Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So I'm having some trouble wrapping my head around RG tactics in the fluff sense. I know they are at least a little smarter than the average Run and Gun Marine, but I'm having a hard time picturing how they fight. do they go in and set up behind enemy lines before releasing a deadly attack when the time is right? Do they use a lot of vehicles to help aid them across the field? Would they get into pitched battles?

And what happens when they fight against Foes like Necrons who you can't really sneak up on, or even Deamons for the same reasons?

yes I know I sound like a noob

In that case they still establish tactics that strike where the enemy is weakest. In the end they are still space marines and can absolutely get into a slugging match with anything as well.

If they can't do infiltration or hit and run they just hit you very VERY hard after trying to sabotage your stuff.

Well isn't the key of their strategy as a whole, not to be seen. So they hit from where you are not watching, and vanish before you can react. So in that sense they are a bit like White Scars, but without the woopin' and roarin'!.. no?

Being clad in black, and judging by various audiobooks and audiodramas i've listened to, they care much less for being seen and basking in glory and more about getting the job done. They can seemingly sneak in those big power-armours aswell and are experts in melee.
If I remember it right, a raven guard astarte that survived Isstvan later beat the living gak out of Lucius the Eternal, handing his arse to him. Forgot his name though. But through out that book, the raven guard in question kept bouncing around along the flanks of his allies, not being seen by the enemy.

My favorite chapter by a long shot

They're basically Tau but for Space Marines, imagine Tau tactics when you picture Raven Guard. Never defend, set ambushes, strike at extremely weak spots to destabilize the enemy movement and then crush them while they're unprotected and reeling from their losses.

Okay, so they do have contingencies for enemies like tyranids and orks after all. What about units like Terminators and Centurions? would they use those?

RG will have access and the necessary training to use any and all astartes war gear.
Preferring a certain type of combat is not the same as being limited to only those conflicts.

Remember, the drop site massacre also grossly limited their numbers and pushed then further into the line of thinking to avoid pitched battles with a high chance of losses.

Against Tyranids I would guess they keep out of sight and strike fast at synaps-creatures and same against Orks they would try and take out the big bosses, causing chaos in enemy ranks.