Freshman needs help on Witch Hunters List

D

doctor mack

New member
Hi everybody!!!
After a couple of years of \"loyalty\" to the fantasy world, i decided to collect a 40K army.
I chose Witch Hunters for their BG, and also because the range of minis is absolutely fantastic.
But the problem is...I don\'t know anything about the game,:( so I don\'t have a clue on which units/characters/vehicles are the best choices to build up a balaced and fun-to-play force.
So can you veteran players out there give me some tips on what to collect, so that I can fight the heretics not only in the name of Sigmar (i.e. in my WHFB games) but also in the name of Inquisition?
Thanks a lot:D
 
D

douglasgreen

Guest
I don\'t play much but.....

For witch hunters you\'ll obviously need some battle sisters:rolleyes:penitent engines are pretty,if you can get them into combat,probably need some arco-flagellants,some transport no doubt:rolleyes:to get your gorgeous sisters into the ish!Do you collect White Dwarf magazine,there\'ll be a few ideas in there I reckon;)Laters Doc:D:bouncy::flip:
 
D

doctor mack

New member
Thanks Doug! I thought to buy some Repentia (hope the name is right) Sisters too, since the minis are really nice.
BTW I have got another question (for everyone who wants to answer).
I know that in Witch Hunters armies it is allowed to include Imperial Guard units and/or Space Marines as well. Do you suggest me to use them? Personally, I think that a \"pure\" Witch Hunters army is just too cool to \"contaminate\" with other armies units, but in terms of gaming would it be useful?If yes, what should I pick?
 
B

Braveheart712

New member
Thoughts from Major SoB

This is my nickname since I started playing 40K last year (Major Sister of Battle, at least that is what I think it stands for.) A few thought I would like to share are as follows...

Witch Hunters are a somewhat difficult army to begin with. Alot is determined on your ability to use your faith points at appropriate time. Witch Hunters tend also to be weak in their abiility to kill dreadnaughts and tanks. Also the army has some good intermediate range weapons, but generally is not a great close combat army, sisters for the most part wilt in assault. For these reason the GW codex gods have allowed several armies to be allied such as space marines, imperial guard and daemonhunters. These armies provide the needed tank killing and assault units that sisters generally lack.
You touch on the fact you like \"pure\" sisters armies, and I agree. I fight a pure force and have become quite skilled at it. I feeel using other forces is a crutch and should generally be avoided, but hey, that is just my opinion. A few pointers that might help... Use Arcoflagellents, they are monsters in hand to hand. They are venerable to being shot but generally work well if you can get them in close combat. Penitent engines are cool models, I have three and they work best in squadrons of three, however they are very venerable to being shot out as they advance, and I have found they generally are not worth the cost. The Exorcist tank is your greatest weapon and friend when it comes to tank busting. IMO no sisters army can afford not to have one. This should be your first purchase since it is a limited edition model and will vanish soon. Repentia are OK but very costly. They tend to get shot as they move across the table and although they are powerful in close combat they strike last which further reduces their numbers. Not a real great choice in my opinion although they look great as well. What I have found works best in my army is flamers both standard and heavy flamers. Immolators are awesome too since they can move a full 12\" and still fire their heavy flamer which amounts to a speedy hurting on your enemy. Certain armies will give you fits, such as heavily armored armies or deep striking chaos daemons. Against orcs and tyranids, lay back and shoot the crap out of them. Tau and eldar are interesting too.
So I want to close by welcoming you abord. Be patient, you will lose most of you battles badly when you start, but patients and tactics will help as you become better. Feel free to contact me directly if you have any specific questions that you think I could answer.

\"Burn the heretic!!!\"
 
G

Garyo

New member
Got Sisters?

Hi Doc Mack,
Witch Hunters as already stated are not a easy starter army. They can be a bit tricky to play strategically and you are stuck to buying mostly pewter figs and lots of them. With that said check out http://groups.yahoo.com/group/battle-sisters/ You\'ll get plenty of mostly helpful advice on collecting and playing the army.

