by Peter Robbins, 7 July 2025
Thorakleo IV is the scene in the far far future that is Warhammer 40K. Front and center in the new DLC Deeds Of The Fallen is a 12 mission story-campaign set on an abysmal volcanic planet, with large swathes of ice flows dotting the landscape. Come see what’s in store in this new content for the well supported tactical skirmish virtual tabletop phenomenon that is Battlesector.
click images to enlarge
- Title: Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector – Deeds Of The Fallen
- Publisher: Slitherine Ltd., LLC
- Developer: Slitherine Ltd., LLC
- Genre: Sci Fi Futuristic Warfare
- Scale: Skirmish, Digitized Tabletop Miniatures Wargame
- Audience: All Warhammer 40K Fans, and Computerized or Tabletop Miniatures Wargamers
Review Notes: Reviewed with the core game and the Sisters Of Battle DLC installed. Also of note, I am not a Warhammer 40K real-world player. I’ve only sparsely played W40K computerized games, most recently Gladius and Battlefleet Gothic II.
Overview
Fresh off the heels of reviewing the newer Gladius DLC, I asked to take a look at this new content for W40K: Battlesector. It is a game I’d very much had my eye on as it looked overall like a very well done port of the tabletop miniatures game straight to the computer. In order to review the DLC I had to buy the core game, so I went ahead and did that, as it was on the cheap from recent sales by Slitherine LLC, their latest IP owners for computerized games for the PC. In the process of reviewing the content of the new campaign it was noted that, in order to use the Sisters Of Battle, the main protagonist faction in the campaign, in the core game skirmishing mode, I’d also need to buy the Sisters Of Battle DLC. You little money grubbing muckers. I kid.
Anyhow, they GOT ME, I went ahead and was reeled into additionally buying that content, as honestly, I found the Sisters Of Battle depicted in the campaign to be intriguing enough to want the core addition of the faction to the base game. It was worth the cost. None of the DLC is over-pricey, and of late it’s mostly been on sale. Just wanted to be open about the fact that yes, I got the campaign DLC for press review gratis, but I did buy the core game and the Sisters Of Battle DLC to go along with the campaign and make the experience a more complete one for review sake.
Note: YOU CAN get away with only having the Core Game + the Deeds Of The Fallen DLC. As noted in the game description on STEAM:
* Deeds of the Fallen content requires the base game product.
** Sisters of Battle Faction DLC required to use new units outside of the Deeds of the Fallen campaign
Anyhow, core game bought, faction dlc purchased, press copy of the new DLC campaign installed; and now I’m ready to play the new game content. I’d of course recently taken on providing a first look of the latest Gladius RTS, and enjoyed it, but my first wargaming love in my life has been and remains miniatures wargaming.
Now, truth be told, I personally avoid Warhammer 40K in the real world on a real tabletop like the plague for two main reasons: 1.) I’m a cheap bum, and 2.) I’m a really bad miniatures painter. The tertiary reason is, I’ve been to several conventions where I see huge tables of massive armies lined up on each side of the table in a completely linear fashion, no terrain, just points vs points meet in the middle. It’s not only that lack of fire and maneuver tactical battle format that I’m only aghast at; it’s subsequent near fist fights that ensue when people would argue the rules during these 40K tournaments. It was just abhorrent behavior. Many, many near fisticuffs. I just didn’t like the crowd it generated. Just being honest. I’m sure there are many good people that play the physical game, I just only saw out of the corner of my eye the arseholes. One particular irksome lad was Henry Cavill1!
The above two main points are very much why I originally stuck to naval wargaming. A few ships a side, three colors, and some shading and boom, you have a naval mini tabletop game completed and ready for convention play. Especially at the golden 1:2400 scale of naval wargaming, and I avoided any laughs or finger pointing at our local conventions. Who am I kidding, I was still laughed at (cut to “That is not the right color for that sail for that decade”). I digress. I avoid W40K not because I don’t think it’s a good system, in fact I like it; and in some instances I’ve even played house rule versions of their core rules completely separate genres and time-frames of human history. I digress again, it’s my MO.
So, back on topic, Battlesector. It’s a pretty damn good core game. In this first look at the Deeds Of The Fallen DLC, I’ll give a few bullet points about the core game for those that have not played it. Get the core game, it’s good. Nuf said. Seriously, I don’t endorse wargames willy nilly. So let’s dig into exactly what you get in the box and how it plays out in this very well done DLC content.
STEAM DLC Description
ABOUT THIS CONTENT
Welcome to Warzone Chalnath — a volatile hotspot in the galaxy-wide conflict — where you take the battle to Thorakleo IV. Once a hub of industrial power fueled by rivers of molten lava, this world has fallen silent. Its volcanoes are inactive, its manufactorums abandoned, and its surface reduced to ash and ice, giving the planet its new name, Ashenfell.
Now, a massive Ork Invasion has swept across the planet, cutting off remaining Imperial forces and plunging the region into chaos. Your mission: strike back.
Step into the role of Canoness Selicia of the Order of Our Martyred Lady, leading a Sisters of Battle strike force behind enemy lines. Alongside Sister Hospitaller Dorentia and an elite squad of Zephyrim, you’ll fight to relieve besieged strongholds and push back the Ork advance in a new story-driven campaign.
Take command in a 12-mission story campaign set on the war-torn world of Ashenfell. Lead a daring strike force behind enemy lines and push back against overwhelming Ork forces in a high-stakes, narrative-driven experience.
This DLC also adds three new units to the Sisters of Battle roster:
Zephyrim – High-speed melee jump infantry, perfect for fast assaults and tactical repositioning.
Imagifier – A powerful support unit who inspires nearby allies by invoking the deeds of fallen martyrs.
Castigator Battle Tank – A heavily armored vehicle equipped with devastating ranged weapons to dominate the battlefield.
