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Someday GW might release a Raven guard Codex. Maybe even a Red Scorpions one too. So lets speculate as to what that codex might be like.

First off I think that in Raven Guard that since they are from what my friends tell me a fast attack type army. So having all fast attack options as well as some others that the other marine armies do not have
as troops would be possible. Something like Super Cheat Bikers that have WS and BS of 4, T5 and have a bunch of cool weapon options. Maybe "Hit and Run" could be an army theme the same way counter attack is for SW or I think its Ferocious Charge is for blood angels.

Something for like the Assault troops they would have something like having an Initiative 5 and this rules.

Hit Squad: Such is the experience of a Raven Guard Assault Trooper that they have become so accustomed to the art and battle style of the jump pack assaults that In addition to having the Hit and Run Universale special rule. They gain the Ferocious Charge and Preferred Enemy against the unit they are assaulting during the first round of assault only. This also only counts if they are the ones assaulting troops and not being assaulted by the enemy.

Granted, I do like the idea of a Raven Guard codex, I find it very, very unlikely. Many other armies need a codex long before the Ravens. Dark Angels, Black Templar, Necrons, Sisters of Battle, Tau, and maybe Eldar. Raven Guard may though, get more rules from Forge World down the road.

A Fan'dex on the other hand never hurt anyone. Alot of what the Blood Angels have, are what we would use in the Raven Guard. We would use less Librarians because from what I've heard around the net, Corax (Primarch) didn't really like their use. We obviously wouldn't use Death Company, or even the Sanguinary Priests.

What we would probably use are Units of Assault Marines, Tacticals squads as our basic troops units. Scouts will go away and become elite units, similar to the Space wolves, since not all of our scouts are "NEWBIES" many would have preferred to remain scouts due to their battlefield applications.

The Raven Guard use quite a bit of fast attack choices, but bikes really aren't their mainstay as much as land speeders and assault squads are. Storm Raven would also make the roster.

Heavy Support...This is a hottly contested subject between many Raven Guard players. Some say that we don't have alot of vehicles and others say we do. Khiavar, the Planet that Deliverance (RG Homeworld) circles, is very close to be considered a forgeworld in and of itself. It is a production juggernaut so many items can be fabricated very close to home. I would suggest just leaving it alone and keeping it on par with the Space Marines Codex.

Elites. We need a decent unit here. One that lets us stand apart from other chapters. How about assault terminators with short ranged teleporters? During the movement phase roll a d6. On a 5+ they leave the battlefield and can be moved up to 18 inches away from their last location. Assault Terminators come back onto the table as per the deep strike rules. Assault Terminators have Heroic Intervention as per the SM codex. Assault Terminators cost 250pts base for 5 assault terminators.

These are just thoughts. Take them or leave them. Either way, I like your enthusiasm!

Recommendations:

All units have Fleet instead of Combat Tactics, going by what Shrike does to them.

Scouts: Develop from troops to Elites choice; these guys aren't newbies, but are done with their augmentation, and thus have S4 T4. They wear carapace and the like due to being much better for stealth work. Also carry smoke grenades, which can once per game give the unit a 4+ cover save. Come with Camo Cloaks by default. Watch out for template weapons, though!

Assault Squads: Usable as a Troop Choice much like the Blood Angels, but use the standard Space Marine Codex rules. They also have the ability to Outflank.

Tacticals: Used sparingly, but they have their place, as a generalist troop.

Devastators: Not Available

Terminators: Used as normal; however, they may, instead of moving, roll a D6, and on a 5 they may be replaced anywhere within 24' using the Deep Strike Rules.

Dreadnoughts: A Heavy Support Choice, Dreadnoughts are used normally for the SM codex, and in this case are fielded as heavy gun platforms.

Thunderfire Cannons, Whirlwinds, Vindicators, and Librarans: Not Available

Everything else: Identical to SM Codex

I dunno, Maybe something unique. Something that No other Marine player has because every codex has terminators and they are all different in some ways. Although I think a better choice would making that 5+ to a 3+ because if that is what makes them cool than its gotta be easier for them to do it.

5+ is pretty unlikely and could result in them never being able to do it during an entire game.


What about this.

Death Raven Dreadnought!
Would be a dreadnought that can only come into the game Via deep striking. Would have lighter and thinner body and a massive Jet pack with raven wings to act as a glider.

