Me and My brother are thinking about starting 40K.
There are a couple problems
He wants to Collect an Eldar army with a friend (downloaded) Myself a Witch Hunters (all SOB)
its really expensive seeing how between my dad, me and him we have 3 Fantasy armies. (I have TK bro Oand G dad Empire) Unfortunately my father doesnt play just paints.... this hopefully will change
i have no idea what im geting into.
Any suggestions would be helpful and i will accept "for get it mate..." answers.
I really like the WH models and such and i would like a small army to try it out armylists would be appreciated for WH though one requirement is a dreadnaught or sentinel I just love those models and they are one reason im phsyched about 40K
EDIT: I realize to have a fully sisters of battle army you cant have a sentinel or a dreadnaught but lets just forget that detail for now shall we?

Well, as with any person new to the game (or in your case, switching games), I suggest finding your way to a Games Workshop (or failing that a gaming club) where someone can show you how the game is played. Get a little bit of practice before deciding to take up the chainsword yourself.

As for specifics on Sisters of Battle, I don't really have any advice, I'm a 'Nid player myself. Hopefully someone else can give you a hand.

Well my friend (Downloaded) has recently got the Battle For Macragge so im learning ever so slowly how to actually play the game but im just curious if i should put my money where my mind is heading as a 40K player do you think that your purchase of 'nids (a expensive race to be sure) was worth it? Im really not looking for that much strategy in my army as i have enough of it with TK just really basic strategies adn not flank/ rear charge from a strategicallly place scorpion that is supported by a charge from a swarm and a sinkhole Skeleton block kind of strategy. They have been to wearing to my poor lack of good dice rolls.
Thanks for the early comment btw.

Well, I haven't touched my Tyranids in a while, (got side-tracked by a Dark Elf army I acquired for the low, low price of 0) but I like the models and in the previous rule set I used to be able to roll 96 attacks with a full squad, that was always funny.

I haven't read the new rules, and I haven't played in a long while, so my ability to give advice is limited. The money I spent on them may have been wasted, but I don't regret it that much since I got to play with my modeling knives while converting them.

If you are going to stick with the game and you think you will enjoy playing it, I say go for it. If the price truly worries you, then maybe you need to rethink it. You should never half-do something.

And if you still can't decide, I then suggest asking the advice of the Queen (or whoever happens to be on your coins). It's how I make all my tough decisions.

as for zeal its not a question its just how interesting the game was to you when you played. is the gameplay as solid as fantasy or is there a lot of rule niggling?

Also i like the look of the pentinent engine so a dreadnaught is not a nessary addition but the dreadnaught looks more proffessional as the engine looks more like the work of inquisition which is very good so scrap the dreadnaught, sentinel is only an option for anti-vehicle but multi-meltas sound good.

We actually have ruins on our bills (there are only 2 coins that i have ever seen and they aren't even worth a ha'penny) (sp?)

Well, when I last played I found it to be pretty smooth going. Its just a matter of getting used to the different rhythm.

The various walker mechs are all pretty cool looking, if I had gone Marines or IG, I know I would have one simply for the awesome factor. Plus a well-armed Dreadnought is always a plus in a scrap.

So, if you only have bills, how do you make tough decisions where you have two options? I flip a coin, but without a coin, what does one do?

Not to toot my own horn, but I wrote a mini-tactica on Sisters of Battle that you can find here. I'm hardly reliable for tactica purposes, however, so if you want advice from more veteran sisters players, you can always check out the "Inquisition" section of the Bolter and Chainsword forum.

I'm going to warn you now, though: Eldar are a pain against SOB, just as they are against all power-armoured armies.

As for the Sentinel or Dreadnought: there's no reason you can make a conversion of a Sentinel or Dreadnought model to "count as" a Penitent Engine.

In my opinion, Daemon Hunters and Witch Hunters are pretty cool: the miniatures are awesome and the fluff rocks. But I heard the units are pretty expensive. Fortunately, you won't need so much of them to make a full army. The Eldar are also a cool army, if you want my opinion. I used to play Dark Eldar, but they didn't have enough variety to my taste. But although I got massacred all the time because of the lack of subtlety of my tactics, they were fun to play.

I liked Warhammer 40K, but for some reason I prefer Fantasy. I don't know whether it's for the rules or just for the Tolkienish style.

