Jump to content

Ravenguard? A good Formation? FOR REALS!?!??!


fluger

Recommended Posts

The way I see it, assault in close combat (out of deepstrike) is the answer to things that rely on cover.

You can't assault flying MCs for instance.  

 

But, yes, it does solve some significant issues.  I really like the suggestion by winterman of using the demi-company in the Talon Formation to still have turn one assaults from the Strikeforce.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's what I came up with.  I really like it.  Everything is Ravenguard CT.

 

Talon Strike Force:  
 
Demi-Battle Company:  743
 
Captain:  135
  Auspex, Meltabombs, Bike, Power Axe
 
5 Tactical Marines:  90 + 35
  Meltagun, Combi-Melta
  Drop Pod
 
5 Tactical Marines:  90 + 35
  Meltagun, Combi-Melta
  Drop Pod
 
5 Tactical Marines:  90 + 35
  Meltagun, Combi-Melta
  Drop Pod
 
3 Space Marine Bikers:  93
  2 Gravguns
 
5 Devastators:  140
  4 Lascannons
  
Shadowstrike Kill Team:  825
 
5 Scouts:  55 + 50
  Bolters
  Land Speeder Storm:  Multimelta
 
5 Scouts:  55 + 50
  Bolters
  Land Speeder Storm:  Multimelta
 
5 Scouts:  55 + 50
  Bolters
  Land Speeder Storm:  Multimelta
 
10 Vanguard Vets:  255
  2 Lightning Claws, 2 Power Mauls, 2 Power Axes, 1 Meltabombs, Jump    Packs
 
10 Vanguard Vets:  255
  2 Lightning Claws, 2 Power Mauls, 2 Power Axes, 1 Meltabombs, Jump    Packs
 
Raptor Wing:  280
 
1 Land Speeder:  50
  2x Heavy Bolters
 
1 Stormtalon:  115
  Skyhammer ML
 
1 Stormtalon:  115
  Skyhammer ML
 
1848
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can't assault flying MCs for instance.  

 

 

Not with that attitude you can't!

 

Can you explain some of your reasoning behind the Vanguard vet loadout? There are so many options, and I'm not as familiar with what works best with marines. Unfortunately, the Heresy-style all lightning claw jump troops are going to be a too pricey in 40k!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can you explain some of your reasoning behind the Vanguard vet loadout? There are so many options, and I'm not as familiar with what works best with marines. Unfortunately, the Heresy-style all lightning claw jump troops are going to be a too pricey in 40k!

 

Quick note, on Van Vets, a lightning claw is just 5 pts.  

 

The reasoning is giving me a variety of threat vectors.  

 

Lightning Claws are great against MEqs and anything T3 they wound more reliably than the power mauls.  

 

Power Mauls really help knocking out vehicles since I have 4 s6 attacks on the charge.  They are also great at dealing with anything with 4+ or worse saves.  S6 is clutch.

 

Power Axes give me cheap AP2 in melee and a nice bump on S.  They help clear through things like terminators or centurions or even MCs with 2+ saves.  

 

Meltabombs should be self explanatory.   :cool:

 

By having two units of 10, I can break up into 4 units of 5 with some various loadout options to help me go after different threats.  2 power mauls, the meltabombs, and two regular guys can form one team to go after vehicles, while the power axe/lightning claw guys can go after infantry.  

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Brilliant, thanks! I hadn't realized that LC were so cheap for vets. I'm guessing I'm looking at an older codex where they cost 15 points a pop? That's actually much more attractive.

 

 

Yeah, the change to make all power weapons only 5 pts a pop is GREAT.  They are still probably too expensive for what they do though.  RG CT makes them a smidge better with the consistent die reroll and hammer of wrath being more reliable.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

12189611_10200835480885603_8697001350118
 

 

 

Am I correct in assuming that if a Chaplain joins a Vanguard unit  in this formation, than that unit can't benefit from these rules? And the same for the Skyhammer Annihilation Force? The Kill Team seems to specifically call out Vanguard Vets, while the Skyhammer talks about Assault Squads. I'm guessing that means no ICs?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Am I correct in assuming that if a Chaplain joins a Vanguard unit  in this formation, than that unit can't benefit from these rules? And the same for the Skyhammer Annihilation Force? The Kill Team seems to specifically call out Vanguard Vets, while the Skyhammer talks about Assault Squads. I'm guessing that means no ICs?

ITC went with no ICs. It was a fairly big rules debate.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jim, if you've got 2+ hours to kill, the guys at Frontline just tried out the new Ravenguard vs the new Tau.  

 

Pregame info: HERE  

 

Ravenguard List Below

 

 

 

Reece’s list:

Raven Guard 1850pts     Talon Strike Force Description Size Cost Pinion Battle Demi-Company       Chaplain Raven’s Fury 1 105 Tactical Marines M.Gun, C.Melta 5 90 Tactical Marines M.Gun, C.Melta 5 90 Tactical Marines M.Gun, C.Melta 5 90 Assault Squad M.Bombs 5 90 Devstator Squad C.Melta 10 150 D.Pod – 1 35 Scouts M.Bombs 5 60 Scouts M.Bombs 5 60 Scouts M.Bombs 5 60 Shadowstrike Kill Team       Scouts – 5 55 Scouts – 5 55 Vanguard J.Packs, Fist x 2, L.Claws x 2 10 260 Skyhammer Annihilation Force       Assault Squad Vet Sarge, P.Axe 5 110 Assault Squad Vet Sarge, P.Axe 5 110 Devastator Squad H.Bolter x 4 10 180 Drop Pod – 1 35 Devastator Squad H.Bolter x 4 10 180 Drop Pod – 1 35 Totals   99 1850

 

 

 

Video Bat Rep:  HERE

 

