Greetings fellow Ravens!

[9x19 Parabellum]

Hello!

 

I'm new to this forum though I've spent some time over in the Blood Angels forum.

 

I first started my interest in Raven Guard because I bought the C:SM book to augment my Blood Angels and/or to use my dudes as "Red Ultramarines" (or whatever other chapter I fancied).

 

Taking a further look at those beefy Grav Centurions, I decided I need a unit of them; sadly they don't like Blood Angels so I had the seed of starting a new chapter already implanted.

 

The scarcity, easy paint job, and coolness factor of Raven Guard struck me. And they do jump packs better than Blood Angels do, despite us supposedly being masters of Aerial Assault.

 

So my 3 gravturions added a small unit of bikes, and then I decided I needed at least 1 troop choice to properly fill out an allied CAD (still thinking in terms of 7th edition here).  That prompted a unit of scouts and then another unit  of scout snipers.

 

Then, today...Shadow Force Solaq, because...why not? (Although I'm VERY disappointed with this box as there are literally no unique RG shoulderpads or transfers in the boxed set. golly gee?)

 

So...given that I've got very little stuff, I'm wondering what people think about building out a RG force with 8th edition specifically in mind?  (My blood angel force is much more robust and I'll probably continue to play a lot of 7th edition with it).

 

I'm not terribly familiar with RG, nor have I been pouring over the forums here as religiously as the BA forums.   I really like the idea of a big scout army (thinking maybe no Tac Marines).  Lots of jump units, maybe a storm talon, no tanks, no dreadnoughts, no devastator squads, and maybe a stormraven from the HS slot.

[Shrieker]

Welcome to the ravenspire

[WAR]

Welcome to land of sneakyness

[Kua]

Welcome!

 

And about the Solaq box:

Just yesterday I tried googling what it was because I missed several yeast in the hobby. There is this 5th company captain, who is basically a quite usual veteran model with an Honour Guard’esque helmet, and the rest are just models one would get out of the regular boxes but with less assembling variation, isn’t it?

[9x19 Parabellum]

Correct.  There is nothing about the boxed set that is uniquely Raven Guard and thus worth getting.

 

It's a standard sternguard sprue, standard vanguard sprue, standard land speeder sprue and a "special edition" captain.

 

There is NO included transfers, and there is no unique/special Raven guard iconography on any of the models or shoulder pads.

 

The only thing extra you get is the Operation Shadowtalon campaign supplement, which, admittedly, has a couple extra special rules for the units that come in the box, assuming you field them EXACTLY as is. (And in the case of the Sternguard, you'd be an idiot to do so; 1x Heavy Flamer, 1x Storm Bolter, 1x Power Sword and 1x Plasma Pistol, 2x special ammo boltguns) But they do gain a lingering shrouded ability as long as they don't run, move or charge.  The vanguard veterans cause fear and are outfitted appropriately (8x claws, 1x stormshield and 1x thunderhammer).  Solaq is a standard captain with power sword and plasma pistol who gets the Raven Helm (any unit that wants to shoot at him or his unit must pass a leadership test. If they fail can only shoot snapshots.) Also he gets the garbage "Cause Fear" warlord trait.  If you think his fixed trait and Raven Helm are worth 2 meltabombs, then take him.

 

Whether or not that is all worth $140 to you is up to you.  My store had 2 copies, and I was considering buything them both, until after I learned the first one has NO special Raven Guard iconography. I'm glad I didn't get the 2nd one also.

Edited June 16, 2017 by Rocmistro

[Race Bannon]

But yeah, other than the models and their rules, it was a disappointing purchase.  Especially since they released Solaq as a "Captain" only three months after I bought mine

 

Last Chance my muscular butt.

[duz_]

Welcome! We look forward to seeing your force come together! :)

I hear you on the Solaq box and model... I now have a second one, which for me will eventually become a Chaplain I believe... 

 

There are a couple of vendors on Shapeways that do awesome RG shoulder pads.
I've kitted my whole MK7+ guys with them (I opted for the FW MK6 for my vet's though).

Check out PopGoesTheMonkey (I've used previously) or Plokoone (who also does some awesome RG Storm Shields!)

[Claws and Effect]

Psst.

 

If you don't want Solaq, I'll buy him from you.

 

PM me if interested.

 

Welcome to the Ravenspire!

[9x19 Parabellum]

Psst.