Yeah, I love the Witch Hunters for their fluff: they exemplify everything that is dark and bleak about the Imperium (which in part is why I love the 40k background-- there are no "good guys," just varying shades of grey). The playing style for the Witch Hunters, though, isn't too forgiving: while the basic Battle Sister has BS4, a bolter and power armour, is cheaper than a Space Marine, and can use acts of faith, the fact that your girls' firepower is mostly close-ranged means that you should expect your Sisters to take significant casualties in every battle. Of course, their losses simply serve to add to their Faith Points, which is what makes them so fun. :D

EDIT: I found a rather good Witch Hunters tactica right here. Hope this helps.

My proposed list
for roughly 1000 points (give or take a few 400)
Troops 2-3 Battle Sister boxes 80-120 USD
Book 20 USD
HQ Canoness 12 USD
Heavy Support Pentient Engine 35 USD
Fast Attack Seraphim Squad 40
Elites ArcoFlagellants or Sisters repentia 30 (Flag) 45 (Sis)
roughly equals about 200 dollars (im trying to save up i have a plan for 150) and i also want to bolster my TK as well as Help my dad with his empire i will see what turns out. But for a roughly 1000 point army what is the review for this idea?
Im not too much of a fan for the exorsist because i really just dont like the model and i think the idea of mortar launching pipes is silly. (personally)
Total amount of Dollars

(lowest cost option)217

For the Exorcist, you can actually do what I intend to do and use a Space Marine Whirlwind instead (though I'm not using a different model because I don't like the current Exorcist model, but because mail order has failed me all too often in the past). I would really recommend at least 1 Exorcist for your army-- they're that good.

Your basic core of Battle Sisters, Seraphim and a Canoness sound alright. Personally, I wouldn't go with either Repentias or Flagellants: Repentias look cool, true, but (a) they're ridiculously expensive points-wise, (B) they tend to get shot to pieces before they get to the enemy, and © they strike last. As for the Flagellants: they tend to take more casualties from drug overdoses than they do from the enemy, since a Flagellant will die whenever it rolls a 6 on its extra movement or attacks. As a result, it's usually a miracle if they survive the battle (and its iffy if they'll inflict much damage before they go, given their randomness, though I'll admit they're monsters in combat).

As for the Penitent Engine: the enemy will be shooting at it from Turn 1, and because of its light armour, it won't survive heavy firepower. This is why they're usually fielded in squadrons, which simply means they eat up more points.

This is just my tactical opinion: Repentias, Penitents and Flagellants are all very cool models and fit in, fluff-wise, with the Witch Hunters theme. If you want to use them for your forces, then by all means go for it. Just one quick rule snippet: to field Flagellants or a Penitent, you need a Priest. My suggestion is to buy a 40k Priest blister or a WHF Empire Warrior Priest and convert him.

Good luck!

Using a Army Builder i came up with this list

HQ
Cannoness with Auspex, Book of St. Lucius, Rosarius and Storm Bolter 87

9 Battle Sisters with Frag Grenades, Storm bolters and Heavy Flamer
With A Veteran Sister Superior (VSS) who has a Eviscerator and a Bolt Pistol
Transport : Rhino with a Hunter Killer, Extra Armour, Pintle Mounted Storm Bolter and Smoke Launchers 274

" " 274

13 Battle Sisters with 2 melta guns and a VSS with a Close Combat Weapon, Storm Bolter and Auspexs 200

4 Seraphim with Frag grenades, Krak Grenades, 1 twin hand flamer, 1 twin inferno pistols and Melta Bombs with a VSS with a Bolt Pistol and a Eviscerator 187 (thinking about making the rhinos weaker so i can take more seraphim do they come in blister packs?)

" " 187

Exorcist with Extra Armour 155
" " 155

Total Points 1499

Looks like a very small army for 1500 points, only around 30 models. Isn't the point of SOB armies to have near space-marine quality troops but more of them? I would definitely throw more units in, though I'm not really an SOB player (nor a 40k player since 4th edition)

well you can only get a max of 10 Sisters into a rhino....
Though I would like to have a larger army this is thinking Financially as well as gamewise. I think i would have a fair shot against my friends megaforce (SM) with this list. I just need to play my cards right. I use the exorcists to take out Dreadnaughts preds etc and then move in with the sisters. Using the rhino as a delivery vehicle then abandoning it to take up a position and watching it zoom off with its bolters blaring and trying to run over as many enemies as possible before crashing and/or blowing up. In short diverting fire from my kited out sisters.

