2k pts Raven Guard Mildly Competitive Narrative List

[Arminius_Warbringer]

I am putting together a list for an event that is upcoming and want to see what people here think about it. I don't want to go super competitive like it was a tournament but want to make it somewhat lightly competitive in a fluffy narrative kind of way. I know this is a fine balance to attempt but most of these guys play average strength lists, minus Lords of War and yet want enough challenge that the games are fun. I don't want to seem out for blood so I wanted other opinions on my list.

 

Decapitating Strike RoW

 

HQ: Alvarex Maun - (for reserves and rerolls purposes)with cameleoline cloak=145pts

 

Troops:

Tactical Squad 1 - x10 marines- with melta bombs artificer armor Sgt with combi weapon and close combat weapons for the squad x10 and Rhino transport= 205 pts

 

Tactical Squad 2 - x10 marines - with melta bombs artificer armor and combi weapon Sgt. and close combat weapons for squad x10 and Rhino transport= 205pts

 

Tactical Support Squad - x5 marines- with 5 plasma/melta guns artificer armor Sgt with melta bomb and Rhino transport with multi melta gun= 235pts

 

Heavy Support:

Fire Raptor Gunship - reaper assault cannon upgrade, armored ceramite, hellstrike missiles, and searchlight= 251pts

 

Elites:

Mor Deythan Squad 1 - x8 marines- x7 combi flamers, plasm/melta gun x1, Sgt. with artificer armor and melta bomb= 274pts (infiltrates)

 

Mor Deythan Squad 2 - x8 marines - x7 combi plasma guns, x1 plasma/melta Gun, Sgt. with artificer armor and melta bomb, Rhino transport= 309pts

 

Rapier Battery - x3 Graviton Cannons= 225pts

 

Fast Attack:

Javelin Attack Speeder Squad - x2 Javelin speeders with multi melta guns and x2 Hunter killer missiles for each Javelin= 150pts

 

Total= 1999 points

 

Or if running 2 Mor Deythan sounds too hardcore/powerful to everyone; I can drop one Mor Deythan Squad (without the transport 274pts)and add an 8 marine Dark Fury Fast Attack squad with melta bomb for the Chooser of the Slain and a power sword on tactical support squad Sgt for 2k spot on...

 

So, let me know if it sounds well suited to a narrative gaming environment that is fluffy and slightly competitive and any suggestions or criticism would be appreciated. I am definitely open to all possibilities.

[Fangbanger]

Hey buddy, like the list

 

I run a decap list with 2x deythan and it's not super competitive. The ravens are a hard army to play as generally lack anti tank and have squishy troop units/lots of boots. With infiltrate it requires a lot if finesse to pull off.

 

Maun and decap is a great combo

 

My fave trick is to position my Deythans so when my lightning comes on, it takes out the inevitable Spartan so they can melt the contents inside. With Mauns re-roll that's usually turn 2.

 

I really recommend the lightning as it is lethal against the big tanks.

 

I run 10 x fury and honestly, they generally just die too easily

 

I also run a 5 man get squad with machine killer and combi melta as usually, a support squad will die just as easy yet the vets get that +1 making it essential str9 melta.

 

I use a rhino but can be hard to position so am changing to pod, one of the very few chances to do that with decap

 

Generally I infiltrate Maun with a 15 man tac squad into a ruin in a good spot to guide my leviathan and speeders and gives him plenty of bodyguards to help him survive.

 

The way I see playing them is like a game of chess, you wanna be thinking a turn or 2 ahead so you can create good killzones and traps as one on one with other legions, we have no real benefit to combat or shooting.

 

Also, multi melta on rhinos can be a good investment too.

 

Ultimately, a lot of the list will hit hard once and then die so think about the stages of attack. Generally with going first 87% of the time, the first wave will hit the hardest yet you want some stuff for the late game (maybe more pods, although the fire raptor and rappiers should last through)

 

hope that helps!

I also assume Maun is with the grav in this list?

[Arminius_Warbringer]

Thanks Fangbanger, I appreciate your help. You hit on a couple points that were very helpful and I hope to cover them all in reply.

 

I have been thinking about adding a Lightning to my force but lack one at the moment. If you were to add one what would you swap it out for in my list? I am planning on using the grav rapiers for AT and maybe that would be a more capable piece to use in place of the grav?

 

I had planned on infiltrating them into a spot with good positional firepower. I am not sure about what you meant when you asked if the grav was being used "with Maun". Can you elaborate on that for me?

 

I am not sold on the Furies either and prefer the second Mor Deythan squad. I think I would rather keep the other Mor Deythan. One with flamer combi and the other with plasma(for termies etc) or melta combi for heavier foes. Do you have any recommendations on how to arm them?

 

As far as pods goes I plan to use them in variations of this list but want to make it hard to predict my strategy and tactics by breaking from the typical norms and expectations. I am counting on most players anticipating pods pods and more pods from RG. So mixing it up will be somewhat of a necessity.

 

I also like to build in a good bit of redundancy, in terms of purpose and capability, so losing one unit doesn't leave me with no way to take down that squads assigned counterpart unit it was supposed to negate. So I like extras like melta bombs and having some overlap in case of emergencies. I don't want my opponent to run the table because I don't have anything left on the table capable of finishing off a tough target with one hull point left.

[Fangbanger]

What I mean was Maun needs to start on the board to use his benefits, so putting him in the rapiers is good for the T7.

 

Having said That, I would drop them for the lightning or if you wanted to keep more anti-tank, swap out a Mor Deythan or even the fire raptor. I think they are cool, but when facing them it's never been a huge burden. I guess if you had a lightning you can play around at seeing which works best.

 

As far as arming MD I always go 7 man - 5 plas and 2 meltagun, just mb on sarg unless points for AA and then both rock a rhino with MM. I hear combi flame is good for number of sounds, but ap2 is just too good to pass up I feel. Plus clever foes will spread out anyway and with the twin linked bs5, it's very rare to have the plasma miss.

 

All in all as it is, I think it will do solid enough and be fun to play.