 

If you don't want Solaq, I'll buy him from you.

 

PM me if interested.

 

Welcome to the Ravenspire!

 

Negative, ghostrider! I still like the model, just pissed it didn't come with any RG icons/transfers.  A problem I've already remedied by a quick trip to forgeworld.

[Bedouin2]

Welcome to the shadows Brother!

 

Funny thing coming from the Blood Angels... the Raven Guard view their cousins as brutish and clumsy

[9x19 Parabellum]

Welcome to the shadows Brother!

 

Funny thing coming from the Blood Angels... the Raven Guard view their cousins as brutish and clumsy

 

Interesting. With the Blood Angels love for art, artificing and engraving, finely crafted stuff, I can't agree they are brutish or clumsy.  Reckless...savage...hot-tempered, yes, all of the above.  Maybe brutish...certainly not clumsy.

[Bedouin2]

It's an insight of them that comes from old fluff, the Index Astartes books that was released in 2004, or sometime around then. But I believe it's in the way they conduct combat, not how they are outside of battle. In my opinion, the Raven Guard conduct themselves on the battlefield how Space Marines are intended to operate as a Chapter. Quick and surgical. Stay hidden in the shadows, observe the enemy and find weak points and the leadership, then strike fast and disappear again.

 

"From the darkness we strike - fast and lethal - and by the time our foes can react, darkness is there and nothing more."  - Raven Guard saying

 

This is why they probably see them as that way... but every other Chapter is judged as well. They purposely lie and only share intel with the allies they are operating along side is necessary, and even then they won't share all they know especially over coms cause they always predict that communication has been compromised, and many times use their allies as bait to draw the enemy out. Many Chapters have a distrust for them. But with Shrike now the Chapter Master, I believe that will start to change... provided that we get anymore "present time period" stories of them.  

[Claws and Effect]

 

 

Psst.

 

If you don't want Solaq, I'll buy him from you.

 

PM me if interested.

 

Welcome to the Ravenspire!

Negative, ghostrider! I still like the model, just pissed it didn't come with any RG icons/transfers. A problem I've already remedied by a quick trip to forgeworld.

Poop.

 

I really just need his legs for a Shrike kitbash I'm planning.

 

Ah well. I'll check eBay again.

[SanguinaryGuardsman]

Hello!

 

I'm new to this forum though I've spent some time over in the Blood Angels forum.

 

I first started my interest in Raven Guard because I bought the C:SM book to augment my Blood Angels and/or to use my dudes as "Red Ultramarines" (or whatever other chapter I fancied).

 

Taking a further look at those beefy Grav Centurions, I decided I need a unit of them; sadly they don't like Blood Angels so I had the seed of starting a new chapter already implanted.

 

The scarcity, easy paint job, and coolness factor of Raven Guard struck me. And they do jump packs better than Blood Angels do, despite us supposedly being masters of Aerial Assault.

 

So my 3 gravturions added a small unit of bikes, and then I decided I needed at least 1 troop choice to properly fill out an allied CAD (still thinking in terms of 7th edition here).  That prompted a unit of scouts and then another unit  of scout snipers.

 

Then, today...Shadow Force Solaq, because...why not? (Although I'm VERY disappointed with this box as there are literally no unique RG shoulderpads or transfers in the boxed set. ?)

 

So...given that I've got very little stuff, I'm wondering what people think about building out a RG force with 8th edition specifically in mind?  (My blood angel force is much more robust and I'll probably continue to play a lot of 7th edition with it).

 

I'm not terribly familiar with RG, nor have I been pouring over the forums here as religiously as the BA forums.   I really like the idea of a big scout army (thinking maybe no Tac Marines).  Lots of jump units, maybe a storm talon, no tanks, no dreadnoughts, no devastator squads, and maybe a stormraven from the HS slot.

Shrike is awsome.  Get him.  For only 150 points you get a veil of time bubble+rerolls that work with any RG units.  Rerolling deepstrike charges and hit rolls.... a steal at 200 points.  You can do a lot of stuff with him.  

You could setup a firebase of devs or thunderfire cannons and park him near it for rerolls.  You could have him deepstrike with vanguard/company vets and nuke something big on turn 1.  You could have him and 20 assault marines just run up the table as a screen for big stuff in the rear.  

[Nusquam]

Welcome fellow sneaky-beakie