Why the heck doesn't your Canoness have a close combat weapon of some sort? Commander units should always have some sort of specialized close combat weapon: a humble power weapon at the very least, though I would personally recommend a blessed weapon or eviscerator, since the Canoness' strength of 3 is rather unimpressive. As for the storm bolter: BS5 works well with it, I guess, but I personally prefer a plasma pistol or inferno pistol for penetrating armour.

Out of curiosity, where do you plan on putting your Canoness? With the big unit of Sisters?

Why a storm bolter? A Rhino allows you to get your sisters up close and use their short-ranged weaponry like flamers or meltaguns. Replace the storm bolter with a flamer: believe me, a flamer and heavy flamer combined are nasty against enemy infantry.

This squad is walking, right? In this case, storm bolters might be better than meltas, as you'll be able to throw 6 24-range shots down as you advance, and you'll have more shots when firing stationary as well.

I dislike mix/matching weapons on squads: I find they work better if dedicated to a single role (ie all flamers or all meltas). I would also include at least one additional Seraphim in the unit, if only to absorb casualties better. And yes, Seraphim come in both blister packs and a box set of 5.


Anyway, I've done some calculations, and your list only comes around somewhere at 900. Unless, however, your use of ""'s signifies a doube of the same squad posted above. If this is the case, then I advise you give your Canoness an inferno pistol, blessed weapon/eviscerator, Cloak of St. Aspira and jump pack: this way, she can fly all over the battlefield, generating LD 10 with her Book of St. Lucius where necessary, take on small squads, go tank hunting, and pretty much help out wherever your line is weakest.

The "" do indeed tell that the unit is a copy of the one above.

i compiled this list after reading the tactica on the Bolter and Chainsword that was linked to me. You have outlined some of my thoughts about the sisters that i chose not to take because of point restrictions. such as the Tooled up cannoness. The fact that i didnt give her a special weapon is a typo there should be a power weapon included. I was going to have her "sit back" and babysit the foot sloggers as they advanced inbetween the rhino squadrons.The reason they have meltas is to pick off any fast attack bikers that harrass my rhinos. my battle line was going to be somethign like this.

Seraphim1 Rhino Footers Rhino Seraphim2
Exorcist Exorcist

I realize that she would be prime bait for infiltrators so i gave her and the squad she would accompany the shoot inflitrators item.

That was my intial plan

Now i think i will drop the foot sloggers and put them in a rhino and the cannoness goes with a seraphim squad. Then i will make each seraphim specialized one exceling in destroying vehicles adn the other anti infantry the cannoness would accompany the one that is anti infantry and she woudl have a eviscerator. The army builder im using is flawed as it doesnt have all the items. Until i can get my hands on army book however it is the best thing that i have. I also plan to using a army very similar to one of the two in a cityfight if me and downloaded both buy cites of death boxes then it would make for some very interesting battles (of course we could also make a city ourselves) that is one thing i love about 40k the city fights and the squads instead of blocks as fantasy is. So i will work on a alternate list but the above list will ve tweaked slightly (i will edit it) to include a slightly different plan. I want a mechanized sisters army though. I want the options that mechanized vehicles give you. The fact that they can zoom you to the cover you want and your sisters can set up there or that they can drive you right into fray. (Can rhinos move, empty cargo then assualt infantry/tank shock them?) also can flamers/stormbolters shoot when they assualt?

Also how would the above list fair in a cities of death game? that is what i am really interested in right now. The possibilties are quite stunning.

Even so, as I said, Strength 3 will rarely do anything. An eviscerator costs only 15 points more, and is great if she finds herself fighting Dreadnoughts or the like.

Uhhh...no. If you put a Canoness with the Seraphim, then they lose their awesome hit-and-run rule (ie at the end of combat, they can fly out of the melee, and the enemy cannot pursue/consilidate). Keep in mind that Seraphim are not assault specialists, but a harrassment unit, meant to hose the enemy with fire at close range, and, if necessary, assault (using Acts of Faith to increase their damage or stay alive), keep the enemy locked in combat for two turns, hit and run out of combat, and then repeat the process on the same squad or move on to attack a different target. Bear in mind that this is against heavy infantry like Space Marines: against light infantry, they're pretty good, though do NOT throw them into Possessed Marines, Genestealers, Khorne Berzerkers, etc, unless (a) the enemy's numbers have been drastically reduced, or (B) you want to use your Seraphim as a "speed bump" to buy time with their lives.

