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What would you guys recommend for a Blood Ravens Army to use for CT or Codex? I figured BA or UM?

UM is a good default, considering the fact that most Chapters are taught with UM doctrines and dogma.
BA isn't a very competitive codex at all, so I'd avoid that.

If you can branch out to FW, the Red Hunters tactic could work - Adamantium Will across the army, and a 1 turn USR for X many units in the army (X being the turn number)

I say Mantis Warriors but they need to be updated.

Red Scorpions is who I use for my base, due mostly in part to Loth.

Blood Angels dont fit at all. Blood Ravens share none of their defining traits(Black Rage, red thirst) and do not even operate like they do tactically.

Blood Ravens are noted to be rather tactical and strategic. This is in large part due to their surplus of divination Librarians, but even without them I am sure they maintain that basis.

UM chapter tactics fit them well enough due to Blood Ravens being codex compliant, operate on the same level of tactical and strategic mindset in addition to the fact both are noted to be very versatile fighters. Bonus points for TIgerius being a Ultramarines so using their tactics gives you access to a very powerful psyker who fits the style of BLood Ravens as well as the fluff.

Red Scorpians are also on the board for their psyker, but fall behind due to being more prideful and arrogant at the cost of what is tactically sound. Not being able to go to ground or take cammo cloaks is not fluffy for Blood Ravens at all.

Red Hunters work well as their unique bonus rule per turn mechanic fits the tactically adaptable side of the Blood Ravens and giving them all adamantium will fits well enough on the psychic side of things. Perhaps due to naturally being more inclinded to produce psykers the Blood Raven geneseed also offers bonuses to passive warp resistance or perhaps its their constant proximity to psykers. Hell you might even go as far to say that after the events of DOW2 Gabriel Angelos stressed the dangers of the warp, chaos and psykers and pushed the chapter to focus on improving their ability to resist it. How this would be done I have no clue, but its just food for thought.

Of all the Chapter Tactics options available (FW and codex) I would have to give it to the Ultramarines followed by Red Hunters.

CSM

Thousand Sons, when Forgeworld get around to doing their Legion Rules

Ultramarines, then get your opponent to allow you to use multiple relics from other codices and you're set.

Definitely think Ultramarines would be a good bet. Use a Counts-As Tigurius for good measure.

Star Phantoms would work if you wanted play a more drop pod heavy playstyle (Steel Rain). Their rerolling 1s for reserves fits their strategic planning and they can unleash a devastating turn of shooting with a variety of unit types.

You know, Blood Ravens might actually be one of the armies that the Skyhammer Annihilation Force is actually thematically appropriate. You could use the Imperial Fists Chapter Tactics, run a Sternhammer Strike Force, use a Battle Demi-Company, a Librarius Conclave, and the Skyhammer Annihilation Force. It is thematic and halfways potent without being absurd. Give a ML2 Librarian the Bones of Osrak and call him Gabriel Angelos and make a Venerable Dreadnought and call him Davian Thule.

 casvalremdeikun wrote:
You know, Blood Ravens might actually be one of the armies that the Skyhammer Annihilation Force is actually thematically appropriate. You could use the Imperial Fists Chapter Tactics, run a Sternhammer Strike Force, use a Battle Demi-Company, a Librarius Conclave, and the Skyhammer Annihilation Force. It is thematic and halfways potent without being absurd. Give a ML2 Librarian the Bones of Osrak and call him Gabriel Angelos and make a Venerable Dreadnought and call him Davian Thule.

My Blood Ravens list (currently in progress) is going to be Skyhammer Annihilation Force, Skyhammer Orbital Strike Team, and Ravenhawk Assault Group with the occasional Librarius Conclave thrown in when points allow. Basically the whole army can DS.

P.S. Gabriel Angelos wasn't a Librarian. It would be appropriate to use that libby as Jonah Orion, though.

If you're wanting to stick to legit rules, then yes, I'd go with either Ultrasmurfs or red hunters as the chapter basis. Their general adaptability and Tactical diversity fits the theme for the Blood ravens nicely.

If you're wanting more fluffy Blood Raven's for friendly games, give me a few days

I'm currently neck deep in a project to give them their own codex, done as professionally as I can, and as balanced as I can make it with limited play testing (for example the points costs and abilities closely mirror those of similar models from other chapters, but all with a Raven winged twist.)

it even has their backstory, current story as of Dawn of War 2: Retribution, a complex relic armoury system for customizable squad leaders/commanders, and some nice artwork (borrowed from various artists, not made by myself)

I should be posting it up in my thread later this week if all goes to plan!

 Kommisar Kyn wrote:
If you're wanting to stick to legit rules, then yes, I'd go with either Ultrasmurfs or red hunters as the chapter basis. Their general adaptability and Tactical diversity fits the theme for the Blood ravens nicely.

If you're wanting more fluffy Blood Raven's for friendly games, give me a few days

I'm currently neck deep in a project to give them their own codex, done as professionally as I can, and as balanced as I can make it with limited play testing (for example the points costs and abilities closely mirror those of similar models from other chapters, but all with a Raven winged twist.)

it even has their backstory, current story as of Dawn of War 2: Retribution, a complex relic armoury system for customizable squad leaders/commanders, and some nice artwork (borrowed from various artists, not made by myself)

I should be posting it up in my thread later this week if all goes to plan!

Can't wait! Still holding out hope for official rules.