The Death Raven Dreadnought Must Deep strike at least 12" away from a enemy unit and comes in during the firing phase only. Before coming into play it makes the following attack against the unit using the normal rules for firing at a unit.

Raven Storm Bombardment - STR: 10 AP: 2 Large Blast Pinning.

The Death Raven may not fire the turn it comes into play aside from Raven Storm Bombardment.

Other than A BS of 5 it has all normal Dread Stats as well as these Wargear

Raven Claws - Like a CCW but confers +2 attacks as well as
1D6 armor penetration when assaulting vehicles.

Shroud Cannon - Range: 24' Str -9 AP 2 - Small blast

The raven Guard Assault Cannon in addition to rending is also pinning and 1 STR higher than the normal one.

Why bother making a whole new model for it, and invalidating the picture in C: SM that shows a Raven Guard Dreadnought, and instead just give it a free drop pod?

Never picked up the Vanilla codex. Free Drop Pod idea is kinda neat.

OH! What if Raven Guard have FAST Rhino and one squad of Tactical squad (What ever special name they have that makes them sound cooler than they really are) Can take one for free per army?

So a rhino that can move 12' and still disembark and shoot everything etc. Or better yet. The option of having all Raven Guard Vehicles as Fast tanks.


Like they have their own special version of a Land Raider where its Armor 13 all the way around but its a Fast Tank Assault Vehicle Exclusive to only RG.

I believe that was called the Blood Angels.

And you think Raven Guard shouldn't have Librarians why?

Raven Guard are a codex chapter.
Shrike covers their rules passably.
We DO NOT need a full book for them. SO MANY more things need books first.

Like. Crimson Fists?

Sounds like just a Blood Angel army painted black to me. Why not keep the scouts as troops but give them a possible upgrade to make them more on par with regular space marines? Plus a possible special ability. Will definitely give this some more thought.

Field Gen wrote:Like. Crimson Fists?

Are you serious right now


You can't think of a SINGLE army that deserves a book more than friggen Raven Guard? You are some kind of genius I guess.

Field Gen wrote:Like. Crimson Fists?

Current armies that need Codex updates badly:
Witch Hunters
Tau Empire
Necrons
Eldar

Armies that need new Codices before Raven Guard:
Lost and the Damned
Pick any original Traitor Legion
Adeptus Mechanicus
Iron Hands (their structure is far more divergent than that of the Raven Guard or Crimson Fists)

CSM's and Tau also need new codecies.

Well just an idea they could make a codex with more specialized rules for RG,CF,WS,a few other chapters that should have few more specialized rules then what they already have

You've got the wrong idea about the Raven Guard so you should probably check out their background yourself first rather than taking your (uninformed) friend's word.

First and foremost, the Raven Guard are traditionally strong adherents to the Codex Astartes, which means they are a lot like the ultramarines: heavy reliance on basic infantry in squads of ten, discipline in battle, no 'unique' unit types (historically they used some mutants but they would not do that again).

Secondly, while they are known to happily use some fast elements, this is mainly for their pursuit of precision-strike tactics. They are not as inclined to fast things as White Scars, the Ravenwing, Blood Angels, Night Lords. Rhinos or jump infantry are fast enough for them. They still move 12" remember?

They can be very adequately represented by Codex: Space Marines. Unfortunately, Mat Ward is an idiot when it comes to fluff and Raven Guard ought to have C:SM represent them better. But the elements are there for them. I think Shrike should give Scout rather than Fleet (give White Scars fleet) for combat tactics. And assault squads (non-jump pack versions) should be available as troops for the entire codex. That's all that would be needed.

Honestly, I have been playing Raven Guard since 1999. The current Codex Space Marines works great and I wouldn't want to change anything IMHO. I also have used the Blood Angels Codex from time to time and its also a very viable option for any RG player that wants to switch things up a bit.

I think the problem here is that the OP just is not informed enough. Which is fine. He can make a "home-brewed"/"house rules" fan'dex if he would like. It won't really break the games we play in. Ultimately if he would write one up, and like to use it, his opponents will have the final say in them using it. If not, then so be it.

I just don't see anything really happening with Codex Raven Guard. Not now, not ever.

Honestly some more support from forge world would be awesome but I need need my Necron codex.