No: the squad inside can only get off before or after the transport moves. And as to your second question, yes, flamers, storm bolters and meltas, being assault weapons, can shoot before the Sisters move in to assault. HOWEVER, you cannot charge if you fire bolters, since bolters are rapid-fire weapons: if you move and shoot with them, then you can't assault. Pistols, on the other hand, can shoot and charge if you don't double-shoot.

Sorry, I've only ever played one game of Cities of Death, so I can't help you. That said, Sisters, with their short ranged weaponry and durable armour, should do great in Cities of Death: take plenty of flamers, since these ignore cover saves. Also, the combination of Sewer Rats and a flamer-heavy Sister squad could be potentially awesome.

Heres the new list. It needs clipping.

96 Canonness Jump Pack Book St Lucius Bolt Pistol Eviscerator

275 9 Battle Sisters Frags Flamer Heavy Flamer
VSS Bolt Pistol Book Eviscerator
Rhino Extra Armour Smoke Launchers Pintle Mounted Storm Bolter Blessed Ammo Hunter Killer Missile

275 Same as Above

247 9 Battle Sisters
Storm Boltersx2
VSS Storm Bolter Power Weapon
Rhino Blessed Ammo Extra Armour Pintle Mounted SB and Smoke Launchers

146 9 Battle Sisters
Meltasx2
VSS Combi Melta Gun Bolt Pistol Auspex
(the baby sitting squad for the exorcists)

155 Exorcist Extra Armour Hunter Killer
155 Exorcist Extra Armour Hunter Killer

195 4 Seraphim Melta Bombs twin inferno pistolsx2
VSS Eviscerator Bolt Pistol
(the tank hunters)

203 6 Seraphim twin hand flamers x2
VSS Eviscerator Bolt Pistol
(counter assualt infantry)

total points 1747
I need suggestions on cutting down the list to 1500
Thanks
Feedback is always appriecated

Give her the Cloak of St. Aspira: that way, she can gain a 2+ invulnerable save by using Spirit of the Martyr.

You can probably cut down on points by getting rid of the frags on the Sisters and replacing the eviscerator with a power weapon (though you should DEFINITELY give all your VSS's the Book of St. Lucius). Your Rhinos, however, are over-embellished: you do NO need a pintle storm bolter, blessed ammo or an HK missile (believe me, you don't need HK missiles when you have 2 Exorcists). Smoke launchers and extra armour are enough for Rhinos.

Same comment as above on your Rhinos. Storm bolters, however, are wasted on Rhino squads, since the average disembarking Sister can rapid fire 2 shots with her bolter at close range anyway. Storm bolters, IMO, are better served for footslogging Sisters.

No complaints, I guess, though with all their short-ranged weaponry, I think this squad would be better off attacking the enemy. Switch this squad with your storm bolter squad: meltaguns are put to better use if delivered via rhino to enemy vehicles, after all.

Not bad. Again, though, to cut down on points, you could replace the eviscerators with power weapons. Whatever you do, DEFINITELY give the VSS's Books of St. Lucius.

Again, get rid of the HKs: HKs on an Exorcist are an over-embellishment when they're already shooting D6 AP krak missiles a turn.

After these changes, your list comes down to 1616 points. I would suggest you get rid of either your melta Seraphim squad or one of your Exorcists, as you have an abundance of anti-tank stuff already.

I agree with you on almost everything except one thing. Why take out the extra exorcist when you can also use it as anti infantry. They do blast damage right?

NO. Each Exorcist fires D6 S8 AP1 shots a turn (and you have to roll to hit). There are NO blast templates involved.

Personally, I would keep the two Exorcists, since their combined firepower works for both anti-tank and anti-infantry purposes, plus they're just nasty against Marines.

sorry i meant why take out the extra exorcist. My bad. And thats good to know but its possiblility of 6 shots would decimate a tactical squad i see your point. I really appreciate all this feedback. I think i will follow your advice. Dropping the HK will free up a bunch of points. But why get rid of the pintle mounted storm bolters? That will make the rhino much more dangerous In my opinion.

