Sororitas or Arbites: Where Should GW Go Next?
GW is quickly running out of imperial organizations to turn into codices. But two classics come to mind…
If you have been living under a rock you would be forgiven from not realizing that we are all living in a 40K golden era. After decades of neglect, we have gotten a giant amount of “lost armies”, some of which have not been seen since Rogue Trader!
We’ve gotten:
- Harlequins
- Ad Mech
- Genestealer Cult
- Deathwatch
Aside from Ad Mech, these were all armies that used to have rules back in the mists of time. The funny thing is GW is starting to run out of the “big important” imperial organizations to turn into new armies or factions. Luckily with Genestealer Cults on the rise, two organizations come to mind to help the Imperium put down the bad guys.
The Sisters of Battle
The Inquisition exists on paper as do the Sororitas, but no models available, it’s really fan-service to the greyhairs with ancient armies under their beds.
If you look at the three main factions of the Inquisition you can see the hole in the army matrix:
- Ordo Xeno – Deathwatch (DONE)
- Ordo Malleus – Grey Knights (DONE)
- Ordo Hereticus – Sororitas (Hazy – ask again later)
If GW is trying to wrap up the chambers militant of the arms of the Inquisition, the obvious missing link is the Sisters of Battle. They have had a difficult place in the 40K universe for decades, like the black sheep of the grimdark family. More often than not they got literally the last codex of an edition before be swept away by a new edition, or lived in the limbo of digital only rules. They have always had a metal only range, and the ladies have suffered for too long. They deserve their day in the sun.
But, don’t forget there is another vast powerful Imperial organization, that dwarfs the Sororitas, used to have minis and rules and is out there just waiting…
The Adeptus Arbites
The enforcers of the Imperial Law – the brutal cops who walk the streets of the every world of the Imperium keeping the (very broadly defined) criminals in line and keeping an eye out for anything scary enough to call in backup.
I get goosebumps thinking about how these tough as nail crimefighters could be brought to the tabletop. Look at what was done with the industrial non-military vibe and special rules that make Genestealer Cults tick. Now think of what the GW design studio could do to bring the cop cars, paddy wagons, choppers and special rules to an Arbites codex!
I for one would love to see either of these to be turned into a standalone codex with a full line of minis.
I would choose Arbites personally, but I want to know what you think.
Long Lost Minis
Here’s some old sample minis to get your need for new plastics going.
I would see it as very unlikely that GW’s eye wouldn’t turn to one of these in the years ahead. We cant just keep redoing the Space Marine codex year after year.
~Which would you choose and why?
