the new scout speeder or perhaps the full blown Valk. No need to invent anything here, just give Sororitas flavor to an existing option.

I didn't invent anything. See the following link:

[url]http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/arvusl.htm[/url]

It seem like you are really trying to shoehorn in infiltration and outflanking into an army that fluffwise is a march forth and burn kind of force. The exception here would be Cult Assassins, which are absent. I get the feeling that you want a pure Sororitas force but that isn't really fluffy either. Where are the preachers and peasant rabble. I could see them as an outflanking force just because the fire of the emperor can seize a crowd anywhere and anytime with a preacher in their midst.

Actually, that's why I added in the Cult features. They are rare amongst the Sororitas and often mistrusted. In some more orthodox Orders, they might even be persecuted for their differing ways.

Also, pure Sororitas forces are quite fluffy-- I don't understand where you get the idea that they are not.

That's flavor. What I mean is that I don't totally disagree with any of it, just that I think you are sacrificing too much them for the sake of making the list competitive. I do think you can do both, but this doesn't feel like it.

I don't see why you claim it lacks flavor. I'm just giving it a slightly different KIND of flavor. They remain the paladin-knights of the Imperium, holy warriors whom fight in the Emperor's name. They just do so with a slightly more military flare. At the moment the Sisters, in the fluff, seem to be depicted as inept and unable to really take advantage of their strengths the majority of the time.

So I ask:

Why should the heretic be given any warning that the holy warriors approach?
Why should the heretic have the honor of facing the holy warriors of the Emperor face to face?
Why should the holy warriors fight the enemy on only one front?
Why should the holy warriors neglect the Emperor-given cover of darkness?
Why should the holy warriors disdain surprise attacks?

The enemies of the Imperium of Man are not worthy of such considerations. Disdain for one's enemies is not unfluffy for the Sisters.

[Commissar Lewis]

Looks good, Mel. Liking the sniping heavy bolter and the ability to give a canoness two pistols.

You get the Von Lewis seal of approval!

[Craz]

I love what you're doing with this, Melissia. At first, I was a bit skeptic, but as soon as you mentioned the Marian Reforms being inspiration for a more militarized Sister of Battle codex, I found that I would honestly pick up the army if this was the new 5th Ed codex.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Thank you for sharing.
I laud you for your effort, and the energy put into an oft overlooked and underestimated army.
With external and extensive playtesting for balance and values, this could be quite fun.

and also, thank you for the mocking dry humour elsewhere!

[DarkLink]

I like it. You did a great job of streamlining the rules. I particularly like how you turned the BoSL into a army special rule. It really makes a lot of sense. The Book is so good that it is a no-brainer upgrade everyone will take anyways, unless you raised the points on it so much it became worthless.



I like how there's a lot of homebrewed rules popping up lately. BoLS should create a dedicated 40k houserules section for these things (not many people visit the current houserules section), then when the community has gotten stuff far enough along turn the rules into a releasable ruleset.

[Sitnam]

I quite like many of the ideas you have. I haven't had time to read them all, but LOVE the Dominions reformation. Actually made them useful now! I cant wait to see your ideas for Arco's and Penitent Engines. I do disagree with your stance on the Inquisition not being included (The SOB are the chamber militiant of the Ordo Hereticus.) But its your codex and you worked hard, so no arguments for a little tidbit such as that. I do like how the codex isn't just Soritas however, but all parts of Ecclesiastical military strength.

Oh, and I don't know if you've brainstormed it yet, but I've always felt PE's could be much more unique as cheap Monstrous Creatures. No other Imperial army has MC's, so that adds to the flavor.

I like how there's a lot of homebrewed rules popping up lately. BoLS should create a dedicated 40k houserules section for these things (not many people visit the current houserules section), then when the community has gotten stuff far enough along turn the rules into a releasable ruleset.

Oh wow, I was about to start a thread similar to this, but more along the lines of getting a group of lounge posters to start a home brew codex project. If our own parent blog can write several great supplements, why can't their ever so loyal fans?