Just noticed this about the Codex

[jaxom]

There are no Ravenwing Command Squads or Black Knights in any of the glamor shots. They only show up in their data slates. Maybe a hint one or both will get a new kit at some point; especially if 11th edition is backwards compatible with 10th edition codexes?

[Tokugawa]

When Black knights receive their upscaled new models, the most possible fate of RW command would be: retire.

[jaxom]

That makes sense, hopefully there will be more characters on bikes to fill the void.

[Prot]

I get that the 'fate' of the Ravenwing Command squad seems bleak once things are updated, however I REALLY hope GW can learn some things from what they wrecked on the Termie side.

 

Personally I find the Termies nearly unplayable in even a semi competitive environment. Belial too... just horrid what they did to him. But what -might- have made all of this (not Belial though) playable is a single sprue. Not only that, but they probably would have nearly doubled their sales of the standard Termie kits. 

 

A failure (imo) on so many accounts: DA players lost a very cool, thematic unit. The basic Terminators as a result are far less usable, and less profit for GW. Just a big fat loss all the way around.

 

So here's how my blathering on links up with bikes; the Ravenwing nearly work because of the existence of the RW command squad. See the connection here is that while one exists, the other is playable, and GW's bottom line improves.

 

My 'dream' is that we finally see a redo of Sammael, and a bike force. It can even be a Ravenwing dual kit. Or just Sprues like they did with Deathwing Terminators. It's so easy and so profitable yet pleases the player base at the same time.

 

I guarantee without a major dataslate rewrite (which GW 2023-2024 refuses to do) RW will be dead if they kill the current unit availability. Just like Deathwing are.

 

So yea, I'm hoping for dear Caliban that they don't rugpull the other half of the chapter. It's no secret I play quite a bit, and I was so pumped for the DA codex, and models and nearly the entire thing is a mess. The only things they left okay was Azrael, and stuff they altered the least: IE: RW command squad, Shroud, etc. Anything new was deplorable, and the more altered something was, the worse it got. (IE: Belial, Inner Circle Losers, etc.) A Termie Capt, and Bladeguard are just far better, and shouldn't be. 

 

I'm just still really bothered at what length they went to here to make the DA a fail release that was DoA on the competitive scene. (I don't count taking Azrael to a tournament with a vanilla marine codex list.) And the proof to me is at the retailers. I took pictures of row upon row of Belials, Inner Circle kits, the whole Termie sets.. it was all sitting on the shelves (locally at least) far longer than I've ever seen for any marine release in any edition I can recall. (No exaggeration.)

 

So I want the bikes untouched. Because to me, they more they change anything, the worse it all gets. So just leave it. Sorry for the rant, but the idea of another rugpull on this poor chapter just crushes a piece of my soul. lol

[jaxom]

One thing that came up in the Terminator thread in the main Astartes forum is that Aggressors have more support (their special rule, Biologis) to increase their deadliness. The Ravenwing support doesn't really do that, so I thought it may be the CP efficiency of a 9-person biker squad. Has that been your experience, @Prot?

[Raychu]

From Valrak's rumour videos, the ravenwing will get some remake models, but not this edition.

As the 10th is 1 year old, we'll stay with our codex and old RW command squad until at least 2026.

[Prot]

On 6/2/2024 at 10:28 AM, jaxom said:

One thing that came up in the Terminator thread in the main Astartes forum is that Aggressors have more support (their special rule, Biologis) to increase their deadliness. The Ravenwing support doesn't really do that, so I thought it may be the CP efficiency of a 9-person biker squad. Has that been your experience, @Prot?

 

100%

 

Further to that since we are talking Gravis, Calgar adds so much value to the Aggressors it's a whole new level. But even with out him, I find the Aggressors getting Lethal, + Sustained (Gladius) and they start with AP1 and can gain AP2 in that detachment... so much better to begin with. Miles apart. Better toughness, and the fists are far better. If you combine this with  're roll to hit' (gladius) it's just amazing out put. 

 

The equivalent (in fluff) is Belial plus Termies... pffff... what a train wreck. Sorry, but it's just so bad. 

 

I am glad to hear they aren't changing the RW bikes until at least 2026. That gives me more motivation to actually finish the RW command squad bikers.