My best advice stay out of hand to hand as much as possible. The Seraphim are TANK hunters not Close Combat specialist, give them twin Melta pistols and you\'ll be a pain to any meduim to light armor you might face. Learn these lessions and you\'ll be on your way to being dangerous with a Witch Hunter army.

garyo
 
B

Braveheart712

New member
I agree and disagree with what Gayro has just said in regards to the Seraphim squads. They can be affective against armor if given twin inferno pistols as well as meltabombs. I prefer to use mine equiped with twin hand flamers as well as meltabombs for the occasional piece of armor they may have to crack. Seraphim can be affective in close combat since they can shoot all their weapons and then charge. Also when close combat is over they can break off and recharge next round using their hit and run ability, which when coupled with a few smartly used faith points, turns them into a very affective close combat unit. I also am a member of the before mentioned yahoo group and I echo your thoughts on the minatures. EVERYTHING is metal except the Immolators, Rhinos and portions of the Exorcist which make for a very heavy battlecase to carry around!!! Again best of luck, keep us posted as to your progress.
 
D

doctor mack

New member
Watch out as the Doc comes to the battlefield!!!

I would like to thank you for the advices.
My first 40K battle is about to come, since a friend of mine (who is also a shop owner) finally decided to play an introductive game.
To Braveheart: I\'ve been playin\' WHFB since a couple of years (during wich I should have learned enough strategy to win) and I still get kicked in the a**, so losing my first 40k battles won\'t be that bad, since it\'s something quite usual to me :(.
Anyway, I\'ll keep you informed about my sisters so that I can improve thanks to your support.
Cheers, Mack
 
G

Godlikebuthumble

New member
well, the guys pretty much summed it up... However, there\'s a point I\'d like to raise:
Get a squad of retributors (the ones with the assault weapons), get them 4 flamers, take a veteran leader, hive her the Torch of whatnot (acts as a flame-thrower), and get them in an Immolator... get near the enemy, get out, then call in the act of faith to make your shooting hits some better. with five consecutively used flame templates + Immolator, you can take out pretty much anything, armor notwithstanding.
... At least, thats how a buddy killed almost 3 squads of my space marines...

Hope that helps!
 
B

Braveheart712

New member
Originally posted by Godlikebuthumble
well, the guys pretty much summed it up... However, there\'s a point I\'d like to raise:
Get a squad of retributors (the ones with the assault weapons), get them 4 flamers, take a veteran leader, hive her the Torch of whatnot (acts as a flame-thrower), and get them in an Immolator... get near the enemy, get out, then call in the act of faith to make your shooting hits some better. with five consecutively used flame templates + Immolator, you can take out pretty much anything, armor notwithstanding.
... At least, thats how a buddy killed almost 3 squads of my space marines...

Hope that helps!
Click to expand...

Perfect summarization of one of the most affective tactics at hand for your army except the squad being referred to is a Dominon squad, which is mounted in an Immolator and classified as a fast attack choice. Retributors are limited to heavy bolters or multi meltas for their special weapons and are classified as a heavy choice. Godlikebuthumble described this tactic good, however think in terms of scissors, twin blades cutting together. A sisters army works best in two on ones. A better tactic than the solo Immmolator/Dominion barbeque is to also include a squad of Seraphim in the attack. After the initial flaming of the target by the Dominions, have the Seraphim hit them with their flamers, then their heavy bolters and plasma pistol off the Vet. Superior. When the smoke clears, your Seraphim can also charge in and mop up what is left in close combat, something your Dominions cannot do since they usually drive up and pile out of their Immolator during the shooting phase. 40K rules prevent dismounting a vehicle and assaulting in the same turn unless the vehicle is opened topped, which an Immolator is not.
 
G

Godlikebuthumble

New member
Exactly...

... or simply do the scary thing and \"herd\" the enemy towards the Dominion flamers with your Penitent engine squad... more flamers, btw... :D

Yeah, I got the names mixed up (don\'t play sisters myself, sorry...) and the German and English names ain\'t necessarily the same, either...:(
 
B

Braveheart712

New member
Taking my girls out today to play in SimCon at the University of Rochester, a GW rogue trader tourney. I think I got a pretty kick ass list assembled so if you smell somethig burning today, its just one of my squads melting down to unfaithful and unholy !!! Dock Mack, if you want I can email you my army list (excel file format) after the tourney is done. Wish me luck!
 
