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I have a Blood Ravens force which I haven't look at since 5th edition and was wondering what the best way to run them in 7th edition would be?

I don't want a super competitive army, but something that can hold its own at the club.

I'm not too keen on taking Centurions, but am open to most other things. I defintely want to take the Librarius Conclave to represent the Blood Ravens, but not sure on what the best way to run the rest of the army is.

I was thinking of taking Imperial Fists chapter tactics (and possibly the Sternhammer formation) as I quite like the look of Bones of Orsak relic and it maximises the potential of tac squads and sternguard.

Any thoughts on the best route to go? I don't own an drop pods which I may find to be a problem...

A lot depends on what minis you have. There are a ton of ways to run marines at the FLGS level where the aim is not to be super competitive.

My first suggestion for anyone coming back to the game is to look at formations. Lot of free power to add to your list, just by taking certain units. Not needed, as you can still use the old FOC/CAD, but a good place to start.

My second suggestion is to get more mobility into your list. 40k is much more about getting to objectives and holding them. More so with maelstrom missions where you might be zipping all over the place to grab stuff. Objective Secured units and transports are your friend here.

Sternhammer is a solid base for an army. Work up a battle demi-co, and pick an auxilery choice that looks good to you. You get some nice low-cost ones in the Sternhammer that are not in the Gladius.

back flipping terminators wielding multilasers :3

Thanks.

I'm a big fan of Sternguard and like the idea of running them with the Librarians in the Conclave. In the 1st company taskforce formation.

What's the best way to run the current meta? Are they viable if taken not as part of an alpha strike with melta etc? Not sure I want to be dropping the librarians down in pods turn 1.

Sternguard are still good.

I would not do a combi heavy alpha strike loadout for them without pods though. Nothing says “shoot me and strand me in the backfield” like a rhino full of c-melta sternguard.

I like my sternguard 10 men, 2xHF in a drop pod. They could still do OK like that in a rhino. I might forgo the flamers and run them purely naked. Especially as ‘Fists with the bolter drill. Mmmmm, bolter drilled special ammo...

Full 10 man squads will let you combat squad out and have 3 units right there, triggering the special rule from the 1st co TF. Not as nice with the rhino, vs. the pod, as the odds of it living are a lot less. Still something to think about. You want big squads anyway, as bolters, even with special ammo, need mass to work. But if you want to leave a seat free for a librarian, there is a minor drawback.

From an army composition POV, a battle demi-co backed up by a 1st co TF is a solid list. I’ve run it a few times myself. Big problem is points, unless you run smaller squads. I build a demi co that comes out at 1,000 points. Add a few extras and a 1st co TF makes for a 1,850 list. For smaller games, a 10th co TF works well (I build one at 250 points). As IF, with the sternhammer, you have more low cost options, which is nice.

Sternguard are super badass theyre pricey but generally make back their points

It's getting harder and harder for Sternguard to make their points back. They're not particularly effective against most top units and they give up a lot of points when they die.