Where are the Sisters of Slaughter!

[Lord Drakon]

Greetings,

I´m also making the shift to 9th Age and will play my first battle tonight so looking at the army list and rules. But my all/time favourite unit have dissappeared! Where are the Sisters of Slaugher!

[Daeron]

Under revision. I think they are still debating its purpose.

[Vulcan]

And the 4++ save in close combat is confirmed gone. It's a good question what (if anything) is going to replace it so SoS don't become very expensive Witches.

[Haagrum]

I will be deeply annoyed if the Sisters get pulled. It's hardly as though they're game-breakers in the same vein as Warlocks or Cauldron-pushing Witch Elves. Their abilities may not mesh with 9th Age in the same way, but that's hardly a reason to cut them entirely.

I understand the complaint that they're basically Dark Elf versions of 40K Wyches, but they were something a bit different in the "elite infantry" stakes, and it would be a sad reflection on 9th Age if one of the few innovative units from our 8th edition book got nerfed or dropped because people weren't sure what to do about them.

[Lord Drakon]

I think a great purpose for them is as gladiators, an unique warhammer unit in the Roman/Greek theme Dark Elves got in 8th edition. Low armoured, highly skilled elite infantry able to take out elite infantry and monsters. Skirmish, Strength 4, 4+ or 5+ ward save in combat and a cool combination of special rules.

Witch Elves are frenzied followers of the Cult of Khaine, maybe the fact that the Sisters of Slaughter were also female let people think they are expensive Witch Elves, but in my opinion Gladiators are quite different. Make them male and you've got plenty of other miniature and conversion options to distinquish them from Games Workshop.

[Vulcan]

The 9th Age rules committee seems to be very big on making sure units have unique roles. If they can't see a role a unit can be pigeonholed into they don't like the unit and either nerf it to ineffectiveness or just try to remove it.

OR, they warp it all out of recognition to fit a role they assign it (Bretonnian Knights-Errant got hammered this way).

SoS seems to be part of that process. They just don't see what makes SoS different from Witches.

[Red...]

Depressingly, it's probably underpinned a bit by the sexism that exists in our hobby. We have countless semi-similar units that do get included that involve males, yet because the units in question (witch elves and sisters of slaughter) are female, they have to be viewed as similar and thus bundled together. Hmm.

[Daeron]

Well... The great thing about 9th is that you can help in defining their role and purpose in the game, as well as their fluff. Not only can you do this, you're actually invited to do so. If you prefer to discuss them on this board, I'd gladly take your ideas to their board or link back to our own discussions. Whichever format you pick, we'll try to help and support it.
.

[Vulcan]

Which is the only reason why SoS even have a CHANCE at making it into 9th Age. The RT was going to remove them entirely (why else would they not make the TAC?) but there's been enough support for keeping them that they're rethinking things.

Whether what results from their rethinking things is still useable or not (a la the "Aspiring Knights) is still up in the air.

[Lord Drakon]

They are back! As Pleasure Pit Gladiators, 130 points for 10 of them. Yes
Very cool Gladiator weapon rule, 5+ ward save in combat and no rank bonus for enemy unit.

[Amboadine]

They are back! As Pleasure Pit Fighters, 130 points for 10 of them. Yes
Very cool Gladiator weapon rule, 5+ ward save in combat and no rank bonus for enemy unit.

And special as well. I will have a proper read this evening.