B

Braveheart712

New member
Sometime you win...

...and then there was today. I got a nice beat down, by Tau, Space Wolves, and to add insult to injury, another Sisters army. It was alot of fun and I had a great time even though I finished dead last. My second game was against a 10 year Space Wolves player. We were playing for objectives and although I contacted three I failed to find the right one, but on the last turn he found it with the only objective he got to. I was cool since it was his first tourney game he won ever. It was great seeing the excitement on his face when he beat and old man like me to score his first victory. I was also fun talking with the other players, seeing all the cool armies that people brought, and just being out. I did win \"Best Army\" as voted by other players, which was nice too. My son did well with his necron army also. Again this hobby (40k and painting) is all about having fun, and there was plenty had today.
 
D

doctor mack

New member
....Sometimes you loose

Hi Braveheart! Sorry for being late, but I\'m very busy with University so I can\'t login that often...
I got bad news...:(
It seems that I have to delay my baptism of fire in the 40K world since the shop- owning friend of mine who had to introduce me in the game is no longer available for gaming.If you add the fact that I\'m in shortage of money in this period, you can understand that I still have to wait to shoot my first plasmagun shot in the name of the Emperor...
NEway I\'m still interested in your tourney list, just to get an idea of what a complete SoB army should look like (at least on paper),so I sent you my email address in a private message.
Thanks a lot, cheers
Mack
 
B

Braveheart712

New member
Current list (more or less)...

OK here is the current list I am playing, I think it is 1850pts which I modify up or down depending on the game...

1 Canoness with Plasma Pistol, Blessed Weapon (Power Weapon-MC), Cloak of St. Aspira, Book of St. Lucius, Power Armor, Rosarius
Celestine retinue:
1 Vet Superior with Plasma Pistol, Evicerator
2 Flamers
1 Imagnifier
5 Bolters
Mounted in a Rhino, extra armor, smoke

6 Arco Flagellants

2 Squads of Sisters each consisting of:
1 Vet Superior with Bolt Pistol and Power Weapon
2 Storm Bolters
8 Bolters

1 Dominion Squad consisting of:
1 Vet Superior with Plasma Pistol and Evicerator
4 Flamers
1 Priest, Power Weapon, Power Armour
all with meltabombs
Mounted in an Immolator, twin linked heavy flamers, extra armor, smoke

1 Seraphim Squad consisting of:
1 Vet Superior with Plasma Pistol and Power Weapon
2 Twin Flamer Pistols
5 Twin hand Bolter Pistols
all with meltabombs

1 Retributor Squad consisting of:
1 Vet Superior with Bolter
4 Heavy Bolters
5 Bolters

1 Immolator, twin linked heavy flamers, extra armor, smoke, (empty)

1 Exorcist, extra armor

Faith Points- 8 Total

This is my current list. In 2000pts I add the Throne of Judement since the Multi Melta is nice as an added tank/dreadnought/monstrous creature killer. Also nice in close combat.

I have experimented with both Penitent Engines (always in groups of 3) and Repentia, and have found they both take heavy losses while trying to get into assault. Both Holy Rage which makes it almost impossible to hold them back for a counter assault
I havent really tried the inquisitor route yet or assassins since they don\'t seem to justify the high cost for one very specific model. I have the models just havent played them yet.
 
P

praetorian0_1

Guest
Tight list, thanks. That looked like some cool battlage too. You must have had some bad luck in that girl girl game. His set up looks a bit wierd.
 
B

Braveheart712

New member
Thank you. I had some difficult terrain to overcome as well as some Grey Knights that he had allied. I did manage to knock out one Exorcist, take out his Canoness, force one of his 20 sister sqauds to flee off the board and take out his seraphim, but in the end I didn\'t have enough left to deal with his Grey Knights and his remaining Exorcist. Had I been able to get either of my Immolators closer I think I could have really caused some havoc since he was packed so tightly. Oh well, you win some and you lose some....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back To Top
Top