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I think we can all agree that GW shows the Ultramarines, the Black Templars and the Salamanders too much favour. It's kind of annoying to people like myself, who play as other chapters. As a Raven Guard player, I would like to offer some improvements to the Raven Guard chapter tactics and to Shadow Captain Shrike that would suit the fluff a lot better.

1. Assault Squads as troops. Whether this is a warlord trait for Shrike or a part of the chapter tactics, I don't really care, but this needs to fit in there somewhere. The signature units of the Raven Guard are Scouts and Assault Squads and the current chapter tactics clearly encourage you to use assault squads. The Raven Guard are renowned for their jump pack assaults and therefore, assault squads as troops needs to be put in.I know Korvydae can take assault squads as troops, but he is a forge world model and let me tell you, forge world models are not always accepted.

2. Hit & Run. Again another thing that needs to be either a warlord trait for Shrike or a chapter tactic. The entire battle doctrine of the Raven Guard relies on waiting silently for the enemy to approach and launching a deadly ambush, then withdrawing before the enemy can react. All Raven Guard assault squads should have hit and run either from chapter tactics or Shrike as a warlord.

(I think assault squads as troops should be a chapter tactic and hit and run for all assault squad should be an extra warlord trait for Shrike. Simply because Shrike is the most famous for his hit and run attacks)

Shrike:
Shrike is not worth the 185pts in my opinion. I would rather use a chapter master with a jump pack, AA and lightning claws. In order to improve shrike he should at the very least have artificer armour. I think he should have artificer armour, melta Bombs and hit and run for assault squads.

How have Black Templars received too much favour? They lost their own codex and most of their unique goodies. Imperial Fists are better IMO.
When talking about buffing Shrike, remember that he is not the Raven Guard's Chapter Master so why would he be as good as one?

SGTPozy wrote:
How have Black Templars received too much favour? They lost their own codex and most of their unique goodies. Imperial Fists are better IMO.
When talking about buffing Shrike, remember that he is not the Raven Guard's Chapter Master so why would he be as good as one?

True about the Black Templars, but losing the codex is about efficiency. The Blood Angels shouldn't really have their own codex either. However, the attention they have received is much more than others. Shrike is not the Chapter Master, but he is still not really worth it. Remember, I said AA at the very least. I would be perfectly happy if that improvement was made. Maybe replace angel of death with making assault squads troops or giving hit and run to all assault. Angel of death just means he causes fear, which is the LAMEST warlord trait. Considering how much of a great and renowned warrior Shrike is in the fluff, GW just does not do him justice. However, since you did mention it, a Corvin Severax model would be awesome as well.

Raven Guards suck. You play them because you like the fluff or how they look, that's it. Once these guys got on the table, they are not going to be anywhere near competitiveness.

bibotot wrote:
Raven Guards suck. You play them because you like the fluff or how they look, that's it. Once these guys got on the table, they are not going to be anywhere near competitiveness.

Seems rather a blanket statement. Just because a couple of CT are more useful (mainly WS), RG still have a lot to offer. Amry-wide Scout is very handy for picking and choosing your fights, and puts you a turn ahead in the objective game. T1 Stealth is also nice, and the JP boosts are nice if you're running a couple of Assault Marine squads.

The problem is the two halves of the tactics contradict each other, and to top it off the very thematic RG scouts are the WORST scouts of the entire list of CT, as they gain nothing of it.


RG needs new tactics. that actually harmonizes the two parts, and follow their fluff image by supplementing their iconic units and tactics.
The current tactics does none of it (well, it supports assault marines, but the wrong way.)

 BoomWolf wrote:
The problem is the two halves of the tactics contradict each other, and to top it off the very thematic RG scouts are the WORST scouts of the entire list of CT, as they gain nothing of it.


RG needs new tactics. that actually harmonizes the two parts, and follow their fluff image by supplementing their iconic units and tactics.
The current tactics does none of it (well, it supports assault marines, but the wrong way.)

Not sure I agree, to be honest. RG don't use Scouts or Assault Marines any more than any other Chapter, their MO as a Chapter is simply speed and agressive shock and awe tactics. I think the CT gets this across quite nicely, giving the option of Outflanking or an extra turn's movement.

I agree it would be nice to have something for Scouts, but I do think the CT does reflect how the Chapter works.