Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I got a Ravenwing Attack Squadron to go along with my Deathwing and I have a few questions
1] How do I best use them?
2] Should I get more or less?

HQ:
Hildulff {Belile} Master of the Tiger Claws [Black/Orange/Orange]

Interrogator Chaplin Hollander [Black/White/White]
• Terminator Armor, Combi-Plasma

Elites:
Tiger Claw Terminators [Black/White/Blue]
• Storm Shield x 5, Thunder Hammer x5

Tiger Claw Terminators [Orange/Black/Red]
• Paired Lighting Claws

Tiger Claw Terminators [Black/White/Yellow]
• Paired Lighting Claws x5


Troops:
Hildulff’s Assault Terminators [White/Black/Red]
•Apothecary, Company Standard Bearer, Power Sword x1, Power Fist x3, Chain Fist x1, Storm Bolter x4, Assault Cannon x1

Assault Terminators [White/Black/Blue]
•Power Sword x1, Power Fist x4, Storm Bolter x4, Assault Cannon x1

Assault Terminators [White/Black/Yellow]
•Power Sword x1, Power Fist x3, Chain Fist x1, Storm Bolter x4, Assault Cannon x1

Purgatory Terminators [Orange/Black/Blue]
•Power Sword x1, Power Fist x3, Chain Fist x1, Storm Bolter x4, Heavy Flamer x1

Purgatory Terminators [Orange/Black/Red]
•Power Sword x1, Power Fist x3, Chain Fist x1, Storm Bolter x4, Heavy Flamer x1

Purgatory Terminators [Black/White/Yellow]
•Power Sword x1, Power Fist x3, Chain Fist x1, Storm Bolter x4, Heavy Flamer x1

Fast Attack:
Raven Wing Attack Squadron [Black/White/Yellow]
•1x Space Marine Bike Sergeant [Plasma Pistol, Power Sword]
•5x Space Marine Bikers [Melta-Gun x2]
•1x Attack Bike [Multi-Melta]
•1x Land Speeder [Assault Cannon, Heavy Bolter]

Raven Wing Support Squadron [White/Black/Yellow]
•Assault Cannon x1, Multi-Melta x1

I don't use Ravenwing, but I do use bikers and have played against Doublewing before.

Basically Ravenwing =
1. Special weapon delivery, they can do things that Termies can't.
2. Terminator Delivery, safe and coupled with Speed and Scouts are able to get close to the enemy, side armor, mass force on an isolated flank, etc.

You need to be careful though.
If you get first turn, it's not guarenteed.
If you choose to go second, that is guarenteed.

It's really important to think of the first turn very clearly, as it generally looks like it makes it or breaks it.
One Seize and the bikers could be horribly exposed. Setting up defensively needs LoS blocking terrain and terrain close enough to the enemy.

In addition, scout moves are done BEFORE siezing I believe...so there is an element of risk on top of the general risk of fielding bikers. (though tough, it's still a low model count).

_____________________________

The nice thing about the Raven WIng attack squadron are:
-Lots of Scoring units.
-SCORING land speeder, codex > rulebook when rules are concerned.
-multiple targets and mulitple sources of damage dealing.
-They won't be pinned and won't run away.

Cons:
-They don't run away, which can be bad.
-More kill points, and I don't think you have a say in that.
-Tough but soft at the same time.

I like to call Ravenwing elements as scalpels, there is a low margin for error for them, but they do well when applied appropriately.

Again, i don't play them, so no first hand experience in using them...
Hope this helps a bit.

Well, Sanctjud summarized it nicely.
Say you field a full RW squadron.
If you go first, then eventually combat split and use the Scout move to approach the enemy.
Then use the DW teleport attack to deliver half of your Termies.
If you go 2nd, I'd think about leaving the RW squadron in reserve and let it outflank.

My original thought was to break them into there “Combat Squads” to get two of the teleport homers out there. Then Deathwing the three AC Squads with Belile and two of the Heavy Flamers, leaving the rest in reserve with the Int-Chap with one of the LC squads.

New Thought
-Leave the Ravenwing and the Support Squadron on reserve with the Deathwing.
-Bring in the Deathwing the same way.
-Break the Ravenwing into Combat Squads and put the two meltas with Sarge for some MC/Tank hunting along with the Attack Bike.

One of my other questions is, should I invest in a second Ravenwing? It is a lot of points.

Well, I play a DW army with a single full RW squadron.
Its more like a support squadron not a unit that I reckon with during the game.
Therefore, I'd stay with one full squadron.

Leaving the whole army is reserve is possibly not the best idea,
since about half of the army can arrive at turn 2.
But if you field a small army (model count wise), then you need to full strength of the army to bear in each turn, if possible.

I was aslo wondering about other Fast Attack and Heavies that would be good?

Anpu42 wrote:I was aslo wondering about other Fast Attack and Heavies that would be good?

Land Raiders are one of the best tanks in the game, as long as you manage to keep short-ranged melta weapons away from it.

Predators with turret autocannons and heavy bolter sponsons are cheap, but very shooty tanks that fill gaps in the gun line.

Vindicators are good if you use a mech Rhino force. They can keep up with the Rhinos' advance and eventually direct fire away from the Rhinos.

Landspeeder squadrons are rather costly when compared with vanilla squadrons. I'd stay away from them.

As far as points go they all of the FA end up 350+-.
-I will probably just finish up my Land Speeder Support Squadren
-I may just Build another Ravenwing and just not max it out all of the time.

As far as the Heavys
-I have a bunch of Land Raiders with my SW, so i could try them out.
-I might try a Vindicator out, but I think I want that with my wolves also
-I I have never tried the Predators out, I got two Razorbacks from 4th Company i could proxy as Preds.

Thoughts on the Whirlwind

Well, Whirlwinds are good vs horde armies.
However, they are usually deployed in the back field and
so tend to be targeted by outflankers.

Whirlwinds are awesome for 85 points. The ability to pluck enemy infantry units out of cover is great and opponents tend to focus on hunting the whirlwind to the detriment of other units in your army. The Incendiary missiles (S4, AP5, No Cover Saves) are good for killing Eldar and IG hiding in buildings and forests. They still do ok against lootas as well. If the enemy is only behind a wall or in the open, you can drop a S5, AP4 template that will make mincemeat of all medium and light xenos infantry. Especially good if you shoot down a transport and then get the chance to drop the pie plate on the squishy contents. Against MEQs, they are only so-so but because of the low points cost are very affordable in a take all comers list. Oh, and if they actually manage to pin something it is a very nice bonus.