Post Game Analysis:  HERE

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Alteration to the list to incorporate Lias Issodan and his tasty rules:

 

Talon Strike Force: 

 

Demi-Battle Company: 743

 

Captain: 135

Auspex, Meltabombs, Bike, Power Axe

 

5 Tactical Marines: 90 + 35

Meltagun, Combi-Melta

Drop Pod

 

5 Tactical Marines: 90 + 35

Meltagun, Combi-Melta

Drop Pod

 

5 Tactical Marines: 90 + 35

Meltagun, Combi-Melta

Drop Pod

 

3 Space Marine Bikers: 93

2 Gravguns

 

5 Devastators: 110

4 Multimeltas

 

Shadowstrike Kill Team: 825

 

5 Scouts: 55 + 50

Bolters

Land Speeder Storm: Multimelta

 

5 Scouts: 55 + 50

Bolters

Land Speeder Storm: Multimelta

 

5 Scouts: 55 + 50

Bolters

Land Speeder Storm: Multimelta

 

10 Vanguard Vets: 255

2 Lightning Claws, 2 Power Mauls, 2 Power Axes, 1 Meltabombs, Jump Packs

 

10 Vanguard Vets: 255

2 Lightning Claws, 2 Power Mauls, 2 Power Axes, 1 Meltabombs, Jump Packs

 

CAD:  285 Raptors CT

 

Lias Issodan:  175

 

5 Scouts:  55

  Bolters

 

5 Scouts:  55 

  Bolters

 

1823

 

Everything in green is infiltrating and everything else is in reserve and either comes in automatically on turn 1 (the van vets and two drop pods/guys) except for one unit of tacticals and a pod, which comes in on turn 1 on a 3+ and on turn 3-4 on a 2+.  

 

66% of the time my army is fully on the table on turn one.  It's a great null deploy option and it's just awesome.  

 

Not sure if gaining infiltrate on a few units and Lias' great sabotaging skill (for those unaware of what he does, his rules are HERE) are worth losing air support, but it could be cool.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Talon Strike Force: 

Demi-Battle Company: 743

Captain: 135
Auspex, Meltabombs, Bike, Power Axe

5 Tactical Marines: 90 + 35
Meltagun, Combi-Melta
Drop Pod

5 Tactical Marines: 90 + 35
Meltagun, Combi-Melta
Drop Pod

5 Tactical Marines: 80 + 35
Meltagun
Drop Pod

3 Space Marine Bikers: 93
2 Gravguns

5 Devastators: 150
4 Lascannons

Shadowstrike Kill Team: 825

5 Scouts: 55 + 50
Bolters
Land Speeder Storm: Multimelta

5 Scouts: 55 + 50
Bolters
Land Speeder Storm: Multimelta

5 Scouts: 55 + 50
Bolters
Land Speeder Storm: Multimelta

10 Vanguard Vets: 255
2 Lightning Claws, 2 Power Mauls, 2 Power Axes, 1 Meltabombs, Jump Packs

10 Vanguard Vets: 255
2 Lightning Claws, 2 Power Mauls, 2 Power Axes, 1 Meltabombs, Jump Packs

Raptor Wing: 280

1 Land Speeder: 50
2x Heavy Bolters

1 Stormtalon: 115
Skyhammer ML

1 Stormtalon: 115
Skyhammer ML

1848

 

Edited the list because I did the devy points wrong.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll check out the video later, but damn. I didn't realize the Devestators in the Skyhammer ALWAYS got that pinning/no overwatch rule. I had thought it was only the first turn. That's crazy good.

Yeah, it's bananas.  And keeping it cheap with heavy bolters is a golden idea.  With the drop pods and 36" range, they can cover the whole board for the most part.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I actually find that the Pinning thing works as a disadvantage in the later turns- they can never force an actual morale check that makes a unit fall back, which against a lot of small squads is more frightening than being pinned for a turn.

Yeah this is true, forcing morale is clutch late game worth small smattering of fire going everywhere...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I actually find that the Pinning thing works as a disadvantage in the later turns- they can never force an actual morale check that makes a unit fall back, which against a lot of small squads is more frightening than being pinned for a turn.

Bit of a tangent, but that is something I have wondered about.  It doesn't clearly state that this affect replaces the normal 25% casualty morale test.  Could be argued that the skyhammer affect is in addition to the standard morale test.  Not an argument I'd personally make, more of a thought puzzle in case it gets brought up in a tournament.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 It doesn't clearly state that this affect replaces the normal 25% casualty morale test.

 

A unit only ever makes one Morale test for casualties in a single phase- the Skyhammer ability thus functionally replaces the usual casualty test, as it will always trigger if you are shot at and its consequences explicitly take the place of the normal morale check consequences.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Real Talk Zone: What Horus Heresy novels do I need to be reading to get stoked about Raven Guard?

 

Mr. Graham,

 

Horus Heresy novels that I recommend for a Raven Guard fix:

 

*  BOOK 5 - Fulgrim (just because of the brief section of Istvaan V, which sets a good tone)

*  BOOK 16 - Age of Darkness (anthology that has "The Face of Treachery" in it, about how the Raven Guard try to get their primarch Corax the heck off of Istvaan V)

*  BOOK 18 - Deliverance Lost (Istvaan V + Corax + the Emperor)

*  BOOK 22 - Shadows of Treachery (anthology that has "Raven's Flight" in it, about the Raven Guard on Istvaan V)

*  BOOK 23 - Angel Exterminatus (because there's a bad @$$ kill team with a Raven Guard in it that play a really cool part of this book)

*  BOOK 30 - The Damnation of Pythos (Raven Guard members in this regrouped mash up of loyalist legions)

 

I have all (32) mass market paperback books if you want to borrow any of them.

 

Stay safe,

 

don

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...