Holy Orders

The idea of priests in the midst of conflict has fascinated me for many, many years.

Maybe it's a Northern Irish thing. After all, i grew up with images of clergymen caught up in Bloody Sunday and numerous other violent events. I grew up with Presbyterian firebrand Ian Paisley often seen on the news manning barricades, attending twelfth night bonfires, etc.

Maybe it's the result of growing up watching MASH, with Fr. Mulcahy an integral part of the 4077th.

Maybe it's something else altogether, like my starting into the hobby with the Genestealer Cult.

I noticed recently that I have a bit of a habit of having clergy in my forces.

My 17th century Berlin force had 5 priests among 200 or so models. When it became the basis for my Empire army for Warhammer Fantasy, i added a few more.

My Imperial Guard from 1999-2003, which was about 200 strong, again had 5 priests.

My space marines have over a dozen chaplains, including 2 on bikes and 3 in Terminator armour.

And so it goes on.

Over the last 12 hours, I've been pondering the Ministorum Priests of the Imperial Guard.

They come with a laspistol, and frag and krak grenades. This immediately puts them as one of the best options for grenades, since most Guard don't get krak. In the Codex, they can take a chainsword and autogun for free, without losing their other weapons. Thus, it seems silly not to give them both.

Of course, the Index allowed the laspistol to be swapped for any pistol available to the Ministorum, and they can have a plasma gun, shotgun or option for a close combat or ranged weapon from the Ministorum armoury.

That, however, seems over the top. So, I'll only be doing a few with shotguns or plasma guns, and won't be adding any more with the more unusual items...

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