* Deeds of the Fallen content requires the base game product.
** Sisters of Battle Faction DLC required to use new units outside of the Deeds of the Fallen campaign
First Mission Run Thru
I’d like to say I am only covering the first mission in the Deeds Of The Fallen DLC campaign due to not wanting to SPOIL the second and beyond, but I’ve played this mission four times through and it’s unfortunately been a DEFEAT each time, even when I switched the difficulty to LOW. I found that quite amusing. I’m not this bad, am I? (maybe so, I don’t think I’m using the leaders to their full extent). This first mission is generally difficult! I have to imagine the rest of the campaign is similarly difficult. Now, I do wish, just for this type of difficulty on individual missions’ sake we had the ability to choose to UNLOCK all of the missions, but as far as I’ve seen thus far, you have to WIN the scenario in order to unlock the next in line in the campaign. Again, EVENTUALLY I may do well enough to break on through, but damn the first mission is a chore! Obviously, someone out there has won the mission, otherwise we’d see negative reviews galore on STEAM.
I just suck I guess. And that’s ok. Here are a few shots and thoughts during ONE of those several attempts at the first scenario in the Deeds Of The Fallen DLC campaign.
So we start the first mission, and we go right into a well done art work montage as follows. Short and to the point story background, but DLC campaigns like this, I think to the point are good. Simple story, Orcs have over run this border planet. Kick their arses off the planet. Rinse, repeat, good campaign material on a fancy looking planet at that.
Below we get a simple description that the area is under attack and we need to hold out and destroy all incoming orcish folks. You know, the usual. But this setup is really nice. I like the format of the battle area. Nice multiple levels of elevation, good variety of troops per side. It’s a solid match. But it is very difficult for the first scenario in a campaign. I will openly say that. And that is primarily due to the amount of orc reinforcements (spoiler alert, you will see them in these pics).
On the “Left” of the Sisters battle line, are two units of the newer unit included in this DLC, the Zeraphim. The main nicety of these troops is their ability to use angel wing like jet packs to glide over obstacles. Now keep in mind, the ZOCs (zones of control) involved in the underlying game engine rules won’t allow you to just glide straight over the enemy without them getting some pot shots in. Many many pot shots. Rightfully so. Long story short, they are not as powerful as you’d first potentially imagine. But they are nice troops.
Some of the character troops/leaders are behind the line in the Sister’s center. As seen in the below pic. Yes, these sisters are bad ass. They have a lot of hit points, and they have special command and control or healing based magics, sciences, and whatnot. You know, 40K fluff.
The Zepharim on the LEFT of the battle line use their jet packs to reposition themselves to protect the flat of the sisters of battle.
The situation on the right is a little more fluid, as we have a reasonable number of troops in that immediate area, and some room to fire, maneuver, and support one another throughout each turn. Now, with that said, it’s where a number of Orc reinforcements hit us late in the scenario play thru. The following two screenshots show the situation on the right of the battle line.
As the battle continues through several turns, we are holding reasonably strong, but that does not mean we are not taking some hefty wounds. Center getting nasty below.
Followed quickly by the LEFT getting nasty just the same.
Below you will see that reinforcements for the Orcs start to occur from the operational area’s periphery, yay! More orcs! And they slam our center from its left flank.
As a result, more damage throughout on our units, even as and when the one leader that has healing powers throws out Hit Points as much as she can.
As stated further above, the right was just a better starting situation at least. They’ve held well as shown below.
But of course, this sadist of a scenario maker (I really do need to meet you, please, to talk about this scenario and the DLC*, call me sometime – Reach out as a comment to get in touch)
A quick view towards the left from the slowly collapsing center.
So I’m already folding in several portions of the battlefield and what shows up but this little f-er of an Orc biker shown below.
And even more Orc reinforcements arrive and make their way up to the center platform area. Now NON affectionately known as F’in Bloody Alley.
More carnage in our center, as things just start to get silly deadly now for all the Sisters. Shown below.
Oh for the love. This humanity! Say it’s over soon. One way or another this is just a bloodbath of a scenario.
And…… DEFEATED. I’ve retried this scenario four times very slowly all the way through to nearly the same deadly results. Try Try again as they say. Its been fun throughout. Great game and great DLC.
New Sisters Of Battle Units Added By This DLC
Here are some quick screens of the three units that the new DLC Deeds Of The Fallen add to the Sisters of Battle faction to round up this quick look. If you additionally own the Sisters Of Battle DLC, then these units become available there, including the faction as a whole for Skirmish Mode traditional W40K points based battles.
Zepharim
Imagifier
Castigator Battle Tank
Conclusions & First Impressions
Great core game. Great new content in this DLC. If the rest of the damn 12 missions in this campaign are anywhere near as hard as this first, it’ll take me a couple months to get through it all! And I say that as a compliment.
Seriously, this is some deadly bloody carnage. And it’s fun throughout. I think if you are going to splurge for the Deeds Of The Fallen DLC, you might as well go ahead and get the Sisters Of Battle DLC to follow suit; so that once you get done with the campaign you can use the Sisters and the additional three units from this Deeds DLC in further custom made skirmishes in that much more traditional W40K points buying tourney style battling on random maps.
Again, great game. I do recommend it, especially as and if they run sales on the entire line like they did recently. I do appreciate the devs and the publisher keep adding contents even years after release for this great computer wargame.
Thank you for visiting the Regiment of Strategy Gaming and riding with The Armchair Dragoons.
Rather than list a bunch of social media links, the easiest thing to do is to check out our LinkTree, which connects you to all of our various locales around the web.
You can also support The Armchair Dragoons through our Patreon, and find us at a variety of conventions and other events.
Feel free to talk back to us either in our discussion forum, or in the comments below.
