Adepta Sororitas - New Codex First Impressions of ebook version

OK, the ebook codex for the sisters of battle is out. Available from the black library as an ebook or from the itunes store as an ibook. Not having an ipad this is a review of the ebook version - the .mobi file which is readable on a PC using the Kindle for PC reader available from the Amazon site. There might be some minor differences between versions as Faeit 212 posted on 3 oddities in the codex, 2 of which seem to be absent from the Kindle version as far as can be determined here.

So the question is was this release a cynical tweak by the corporate monster that games workshop is sometimes accused of being,to enhance sales of a dwindling stock of metal Sisters minis or was it a genuine update of a dated codex?

First impression is that this is a significant enhancement of the Sisters, bringing their table presence closer to the Ecclesiarchy background story for the Adepta Sororitas and regenerating the army as one worthy of collection and deployment. The key change to this are the rule changes for ministorium  priests and associated battle conclaves and war hymns.

The points cost of priests has come down from 45 points to 25 points, 5 priests may still be taken as one selection and do not take up a force organisation slot or HQ slot. In addition priests now have war hymns, a bit like acts of faith - which have been simplified, more of that later. The war hymns are

"- The Emperor Protects - As the Priest’s impassioned calls ring out across the battlefield, the faithful feel the blessing of the God-Emperor upon them. The Ministorum Priest and his unit re-roll all failed armour and invulnerable saves until the end of the phase. 

- The Emperor’s Strength - Shouting out the prime canticle of Saint Brutos the Belligerent, the Priest calls upon the Emperor to help him smite his foes. The Ministorum Priest has the Smash special rule until the end of the phase. - The Righteousness of the Emperor 

- The Priest bellows psalms of vengeance into the faces of the foe, exhorting his followers to excel in the Emperor’s sight. The Ministorum Priest and his unit re-roll failed rolls To Wound until the end of the phase."

War hymns can only be used if locked in combat, but look as if they can be used each and every turn a priest an his unit are locked in combat and can be used in conjuction with an act of faith. Give a priest embedded in a battle conclave or a unit of Sisters a rosarius and the Mace of Valaan and get the emperors strength hymn right and you have a close combat monster with 2 or 3 strength 10 attacks, admittedly only with human skill but with the possibility of rerolls if combined with an act of faith. The mace of Valaan also has a Chaos Bane special rule for deamons.

Add to this that a battle conclave taken now be taken for each priest in the force and that the Adepta Sororitas minimum squad size is down to 5 with 2 special weapons or 1 special plus one heavy, and that the points cost of the immolator transport has also been reduced to 60 and that cost includes all options of twin linked heavy flamers, heavy bolters or multimeltas. The possibilities of truly scary army builds look good. And by the way the Adepta Sororitas have also now access to the condemnor bolt gun, which will deliver psy-shock to any psyker target.

In conclusion this appears to be more than a holding action. Only major disappointment is the absence of the Repressor as a transport.

 

Adepa Sororitas Troops Choice

Courtesy of the Black Library :  http://www.blacklibrary.com/Blog/Codex:_Adepta_Sororitas.html

Immolators and crispy heretics.

A preview of the codex again courtesy of the Black Library : https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/codex-adepta-sororitas/id724618573?ls=1

Immolator Rumours

There have recently been rumours that the Adepta Sororitas Immolator had been removed from the GW site giving rise to suggestions that there was to be an updated version of this awesome transport released with the new digital codex. Sadly just rumours the Immolator is still on the UK GW site as one of the two troop transport choices. The other being the Rhino. The good news is that the Immolator is priced the same as the Rhino and for that price the existing kit allows both the Immolator or an Adepta Sororitas variant of the Rhino to be built.

Adepta Sororitas 19th October

                            To answer the question : its the 19th October.


And the Sisters of Battle are no more. Long live the Adepta Sororitas

Thanks to Faeit 212 for the alert.

Sisters of Battle icodex

Where is it?? This is the closest achieved here - a scan of the image from White Dwarf. It does not seem to be on the Black Library site or in the itunes store. Why the hold up for digital releases? Why only ibook format as well? Rhetorical question the answer is understood here but not agreed with.

Besides this despite the silence for 2 weeks there has been progress with the Armageddon Pattern Medusa and the last squad for the Steel Legion. Progress may be slow as a new proper paint spray system has been acquired and there is a bit of a steep learning curve to make the best use of it.

Making Track Hangers

Part of the Medusa detailing madness has been a desire to make track hangers as shown in the Forgeworld Imperial Armour Masterclass. The problem is brass strip. Where to get some. They suggest waste runners from photo etched sheets from Forgeworld. Not convenient if you do not possess any. This morning between sleeping and awakening the answer popped into my mind. A common material soft but reasonably strong metal, the aluminium used in soft drinks cans. Just cut some out with a pair of scissors and there are easy track hangers.

Armageddon Pattern Medusa Progress

Detailing and assembling almost finished as can be seen in pics. Nothing is fixed in place yet. There has been a bit of detailing madness induced by the Forgeworld Imperial Armour Masterclass volume 1. The cabin rear door/ramp has been hinged so will open and close when the mini is finished. After all there is so much detail in the interior it would be a pity to seal it up in a completed model, on the other hand fixing it open asks for damage to the model.  Likewise the heavy stubber rotates and elevates. The commander figure has his left arm magnetised to allow alteration of position, and he may be attached to the roof of the cabin by a magnet. The remaining detail issue is how to make the hooks to hang spare tracks from the cabin roof as seen in IAM vol 1. Also the question of what the commander should be holding in his left hand is not yet resolved. Should it be binoculars of perhaps a beverage?

One irritation remains is that there is a slight bit of warping or the front of the cabin so that it does not fit the hull seamlessly. Interestingly it appears that Forgeworld also had this problem as the IAM images of their Medusa also show this casting flaw.

Armageddon Pattern Medusa from Forgeworld

Progress here. The fit of the resin components is in some senses excellent and in others amazingly bad. Here are some images of the mini which will be created as several sub assemblies for painting and then finally assembled and detailed.

Sub assemblies allows the tracks to be painted before attaching - something that I find easier than painting them insitu. Can you spot where the fit of the components is amazingly bad?

The medusa cannon barrel is far too wide for the aperture in the cabin top. Some work is needed there.