Pintle storm bolters cost 10 points-- almost as much as a battle sister. For the points you spend on pintles, you could easily give a Sister squad a 6 pt flamer, or a 5 pt Book of St. Lucius. Usually, pintles are just something you throw in if you have extra points to spend.

Interesting and in your opinion how do rhinos fare as a last ditch option to just attack the enemy with?. Im curious about once ditching the sisters to do their assigned duty what i could do with the rhinos? other that use them as road blocks.

Rhinos are DEFINITELY effective as road blocks: position them in front of enemies trying to shoot/assault your Sisters in order to help keep them alive. As for tank shocking...I can't really help you out there, since I've never done much tank shocking myself.

tut I want you to know I haven't read your battleplan, I just wanna stick in there...

GO ELDAR AND SPACE MARINES! DEATH TO ALL WHO OPPOSE THE EMPEROR!

TYRANIDS SUCK AND SO DO SISTERS OF BATTLE!

my strategy is that if you can't win the mental battle, the actual battlefield will be a massacre!

P.S.

I painted hearts and rainbows on the foreheads of my tyranids... that's how much I hate them.

Well we will see who is massacred....

YOU NEED THE ARMY FIRST GUYS!

Or we could do a little proxy action for some fun? (I wouldnt mind a proxy IG army)

Either way, your psyhcing each other out over something that wont resonably happen for two weeks, and thats if we proxy.

Burro

@Burro and Downloaded
Seriously you guys those posts had no value to the discussion. I realized i had one post that was stupid but please stop with the posts that include CAPITALS because its really just annoying

@LONC
I have been very busy lately with schoolwork and such (also putting together a WFB campaign) that i have not had any time to work on tweaking my army list. By the weekend i should have finalized it and worked out the cost and until i go to a GW in the summer it will be put to the side. I really appreciate your help on this matter. Btw how many points is the cloak (im not sure if you can post it here becuase its classifed GW info so if you have second thoughts dont bother posting the point cost) Do you think that Seraphim can hold their own in Assualts? Im talking about the squad in the previous army list. The "counter assualt infantry" group.

@ Burro
IF you were to read a couple posts up (ignoring Downloadeds boorish comment) you would realize this is a Army list WIP and would reconsider your post. and you missed the big battle when you were travelling We got someones IG and pitted a small fight against Downloadeds Marines. The IG were very close to beating the marines. Maybe if we could get a hold of a certain IG player you could have a skirmish of 40K. Without Proxies.

@Downloaded
Please dont stick another I AM "TEH" BESTEST PLAYER post in this tread again. It really just invited stupid comments. I realize that you are happy and proud of your newly painted marines I have nothing against this, but please dont add comments like the aforementioned again. It really is just a waste of bandwith. And I appreciate you not reading my strategy. I realize im no person to say this because i responded with a equally silly reply. So im not trying to be the nagging aunt here. Just stating my views.

Seraphim should engage in close combat only after they have hosed an enemy down with flamer and pistol fire, and even then, they'll normally be going in to whittle down enemy numbers and hold them up for a turn before using hit-and-run to jet out of there. Seraphim are a harassment unit, NOT a dedicated assault unit.

That said, there are still times when they can feasibly beat and/or destroy an enemy unit in close combat: IG/Eldar Guardian squads come to mind, as do small/weakened Space Marine squads if you invoke Divine Guidance (on paper, a 6-7 woman squad of Seraphim can potentially kill a Terminator squad in one go with flamer/pistol fire and charging if it can invoke Divine Guidance first). Remember, with Seraphim, Acts of Faith are crucial-- Divine Guidance for piercing armour, and Spirit of the Martyr for ensuring that your Sisters survive relatively intact (so that they can keeping holding for a turn before they jet away). Their innate ability to roll Faith acts on a 3d6 increases their chances of getting certain acts, though I still suggest using 6-7 Seraphim per squad, as it's a nice number for getting both Guidance and Spirit of the Martyr.

Also, like all Sisters squads, they definitely need a Book of St. Lucius, as it will keep them in the fight (even if beaten) long enough to hold the enemy in place for a turn before jetting out.

I know you didnt mean to sound like the nagging aunt, but you just sounded like one.

Didnt know you guys did anything while i was gone. Will inquire about the IG player in person with you.

Didnt think it totally was unhelpfull, sure it didnt address your topic, but it did the thing at hand, and some tangenting must occur sometimes. Its also fine that you slapped our hands to get back on subject.

