14 DAY TRIAL // My Penitent Engine moves to a space that allows it to deliver purifying fire to two groups of demons in a line, obliterating them all. This gets the units Momentum and another Action Point, allowing me to also target a group a Bloodmaster standing closely by. My Sister Superior then finishes that demon quickly with her holy sword.
Meanwhile, I set up a line of Battle Sisters and Seraphim on my other flank, pushing a few Flagellants further out to act as bait for my enemies. They show up and get blasted with some solid overwatch fire, and next run my forces will probably wipe them out, reaching the threshold for victory in this battle.
Sisters of Battle is developed by Black Lab Games and published by Slitherine Ltd, like the original game. I played it on the PC using Steam. The downloadable content pack introduces the titular faction to the strategy title,
The Sisters of Battle, or Adepta Sororitas in Warhammer 40,000 speak, are female warriors that are faithful defenders of the Imperium of Man and its God Emperor. They are not superhuman warriors like the Space Marines but they have mental fortitude that serves them well when battling the enemies of man.
In the gameplay department, this means they gain more Momentum when they take damage from enemy forces. Their DLC adds 15 new units to build a battlegroup with, including some very powerful heroes. They can be used in any single-player game mode and multiplayer but they do not have a new campaign.
I like the Paragon Warsuits, a great choice for close-up assaults, able to rain rockets before another unit's assaults. The Seraphim leverage superior mobility to finish off enemies and provide emergency cover. The entire group works best when it can close with opponents quickly and carefully use of special powers and Momentum boosts.
The Sisters of Battle can feel fragile, especially with only their early units on the field. But their heroes and vehicles can quickly change the tide of battle. Make sure to match units to tasks, accepts casualties when necessary, and focus attacks on one enemy at a time, if possible.
The core tactical elements of Battlesector remain solid and engaging. Balancing the desire to reach the Momentum threshold for a unit is always balanced by pressing battlefield needs. Assaulting an enemy group with good overwatch offers a solid challenge. Setting up your own almost impregnable firing position is just as exciting.
The game is also getting a new Demonic Incursion mode. Players will pick their favorite army and then face unrelenting waves of Chaos-powered opponents. It gets challenging fast and will really test a gamer’s skills and ability to conserve forces.
Sisters of Battle does not upgrade the overall presentation of Battlesector but it does introduce a range of lovely crafted units. The interface does a solid job of giving players info about weapons, ranges, and expected outcomes. The operatic sound effect that comes before an attack from the Exorcist is delightful and the soundtrack is good.
Conclusion
The Sisters of Battle also work well with Planetary Supremacy mode, designed to compensate for the lack of campaigns for factions other than the Blood Angels. It has a decent structure but needs more variety when it comes to node rewards. Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector continues to offer a great tactical-focused experience and I look forward to more factions being added.
A review code was provided by the publisher.
