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Dave,
FYI, take it or leave it, here was some thoughts I had:
I think to Neal's credit he did a good job in the absence of much decent fluff, but now there have been a few new additions of 40k and the FW 30k books to flesh out RG background and tactics, I think a review of the list intent is in order.
I'm keen to revisit RG commandos and RG assault, whilst they're a ok, they are sort of made up units. Current 30k/40k fluff suggests the RG assault elm are highly likely to be jump pack equipped. They are after all a codex chapter, its just their application of tactics differs somewhat. Considering the newer background articles/books, for me the iconic RG elements are:
Strong Recon/stealth focus
Hit & run mentality
Infantry over Armour
Air assault / rapid deployment
Translating that to list design I had planned on a main and restricted (limit 1/3) formations. The main body being Infantry and Air assault options:
Tacticals - No change
Assault - Option to add a further 2 stands or Landspeeder?
Devestators - No change
Bikes & attack bikes - No change
Landspeeders - LS Tempest as an option, Free planetfall as an option?
Dreadnought Upgrade - 0-1 limited
Scouts - units size 4-6, all gain sniper +50pts , can take Landspeeder storm
(Note the "scout" unit covers off on tacticals etc operating in dispersed roles quite well IMO, they don't all have to be the 40k scout in carapace armour.
Vanguard Veterans - unit of 4 or as an upgrade to assaults?
(Basically an Assault Inf with EA MW. They still die like normal marines but better CC troops, pretty iconic raven guard elite unit, but something of a glass cannon.)
Thunderhawk - Option to upgun into and air support role (turbo laser, HK missilses?)
Landing Craft - no change
Strike Cruiser - no change
Ceastus - flyer or skimmer - probably skimmer for now, with testing as a flyer to follow.
Storm Eagle - 1DC WE tpt option
Restricted & Allies formations (limit of 1/3 points):
Terminators - limited, largely replaced with vanguard vets (see below)
LR, whirlwinds, vindicators, Predators - unchanged
Storm talon - replacement or peer to thunderbolts? option to take as escort to other craft?
Thawk transporter, unchanged
Fire Raptor - marauder replacement?
Titans - gone?
IG / PDF - RG are often known to work closely in support of IG and are one of the better liked SM chapters - down the track we could look at a couple of cheap IG formations that are the "bait" for RG attack forces.
Navy Aircraft - happy to leave the navy ones in but they might have to go to allow the inclusion of SM flyers
Spec rules ideas:
Strike and Fade:
After an engage, RG may use their standard move for consolidation moves.
(A poor mans Eldar "hit and run", simulating the hit and run nature of the RG and Corax's mantra, without making them faster into the assault, like infiltrator would, nor giving them the full advantage eldar have to move-shoot-move.)
Shadows from the void:
RG space craft do not have to declare openly which turn they will arrive, instead the RG player writes down the turn number in secret along with their barrage and dropzone co-ordinates. Additionally RG Land Speeder and aircraft formations may purchase "free planetfall". Finally, RG formations that plantefall may reroll the result for scatter, but must accept the second roll..
The intent of the special rules would be to allow RG to make good use of infantry heavy forces, and create a degree of uncertainty in the opponents mind. They never know where the RG will strike, but to balance the RG don't have the same amount of heavy armour/ allied units to stand and deliver. The rapid deployment it to create some synergy between the ground forces and the air assault/air drop elm, given this is supposed to be their thing.
Thoughts?
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