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Hello you all,
We are after CA'18, everybody got something new & shiny (or just updated)...exept rg :( I feel left alone with nothing. Shrike and his army got nerfed even more after last FAQ (how strike from the shadows work now), they've got only one named character and that's all.
Now, I'm totally new, was preparing an rg army, but now I don't know what to do...really. do you have any advice or thoughts what to do now with them? I would appreciate any help from you

I would not say you got nothing, chapter approved is a points reduction and new mission thing. Weapons, terminators, these things dropped in price for ravenguard. And with the change to deployment and ravenguards tactics i see it being benifical.

Ravenguard deploys, opponent counter deploys, ravenguard can maneuver some troops around to make the counterdeploy less effective and probably will go first. Assault marines starting 9" forward with flamers or plasma, getting another 12+ move, you have options to still be very fast and mobile from a marine pov.

Keep in mind Strike from the Shadows and other such Infiltration stratagems are in BETA, there is NO obligation for you to use them unless the store/event you're playing in enforces it, or if you agree with your opponent beforehand. This nerf is stupid (I play Stygies VIII which is the same as RG) and should be complained about.

My regular RG opponent tends to Infiltrate Agressors, Hellblasters or Reivers to good effect. Even Devastators with multi-meltas seem nice as you can infiltrate in such a distance that you don't need to move but can still shoot at 12" for better damage.

Thank you guys for such quick response.
Price drops (weapons units etc) goes for all sm, but that includes rg as well, true. But Shrike is too expensive for now (compare him i.e. to Trajan Victoris, who got much cheaper tragedy)
Sfts was better when you could totally surprise your enemy, now your opponent can prepare more or less for Sfts move. Even more, if I udersood it correctly, I could attack enemies from behind, now I have to set the models on my deployment zone.

Shrike is still good I think, he's a Chapter Master that doesn't cost you 3 Command Points and those re-rolling, benefits to charges and the RG Warlord traits can be really helpful. They've also got a great Chapter Tactic to take advantage of those re-rolling. RG Devastators seem pretty good to me and I think I've used them every game I've played as them. SFtS Vanguard Vets are quite good too. Space Marines got a decent buff in CA and RG are in a good position to take advantage of them, being one of the better Chapter Tactics beforehand.

sniper scouts got a nice discount in CA, imo they gel pretty well with the RG chapter trait

We still have the best anti gunline chapter trait though which still works with dreadnoughts, dreadnoughts that got massive point reductions.

iwantmynickffs wrote:
We still have the best anti gunline chapter trait though which still works with dreadnoughts, dreadnoughts that got massive point reductions.

Could you explain it a little? I've flipped the books, but couldn't find any RG trait that works with dreadnoughts.
I'm sorry for foolish questions, I'm really new in business (at least with rules).

Oshii wrote:

iwantmynickffs wrote:
We still have the best anti gunline chapter trait though which still works with dreadnoughts, dreadnoughts that got massive point reductions.

Could you explain it a little? I've flipped the books, but couldn't find any RG trait that works with dreadnoughts.
I'm sorry for foolish questions, I'm really new in business (at least with rules).

The Raven Guard Chapter Tactic works on Dreadnoughts. They do not have a stratagem that works though.

Initially I thought the SftS nerf tore the heart out of one of the few Chapters that were ALMOST competitive.

Upon further review I think with at least a two of three Scout squads there are a number of extremely useful shenanigans you can pull of with SftS that are flavorful and still tactically useful. Not as good as the original rule but useful.

Place your Scouts forward as possible, then either advance forward to get in the face of gunlines with Aggressors or Hellblasters folllowing hard as possible on their heels. Alternatively versus melee armies the Scouts SftS back and then move back or to the side creating open fire lanes that gives your RG two turns of shooting before they hit your lines

Also keep in mind, it looks like WD is going to reprise Index Astartes articles, and with any luck reinvigorate RG and Raptors. Combine that with the expected second wave of Primaris units and the future looks fun for Raven Guard and their Successors (I'd really likr to see a Necropolis Hawks article but I'll take what I can get)

I've totally forgot about chapter tactic, you are right, that's really helpful.
I also see the point of taking infantry units over vehicles, as only they can be used on stfs,, and that gives a lot of tactical possibilities.
I was thinking about putting sniper scouts on LSStorms, but for now they are a little bit expensive (80pts), however still better than rhino

I've been playing RG throughout 8th and the last FAQ combined with the deep striking changes have definitely hurt. That said, I don't think it is lights out. It is just typically tough to be on par with Guilliman for instance. Popular things:

- Devestators with a cherub, missile launcher, and a heavy bolter are cheap, can fire 2d3 mortal wounds, have -1 to hit, and have a few bodies to soak damage. Add banner for flavor .
- We're Codex Astartes, so we can still use 3CP to make a captain into a chapter master. It is a lot of CP, but SM don't have the best stratagems so it can be a good addition still. A smash captain with the shield eternal relic as a chapter master is far more capable than Shrike and cheaper as well, he just costs more CP.
- Primaris are still coming down in points and becoming more effective. Intercessors in cover with -1 to hit are plain obnoxious to shift for their points costs.
- Not specific to Raven Guard, but Razorbacks with Assault Cannons and our Fliers can still be solid.
- The Indomitus Crusade special detachment can make RG intercessors a bit more potent, though at quite the CP cost.

That said, I've found a variety of things that are fluffy for RG that haven't worked still:

- Vanguard Veterans
- Camo cloaks on scouts. Or honestly anything except cheap scouts.
- Tactical Marines :(
- Assault Marines
- Grav Cannons
- Drop Pods

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Having SftS nerfed stunk. That said, because it relied on first turn so much I've found that not relying on it can lead to better games. Granted I'd rather still have the option but oh well.

I was trying to avoid primarines, but I see they hanging over my head as butchers axe...well, I think I have reconsider that.

Funny thing, that such fluffy army can't be played according to their fluff...even their chapter tactic isn't set for cc.