I personally think that any chimera you have will be targeted by something or other and destroyed either right after or before it completes its job. Armies at this size must come prepared to battle everything, so all generals will have an anti tank plan.

Burro Boskov

Newest incarnation of list

Cannoness
Jump Pack Bolt Pistol Book of St. Lucius Blessed Weapon 101
(will give her cloak thingy when i have WH book)

9 SOBs Frags Flamer Heavy Flamer
VSS Bolt Pistol Eviscerator Book
Rhino - Extra Armour
237

"" 237

204
9 SOBs 2x Storm Bolter
BSS Storm Bolter Book
Rhino Extra Armour 204

5 Seraphim Melta Bomb 2x twin inferno pistols
VSS Bolt Pistol Eviscerator Book Melta Bombs 227

6 Seraphim 2x Hand Flamers
VSS Book Bp Eviscerator 208

Exorcist Extra Armour 170

Exorcist Extra Armour 140


Total points 1489
(just enough for 1 more sister of battle)

Looks good. I'd probably get rid of the frags on your Battle Sisters to free up more points, and maybe use the extra points to give your Canoness an inferno pistol so she can go tank-hunting. Other than that, though, it looks good.

Personally, though, just to be sure, I'd post this list on Bolter and Chainsword to see what more veteran Sisters players think of it. That's just my opinion, though.

The frags are there for assualt purposes.
Thanks for your very helpful comments. I will now follow your advice and post this on B&C.

What is the cost and how many Seraphim do you get in a blister pack?

I just looked back and noticed you have a storm bolter-carrying squad mounted in one of your Rhinos. As I said before, this is a complete waste, since a disembarking squad will probably be firing double bolter shots at close range anyway: you storm bolters will make absolutely no special impact whatsoever. My suggestion is to try to replace them with meltaguns: if you want to try to cut down on points to fit them in, you could potentially switch your heavy flamers for normal flamers in your other 2 Sisters squads.

The finalized list
Feed back?
There is 30 points flexibilty for wargear or a extra seraphim or something

Cannoness
Jump Pack, Bolt Pistol, Cloak, Book of St. Lucius, Blessed Weapon, Frags 117

9 SOBs Frags Flamer Heavy Flamer
VSS Bolt Pistol + CCW, Book
Rhino - Extra Armour + Smoke
200

9 SOBs Frags Flamer Heavy Flamer
VSS Bolt Pistol + CCW, Book
Rhino - Extra Armour + Smoke
200

10 SOBs 4 x Heavy Bolter, Veteran, Book 189

8 Seraphim 2x twin inferno pistols
VSS Bolt Pistol + Eviscerator Book 246

8 Seraphim 2x twin hand flamers
VSS Bolt Pistol + Eviscerator Book 230

Exorcist Extra Armour 140

Exorcist Extra Armour 140

Ah, I see you've picked Mercenary's list (I'm Chaplain Erasmus on B&C, btw). Overall, its a nice list: the heavy bolter Retributors, combined with the Exorcists, give you a nice firebase to support your mobile battle squads and Seraphim. All and all, a nice list for taking on all comers.

My suggestion for spending those remaining 30 pts would be to give your battle squad Sister Superiors Braziers of Holy Fire; each one is a close combat weapon that doubles as a one-shot flamer, and they're pretty cheap at 10 points each. The look on your opponent's face when you drive up and unload 3 flamer templates on his squad will be priceless.

Well I played my test game with chaos proxies (my friend has 3! armies) using this list against a tau shooty list. Needless to say I was completely destroyed by turn 3. Though he was using rules I thought were suspect. Imperial guard inductees and one of them was riding a carnosaur! He showed me something he printed of the net so I let him take it. (he couldnt make 1500 with out it) and i am starting to regret my decision.

Why is it so easy to kill everything with one big gun? He destroyed my two exorcists with a missle salvo (he shot 3 at one and 3 at the other) with the same tank. Was he playing right?

The game put me off 40K a bit.. might buy a small army instead now.

Yeah, Tau are definitely a tough army for Sisters to face, especially on your first game. The Guard inductees and monstrous creature are both from WD articles, though I think including both is very, very cheesy.

Fear not, though: this was only your first game. Sisters take a while to learn to play properly. In the meantime, you'll find lots of Sisters tactica articles (particularly on deployment, etc) over here, including an article specifically on how to fight Tau.